Just Jennifer

Martha Stewart's Appetizers: 200 Recipes for Dips, Spreads, Snacks, Small Plates, and Other Delicious Hors D'oeuvres, Plus 30 Cocktails by Martha Stewart

Domestic guru Martha Stewart has been providing recipes and entertaining ideas for over twenty years and does not disappoint with her latest collection, a smaller, less daunting cookbook than her 1999 Martha Stewart’s Hors D’oeuvres Handbook.  Stewart starts off with hosting do’s and don’ts and party tips and planning including an illustrated list of what she considers the most essential serving pieces and utensils.  The recipes are divided into five alliterative sections: Snacks, Starters, Small Plates, Stylish Bits and Sips, and though Stewart’s recipes are notorious for sometimes being very complicated with hard to find ingredients, how easy is it to melt Parmigiano cheese in a skillet until golden and let it crisp up a bit before serving.  Simple instructions, most are half a page long, combined with clear, no fuss pictures make these recipe accessible to the home cook.  Some of the recipes offer more substantial fare such as Fennel-Crusted Lamb on Brioche, Beef Sliders (complete with homemade mini hamburger buns) and Kale and Chicken Hand Pies recipes that could easily be assembled into a full meal buffet.  While some of the recipes are more substantial, some are as easy as assembling a pretty vegetable platter.  Classic cocktails such as Manhattans and Martinis get slightly new twists and drinks such as Tequila-Thyme Lemonade are sure to become summer favorites.  There are many recipes and options to choose from but the nice thing about this collection is that it never becomes overwhelming; there recipes will have you looking forward to hosting casual get-togethers such as book group discussions as well as more formal cocktail parties for special occasions. 

FTC Disclaimer: I received this book from the Blogging for Books program in exchange for this review.

Just Jennifer

Fast Girl: A Life Spent Running by Suzy Favor Hamilton

Suzy Favor Hamilton was at the top of her game during high school, college and immediately after: she was a three-time Olympic athlete, a spokesperson for several sports apparel companies and had an adoring husband and beautiful baby girl.  But Suzy also had a secret: she suffered with a mental illness that caused bouts of mania, often helpful to her running except when she was in the races of a lifetime, her Olympic heats, when she found herself frozen and then consumed by shame at what she considered her failure.  As she struggled more and more with her disease, which she later learned was misdiagnosed, she began to find herself trouble in her marriage and with motherhood.  Taken over with a new mania, Suzy finds the same adrenaline high in a new addiction: becoming a high-priced escort in Las Vegas.  When her husband first agreed to consider an open marriage, he never realized his wife’s mania would result in this new obsession, and an entirely new life as Kelly.  Standing by her, he realizes when she is on the brink of complete self-destruction and gently pulls her back, standing by her and supporting her and she receives a proper diagnosis and finally gets the type of help she so desperately needed.  Told with honest candor holding very little, if anything back, Suzy details a life of running, not just in the physical sense, but from herself.  As she examines her life and explores her past she comes to realize that in spite of what she thinks on the conscious level, this is NOT the life she wants to live and digs deep inside, relying heavily on the support of her family, to come to terms with her illness and live a more productive, traditional life, without given up the exuberance that made her special.

The New American Story

Author: Bill Bradley
Stars: 3
Review by: Bob E.

Detailed practical nonpartisan clinical analysis of the major problems with our country and practical solutions to resolve each one.  The book was written 8 years ago, the problems remain, only worse. It is from a progressive perspective.  An incredible summary of the history of the political parties in the US and what comprises their current coalition.

Unfortunately, no humor is involved making it a tough read.

The Art of Hearing Heartbeats

Author: Jan-Philipp Sendker
Stars: 5
Review by: Miss Lucy

I read this for my book group, and, like so many books we've chosen through the years, this was an obscure gem that I probably never would have picked up on my own.  This book just pulled me in to its magical descriptions of life and love.  The story seemingly starts when a young woman travels to Burma to look for her father, who suddenly and mysteriously disappeared from her life.  But the story is so much more than that - it's like a fairy tale in which you will lose yourself.

 

I Just Want to Pee Alone: A Collection of Humorous Essays by Kick Ass Mom Bloggers

Author: Various
Stars: 3
Review by: Miss Lucy
This is a collection of humorous essays about pregnancy, childbirth, postpartum experiences, and early motherhood.  The essays were collected by Jen Mann from some of her favorite fellow bloggers.  The second essay in the book (about Disney World) is so spot on.  This book will make you laugh, cringe, and count your blessings that you didn't have it as difficult as some of these fellow moms did.

 

People I Want to Punch in the Throat: Competitive Crafters, Drop-off Despots, and Other Suburban Scourges

Author: Jen Mann
Stars: 4
Review by: Miss Lucy
Jen Mann shares her rants about being a suburban mom of young children.  These moms compete with one another in so many annoying ways.  I was enjoying the book well enough, and then halfway through, the book really kicked up, starting with the chapter about moms who do their kids' homework ("Am I Supposed to Believe a Five-Year-Old Made That?").  I loved the book from that chapter on.  It brought back many unpleasant memories, but from a distance where I can laugh about them now.

 

The Figures of Beauty

Author: David MacFarlane
Stars: 3
Review by: Smudge
The reviewers said the book was about beauty, love, and life.  I though it was about marble and art.

 

Paris

Author: Edward Rutherfurd
Stars: 4
Review by: Chris L.
I love all things French so this epic novel filled in some blanks for me. Somewhat confusing as story lines switched from seventeenth to nineteenth centuries and back intermittently. But overall satisfying read.

 

What Alice Forgot

Author: Liane Moriarty
Stars: 3
Review by: Chris L.
Interesting plot carries story along. However ending is disappointingly mundane.

 

All the Light We Cannot See

Author: Anthony Doerr
Stars: 5
Review by: Chris L.
Moving story told from two divergent points of view. Lives swept along by forces outside their control.

