Top Ten Tuesday (Fall 2013 TBR)

This week's Topic: Top Ten Books on My Fall 2013 TBR List

Anne Lamott

Help, Thanks, Wow

Sam Sifton

Thanksgiving

Jane Austen

Persuasion

Agatha Christie

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd

Julia Child

My Life in France

Mardi Jo Link

Bootstrapper

Kevin Young (Ed)

The Hungry Ear

Max Garland

Hunger Wide as Heaven

Jen Lancaster

My Fair Lazy

Daphne Du Maurier

Rebecca

 

But then there are the books I plan to buy in the coming weeks, thereby throwing the above list out the window:

Anya Von Bremzen

Mastering the Art of Soviet Cooking

Ann Mah
Mastering the Art of French Eating

Michael Perry

Visiting Tom

Nicole Hardy

Confessions of a Latter-Day Virgin

Billy Collins (Ed)

Bright Wings

Barbara A. Perry

Rose Kennedy

Agatha Christie

An Autobiography

Stacy Horn

Imperfect Harmony (won this from Citizen Reader)

Mary Oliver

Dog Songs: Poems

Billy Collins

Aimless Love: New and Selected Poems

 

Another Fall Release I'm Excited About

  

 

                                                                                                      No sooner had I posted my list of book releases I was excited about, than I got an email announcing this one. I plan to read his entire repertoire. In fact, I'd read his grocery lists if he'd publish them.                                                                                             

Due out October 22.

 

P.S. Love the cover!

 

 

Book Review - Winnie-the-Pooh, A. A. Milne

 

Winnie-the-Pooh

 

A.A. Milne

 

Category: Children’s

Synopsis: A series of stories about Christopher Robin’s bear, Winnie-the-Pooh, and his friends.

Date finished: 19 August 2013

Rating: ****½

Comments:

I love this silly old bear.

My goodness. Can you believe I’ve never read this book? We didn’t have a copy growing up, but several of the stories in it were very familiar. I know we had some Golden Book Pooh stories, so that must be my first encounter. I also read along hearing the characters’ voices which I attribute to an animated version of the stories. But I soon learned they’d taken some license with the characters for the cartoon audience. Pooh Bear was earnest and helpful, Piglet was naïve but sweet, Rabbit was sharp-tongued, Owl was wise, Eeyore was dour but still sort of friendly, and Kanga was sweet. All in all, a very palatable, if stereotypical, group. In the book, however, Pooh is a blockhead (stuffinghead?), Piglet is afraid of his own shadow, Rabbit is pretty mean, Owl is a poser, Eeyore is not someone you’d want to be around for any length of them, and Kanga is only looking out for number one (and number 1½, Roo).
 

I was surprised at the grittiness of the characters and their interactions—much more like real children’s interactions than the sanitized TV version. What the animated show had in sweetness, the book had in charm. Milne was brilliant in the way he related to children. So astute. So very clever.

So, although I’m one of the last adults on earth to have read this book, if you have never—or haven’t for a while—pick up a copy. You won’t be disappointed.

My favorite moment, happening right at the end:

     “When you wake up in the morning, Pooh,” said Piglet at last, “what’s the first thing you say to yourself?”

     “What’s for breakfast?” said Pooh. “What do you say?”
 

     “I say, I wonder what’s going to happen exciting today?” said Piglet.

     “It’s the same thing,” he said.
 

P.S. One of the reasons I found this book so charming, I’m sure, is due to the copy I read. I borrowed the 1961 version from the university library’s IMC. It’s all threadbare, taped up, obviously much-loved, and lies completely flat when opened.
 

I was so enchanted by this particular edition that I hopped onto eBay and bought a copy of it and House at Pooh Corner. Absolutely mint, $10 for the pair. But I’d trade them in a minute for the very copy I read.

The copy I checked out (on the left) and the "new" old copy I bought on eBay. Aren't they wonderful?

 

I kind of have a feeling that when I return it, it will go directly to the Cataloging mend-it crew who will pronounce it a lost cause. Perhaps the withdrawn version will end up on the book sale shelf for me to buy!

 

Would you recommend this to a friend?
Absolutely.
 



God Bless America

May our nation never forget 9/11/01 or 9/11/12 until we embody the peace that is our promise.




