Stacy Alesi's BookBitch.com™

Comedian Jo Firestone presents OLIVER TWIST

December 2, 2016

After reading the book in 10 minutes, comedian Jo Firestone gives a report on Charles Dickens’s OLIVER TWIST. Please sir, we’d like some more time to study.

Actually, learning to read a book in 10 minutes is an excellent skill to have when you just want some broad information about a bunch of titles. I have taught this over the years and use it myself – not to review books, but to have an idea about new books and sometimes I find a book I was to actually read. Check it out, courtesy of the American Library Association and Jessica E. Moyer:

http://www.alaeditions.org/blog/62/how-read-book-10-minutes

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Win the December ’16 bookshelf of signed thrillers!

December 1, 2016

happy-holidays-betty-boop-purple-glitter Welcome to the December bookshelf of signed thrillers! Lots of new books to win – some favorite authors or find a new author. To enter, go to the Win Books page. Best of luck!

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THE BONE COLLECTION by Kathy Reichs: From the #1 New York Times bestselling author behind the hit Fox series “Bones” comes a collection of pulse-pounding stories featuring forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan—including an all-new story that tells how she got her start!

WALK INTO SILENCE by Susan McBride: A woman vanishes from a Texas town. Did she simply run off, or is something darker at play? For Jo, whose own demons are shadowing her every step, finding Jenny becomes more than the typical protect-and-serve.

BETTER OFF THREAD by Amanda Lee: While playing elf to Captain MoeÆs Santa for sick children at a local hospital, embroidery shop owner Marcy stumbles upon the dead body of the hospitalÆs administrator and must, with the help of her police officer boyfriend and her Irish Wolfhound, find out who is trying to pin this murder on Moe.

PAINTED DOLL by Jonelle Patrick: When Tokyo Detective Kenji Nakamura’s phone rings with the news that his mother’s death ten years ago wasn’t an accident, his world begins to unravel.

CONSPIRACY OF SILENCE by Ronie Kendig: Kendig Ratchets Up the Action in Her New Suspense Series! Four years after a tragic mission decimated his career and his team, Cole “Tox” Russell is lured back into action when a dormant, centuries-old disease is unleashed.

AND THEN HE WAS GONE by Joan Hall Hovey: When a man disappears, his wife is always the prime suspect. But not every woman will take that accusation lying down, as Joan Hall Hovey shows us in her new thriller, AND THEN HE WAS GONE.

You can win autographed copies of all these books! If you are new to the site, each month I run a contest in conjunction with the International Thriller Writers organization. We put together a list of books from debut authors to bestsellers, so you can win some of your favorites and find some new favorites.

What makes this contest really special is that all of the books (except eBooks) are signed by the author! Books with multiple authors will be signed by at least one of the authors.

Don’t forget, if you subscribe to the newsletter or follow this blog, you get an extra entry into every contest you enter. Check out the Win Books page for more information on all these books and how you to enter this month’s contest.

Thanks for reading, and good luck!

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THE USEFUL BOOK by David Bowers and Sharon Bowers

November 30, 2016

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201 Life Skills They Used to Teach in Home Ec and Shop

I am of the age where I had to take Home Ec when I was in junior high. (FYI, spell correct is not liking the “Ec”!) And it was called junior high, not middle school, but that may be more a geographic difference than a generational one.

I was also the type of girl who would have much preferred to take Shop, but girls were not allowed and boys could not take Home Ec. I grew up in a single mom household, so learning to cook wasn’t an issue (providing I wanted to boil or broil everything to death) but learning how to use tools would have been welcome. So when I heard about this book, I was excited to give it a good look.

It is exactly as described, with lots of pictures and great information. As I perused it I thought this would have been great to have when my kids were in elementary school, there are terrific projects to share with kids here.

