What I've Been Reading: November 2016

I've been reading a bit of everything this month, from the very light and fluffy to the deep and introspective, from psychological thrillers to historical fiction and just about everything in between.

The Island House, by Nancy Thayer. I had never read a book by Nancy Thayer before, but the summer crowds seem to love her, so I gave her a shot. Maybe it was the audiobook presentation, or maybe it was that I was listening to it in November, but I have a confession to make: I couldn't wait for it to be over. From reviews I've read (note to self: read a few of those reviews before selecting a title at random from a new-to-me author), this is not a fan favorite, either. The Vickery family and their children's friends gather in the family's Nantucket house every summer for more than a decade. This particular summer all of the children and the "summer children" are all over 21 and the winds of change are blowing for each of them. Some find love, some find peace, others find purpose and a need to move on. This could have used some heavy editing to pare down on repetition and some superfluous characters and subplots that went nowhere. I think I'll read a few more reviews before I try another of her books, but I'd have to recommend skipping this one.

Mischling, by Affinity Konar. A set of identical twin girls arrives in Auschwitz with their mother and grandfather in 1944 and are immediately whisked away to become part of the experimental population known as Mengele's Zoo. Here, they rely on their identical natures and they split responsibilities. Pearl is responsible for the sad, the good, and the past, while Stasha keeps the funny, the future, and the bad. That winter, Pearl disappears, and Stasha keeps hope that she will find Pearl alive--it becomes her sole mission after liberation. Bittersweet, touching, and deeply affecting, I'd recommend this for fans of books like All the Light We Cannot See, The Nightingale, and Lilac Girls.

A Good Yarn, by Debbie Macomber. Second in Macomber's popular Blossom Street series, following The Shop on Blossom Street, A Good Yarn picks up with Lydia Hoffman in her yarn shop a year after the first book began. Lydia loves her shop, her boyfriend, and her life--as is the case in life, when everything seems to be perfect, something is bound to unravel. Her boyfriend's ex-wife (and mother of his son) pushes to be more of a fixture in the life he has been making with Lydia, and Lydia has to walk away to save herself. But she finds solace in teaching her newest group of knitting students, and their stories unfold to mesh with Lydia's over the course of the novel. Similar to the first book, but in a comforting way.

The Next, by Stephanie Gangi. Joanna lives and loves with everything she's got. But when her health takes a turn and the love of her life abandons her in her final decline only to take up immediately with another woman, she is determined to get even. Death? Death is not going to stop her. If anything, it's the perfect medium for her vengeful masterpiece--making Ned pay so that she can move on. A novel of life, death, revenge and peace that is so sharp and thought-provoking, it really gives a reader pause. Unlike anything else I've read, but I would definitely recommend it to readers who liked Caroline Kepnes's You.

The Muse, by Jessie Burton. I adored Burton's debut novel, The Miniaturist (you can read my full review here), so I was eager to see what her follow-up would be like. What I found was a book that had all of the poignant detail and elegant style of the first novel, with a story that was unique and captivating. Alternating between the story of Caribbean immigrant Odelle Bastien in 1967 East London and that of English heiress Olive Schloss in 1930's Spain, Burton weaves an intricate web of connection between the two women in a tale of deception, art, and ambition that I found completely spellbinding. I highly recommend both of Burton's novels.

The Heart Goes Last, by Margaret Atwood. I've been in love with Margaret Atwood's work since reading Alias Grace back in the 1990's. Here, in the wake of a national economic bust, young marrieds Stan and Charmaine find themselves unemployed and homeless, living in a third-hand Honda and subsisting on whatever odd jobs they can find. Desperate, they cannot believe their luck when they are offered a place in the Consilience gated community, where they will be offered jobs and a comfortable home...six months out of the year. On the alternating months, however, they'll be inmates in a prison complex. But how bad could that be, if they're guaranteed a home and a living wage the rest of the time? The truth is even more grim than what you're thinking. Atwood has a deft hand with dialog and keeps the shifting narration between Stan and Charmaine clear and perfectly paced. She is a master of her craft.