So Many Steps to Death

Author: Agatha Christie
Stars: 3
Review by: MandyApgar
Another lesser known Christie. It focuses on the bright, pretty Hillary Craven - a young woman whose husband abandons her and their sick (soon deceased) child and decides to commit suicide. Caught on the verge of committing the act by a man in government service, he enlists Hillary's help in a "more sporting" death. Bearing a resemblance to the wife of a scientist who created a revolutionary fission method and then vanished, she is recruited to pose as the woman and then infiltrate the cold war era scene in order to get to the truth. Hillary does, but not before she gets caught up in things more than she expected, and even solves a murder that nobody knew existed in the process.

Death Comes as the End

Author: Agatha Christie
Stars: 4
Review by: MandyApgar
On of Christie's lesser known books, but I really like it. She got the inspiration after seeing some Egyptian scrolls. Set entirely in the ancient age of the country, it concerns the young widow Renisenb, who moves back with her stuffy father (a ka priest), grandmother, younger brother Ipy, and her two elder brothers with their wives and families. When her elderly father brings home a young concubine, Renisenb tries to be kind, but the girl - jealous of a young kinsman Khay's attraction to her - is still rude. When she is found dead at the base of a cliff a series of events starts off resulting in multiple deaths and Renisenb having to solve more or less for herself two mysteries - who is her family's killer, and whether or not to indeed marry Khay or her father's trusted advisor.

 

The Handbook of Style

Author: Francine Maoukian & Sarah Woodruff
Stars: 2
Review by: JL
Ok advice on fashion.

The Man in the Brown Suit

Author: Agatha Christie
Stars: 5
Review by: MandyApgar
I absolutely love this. It features Christie's greatest strengths - quirky characters placed in exotic settings faced with mystery - in spades and does quite well for setting the stage for a future tentpole character. When Anne Beddingfield, the daughter of a brilliant but impoverished archaeologist, has to earn her living upon her father's passing, she discovers she has a talent for getting into serious trouble. And for being a bit of a smart aleck. Not knowing much what to do, she flails about a little, and one day sees a man assaulted in the tube by a mysterious stranger in a brown suit. Long story short, Anne gets some money which she then blows on a trip to Africa in order to track the man (all the while writing a newspaper column on her search). Encountering the future Christie staple Colonel Race in his youth, and a friend in the form of a bored socialite housewife, she manages to get to the bottom of who the man is and uncovers a gigantic scheme in the process - resulting in her being nearly killed multiple times, falling off a cliff, being caught in the occasional gunfight, and even married!

The Sisters Who Would Be Queen

Author: Leanna de Lisle
Stars: 4
Review by: JL
Interesting take on the Tudor succession.

 

Life in the English Country House

Author: Mark Girouard
Stars: 2
Review by: MandyApgar
Nicely organized by chronology - beginning with the mediaeval household and ending with a section on households during the Indian colonial period- this was done pretty well. Minus the irritating spelling of medieval that is. Including the sort of Downton Abbey type dirt on manor houses, it manages to be in depth without being boring. A fairly famous book in its field and for good reason.

Who Gets the Drumstick: a Story of a Widow and Widower Who Met, Fell in Love, Married & Lived Happily Ever After

Author: Helen Beardsley
Stars: 5
Review by: MandyApgar
For the love of all that is holy, forget the Yours, Mine and Ours remake. This book is closer to the original, Lucille Ball version, which Ms. Ball gained the rights to after hearing of and becoming a friend to the Beardsleys. When Helen North, 32, suddenly becomes a navy widow she relocates her family of 8 to California to be closer to her family. A very devout Catholic whose faith is poured into the book, she immediately enrolls her children in a parish school run by a "cracker jack" Mother Superior - a no nonsense lady who finds room for all Helen's kids after hearing her story and finding similarities in that of her brother. Frank Beardsley's wife died suddenly, leaving him with 10 kids, and Helen herself was so moved she sent the man a copy of a special prayer that helped her. Touched, Frank began corresponding with her and the two discovered multiple eerie coincidences in their lives to the point that they became convinced it was God's will that they marry and unite their families. And so, in 1961, they did. (And unlike the film, the kids were all overjoyed with it.) Soon bearing a son, Joseph John (and later a daughter), Helen and Frank had an extremely happy life together that was touched by adopting each other's children and dealing with the celebrity that their family brought. They were the Duggars of their time, except actually competent, and the book is truly a joy for not only their shared faith, but how they made such a happy life together.

 

The Undertaker's Daughter: a Memoir

Author: Kate Mayfield
Stars: 4
Review by: MandyApgar
Mayfield uses aliases in this all throughout and with fairly good reason - on the surface the book seems pretty basic but the themes explored at times aren't really so. The third of four kids born to a WWII vet funeral director and his long suffering wife, she grew up in a very small Bible belt town in the early 60s. While her father was deciding how to keep on helpers such as the shroud lady or how to handle a rivalry with the other town funeral home run by a long standing family, the town itself was undergoing a series of changes brought about by the civil rights movement. Devoted to the family's African American housekeeper, Belle, and attracted to black men, Mayfield never understood why there was an issue. But after sleeping with her first boyfriend and the news getting out she found herself increasingly threatened and in trouble for her views. And, at the same time, she was fending off blows from her mentally ill older sister - a severe bipolar case with abusive tendencies, their parents never wanted to admit she needed help and so she was allowed to beat her siblings unchecked. Sadly, her father died young, and the house they were given by a family friend taken from them by the lady's greedy relatives, but Mayfield herself got out early to begin a new life in London.

 

Health and Wellness in Colonial America: Health and Wellness in Daily Life

Author: Rebecca Tannenbaum
Stars: 2
Review by: MandyApgar
I read something else in this series, forget what, and it was abysmal. This had a lot of the same problems - was dusty dry and not too interesting - but it was written a lot better. Still had the same irritating habit of having very short chapters followed by all the sources immediately so for someone who reads fast like me its basically a 5 minute jaunt and then flip flip flip several pages across to the next. Just interrupts the flow a little.

 

Lamb to the Slaughter and other stories

Author: Roald Dahl
Stars: 4
Review by: MandyApgar
Read this for Lamb and ignore the four others. Two stories are set in England, one in the country, and another during the great war. The titular tale, one of the works about which Dahl was most proud, is the classic later popularized by Alfred Hitchcock as a Presents episode. Mary Maloney, a pregnant housewife, a dumped by her husband for another woman shortly after he returns home one day. She reacts with what is at hand - a leg of lamb - and smacks him, at which point Patrick falls down stone dead. Mary then, after considering her options, decides to stage the scene to make it look like Patrick was killed by a lover. And she, unlike in the TV show, actually gets away with it - complete with her giving a childlike giggle at the end as she ponders Patrick's co-workers devouring the murder weapon.