 

Book Releases I'm Excited About

Seems like I seldom catch books on the front (pre-release) end, so in order to be an in-the-know cool kid, I’ve been lurking around on Amazon’s Coming Soon page lately. (Why did it take me so long to figure this out? Perhaps my good sense told me I had enough books to read. Good sense, I overrule you.)

Here are a few books that I’m anxiously awaiting:

 

Release date: September 17

Mastering the Art of Soviet Cooking: A Memoir of Food and Longing
Anya Von Bremzen

I usually get pretty turned off by books whose titles totally rip off classic books, but what can you do? This one combines my love of food and my love of learning about other countries. My reading hasn’t traveled to Russia yet this year.

 

You can read an excerpt from the book on the publisher’s website.

 

 

 

 

 

Release date: September 24

Kate Gosselin’s Love Is in the Mix: Making Meals into Memories with 108+ Family-Friendly Recipes, Tips and Traditions

Kate Gosselin

So, was I the only one who predicted the crash and burn of the Gosselin marriage? While I sort of miss watching the kids grow up, I’m glad their show was cancelled. I think it was best for all involved.

 

I don’t know why I’m so excited for this cookbook. I try not to buy many cookbooks, because I seldom use them, but from the preview, I think Kate might cook like I cook.

 

And maybe a part of me misses Kate irritating the heck out of me.

 

Release date: October 8

 

Dog Songs: Poems
Mary Oliver

 

The other day I was looking for a couple of Mary Oliver books to add to my poetry to read pile. I think I’ve enjoyed every one of her poems I’ve ever read, in spite of the fact that I’m not really a nature girl. In my search, I ran upon this one, and being about dogs, I’m all in.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Release date: October 29

The Pioneer Woman Cooks: A Year of Holidays: 135 Step-by-Step Recipes for Simple, Scrumptious Celebrations

Ree Drummond

I will buy and read every Pioneer Woman cookbook this woman ever produces. This is my solemn oath.

I showed my mother an episode of her show, then brought out my PW cookbooks, and she asked if I’d order them both for her. Ha. Another convert.

Pioneer Woman’s books are the only books I’ve ever bought in a BOOKSTORE for FULL PRICE.

 

 

Release date: March 4, 2014

Growing Up Duggar: The Duggar Girls Share Their View of Life inside America’s Most Well-Known Super-Sized Family

Jana, Jill, Jessa, & Jinger Duggar

 

I can’t deny that I’ve long wanted to be a Duggar girl. Now I can read all about it! I have no high expectations for the writing or even revelations of this book, but I think of the Duggar books as a visit to your great-aunt Agnes. There’s not much going on at her place, and the two of you don’t talk much about important things, but it’s a calm, comfortable, loving, place.

 

(Wanna hear me name all the Duggar kids? Josh Jana John-David Jill Jessa Jinger Joseph Josiah Joy-Anna Jedidiah Jeremiah Jason James Justin Jackson Johannah Jennifer Jordyn & Josie.)

 

 

So, that’s my list.

 

What releases are you looking forward to? And how do you find out about them?

Book Review - Food Rules, Michael Pollan

Food Rules: An Eater’s Manual

 

Michael Pollan

Category: Nonfiction: Food

Synopsis: Pollan’s understanding of best eating practices are distilled into 64 rules.

Date finished: 19 August 2013

Rating: ***½

Comments:

I’d been thinking about reading one of Pollan’s books for a while now, just to see what all the fuss is about. But I had zero interest in learning much about the interworking of the body, the biology of digestion and nutrient absorption, or food propaganda. And then I found this book. Since it’s just the bones and not the meat and marrow of the raging food debate, I thought it would be perfect for giving me a taste of his theories. And in that respect, it did what it was meant to do. I got the essence without subjecting myself to studies in human nutrition, horror stories of herd animal mistreatment, and the neurological effects of pesticides.

 As for being devoid of propaganda? Hardly.

You either subscribe to what Pollan puts forth as fact, or you’re skeptical. But for his claim of studying everything and coming to the correct conclusions and magnanimously sharing the details with you for $26.95? Nah, not for me. I have no beef with the general gist: eat more plants and less meat, limit processed foods, etc. I have no beef with this because it’s common sense! I didn’t need Pollan to tell me that.