When I mentioned this book to a co-worker who is in her early thirties, she looked at me and said that she “has a useful book, it’s called YouTube.” That really gave me pause, was she right? Are books like this obsolete? I’m afraid to say at least for young adults, yes. And as much as I’m a book person, I admit that it is much easier to learn most skills by watching a good YouTube video than trying to follow directions in a book, illustrated or not. Which makes me a bit sad.

All that said, I think it’s a great book for kids. It will inspire them to try new things, learn new skills. And parents who aren’t sure how to do the thing that their kid wants to do in this book, you always have the YouTube option.

Note to publisher: you ought to do a web series to go along with this book!

11/16 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch™

THE USEFUL BOOK by David Bowers and Sharon Bowers. Workman Publishing Company (June 14, 2016). ISBN 978-0761171737. 416p.

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HER NIGHTLY EMBRACE by Adi Tantimedh

November 29, 2016

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A former religious scholar and teacher who sees gods around him is an unlikely candidate for a PI, and yet Ravi Chandra Singh has not only been recruited by Golden Sentinels, a London-based agency whose clientele are the crème de la crème of society, he’s become an important member of the team.

Ravi’s first big case is one that involves the new candidate for Prime Minister – and it’s a whopper. The man is, for all intents and purposes, squeaky clean and boring. Exactly what his party wants considering recent PM scandals. But he claims he’s being haunted by his ex lover, who visits him at night and… yeah. Ravi is almost certain the man is missing a few screws but knows the case could make or break his career. At the same time, the agency has taken on a local TV personality and author who’s suffering very public harassment, a missing person’s case with an unexpected result, and case involving a banker that takes a dark turn.

While I enjoyed the quirky characters and odd cases, the format of Her Nightly Embrace was not what I expected. Rather than one main case and novel to dip into, this debut in the multi format series is four connected shorts or novellas. And much of the meaty detail I want in a mystery is missing.

It’s hard to review the book alone considering there’s to be both a podcast and TV show to go alongside it. And yet, I want the book to stand on its own. Especially since it’s the first and only piece of the Ravi PI platform to have been released so far. The book is fun but is lacking quite a bit of depth and development. I suspect the stories will work better for TV but we’ll all just have to wait and see.

11/16 Becky LeJeune

HER NIGHTLY EMBRACE by Adi Tantimedh. Atria/Leopoldo & Co. (November 1, 2016). ISBN 978-1501130571. 320p.

Kindle

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CONCLAVE by Robert Harris

November 28, 2016

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One of the most secret meetings to be held anywhere on earth is the Conclave, established upon the death of a Pope which is called to elect a new leader of the Catholic Church. Robert Harris has written a fascinating account about a Conclave held on the demise of a Pope. He is writing based upon conjecture and supposition since there is no manner that could have granted him the means to learn what really happens.

Beyond this, the novel is a fascinating adventure into a meeting of the Church’s Cardinals summoned from around the world to choose a new Pope. The men assembled are deeply religious, committed to a lifetime of service, and anxious to do what is right in choosing a new Pope. They reflect, pray and hope for divine guidance in making their choice. They are holy men, but do have ambition and many will attempt to influence the choice made.

Harris is very successful in bringing the reader into the mind and thoughts of several of the Cardinals assembled in shaping the events depicted. The man appointed “Dean” by the last Pope is charged with moving the conclave forward. He is a man deeply devoted to his beliefs and to his appointed task of guiding the actions of those present. Several of those in attendance want to be the next Pope and attempt to guide the others into choosing them.

The author introduces the problems that are faced by the Church both at present and in the near future. They must be confronted by both the new Pope and the other senior leaders under him. There is the place for women, the use of local language, not Latin in the litany, and the enmity radical Islam feels towards Christianity in general. Definitely not a dry discourse, but a fascinating study of human nature reacting in a stressful environment.

CONCLAVE by Robert Harris. Knopf (November 22, 2016). ISBN 978-0451493446. 304p.

Kindle

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FOOD CITY by Joy Santlofer

November 24, 2016

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Four Centuries of Food-Making in New York

When a book is a labor of love, it shows on every page, and it truly does in Food City. Joy Santlofer was chair of New York University’s Food Studies Program, and she passed away in 2013, leaving her book to be published posthumously. Her colleague Marion Nestle wrote the forward.