Strawberry Shortcake Murder, by Joanne Fluke. And who doesn't like some light and fluffy murder, complete with recipes? Second in Fluke's long-running Hannah Swensen cozy mystery series (following Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder), this installment finds Hannah on call when a friend discovers her husband murdered in her garage. Danielle has motive, but maintains her innocence, which leaves cookie baker and amateur sleuth Hannah on the case to clear Danielle's name. As sweet and easy as you can make a mystery, this was just what I wanted to read after the holiday.

Three on Thursday: Cookbooks!

With the holidays looming, some folks feel that they need something fresh and new to offer alongside the tried-and-true recipes they traditionally serve. If you're looking for a little inspiration this holiday season, take a look at some of our new cookbooks!

Too many apples piling up after a trip to the local orchard? Check out The Fly Creek Cider Mill Cookbook by Brenda and Bill Michaels, offering over 100 recipes, all featuring apples. Part ode to the generations of Michaels who have owned and operated the cider mill and orchard, part homage to the versatile seasonal fruit, this should provide inspiration and some cozy reading to cooks and bakers. In a similar vein, you might also want to check out The New England Orchard Cookbook by Linda Beaulieu, which features recipes from iconic orchards all over New England. Moving beyond just apples, this also covers peaches, pears, berries and more, along with providing gorgeous photographs both of the orchards and the recipes. (Also, if you're looking for a hidden gem of an orchard and cider mill around here, I highly recommend Beardsley's Cider Mill and Orchard in Shelton!)

Envious of all the relaxed entertaining you see on television and social media? Embrace it for yourself with established cookbook author Nancy Silverton's Mozza At Home, which is chock full of easy recipes to help you spend more time out mingling with guests instead of cloistered in the kitchen. And if you're looking to up your game in the entertaining department, consider the new cookbook/lifestyle guide from the author of the bestselling Dinner: A Love Story, Jenny Rosenstrach's How To Celebrate Everything. Over a hundred recipes are paired with inspiring ideas on how to turn special occasions into cherished traditions.

Finally, if you're wondering what the most popular cookbook is right now? Ina Garten's Cooking for Jeffrey is what fans, foodies and cooks are talking about right now. Filled with recipes requested most frequently by the Barefoot Contessa's spouse and his friends, this is part cookbook and part love story in food. 

Wishing you and yours a very happy Thanksgiving. I'll rejoin you with what I've been reading after the holiday!

A few of my favorite things: March 2016

This is a bit different than my usual "What I've Been Reading" posts, though I'll be sharing those titles I've read in March later this week. There are lots of things I've read and resources I've used that don't make the list, primarily because I haven't read it cover-to-cover, so I don't count them. But if you're a cook, a crafter, a Pinterest junkie, or just a general grazer of ideas and inspiration, here you will find some odds and ends which have caught the fancy of this like-minded individual. (And feel free to follow me on Pinterest for endless boards about books, knitting, recipes, and more.)

In my endeavor to teach myself to knit socks (I've knit 5 pair since October, each one an incredible learning process), Custom Socks: knit to fit your feet by Kate Atherley has been an enormous help to me! Full of information on sizing and construction basics, it also has excellent patterns for beginners and experienced knitters. I liked the library's copy so much, I went out and bought a copy for myself, too.

A book that I've spied waiting to be cataloged here at the library (it should be ready shortly, and I can't wait!) is a new book by Marisa McClellan (author of Food in Jars, based on her very popular blog by the same name) called Naturally Sweet Food in Jars featuring recipes for jams, jellies, conserves and chutneys featuring maple syrup, honey, and other natural sweeteners. My husband does not understand my penchant for canning, but he'll be happy to sample new recipes, anyway!