I was raised on a farm. We ate our own beef, drank our own (unpasteurized) milk, and grew our own vegetables. My mother baked using all-purpose flour and white sugar. It’s how my family has eaten for generations. And my grandparents lived into their 80s and 90s. You want to know why? Because they didn’t worry about food (or health). They knew not to live on Mt. Dew and Twinkies, but they allowed themselves to enjoy them. They didn’t fret over antioxidants and Omega3s. They didn’t go in for veganism or fad diets. They ATE.

So I eat. Yes, I think processed food has become a racket. The fact that everything is jacked up with high-fructose corn syrup or insane levels of sodium (not discussed in Pollan’s book, by the way) nowadays means that the industry has taken over our nutrition for us. And that’s terrible. (Has a can of Campbell’s soup always supplied 60-70% of your daily sodium, I wonder?)

So yeah, Pollan, preaching to the choir, but the fact remains, the author and his ilk are obsessed with this stuff. And the obsession shows through even in these 64 rules. I was surprised with that. I expected this book (if not his others) to present the “facts” as his sees them and then leave it up to his readers how to proceed. Instead, the book spends way too much time telling you what to eat, how to eat it, and how much of it to eat. This heavy-handed approach turned me off. Are adults really falling for this? Shiver.

He also gives the impression that we’re “allowed” to have unhealthy foods, but only, say, once or twice a year. And the impression is that said treats should be an extra half-cup of organic raspberries, never a handful of Doritos. When I read things by guys like Pollan, I think of my 97-year-old great-grandmother sitting in an easy chair nibbling on cucumbers and Cheetos and have a good chuckle.

Still, there were a few “rules” that I liked:

Avoid food products that contain more than five ingredients. (pg. 15)

Eat only foods that will eventually rot. (pg. 29)

If you’re not hungry enough to eat an apple, then you’re not hungry. (pg. 105)

Would you recommend this to a friend?

I don’t know. Maybe?

You might also enjoy:

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, Barbara Kingsolver
The Dirty Life, Kristin Kimball           
The Feast Nearby, Robin Mather
The Kitchen Counter Cooking School, Kathleen Flinn

Book Review - The Tao of Martha, Jen Lancaster

The Tao of Martha: My Year of LIVING; Or, Why I’m Never Getting All That Glitter off of the Dog

 

Jen Lancaster

Category: Nonfiction: Memoir: Project; Home; Humor

Synopsis: Lancaster decides to apply knowledge gained from Martha Stewart to her home and garden.

Date finished: 16 August 2013

Rating: ****½

Comments:

I’ve never read anything by Jen Lancaster, but I’ve long known about her and that she had a sizable following. I decided to see what all the fuss was about, and her newest book seemed as good a place as any to start.

For most of the book, I suffered low-grade annoyance. So many jokey jokes. So many pop culture references. So many swears. I figured I’d rate this as another average book. But somewhere after the 200-page point, she broke down my defenses, and I really started to enjoy the jokey jokes, the pop culture references, even the swearing. I confessed to my husband that I found it sort of hilarious when someone refers to her pet as an a--hole. Amiright?

This was a project book—which I love, but it was loosely so. She basically tries to up her domestic game and looks to The Great One, Martha Stewart, for guidance. And of course, she has lots of missteps along the way.

I felt like I really started to like and understand Lancaster by the end. She doesn’t make excuses for who she is or why she does what she does. She seems like a pretty secure woman. I was afraid this would be a book about a woman who’s clueless in the domestic realm, but I was pleasantly surprised that she and I had a similar skill set when it comes to home comforts.

As much as I ended up liking the book, I think it could have been strengthened with a good bit of tightening. It dragged in spots. And a steadier clip would have highlighted the humor, I think.

My favorite passage:

I dress like a page from an L.L.Bean catalog, circa 1983. The sexiest shoe I own is a tasseled loafer. I’m aware that I do not inspire anyone to say, “I’d like a piece of that,” when I pass, unless they’re referring to the cake I’m carrying. (page 239)

I’ll definitely look up her other books. Anyone have any suggestions as to where to start?

Would you recommend this to a friend?

Yeah, why not.

 You might also enjoy:

Happier at Home, Gretchen Rubin