Ana María and the Fox

Ana María and the Fox
by Liana De la Rosa
Berkley, 2023. 352 pages. Romance 

When Ana María Luna Valdes is secretly sent to London with her sisters to seek refuge during the French occupation of Mexico, she experiences her first taste of freedom far from the judgmental eyes of her domineering father. If only she could ignore the piercing looks she receives across ballroom floors from the austere Mr. Fox. 

 A member of Parliament who has elevated himself from the London Gutters, Gideon Fox is on the cusp of securing the votes he needs to put forth a vote on the abolishment of the Atlantic slave trade – a cause that is close to his heart as the grandson of a formerly enslaved woman. The charmingly vexing Ana María is a distraction he must ignore. 

Ana María and the Fox is a refreshing new take on classic romance tropes. I was delighted by the way it combined an aristocratic Victorian English setting, something highly familiar to historical romance readers, with elements of Mexican history and culture. De la Rosa describes the time period, political events, and historical figures with just enough detail to orient the reader in the story without bogging them down. And she deftly combines it with likable, varied characters, tender (and spicy) romance between Gideon and Ana María, and even a few dastardly plots. Over the course of the novel, Ana María grows closer with her sisters, and after being introduced to them here, readers will look forward to the planned sequels about fiery Gabby and introspective Isabel. 

If you like Ana María and the Fox, you might also like:

Queen Charlotte
by Julia Quinn
Avon, 2023. 352 pages. Romance. 

In 1761, on a sunny day in September, a King and Queen met for the very first time. They were married within hours. Born a German Princess, Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz was beautiful, headstrong, and fiercely intelligent--not precisely the attributes the British Court had been seeking in a spouse for the young King George III. But her fire and independence were exactly what she needed because George had secrets-- secrets with the potential to shake the very foundations of the monarchy. Thrust into her new role as a royal, Charlotte must learn to navigate the intricate politics of the court, all the while guarding her heart, because she is falling in love with the King, even as he pushes her away. 

An Extraordinary Union
by Alyssa Cole
Kensington, 2017. 272 pages. Romance 

As the Civil War rages between the states, a courageous pair of spies plunge fearlessly into a maelstrom of ignorance, deceit, and danger, combining their unique skills to alter the course of history and break the chains of the past ... Elle Burns is a former slave with a passion for justice and an eidetic memory. Trading in her life of freedom in Massachusetts, she returns to the indignity of slavery in the South--to spy for the Union Army. Malcolm McCall is a detective for Pinkerton's Secret Service. Subterfuge is his calling, but he's facing his deadliest mission yet--risking his life to infiltrate a Rebel enclave in Virginia. Two undercover agents who share a common cause--and an undeniable attraction--Malcolm and Elle join forces when they discover a plot that could turn the tide of the war in the Confederacy's favor. Caught in a tightening web of wartime intrigue, and fighting a fiery and forbidden love, Malcolm and Elle must make their boldest move to preserve the Union at any cost--even if it means losing each other.

SGR

Iron Gold

Iron Gold: Red Rising Saga #4
By Pierce Brown
Del Rey, 2018. 624 pages. Science Fiction

A decade ago, Darrow was the hero of the revolution he believed would break the chains of the Society. But the Rising has shattered everything: Instead of peace and freedom, it has brought endless war. Now he must risk everything he has fought for on one last desperate mission. Darrow still believes he can save everyone, but can he save himself?

And throughout the worlds, other destinies entwine with Darrow’s to change his fate forever:

A young Red girl flees tragedy in her refugee camp and achieves for herself a new life she could never have imagined.

An ex-soldier broken by grief is forced to steal the most valuable thing in the galaxy—or pay with his life.

And Lysander au Lune, the heir in exile to the sovereign, wanders the stars with his mentor, Cassius, haunted by the loss of the world that Darrow transformed, and dreaming of what will rise from its ashes.

Red Rising was the story of the end of one universe, and Iron Gold is the story of the creation of a new one. Witness the beginning of a stunning new saga of tragedy and triumph from masterly New York Times bestselling author Pierce Brown. 

This book explores the aftermath of a rebellion. The new government is trying to take hold of the shattered universe it created, but pieces are not falling into place. Iron Gold is the fourth book of the Red Rising Saga, and Pierce Brown has created yet again another harrowing adventure for his characters. The story is told from several viewpoints from characters on all sides of the story; and the characters who you once viewed as “the bad guys” might not be what they originally seemed. This story brings out the motivations and flaws of every character, even of our hero from the first three books. If you like books with morally grey characters, gritty violence, and steady, fast-paced action, this book is for you. Lovers of The Hunger Games series and other dystopian tales will feel right at home with the Red Rising Saga.