If you need to get yourself geared up to do a little spring cleaning, all folks can talk about is Marie Kondo's book The Life-changing Magic of Tidying Up, which talks about keeping what you love and letting the rest go. Just what some of us might need to coach us through the spring-cleanup.

Finally, over the past few years, I've been trying to up my gardening game--you see, I was born with two black thumbs, and have had to work very hard to learn how to grow things. Last year was the first year I successfully grew tomato plants! So I'm looking to learn more and try growing some new things, even though we have a few weeks (like, 6) until we're out of the woods on frost warnings. I've had good luck with container gardens, so the new book Container Theme Gardens by Nancy Ondra has been giving me lots of great ideas to try this year.

I'll be back on Thursday with What I've Been Reading, the fiction edition. In the meantime, happy reading!

Three on Thursday: Fiction for Foodies

In these days leading up to a feast of gratitude and goodies, I have another thing to be thankful for: Books! And today, books of the delicious fiction variety. Foodie fiction comes in many varieties, too. There are cozy mysteries full of recipes and/or set in restaurants, coffee shops or catering companies. There are novels which take the reader to exotic locales full of delicious delicacies and vibrant stories. Or coming of age stories that include working in restaurants. Or family dramas featuring many a heartfelt conversation around a kitchen table. Whatever you're tasting, rest assured there is a novel to suit your craving. Here are three in particular that we've found just delicious--I'm sure you'll have room for one or two.

Eat Cake, by Jeanne Ray. This has been a personal favorite since I read it more than ten years ago. Ruth has always found baking cakes to be a source of relief from the stresses of life. And now-as her husband loses his job, her life-of-the-party father arrives for an extended stay (much to the dismay of her mother, who also moved in recently), and her teenage daughter perfects the art of sulking-Ruth is going to have to save the day. Quiet, heart-warming and delectable, this short novel is a perfect little treat, even if you think you don't have a moment to spare.

Chocolat, by Joanne Harris. Many know Chocolat as the Oscar-nominated film starring Juliette Binoche and Johnny Depp. But first, it was the tantalizing novel about hedonism, whimsy and chocolate that intoxicated readers. In a tiny French town, where little has changed over the last hundred years, beautiful newcomer Vianne Rocher and her exquisite chocolate shop arrive and instantly begin to play havoc with Lenten vows. Each box of luscious bonbons comes with a free gift: Vianne's uncanny perception of its buyer's private discontents and a clever, caring cure for them. Is she a witch? Soon the parish no longer cares, as it abandons itself to temptation, happiness, and a dramatic face-off between Easter solemnity and the pagan gaiety of a chocolate festival. Perfectly indulgent.

Need something a bit more savory? I have to recommend Ruth Reichl's recent Delicious! , which follows young Billie Breslin from her home in California to New York, where she lands an internship at the long-running gourmet magazine, Delicious! What follows is part love-story to the rich and varied food traditions of New York City and part mystery as Billie delves deep into the magazine's hidden archives, hot on the trail of a decades-old connection between a young girl and culinary icon James Beard during the second World War. Fascinating, captivating, and completely delicious, this might just make an ideal respite from your holiday preparations.

I'm back next week to wrap up what I've been reading recently. In the meantime, happy reading!

Three on Thursday: Cozy Fall Meals

If you're ever in need of inspiration for what to make for dinner, look no further than the shelves and shelves of cookbooks at your library.  Want to cut back on take-out? Learn how to make your favorites at home--it's easier than you think.  Bored of your same old stand-by recipes?  The library has books on a variety of ethnic and contemporary American recipes.  Inspired by your favorite Food Network chef?  Check us out!  We have dozens of cookbooks written by your favorites!  To get you started, here are a few new cookbooks that might help with some of your weeknight cooking dilemmas, full of warm, comforting recipes to suit any palate.


Not much time to cook, but still want a homemade meal for the family?  Try Debra Ponzek's The Dinnertime Survival Cookbook, with lots of healthy and easy recipes.  My favorites?  The soups and slow cooker recipes--low-maintenance, high satisfaction, and great on the leftovers front!