This book explores the history of New York City through food. I was expecting bagels, roasted chestnuts and Chinatown. Instead, I got a fascinating education about beer, bread and so much more. I learned that the early Dutch settlers in the 1600’s drank beer – all of them, including the children, because it was cleaner than the water. I learned that the hipster paradise of Brooklyn was all farmland, and later on that giant of the food industry, Nabisco, got its start there making hard crackers for the Union army. I learned that there was a New York Tea Party four months after the Boston Tea Party.

German frankfurters paved the way for Coney Island hot dogs. Many of our most beloved foods started out in New York – Oreos, Hellman’s Mayonnaise, Thomas’s English Muffins, Gulden Mustard, and Twizzlers.

Santlofer isn’t just dispensing facts here, she makes it really interesting and fun to read. I loved the stories about George Washington being sworn in as president (which for some reason I assumed had been done in Philadelphia,) John Jacob Astor’s first job as a delivery boy for a bakery, and I could easily visualize the herds of cattle being moved across 42nd Street to the slaughterhouses. I learned what life was really like for those first New Yorkers and how those lives changed over the years.

You don’t have to be a New Yorker to appreciate this book. Foodies will love it, as will history buffs. There really is something for everyone.

It seemed somehow fitting to write about this extraordinary book on Thanksgiving, a time when we are all thinking about food, and maybe thinking about those no longer sharing our table. I miss my mom and dad every day, but especially on Thanksgiving, it was her favorite holiday.

I didn’t know Joy, but I know her husband, the über talented Jonathan Santlofer – author, artist, and teacher at the Crime Fiction Academy at the Center for Fiction in New York City. It was Jonathan’s diligence and determination to honor his wife’s work, and their daughter Doria’s to honor her mother, that got her book published, and readers everywhere should be grateful. I know I am.

11/16 Stacy Alesi AKA the BookBitch™

FOOD CITY by Joy Santlofer. W. W. Norton & Company (November 1, 2016). ISBN: 978-0393076394. 480p.

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FOOD52 A NEW WAY TO DINNER by Amanda Hesser & Merrill Stubbs

November 23, 2016

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A Playbook with Recipes & Strategies for the Week Ahead

When I first received this cookbook, it reminded me of Rachael Ray’s Week in a Day cookbook. It’s for those working moms or anyone who likes to plan their week’s meals ahead, do a bunch of cooking on the weekend and minimal fuss during the week to get dinner on the table. It’s a great concept, and I know people who have been doing this sort of thing religiously for years. I’m not one of them, but I can appreciate the thought behind it.

The book is divided by seasons and by authors, and the chapters reflect that. The chapters are Merrill’s Spring, Amanda’s Spring, Amanda’s Summer, Merrill’s Summer, and so forth. Each chapter has two weekly plans with menus, grocery lists, what needs to be cooked ahead and what needs to be done day of. Lots of substitutions are easily available and tips for saving more time abound. And of course, the recipes.

Looking through it I soon realized that Amanda’s food was more to my aesthetic, but both have interesting ideas. I love that they also suggest leftover lunches that will work with the menus, and tips like how to use up leftover herbs or cheeses make planning even more specific.

Since we are in the fall season, here’s an idea from Merrill’s Fall:

Baked Pasta, Chicken Thighs, Zucchini, Applesauce Cake

That turns into 5 meals and 9 recipes, including Rosy Chicken, Roasted Zucchini with Chile and Mint, Warm Chicken Salad, Boiled POtatoes, Baked Pasta with Sausage Ragu, Baked Sweet Potato with Sausage Ragu, Applesauce Cake with Caramel Icing, Roasted Applesauce, & Apple Fool

And since we are heading into winter, here’s an idea from Amanda’s Winter:

Bolognese, Blood Oranges, Potatoes, Chocolate

That turns into the 5 meals and these recipes – Blood Orange Salad, Avocado and Blood Orange Salad; Luciana’s Porchetta; Bolognese; Oven-Roasted Polenta; Garlicky Greens; Spinach Salad with Pancetta, Wheat Croutons and Egg; Porchetta, Pickled Onion, and Garlicky Greens Sandwich; Chocolate Rosemary Pudding

If you like to plan ahead, this is the cookbook for you. Virgos, I’m talking to you here. One of these ladies is a Virgo, FYI, and I’ll let you figure that out!