Disney's Haunted Mansion: From the Magic Kingdom to the Movies

Author: Jason Surrell
Stars: 4
Review by: MandyApgar
He does really, really good books. The first edition of an in depth examination of the classic attraction from its conception to the then recent Eddie Murphy disaster. Parts on the ride are the best - covers the inspirations behind the design (Winchester House, Asa Packer Mansion), the theme, stretching portrait gallery, Madame Leota, the pet cemetery out back, the dining / ballroom with dancing ghosts and resultant hitchhikers, even the infamous hat box ghost. All that is perfect. The problem is the space he devotes to the movie, which was a sizable disaster. So the book chugs along merrily and then BAM just hits a wall. A new version omits the movie portions which is great (there is a book on the Pirates ride, which is awful as it never shuts up about Jack bloody Sparrow) but which I do not have.

 

More Seen, Un-Seen Disneyland: An Unofficial, Unauthorized Look at What You See at Disneyland, but Never Really See

Author: Russell D. Flores & Bob Gurr
Stars: 4
Review by: MandyApgar
A sequel of sorts to the prior book - with additional hidden Mickeys, more park history, items that were on extinct rides relocated to other ones, and even attractions that have been closed completely. (A bra store in Disneyland??? Really??? It only lasted 6 months.) Slightly not as good as the first book - he probably used a lot of A material to start off - but still cute.

 

Seen Un Seen Disneyland: What you see at Disneyland but Never Really See

Author: Russell D. Flores
Stars: 4
Review by: MandyApgar
A nice unauthorized self published book written by a friend of my parents. Flores, a self professed Disney nut of the old school (aka "Uncle Walt" in all his glory) shows a lot of things in the park that people never really see but that Walt in his imagineers added in purposely to increase enjoyment. There is a chapter on Hidden Mickeys - the mouse ear symbol imagineers like to hide in rides, various obscure details and ideas Disney - who really was a sharp guy - and others had building the park, etc. Lots of nice, simple small things.

 

Kitchen Confidential

Author: Anthony Bourdain
Stars: 4
Review by: MandyApgar
Bourdain, a caustic New Yorker with a penchant for drugs and cigarettes, begins working his way up the culinary ladder and soon realizes that folks would almost never eat out if they knew how restaurants really operated. A chronicle of the odd events (co-workers threatening each other with cleavers, fights, etc) and useful information (never order fish later in the week as it only arrives on one day) he has lived through. Very observational and self referencing, it is also a joint biography of sorts with Bourdain's life serving as a backdrop. The book created quite a stir when it came out and served as the inspiration to hire Bourdain for his No Reservations show. Very wonderful, completely profane, and utterly him. All good.

Adios America

Author: Ann Coulter
Stars: 5
Review by: Jeanette
I think everyone should read this book.  It is politically incorrect (yeah), but delivers some worrisome information.  Like her or her book or not, I think it is worth reading...or at least skimming.

 

A Court of Thorns and Roses

Author: Sarah J. Maas
Stars: 4
Review by: SummerShandy
Another good YA fantasy story: faeries, humans, demons boundary walls, fading magic, evil queen....the works!

 

The Drafter: A Novel

Author: Kim Harrison
Stars: 4.5
Review by: Saraswati
This is the first new book after the Hollows series and it is a complete departure from that line. This is a story of time travelers and their anchors, people who help them create their new realities after changing the past. It was a little difficult for me to read, so I can understand the "drafter" character trying to understand their lives. I see great potential in this possible new series. I hope there is more.

Where the Red Fern Grows

Author: Wilson Rawls
Stars: 5
Review by: Shapoppa
A beautifully written classic about a boy and his faithful hounds. I never had the chance to read this book as a youngster, but I'm glad because I would have never appreciated it as much as I do today. The story takes you back to a time when summer seemed endless, and being a child meant that you could explore the great outdoors without the fear or worry of potential harm from strangers.

 

Between You and Me: Confessions of a Comma Queen

Author: Mary Norris
Stars: 3.5
Review by: Miss Lucy
A proofreader for the New Yorker describes her experiences with correcting spelling, grammar, and punctuation. I learned about lots of obscure things, and enjoyed every minute of it, grammar geek that I am!

Who Do You Love

Author: Jennifer Weiner
Stars: 5
Review by: Keeread
Fantastic book!!!!!

 

Presidents: All You Need to Know

Author: Carter Smith
Stars: 4
Review by: MandyApgar
I will readily admit I know squat about the Presidents, other than general things on Lincoln and the Roosevelts. This starts at Washington and ends with GW Bush, so it is a bit outdated, but is still extremely well organized. Sections are separate for each term, with biographical bits of each president, a section of quotes about him (pro and con in each, a good idea), complete cabinet, timelines on the bottom of each page tying world events with the country's achievements, etc. An awful lot to get through, but it was well worth it (poor Warren G Harding's middle name is Gamaliel of all things) and its best achievement is not being political. Facts are stated as such and so one can get a pretty open view of each person without being saddled with statements like I found in Party Like a President immediately condemning the man for this or that in a petty way.

 

Stonehenge Complete

Author: Christopher Chippindale
Stars: 4
Review by: MandyApgar
One of the better Stonehenge books I've read, much better than the newer one the library has (title escapes me). Its been revised several times and I have the newest edition, although it is about 15 years old. Covers a lot of the folklore and myths of the site and its origins, the Druids, what little is definitively known of its construction, a bit on the nutty theories of today (never, ever argue with a person on Facebook that this and the pyramids weren't built by or for aliens - trust me), and some on preservation and future plans for the site.