Have one day a week that you can use for food prep?  You might find Jessica Fisher's Not Your Mother's Make-Ahead Cookbook to be just what you're looking for.  She teaches you how to batch-cook just about anything, from breakfast items easy to grab on your way out the door to soup, pizza, meats, casseroles and more.  I have to give her major points for thoroughly addressing the planning stages of batch cooking--any bit of time-saving in these instances helps tremendously!

Finally, we are entering the season for parties, and I don't know about you, but I often find myself stumped on what to bring!  Fear not--Good Housekeeping's The Great Potluck Cookbook to the rescue!  The cookbook itself is separated by event or holiday, but who says that you can't mix and match?  Who says you can't use that picnic recipe for Monday Night Football?  Or that tailgate recipe for a holiday party appetizer? 


Happy reading--and cooking!

Seasonal reading

Busy days here at the Trumbull Library.  It seems that as the days get shorter, they're packed fuller and fuller.  And yet, there are some moments of downtime, even just a few, when we get to relish the change in the seasons.  Autumn is my favorite season.  I love the cool evenings and brisk mornings, the vibrant foliage, trips to the orchard, Halloween and those perfectly clear days where the sky seems impossibly blue.  In celebration of these changes, here are a few books to help you pause during these busy days and savor the season.

With Halloween just around the corner, it's not too late to add some easy, festive decorations.  Check out Artful Halloween by Susan Wasinger for fast and easy crafts, from super-creepy disembodied hands to DIY garlands with a literary touch, to a variety of ways to spruce up your average pumpkin.  (Also, for year-round crafts that are eco-friendly, try Wasinger's Eco-craft: recycle, recraft, restyle, too.)  Feel like you could use a little inspiration for your jack-o-lantern this year?  The library can help!  For kid-friendly guides, try J. Angelique Johnson's Making a Jack-o'-lantern, step by step or Sarah Schuette's How To Carve Freakishly Cool Pumpkins.  But who says that pumpkin carving is just for kids?  If you're really looking for something out of the ordinary, take a browse through Tom Nardone's Extreme Pumpkins II.  Trust me: Tom Nardone knows extreme pumpkin carving.

What would Halloween be without parties and costumes?  Get great ideas for grownup get-togethers with Adult Halloween Parties by Mary T. McCarthy, with tips for themes, costumes, food and beverages or the Better Homes and Gardens compilation of the Best of Halloween Tricks & Treats.  And for the kids, have a monstrously good time with the help of Chris Kullstroem's Making a Monstrous Halloween and Monster Parties & Games, the latter being particularly useful if you wanted to do a monster-movie tie-in.

Lastly, with pumpkin insinuating itself into all of your daily foods and beverages, why not embrace the season with some comfort cooking and baking.  The Seasonal Baker, by John Barricelli will help you use all those fresh-picked apples from the orchard, and make the most of the plentiful pumpkin with recipes for cakes, pies, quick-breads, tarts and crisps.  Think that your food allergy or sensitivity means that you can't enjoy the bounty of the season?  Think again!  Colette Martin's new book, Learning to Bake Allergen-Free, has recipes to accommodate every dietary need.   Finally, if you're looking for something to warm you up on a chilly day, I have to recommend Rick Rodgers' Autumn Gatherings and Comfort Food.  I love his recipes, and use his Thanksgiving 101 faithfully to help me out every year.  These two seasonal selections provide detailed instructions, thoughtful commentary and a nostalgic feel for simpler times. 

Now get out there and enjoy the season!  I'll be back next week with a little monster mash-up guaranteed to put you in a ghoulish mood!

Cooking inspiration

I don't know about anyone else, but I'm having a really hard time wrapping my head around the fact that it's mid-November already and that next week is Thanksgiving.  Really?  How did this happen?  If you're new to hosting the holidays this year, looking for a little help to get you through, or you're just hoping for a little inspiration, these new cookbooks might be just what you need.