11/16 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch™

FOOD52 A NEW WAY TO DINNER by Amanda Hesser & Merrill Stubbs. Ten Speed Press (October 18, 2016). ISBN 978-0399578007. 288p.

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OUTLANDER KITCHEN by Theresa Carle-Sanders

November 22, 2016

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The Official Outlander Companion Cookbook

Diana Gabaldon wrote the forword for this unusual cookbook, thus granting it legitimacy for fans of the books and Starz TV series. Carle-Sanders has a blog, also called Outlander Kitchen, and contributed a chapter, “The Diet and Cookery of 18th Century Highlanders”, to The Outlandish Companion Volume Two by Diana Gabaldon. So she definitely has some authority here. While most Outlander fans might expect to find a Scottish cookbook, Carle-Sanders explains in the introduction that it is not the case, neither is it historical. She says, “It’s an Outlander cookbook, meaning we have two centuries and several different countries’ cuisines to explore, along with a diverse cast of characters, many of who scream their kitchen inspiration to me from the pages of Diana’s books.” So now you know why there is a chapter on Pizza and Pasta, which frankly, had confused me.

The chapters:

Basic Recipes
Breakfast
Soups
Appetizers
Beef
Poultry
Pork
Lamb
Game
Fish and Seafood
Vegetarian
Pizza and Pasta
Side Dishes
Breads and Baking
Sweets and Desserts
Drinks and Cocktails
Preserves and Condiments

The first chapter is actually called “My Outlander Kitchen” and is about the pantry: “A time-traveling kitchen requires a versatile pantry…you won’t find a lot of exotic ingredients [here.] So the pantry includes things like butter, oats, oil, salt and pepper, flour, and so forth.

What I love about this book is that all the recipes include a quote from one of the books that inspired that recipe. And all that said, Scottish recipes abound if that is what you coming here for. Pumpkin Seed and Herb Oatcakes, Fergus’s Roasted Tatties, Cherry Bounce, Jocasta’s Auld Country Bannocks, and the ubiquitous Scotch Eggs are all here. But there are French dishes like Conspirators’ Cassoulet and Cheese Savories (Gourgeres,) standard British fare like Shepherd’s Pie, and meatballs and spaghetti and pizza.

There are beautiful photographs throughout. The recipes are clearly laid out and explained, and many have notes at the end to help as well.

A perfect gift for the Outlander fan, or treat yourself.

11/16 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch™

OUTLANDER KITCHEN by Theresa Carle-Sanders. Delacorte Press; First Edition edition (June 14, 2016). ISBN 978-1101967577. 352p.

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EAT LIKE A GILMORE by Kristi Carlson

November 21, 2016

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The Unofficial Cookbook for Fans of Gilmore Girls

Bonnie Matthews, Photographer

When my daughter was in middle school, we used to watch the Gilmore Girls together. That lasted a season or two, probably 5 & 6. When it moved to the CW, we stopped watching.

With all the excitement about Netflix picking it up, I decided to go watch them all, beginning to end. It took a few weeks of not reading or watching anything else – back in the day, a season was 21 episodes, not like today’s 6-10 episode seasons. And I got completely hooked, I loved it. So when I heard about the cookbook, I was like, yes please! It is adorable.

So like many of us, Kristi Carlson is a big fan. But lucky girl lives a few blocks away from Stars Hollow – the real one, on the Warner Brothers lot. She even finagled an invitation to watch them filming once.