JJC

If you like Iron Gold you might also like:

Empire of Silence
By Christopher Ruocchio
Daw, 2018. 753 pages. Science Fiction

It was not his war. On the wrong planet, at the right time, for the best reasons, Hadrian Marlowe started down a path that could only end in fire. The galaxy remembers him as a hero: the man who burned every last alien Cielcin from the sky. They remember him as a monster: the devil who destroyed a sun, casually annihilating four billion human lives—even the Emperor himself—against Imperial orders. But Hadrian was not a hero. He was not a monster. He was not even a soldier. Fleeing his father and a future as a torturer, Hadrian finds himself stranded on a strange, backwater world. Forced to fight as a gladiator and into the intrigues of a foreign planetary court, he will find himself fight a war he did not start, for an Empire he does not love, against an enemy he will never understand.

Vicious
By V.E. Schwab
Tor Publishing Group, 2013. 336 pages. Science Fiction

Victor and Eli started out as college roommates—brilliant, arrogant, lonely boys who recognized the same sharpness and ambition in each other. In their senior year, a shared research interest in adrenaline, near-death experiences, and seemingly supernatural events reveals an intriguing possibility: that under the right conditions, someone could develop extraordinary abilities. But when their thesis moves from the academic to the experimental, things go horribly wrong. Ten years later, Victor breaks out of prison, determined to catch up to his old friend (now foe), aided by a young girl whose reserved nature obscures a stunning ability. Meanwhile, Eli is on a mission to eradicate every other super-powered person that he can find—aside from his sidekick, an enigmatic woman with an unbreakable will. Armed with terrible power on both sides, driven by the memory of betrayal and loss, the archnemeses have set a course for revenge-- but who will be left alive at the end?

JJC

The Last Unicorn

The Last Unicorn

By Peter S. Beagle

Penguin Books 1968 (2022). 212 pages. Science Fiction

This book, whimsical, evocative, tantalizing, darts from low comedy to high fantasy quicker than a hummingbird's tongue and is about as original as they come. It's the story of The Last Unicorn's search for her lost fellows, a quest that takes her through a wondrous land as imaginatively conceived as Tolkien's Shire. The unicorn passes generally unrecognized since most have lost the power to see her as she really is until she is captured by a wicked gypsy and placed in "The Midnight Carnival" where people pay to watch their blackest dreams. Here she is found and freed by Schmendrick, the bumbling magician who accompanies her on her journey. He, too, is searching for an elusive magic. Later they are joined by Molly Grue, Everywoman, who wants more than anything to bring the unicorns back into the world. Finally they arrive in the kingdom of the evil King Haggard where they must meet the challenge of the Red Bull and where the unicorn becomes, just a little bit, mortal.

We recently got a new copy of this book in the library, and I thought I'd give it a try. From the first page I was hooked. Beagle has a way of writing simply, and yet with descriptions of great beauty and truth throughout. It is an amalgam of an old-fashioned world mashed up with modern things (a prince, for example, having a picnic and reading a magazine). The characters are all introduced as flawed (except the unicorn), and the ways in which they grow and evolve throughout the story is a beautiful journey of its own. Whether for the fun of the story or for any deeper meanings that can be gleaned from this beautiful tale, I highly recommend this modern-day classic. 

If you like The Last Unicorn, you might also like: 

The Princess Bride

By William Goldman

Ballantine Books 1998. 399 pages. Young Adult Fiction

A classic swashbuckling romance retells the tale of a drunken swordsman and a gentle giant who come to the aid of Westley, a handsome farm boy, and Buttercup, a princess in dire need of rescue from the evil schemers surrounding her.

Stardust

By Neil Gaiman

Tristran Thorn promised to bring back a fallen star. So he sets out on a journey to fulfill the request of his beloved, the hauntingly beautiful Victoria Forester--and stumbles into the enchanted realm that lies beyond the wall of his English country town. Rich with adventure and magic, Stardust is one of master storyteller Neil Gaiman's most beloved tales, and the inspiration for the hit movie.