All About Roasting: a new approach to a classic art, by Molly Stevens.  Divided into segments by food type (chicken & poultry, fish & shellfish, vegetables, etc.), All About Roasting is filled with delicious photos and detailed recipes guaranteed to make your mouth water.  Not only does Stevens tell you how to make these gorgeous dishes, she also gives readers the reasoning behind why a recipe might call for low heat instead of high, giving insight into how the recipes were developed.  Interesting, informative, and inspiring!


Connecticut Farmer & Feast: harvesting local bounty, by Emily Brooks.  If you're into eating local, this is the cookbook for you.  Read up on sustainable agriculture, discover community supported farms right in your neighborhood, and get great recipes included with each farm's story.  If this doesn't make you want to get in the kitchen and try something new and delicious, I'm not sure what will.


And if you've been asked to bring a contribution to the feast, you can't go wrong with the new Good Housekeeping The Great Potluck Cookbook.  Full of great starters, sides, casseroles and desserts, this is a huge help to anyone stuck with "what to bring"-itis.  It's divided up by occasions, like Superbowl Shindig or Family Reunion picnic, but there's no reason you couldn't use any of these recipes anytime at all.  And there's certainly no time like the present!

Happy cooking, and I'll see everyone here on Thursday for a little escapist reading!

In the kitchen

I don’t know about you, but I do my best during the summer to spend as little time in the kitchen as possible.  If I can manage to make dinner without use of the stove or oven, so much the better.  I grill, and we have lots of salad, but that’s about it.  By the end of August, I start longing for something different.  Something comforting.  Maybe something that takes more than twenty minutes to prepare.  Nothing hugely elaborate, just something more than greens on a plate, you know?  If you’re looking for a little inspiration in the kitchen, or even if you’re just interested in food in general, here are a few books to make you drool.

Man with a Pan, by Jon Donohue, et al.  Subtitled “Culinary Adventures of Men Who Cook for Their Families”, this features recipes and stories from men (professional chefs, writers, etc.) who cook.  Most notable among the contributors are Mario Batali, Michael Ruhlman, and Stephen King, who all weigh in on what their families love to eat, and what they, themselves, love to cook.  Interspersed with stories about recipes gone horribly awry and what they grew up eating as children, this is sweet, funny, and comforting.  A great read with lots of heart, highly recommended.

Four Kitchens: my life behind the burner in New York, Hanoi,Tel Aviv, and Paris, by Lauren Shockey.  If you’re a Top Chef fan (guilty), you’ll know some of the names Shockey drops from page 1, including Wylie Dufresne and David Chang.  This is a chef’s memoir that makes me think a bit of Anthony Bourdain’s KitchenConfidential: honest, gritty, and more than a little raw.  Added to the mix is a woman’s point of view in the restaurant kitchen, and this becomes a story of more than chef and food, but also cultures both kitchen and geographic.  Absolutely fascinating.

The Pioneer Woman Cooks, by Ree Drummond.  Ree, best known for her gorgeous blog by the same name, is one of the first bloggers I ever read with any regularity.  A wife and stay at home mom on a ranch in Oklahoma, Ree started her blog as a hobby, chronicling her adventures in cooking for her husband (The Marlboro Man) and her children (her punks).  Funny and full of her decadent recipes and delicious photos, this is a great read in addition to being a fabulous cookbook.  As a fan, I’ve tried Ree’s recipes on several occasions and can personally attest that her recipes are out of this world (her cinnamon rolls in particular are divine).  If you enjoy her cookbook, you might try reading Ree’s blog, too, which has expanded to include segments on home & garden, entertainment, homeschooling and photography, as well.  (PS, Ree’s got a show on the Food Network, too.  Check her out on Saturdays at 11:30am.)

See you next week, when we kick off a month of riveting thrillers and creepy horror novels!