 

Folk Art of Rural Pennsylvania

Author: Frances Lichten
Stars: 4
Review by: MandyApgar
This was nice too. An older book, but that was part of its charm. Almost had a fit a few weeks ago when I opened a newer folk art book that promised to show readers how to gain "a primitive look with modern materials." Although not the best organized, it is pretty thorough. Chapters are divided by location of the media ("from the sheep which graze on the earth") and although that does sound rather melodramatic that's how things are. Just odd that say rugs are in a different section than textiles, or that general needlework is chapters away from quilts. But the selection of works is very well presented (sometimes they're put kind of all over the page) and a nice variety is shown. Wish something like this would be made today, or more respected.

Saint Mazie

Author: Jami Attenberg
Stars: 5
Review by: Smudge
For 30 plus years, Mazie Phillips Gordon sold tickets from a small booth for the Venice Theater, a movie theater off the Bowery.  A street-smart woman, loyal to her family, she watched the world walk past and when times got tough in the 20s and 30s, she helped those most in need.  This wonderfully written book is a fictionalized account - part diary and part interview - makes you wish you could have met her.  The best book I read this summer.

***BIG*** Congratulations to...

... the GRAND PRIZE gift basket winners:

• LZ99 (North County basket)
• Elaine (Headquarters basket)
• Kathy G (South County & Member Libraries basket)

Congratulations to...

... our Week #15 Prize Winners:

• Scrappy3
• BNbook

2015 Adult Summer Reading Club - Final Stats

Click on image to enlarge.

The Homecoming

Author: Robyn Carr
Stars: 5
Review by: Sallys cats
This Thunder Point series is great!

The Wonders of Man: Teotihaucan--First City in the Americans

Author: Karl Ernest Meyer
Stars: 4
Review by: MandyApgar
I like Newsweek books. Prefer Time Life editions, but these are good for what they are. Not the best quality book - they are usually printed on pretty cheap paper and the words blur on older editions - but it serves its purpose of providing general information. Nothing I did not already know, but it still would contain a lot for a general reader.

New Jersey Curiosities: Second Edition

Author: Peter Genovese
Stars: 4
Review by: MandyApgar
Cute. Arranged by location (northwest, northeast, etc. - Hunterdon is in the central portion) it contains roadside oddities and related points of interest. "Interest" being an odd way to look at things though, as at times I had to wonder why on Earth he wanted another diner in the book. He brings up the cockroach derby, tells one where to see the electric chair that executed Bruno Hauptmann, things like that. I do know however, from reading about these things frequently, that some of these places are no longer available, so this is not the sort of book that one should use as a travel guide.

 

Life and Times of Colonial Philadelphia

Author: Joseph J Kelley
Stars: 3
Review by: MandyApgar
A series of vignettes of various lives and personal experiences, arranged by subject, to give an everyday look at how normal Philadelphians lived. There are the usual persons - Franklin of course, and various politicians, but the book does show a lot of how "the other side" lived. The problem with it was that the book seemed written for juniors and did not have much meat to it.

 

Inside the White House

Author: Betty Boyd Caroli
Stars: 3
Review by: MandyApgar
I was rather disappointed by this one. Was hoping for something a bit more interesting or behind the scenes, but it seemed mostly like several dozen photos that viewers are already used to put together. Not as much on the actual history of the building, just mostly the lives of the last century's presidents.

 

A Collector's Guide to the Amphibole Group

Author: Robert Lauf
Stars: 3
Review by: MandyApgar
Well presented, but quite boring at times. Not recommended for anyone without a serious academic or professional interest in mineralogy for that reason. The group's chemistry isn't too well presented, but the writing is done well. The photos are always very clear and well done but fall into the trap of that they are too good looking and nothing near what the average collector would actually get.

 

Cleopatra of Egypt: From History to Myth

Author: Susan Higgs & Peter Walker
Stars: 3
Review by: MandyApgar
A very large catalog of pieces attributed to, or related to, the reign of Cleopatra. It was published in celebration of a museum project and does have that hint of dry academia, and frankly would be exceedingly dull for someone unfamiliar with her to read due to the size, but is well done. Some of the works included are a bit odd, as it seemed for a brief moment that the editors were including almost any piece of a bald Roman man simply because so, but for the most part they are relevant.

 

An American Celebration: The Art of Charles Wysocki

Author: Charles Wysocki
Stars: 5
Review by: MandyApgar
Mostly known for his "Americana" series popularized in various puzzles and calendars, Wysocki was at his passing the premiere American folk artist - specializing in old time country scenes, holiday themed paintings with hidden folkloric references, and also (oddly enough) cats. This book is mostly concerned with the former and is arranged as if the reader is viewing the works in order of season. Along with each painting Wysocki gives an explanation of sorts as to the origins of the work and themes behind it. Although his work can be seen as a bit "blocky" or not naturalistic - an unfortunate side effect of the omnipresent puzzles - his range is shown in several other pieces possessing a strong realism.

 

Rain: A Natural and Cultural History

Author: Cynthia Barnett
Stars: 2
Review by: MandyApgar

I was hoping for something a bit more, I dunno, lyrical perhaps. This was pretty academic at times and making the text seem very scientific rather dulls the subject. But it is a natural history not only of the process of rain and its effects - floods, rainforests, etc. but also its impact upon civilizations all the way to global warming and sea level issues today. Very good for an environmental history, just not as inspiring as I hoped.

 

Tesla: Life and Times of an Electric Messiah

Author: Nigel Cawthorne
Stars: 4
Review by: jamBob
With lots of photos this book will dispel any remaining notions you may harbor that Edison was the electric genius. Not so. This simple, but enigmatic man born in Croatia in 1856 patented over 700 inventions for generators, radio, robots, and fluorescent lights. Unfortunately he was not a good businessman and was taken advantage of by Edison himself and Westinghouse. While Edison invented by brute force Tesla seemed to live and breath electricity. His mind constantly picturing machines, turbines and wonderful creations that worked by invisible energy. Once a handsome man by later years he appears like a thin, pale sickly caricature of himself. Too many disappointments, dreams dashed, swindles and too many volts shot through his body.

 

End-of-Summer Party

The End-of-Summer Party was attended by 43 club members, who enjoyed extraordinary refreshments, challenging games, colorful door prizes, a book swap, and warm camaraderie with fellow book lovers.  Thank you to the Friends of the Library for supporting the club.