MGB

Recipe for Persuasion

Recipe for Persuasion

by Sonali Dev

Harper Collins Publishers, 2020. 443 pages. Romance

Chef Ashna Raje desperately needs a new strategy. How else can she save her beloved restaurant and prove to her estranged, overachieving mother that she isn't a complete screw up? When she's asked to join the cast of Cooking with the Stars, the latest hit reality show teaming chefs with celebrities, it seems like just the leap of faith she needs to put her restaurant back on the map. She's a chef, what's the worst that could happen? Being paired with a celebrity who was her first love, the man who ghosted her at the worst possible time in her life, only proves what Ashna has always believed: leaps of faith are a recipe for disaster. FIFA winning soccer star Rico Silva isn't too happy to be paired up with Ashna either. Losing Ashna years ago almost destroyed him. The only silver lining to this bizarre situation is that he can finally prove to Ashna that he's definitely over her. But when their catastrophic first meeting goes viral, social media becomes obsessed with their chemistry. The competition on the show is fierce & and so is the simmering desire between Ashna and Rico. Every minute they spend together rekindles feelings that pull them toward their disastrous past. Will letting go again be another recipe for heartbreak or a recipe for persuasion? 

This book is equal parts rom-com and equal parts "I'm biting my nails because the suspense is killing me!" A twist on Jane Austen's Persuasion, this is an enchanting story of second chances, rekindled love, and adventure. I recommend this book to fans of romance, food, and Jane Austen (but everyone, really).

If you like Recipe for Persuasion, you might also like...

A Taste of Sage

by Yaffa S. Santos

Harper, 2020. 293 pages. Romance

Lumi Santana is a chef with a gift: she can perceive a person's emotions by tasting their cooking. Despite being raised by a mother who taught her that dreams and true love were silly fairy tales, she puts her heart and savings into opening her own fusion restaurant in Upper Manhattan. The restaurant offers a mix of the Dominican cuisine she grew up with and other world cuisines she is inspired by. When her eclectic venture fails, she is forced to take a position as sous chef at a staid, traditional French restaurant owned by Julien Dax, a celebrated chef known for his acid tongue as well as his brilliant smile. After he goes out of his way to bake a tart to prove her wrong in a dispute, she is so irritated by his smug attitude that she vows to herself never to taste his cooking. But after she succumbs to the temptation and takes a bite one day and is overcome with shocking emotion, she finds herself beginning to crave his cooking and struggling to stay on task with her plan to save up and move on as soon as possible. Meanwhile, Julien's obsessed secretary watches with gnashed teeth as they grow closer and becomes determined to get Lumi out of her way permanently.

Fake Dates and Mooncakes

by Sher Lee

Random House Children's Books. 2023. 264 pages. Young Adult Fiction

Dylan Tang wants to win a Mid-Autumn Festival mooncake-making competition for teen chefs--in memory of his mom, and to bring much-needed publicity to his aunt's struggling Chinese takeout in Brooklyn. Enter Theo Somers: charming, wealthy, with a smile that makes Dylan's stomach do backflips. AKA a distraction. Their worlds are sun-and-moon apart, but Theo keeps showing up. He even convinces Dylan to be his fake date at a family wedding in the Hamptons. In Theo's glittering world of pomp, privilege, and crazy rich drama, their romance is supposed to be just pretend . . . but Dylan finds himself falling for Theo. For real. Then Theo's relatives reveal their true colors--but with the mooncake contest looming, Dylan can't risk being sidetracked by rich-people problems. Can Dylan save his family's business and follow his heart--or will he fail to do both?

NS

This Woven Kingdom

This Woven Kingdom

By Tahereh Mafi 

Harper, 2022. 495 pages. Young Adult Fiction 

The long-lost heir to an ancient Jinn kingdom forced to hide in plain sight, servant girl Alizeh waits in the shadows to uproot the kingdom of the crown prince—and the world. 

Inspired by Persian mythology this book centers around Alizeh, who when we meet has really been worn down by her circumstances, but fortunately there is still a glimmer of strength left in her. I found the background story about Iblees interesting, especially since I only have minimal knowledge of Islam, and how it intertwined with the Jinn history in the novel. Mafi kept things moving around at a good pace and fans of prophecies, deals with the devil, star-crossed romance, and court intrigue are in for a treat. By the end of it we even have the introduction of one of my favorite magical creatures: the dragon. Mafi did an excellent job of introducing the characters of this new series, and I am excited to see them better fleshed out in the second book. 