Kristi came up with the idea for a cookbook and put it on Kickstarter where it generated quite a bit of excitement. Next thing she knows a real publisher comes calling and voila, a book is born. There are lots of contributors and recipe testers and you can read all about them in the book, including their favorite episodes, a very nice, much appreciated touch. Testers are the unsung heroes of most cookbooks. Kudos, Kristi – you are a class act.

The chapters:

Feature: Coffee, Coffee, Coffee!
Cocktails, Mocktails & Other Assorted Beverages
Pancakes, French Toast, Omelets & Cereals
Muffins, Rolls, Breads & Scones
Soups, Sauces & Butters
Burgers & Sandwiches
Pasta & Rice Dishes
Appetizers & Side Dishes
Meats, Seafood & Main Dishes
Cookies, Cakes & Ice Creams
Feature: Cakery

There is also an author’s note, reference guide, index, conversion charts and a recipe guide.

The best thing about the book is how every recipe is related to something in the show. Chilaquiles are on the menu, as they were when Caesar served them up at Luke’s Diner while Luke was away. Emily’s famous Salmon Puffs, served at every one of her events, Rory’s favorite, Parker House Rolls, Sookie’s guilt induced Ratatouille, made with Jackson’s competitor’s vegetables, and even Butter – yes, really, a recipe for butter along with a nod to Emily kicking Richard out to the pool house because he didn’t ask her if she wanted any.

If none of this makes sense to you, you are not a Gilmore Girl fan and there is no use trying to explain. If you understood the previous paragraph, you probably want to buy this book, and you should.

There are many cookbooks based on TV shows and I’m not talking about actual cooking shows on Food Network or Cooking Channel or even PBS. I mean TV shows like the Gilmore Girls, Game of Thrones, Modern Family, Orange is the New Black, and Outlander (soon to be reviewed here.) Some are much more successful than others, and I’m happy to report that Eat Like a Gilmore is a good one. And Amazon.com (click on the book cover above) has some of the recipes on the website, so you can take a peek.

11/16 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch™

EAT LIKE A GILMORE by Kristi Carlson. Skyhorse Publishing (October 25, 2016). ISBN 978-1510717343. 288p.

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MAD GENIUS TIPS by Justin Chapple

November 19, 2016

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& the Editors of Food & Wine

Over 90 Expert Hacks and 100 Delicious Recipes

This may be the most useful kitchen book/cookbook you’ll ever read. I am completely enthralled with Justin; I’ve been watching and sharing his videos for years, so I was delighted to see they gave him his own book.

I learned to halve cherry tomatoes and grapes between two plastic container lids, to pit cherries with a wine bottle and a chopstick, and to cut the corn off the cob in my Bundt pan (don’t scoff, try it once and you’ll never do it any other way.) Plus he includes recipes for a variety of terrific dishes, like taking that corn and making Corn-Studded Corn Muffins with Honey Mascarpone Whipped Corn Dip with Chili Oil. Yes, I said that. That same Bundt pan is used to make a terrific Buffalo-Style Roast Chicken with Potatoes.

Use your box grater to DIY Your Bread Crumbs, then make Braised Leeks with Fennel Bread Crumbs. It’s as good as it sounds. Loved the grilled cheese hack where you end up with Stuffed Grilled Cheese just using a fork. Learn to pipe using a Ziploc bag then make Frozen Yogurt Dots with Strawberries and Pistachios.

This book is laid out by kitchen tool, for lack of a better word. But what I love most is that the whole idea here is not to go out and buy a multitude of one-job kitchen tools. Justin uses stuff you already have. The chapters:

Aluminum Foil justin-chapple
Baking Rack
Box Grater
Bundt Pan
Cheesecloth
Cookie Cutters
Floss
Food Processor
Fork+Spoon
Knife
Mason Jar
Microwave
Muffin Pan
Oven
Plastic Baggie
Plastic Lids
Scissors
Sticks+Skewers
Waffle Iron
Wine Bottle