Just Jennifer

Golden Age by Jane Smiley

In the conclusion to her Langdon trilogy, Pulitzer Prize winner Jane Smiley takes the family, the grandchildren and great-grandchildren of Walter and Rosanna Langdon, through the world of the late 1980’s to present day to four years into the future as most of them leave the family farm in Iowa and face the modern world rife with political scandal, worldwide unrest and financial instability, all the while remembering what it is that gives meaning to everything---family.

Focusing on Frank and Andy’s twins Michael and Richie, readers see the financial world collapse and world events through the eyes of a congressman.  Lillian and Arthur’s children continue to face sad times as Joe and his son Jesse fight to save the family farm in Iowa.  Henry finds a place for himself in the modern world, a place he couldn’t have found in his parent’s time and Claire continues on quietly in the shadows of her older brothers and sisters.  Jane Smiley filters everyday events through this every family, not a perfect family, some members make good decisions, some make poor decisions, some are heroes, some are anti-heroes, but at their core, a family nonetheless.  A saga for the ages, this trilogy is a well-observed chronicle of the twentieth-century into the twenty-first as seen through the eyes of one family.

Just Jennifer

Corrupted by Lisa Scottoline

Bennie Rosato, founder of the Rosato & DiNunzio law firm, has a tough, no nonsense exterior and is as driven as they come.   Bennie doesn’t normally take on murder cases, but when she is called to the Philadelphia police department she finds the man sitting before her is the man she defended as a young boy who was sent, in her opinion, unfairly, to juvenile prison thirteen years ago.  Jason Leftavick is accused of stabbing the man who was the bully with whom he had a fight in middle school that landed him in the clutches of the juvenile justice system.  Bennie finds herself feeling she owes Jason for her own shortcomings and for the shortcomings of a system that failed him as a young boy.  Much of the story is told as a flashback, relating the events of December 2002, a time that left Bennie feeling vulnerable and defeated and with some hurts that have not healed over time.   Back in present day, Bennie throws herself into Jason’s case, trying to atone for her past failings, wondering if an innocent man is sitting before her or a man angry and hardened by a system that failed him.  Bennie is startled when someone from the past appears, someone with whom she never had a proper ending, someone with whom she might not be ready for an ending.  Fast-paced, Corrupted  follows the story of two young boys through a faulty system, and without the skills or resources to fully recover; full of well-drawn characters, Lisa Scottoline plumbs the depths of her main character, a woman who has never dealt with the hurt and scars from her past, but a woman who may just be ready to open herself up to a different kind of future.  

Just Jennifer

What You See by Hank Phillippi Ryan

Journalist Jane Ryland is currently unemployed and looking forward exploring her relationship with Detective Jake Brogan a little further now that there is not currently a conflict of interest.  The rent must be paid, however, and while Jane is on an interview with a Boston affiliate, a man is stabbed in downtown Boston.  Less than a month before the Fourth of July tourists will descend on Boston, a stabbing in broad daylight on a crowded street is not good.  The station manager sends Jane out on the story with a per diem agreement and once again, Jane and Jake find themselves on different sides of the story.  A murder in broad daylight proves to be difficult for Jake to investigate as there are so many witnesses, each with a different version of the events, some with agendas.  Jane, on the other hand knows the camera never lies when a young photographer approaches her claiming to have the murder on film.  The streets of Boston, however, are equipped with video cameras, but did the monitor hit record in enough time to catch a murderer?  As Jane works her story and Jake investigates his case, things get complicated…very complicated and very personal and as so often has happened to Jake and Jane in the past, it will take what each one knows to solve the crime, but can they reveal to each other what they know without compromising their ethics and the case?  Jane is distracted by the impending wedding of her sister whose soon to be step-daughter has disappeared with her step-father and Janes feels as if she is the only one who has enough distance from the situation to see what is really going on.  Once again, Agatha award winning author and multi-Emmy wining investigative reporter Hank Ryan has created a story so intricate it is impossible to see the end coming.  She deftly juggles multiple storylines with well-developed characters, a plot that twists and turns many times before arriving at another photo finish that will leave readers breathless for the next book.

Just Jennifer

 The New Sugar and Spice by Samantha Seneviratne

New York food writer and stylist Samantha Seneviratne draws on her Sri Lankan roots and memoires of strong flavors and spices as she creates new twists on old favorite baked goods and desserts.  Seneviratne divides her recipes by the predominant flavor each recipe:  Peppercorns and Chile, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Clove and Cardamom, Vanilla, Ginger and finally Savory Herbs and Spices.  Each chapter begins with an essay about the spice including personal reminiscents, the lore and history and what to look for and how to store the ingredients when purchasing them.  The current salt caramel fad gets a lift by putting salt caramel atop black pepper enhanced brownies.  Cinnamon warms up an already decadent Bittersweet Chocolate Pudding.  Nutmeg is traditional in egg custards but when espresso is added it makes for a luxurious latte-like treat and who won’t be able to resist frozen eggnog pops in the middle of the summer when Christmas and all its flavors seem so far away.  Most interesting are the recipes with Clove and Cardamom, spices often used sparingly if at all; cloves pair naturally with orange in an easy pull-apart bread and the unusual flair of cardamom pairs with coffee in an easy but elegant shortbread.  Pavlovas may not be something everyone wishes to tackle but the lime custard and basil pineapple finishes are sure to find their way into other favorite desserts.  Seneviratne makes Danish pastry appear easy to make, though planning is necessary as the dough must rest for long periods of time before being turned into a caraway scented apple pastry.  Bright clean photographs accompany each recipe and entice readers to try something new.   The only think readers may find frustrating are specific sources for some of these ingredients.  Find more recipes and stories by Samantha Seneviratne at her blog www.lovecommacake.com

FTC Disclaimer: I received this book from the Blogging for Books program in exchange for this review.

The Bedford Boys: One American Town's Ultimate D Day Sacrifice

Author: Alex Kershaw
Stars: 5
Review by: Jennifer O.

There is a small town in southwest Virginia along the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains that had the most losses during World War II on D-Day.  This is their story, as told by Alex Kershaw.  While reading, I was drawn into the story of these men, their lives before the war, their training, and the big day itself. What a disaster for this town, but also what price they paid for our freedoms.

 

Crystal Cove

Author: Lisa Kleypas
Stars: 5
Review by: Patti K
This was the last book in the trilogy and my absolute favorite ~ but then I'm a sucker for love and a touch of *magic*.

 

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

Author: Mark Twain
Stars: 5
Review by: Jennifer O.
I read this immediately after finishing Tom Sawyer. Both are excellent books. This book makes you think about what people believed about slavery before it was abolished. The children have more sense than the adults when it comes to this issue. The book has all kinds of exciting twists and turns and left me in suspense most of the time.

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

Author: Mark Twain
Stars: 5
Review by: Jennifer O.

I probably read this book about four decades ago when I was a kid, so reading it this summer felt like I was reading it for the first time.  Mark Twain has an amazing sense of humor, I caught myself laughing out loud several times. He can describe life during that time period so well, makes me feel like I'm there. Enjoyed the book immensely.

The Four Agreements

Author: Don Miguel Ruiz
Stars: 5
Review by: Judy E. ...booklover
A great thought proving read on one's journey to mindfulness.

 

The English Spy

Author: Dan Silva
Stars: 5
Review by: Judy E. ...booklover
Newest in his series and one of his best!

The Last Child

Author: John Hart
Stars: 5
Review by: libraryaimee
My book club picked this to read...I was reluctant to start it, but then I couldn't put it down! It is a thriller/mystery involving a 12 year old boy whose sister is missing.  The book goes to some dark places, but the ending is very satisfying.

Stella Bain

Author: Anita Shreve
Stars: 4.5
Review by: Barb
I chose this book to listen to because it was available and sounded interesting. I really did like it. The story, well written with powerful characters, takes place during World War I, in France, England and the US. A young woman, traumatized by what she sees in combat, loses her memory and her identity to the past. Through some caring folks she is able to remember she has children she loves, and tries to get them back. And, there is a happy ending. Good book.

 

The Last Cato

Author: Matilde Asensi
Stars: 4
Review by: jamBob
The most interesting book I read all summer. A 39 year old nun working in the Vatican archives is called in at the highest levels to dissect a enigmatic mystery involving a group of religious loyalists who go about the world stealing relics from the True Cross. Interesting code breaking using Dante's Purgatory. This book was published before Dan Brown's. Exotic locations, challenging tests to the three people on the course to recover the relics. A wide knowledge of paleography as the author is a paleographer. And a little romance to boot!

 

The Good Neighbor

Author: AJ Banner
Stars: 2
Review by: NancyW
This is a psychological thriller, who dun it, novel. The hints were repetitious to the point where I thought the main character was paranoid due to a head injury.

 

Burn

Author: James Patterson
Stars: 3.5
Review by:bandit
MICHAEL BENNETT CHARACTER IS ALWAYS A GOOD READ.

 

Luckiest Man: The Life and Death of Lou Gehrig

Author: Jonathan Eig
Stars: 4.5
Review by:  bandit
This book gives a very detailed life of Lou Gehrig.  Learned quite a bit about who he was outside the ballpark. Just a good person.

 

 

The Finisher

Author: David Baldacci
Stars: 4
Review by: farmette
i know is said i was going to stop reviewing and reporting books.. BUT.. i did not stop reading....AND...i have to report on DB...i love DB for his several series.. unlike most of the other authors i like, DB has offered us 6 different sets of characters, with 4 or 5 books for each.. i have read all of 5 sets.. his newest just came out this year.. will request it today.. however... the Finisher is VERY different..it falls under the young adult label and is about a wug that lives in wormwood.. she is now 15 sessions and finds herself forced to fight in the duelem...don't you just hate when that happens.. she WINS..it also turns out she has super powers.. the book ends as she is escaping by entering the quag..the barrier that surrounds wormwood.. along with a male friend that she has kissed..!!!.. this is very derivative hunger games, but very enjoyable...can't wait for the next book.. such a treat to read a book so very different.. maybe i should simply view it as another set of characters for a DB series..

 

also... i think this book doubles my goal..

 

The Double Comfort Safari Club

Author: Alexander McCall Smith
Stars: 4
Review by: Smudge
Another enjoy tale from the Number 1 Ladies Detective Agency.

 

Sisters of Heart and Snow

Author: Margaret Dilloway
Stars: 5
Review by: Smudge
The intertwining of two stories - one from 12th century Japan, the other from present day USA - speak of love, loss and conflict.

 

Modern Romance

Author: Aziz Ansari
Stars: 4
Review by: Bob E
Pretty funny assessment of modern online dating smartphone life and its relationship to earlier times.  Overuse of the f bomb reveals his comedic weakness, but the book is surprisingly well researched and data driven.

 

Bengal's Quest

Author: Lora Leigh
Stars: 3
Review by: Saraswati
This is a book about the Breed. There were times that even I, a regular reader, was confused. There was a new story, but it was dragged along with a "been there, done that" story that is too common lately. It was still nice to know where characters wound up. Read and let me know what you think!!!

The Witch with No Name

Author: Kim Harrison
Stars: 4
Review by: Saraswati
I wanted to finish this book, but yet I didn't. This is the last book of the Hallows Series. The end was too much so I took my time. I actually re-looked at some of the past books just to put me in the right frame of mind. This is the story of overcoming great odds, fighting for love and loving someone regardless. I can't say much more or the end will be revealed. I just hope there is a spin off!

 

Nemesis

Author: Catherine Coulter
Stars: 3.5
Review by: Saraswati
My Hubby introduced me to this series many years ago and I have never been upset with it since. Yes, there are some repetitive good story makers but each story has suspense, paranormal and fun. This time the dynamic duo is separated and there is a little more suspense. Still a great fun read!

 

Dragonbane

Author: Sherrilyn Kenyon
Stars: 4
Review by: Saraswati
This is the book about the big, bad dragons along with another end of the world story. It was really nice to read about the dragons, but the story somewhat felt like a repeat. I feel like there is a big, "Armageddon, finally waiting to happen and this is just filler." The 4 is for the dragon history. If this was just another Dark Hunter it would have been a 2 book. Read it and let me know what you think!!!!

 

Edge of Darkness

Author: Christine Feehan, Maggie Shayne, Lori Herter
Stars: 3
Review by: Saraswati
This is a one for three book. All three stories are based on the supernatural world. All the stories were add-ons to the the originals with and into for Herter. Again easy summer read with a 3 for 1 deal.

 

Mayflower

Author: Nathaniel Philbrick
Stars: 4
Review by: BKF
As quoted by The New York Times-- "Startling [and] fascinating."

 

The Lincoln Assassination at Ford's Theatre

Author: Various
Stars: 5
Review by: Shapoppa
A must-read guide for touring Ford's Theatre in Washington, DC.

 

The Girl You Left Behind

Author: JoJo Moyes
Stars: 4
Review by: queenbee
This book is a couple of years old, but I like Ms. Moyes so I looked for it. Having extra time to read it was a bonus as well. I was pleasantly surprised how the story alternated between two different eras, but was still very easy to follow. Yet it was a combination of an easy read with a touch of history and a modern love story that keeps you interested. Read it.

The Mysterious Benedict Society

Author: Trenton Lee Stewart
Stars: 5
Review by: LZ99
Reading this with the kids and they LOVE it. Can't stop talking about it. Exactly what you're looking for to inspire young readers!

 

The White Corridor

Author: Christopher Fowler
Stars: 5
Review by: BookWorm2
Another fantastic Bryant and May mystery.  If you enjoy good mysteries (a la Dame Agatha Christie) this is a perfect series for you.  Filled with little know facts about London, these mysteries are a true joy.

 

Radiant Angel

Author: Nelson DeMille
Stars: 4
Review by: Judy E. ...booklover
Lots of twists and turns, but predictable.

 

The Art of Hearing Heartbeats

Author: Jan-Philipp Sendker
Stars: 4
Review by: mysterylover
About lives with obstacles (handicaps), but still lives better than those without obstacle.

 

How Long Has This Been Going On?

Author: Ethan Mordden
Stars: 5
Review by: Nanibev
The story of the history of gays since 1949.  Sad, funny, frightening, depressing, exciting, heart warming....eye opening....

Takedown Twenty

Author: Janet Evanovich
Stars: 4
Review by: JLB
Humorous!

Does This Beach Make Me Look Fat?

Author: Lisa Scottoline & Francesca Serritella
Stars: 3
Review by: Miss Lucy
The latest in humorous essays by Lisa Scottoline and twenty-something daughter Francesca.  I love this series they do.  My favorite essay in this book is "Bettor for Worse" - Francesca's description of the fantasy league she created for her and her friends in tracking the progress on the show THE BACHELOR.  As a not-so-closet fan myself, I have been running my own fantasy league for years!  :p

 

Congratulations to....

... our Week #14 Prize Winners:

• Margaret
• LinD

Progress So Far

Click on image to enlarge.

Death by Petticoat: American History Myths Debunked

Author: Mary Miley Theobald
Stars: 5
Review by: Shapoppa
Enjoyable!

A Short History of Nearly Everything

Author: Bill Bryson
Stars: 4
Review by: ILovemyDaisy
This was a wonderful audio book. I have a greater appreciation for all the scientists who devoted, and in some cases risked/lost their lives for the cause of science.  My family was inspired to visit Marie & Pierre Curie's tombs at the Pantheon while on a visit to Paris this summer after listening to this book together. Lots of scientific detail which, at least for me, makes it better as an audio book than trying to read.

Rising Tide

Author: Emilie Richards
Stars: 3
Review by: Barb
A nice easy summer beach read which started slowly, but got more interesting and by the end I had a hard time putting it down.

 

Ever After

Author: Jude Deveraux
Stars: 4
Review by: Keeread
A lot of characters to keep straight, but overall an enjoyable book.

 

The Dressmaker

Author: Kate Alcott
Stars: 3
Review by: Pam
Tess, an aspiring seamstress, thinks she's had an incredibly lucky break when she is hired by famous designer Lady Lucile Duff Gordon to be her personal maid on the Titanic.  The books loosely follows the rescue and the investigation/inquiry into the crash and the behavior of the elite during the sinking/lifeboat deployment.  Tess needs to decide what she stands for: truth or money.  Very minor unbelievable love story as well.

 

Luckiest Girl Alive

Author: Jessica Knoll
Stars: 4
Review by: queenbee
Loved it, just the right length and just the right plot. After I bought it, (it was on my request list for too long) and I found out it was (SPOILER ALERT) about a school shooting I was concerned I would not like this book. However, it was well written and that was just a part of the story. Other sad parts, too, unfortunately. But very good.

 

The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up

Author: Marie Kondo
Stars: 5
Review by: queenbee
I loved this book. I love cleaning, organizing and de-cluttering. My house is not a museum, far from it...but it was nice to get some tips and I appreciated the system that Marie Kondo uses and love that my daughter bought this for me for my birthday.

The Hypnotist's Love Story

Author: Liane Moriarty
Stars: 3
Review by: queenbee
Not as good as The Husband's Secret. An okay summer read.

 

The Final Judgement

Author: Richard North Patterson
Stars: 5
Review by: Jeanette
Maybe not amazing, but definitely one of the best thrillers I have read in some time.  Hated to put it down.

 

Rise of Isis

Author: Jay Sekulow with Jordan Sekulow, Robert Ash & David French
Stars: 5
Review by: jamBob
I am giving this book a 5 not because it is a literary masterpiece but because it is very well documented. It is not a light summer read, but will open your eyes to what is really happening beyond what the sanitized American media reports. The brutality of Isis and Hamas leaves you breathless and gut wrenching. The constant use of civilians, children, homes, schools, and hospitals to stage attacks is heart breaking. I know I am using gentle terms as I do not want to sound like a political commentary, but let you know more about this book.  This is a short book (126 pages with 35 pages of footnotes) that you can read in a day but I had to take a rest put it down and finish it the next day. It exposes things that are not explained in the news. For example the United Nations permitted Hamas to use its buildings to store armaments and stage tunneling to Israel. At one point they actually returned found rockets to Hamas to launch at Israel?!? This is perplexing at best, but I do not recall hearing these things in the news. The main authors actually visited the areas in Israel under attack and one was uncomfortably close to a rocket landing.The first part of the book concentrates more on Isis itself but you will learn that a terrorist group by any other name is still terrorism! The authors do their best to describe a lot of the devastation to both humans and cultures without getting into gross detail.

 

The Water Devil

Author: Judith Merkle Riley
Stars: 4
Review by: Chris L.
Final book in the trilogy. Enjoyable story. However, I expected more of a wrap up of the characters since the author had decided to end this character. It felt like the author was on the fence about writing another book, however she has since died. Overall entertaining reading.

In Pursuit of the Green Lion

Author: Judith Merkle Riley
Stars: 4
Review by: Chris L.
Second book in the Lady Ashbury trilogy. Very entertaining. No letdown after book 1.

 

Cleopatra: A Life

Author: Stacy Schiff
Stars: 4
Review by: JL
Well written and intriguing biography on Cleopatra.

In the Unlikely Event

Author: Judy Blume
Stars: 5
Review by: libraryaimee
It was like reading a book of Judy Blume's greatest hits!  All the issues she had addressed in books for teens over the years appeared in this one novel for adults!  Divorce, first love, moving, eating disorders...she even had a brief mention of sanitary napkins using a belt!   The story is sweet, sad, nostalgic...reaffirming her place in my heart!

Bond Girl

Author: Erin Duffy
Stars: 5
Review by: LG
Really good book.

Beach House

Author: James Patterson & Peter De Jonge
Stars: 5
Review by: summerfun
Fun summer read. The author keeps it interesting...the kind of book you MUST finish.

 

The Longest Ride

Author: Nicholas Sparks
Stars: 2
Review by: summerfun
This is the first time I thought the movie was better than the book!! (I read the book first.)

The St. James Affair

Author: Susan Wiggs
Stars: 5
Review by: Rainbow
Great book. Susan Wiggs tells a great story.

The Summer's End

Author: Mary Alice Monroe
Stars: 3
Review by: Ann Mc
The last in the low country trilogy, the half sisters, Dora, Carson and Harper, spend what they believe is their last summer with Mamaw at Sea Breeze.  They each struggle with major changes in their lives.

 

3D Viewer Leonardo da Vinci

Author: Claire Bampton
Stars: 4
Review by: jamBob
This is great for you, your kids or grandkids. Adorable cardboard book that has a built in viewer to see 14 of Leonardo's famous works in 3D with a summary of the work. Found it at  B & N in Bargain section for $7.99.

The Millionaire and the Bard

Author: Andrea Mays
Stars: 4
Review by: libraryaimee
A fascinating account of how Henry Folger became obsessed with collecting Shakespeare's works and memorabilia and ended up opening the museum in Washington, D.C.

Party Like a President: True Tales of Inebriation, Lechery, and Mischief from the Oval Office

Author: Brian Abrams
Stars: 1
Review by: MandyApgar
This was, to put it bluntly, terrible. It seemed like it had potential despite the huge jacket advertising "includes 44 cocktail recipes" and the very badly drawn picture of Dolley Madison with playboy bunny cleavage. I first thought it would be like Royals behaving badly or a Treasury of Royal Scandals, the the author not only lacks the talent to produce something like that but the maturity as well. We have had a lot of presidents who were involved in certain side activities, yes. No doubt. But the author is such a juvenile yutz. The "humor" is basically mocking any president that did not drink, still going after anyone who did, and making fat jokes. Mostly the fat jokes. Plus he takes a lot of things out of context according to their time period, especially to emphasize another stupid joke.

The Mortal Sea: Fishing the Atlantic in the Age of Sail

Author: W. Jeffrey Belster
Stars: 3
Review by: MandyApgar
An account of fisheries resource management, would have been a lot better if they didn't skip around in time periods and various locales so much.

The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher: A Shocking Murder and the Undoing of a Great Victorian Detective

Author: Kate Summerscale
Stars: 3
Review by: MandyApgar
In 1860 the body of 3 year old Saville Kent was found with bruises, knife wounds, and a throat cut nearly to decapitation in the water closet (outhouse, basically) of his family's residence. A Mr. Whicher was the detective eventually assigned to the case, but not for several days. In the interim Saville's stubborn father did all he could to alienate police and allowed the destruction of evidence and contamination of the crime scene. The case gained wide notoriety in England, and although I think one had to be a total kumquat to not figure out who did it, Whicher still had his problems. He made himself quite notorious and the book basically claims that the case gave rise to establishing the detective genre in fiction, which I very much so disagree with, especially with some of the generalizations she makes. The parts on the Saville case itself are very well done however, although she oddly hedges on one key component. Person A (who did the deed) is talked about very frequently, along with person B especially. Just keep going on and on about the person's life history after without any real mention why. It is generally accepted, and admitted to by certain persons involved, the person B was also complicit but that information is (very oddly enough) never given.

Gateway to Freedom: The Hidden History of the Underground Railroad

Author: Eric Foner
Stars: 3
Review by: MandyApgar
The problem with books like this is that all too often when one touts a new and revolutionary perspective on a topic it is just the same darn thing all over, which this is. No new information that I found (but plenty of references to 12 Years a Slave to make things more relevant to today's audience) so where the hidden part of the title comes into play I have no idea. Shame because he can actually write pretty well and handles the subject with the appropriate dignity.

 

German American Folklore

Author: Mac E. Berrick (Editor)
Stars: 2
Review by: MandyApgar
This should more so be titled "Pennsylvania German American Folklore" as that it pretty much what it is. Back country German, which granted I am all that but if a reader that does not have a background in say Bavaria picks this up they might not get half the references. I did remember a few of the dirty jokes though.

 

To Kill A Mockingbird

Author: Harper Lee
Stars: 5
Review by: Judy E. ...booklover
A great classic to read before reading the new Go Set A Watchman so you can keep all the recent reviews fresh in you mind.

 

The Zero

Author: Jess Walter
Stars: 3
Review by: BigDa
It's mind-boggling that there is a brain that can conceive and then formulate the written words that comprise this astounding book.

Holy Cow

Author: David Duchovney
Stars: 4
Review by: KM
I listened to the audio version--it's read by the author, and yes, this is the actor you may have seen in one thing or another. If you love animals and enjoy anthropomorphic themes, it could be a great read for you. I enjoyed it a lot!