If you like This Woven Kingdom, you might also like: 

Girl, Serpent, Thorn 

By Melissa Bashardoust 

Flatiron Books, 2020. 322 pages. Young Adult Fiction 

Soraya, a princess cursed to be poisonous to the touch, has lived eighteen years in the shadows but as her twin brother's wedding approaches, she faces choices with unimaginable consequences. 

The Candle and the Flame 

By Nafiza, Azad 

Scholastic Press, 2019. 391 pages. Young Adult Fiction 

Fatima lives in the city of Noor, on the Silk Road, which is currently protected by the Ifrit, djinn of order and reason, from attacks by the violent and ruthless Shayateen djinn--but Fatima was infused with the fire of the Ifrit who died saving her when she was four years old, and when one of the most important Ifrit dies she finds herself drawn into the intrigues of the court, the affairs of the djinn, and the very real dangers of a magical battlefield. 

RBL

A Heart Worth Stealing

A Heart Worth Stealing

By Joanna Barker

Shadow Mountain, 2023. 288 pgs. Romance

The daughter of a magistrate and independent heiress, Genevieve Wilde, hires a flirtatious, handsome and unpredictable thief-taker, Jack Travers, to return her stolen pocket watch and amidst increasing attraction the pair uncover a larger plot afoot against her family.

Ginny is smart, independent and not about to stand by and do nothing when her father's pocket watch is stolen. Jack comes across as a bad boy, but he really has a heart of gold. I liked that there were some twists and turns that I didn't see coming. This was a fun clean romance with just the right amount of mystery and adventure. 

To Capture His Heart

By Nancy Campbell Allen

Shadow Mountain, 2022. 283 pgs. Romance

Eva Caldwell is an accomplished photographer who often works with the local law enforcement to document crime scenes. Which means she works alongside the handsome and charming detective, Nathan Winston. He unexpectedly asks her for a personal favor, would she be willing to photograph his mother's legendary, week-long dinner party and matchmaking event? The catch is that she must also pretend that she and Nathan are courting so that Nathan can avoid the other single women at the party. Eva agrees and soon finds that the pretend feelings are turning real as they work together to catch a criminal from Nathan's past that threatens revenge on the people he loves. 

The Gem Thief

By Sian Ann Bessey

Covenant Communications, 2018. 267 pgs. Mystery

Gracie Miller has her dream job as a jewelry designer in New York City where she designed a stunning ring for a large pink diamond. When the owner comes back for some minor repairs, they discover that it is not the ring she designed and the real pink diamond is missing. The owner hires her nephew and his friend to help investigate the forgery. Soon Gracie is acting as the nephews fiancée as they try to hunt down the thief, but their pretend feelings are turning real and the danger is getting closer. 

AL

Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers

Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers

By Jesse Q. Sutanto

Berkley, 2023. 338 pgs. Mystery

When she discovers a dead man in the middle of her tea shop, Vera Wong, a suspicious Chinese mother with time on her hands, calls the police but not before swiping the flash drive from the body. She then sets a trap for the killer that becomes complicated by unexpected friendships with her new customers/suspects.

Vera Wong is opinionated, bossy and totally endearing. She swoops into the lives of all of her suspects and they don't quite know what to do, so they end up doing exactly what she tells them to. She also believes she is way more qualified to solve the murder because of all the CSI episodes she has watched. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know all these quirky characters. 

If you liked Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers, you might also like:

The Golden Spoon

By Jessa Maxwell

Atria Books, 2023. 272 pgs. Mystery

During her annual televised baking competition on her Vermont estate, celebrated baker Betsy Martin, hailed as "America's Grandmother," finds murder in the mix when a body is discovered, and everyone is a suspect.

The Mostly True Story of Tanner & Louise

By Colleen Oakley

Berkley, 2023. 341 pgs. Fiction

After a freak accident ends Tanner's college soccer career, she must find a new place to live and something else to do with her life. Louise is recovering from hip surgery and her family is convinced that she can no longer live on her own. Tanner comes to live with Louise but soon discovers that there is more to the older woman than she thought as weird things start to happen.

Arsenic and Adobo

By Mia P. Manansala

Berkley Prime Crime, 2021. 316 pgs. Mystery

Lila Macapagal moves back home to help her Tita Rosie's failing restaurant. Soon her ex-boyfriend drops dead while eating at the restaurant and she becomes the number one suspect. Lila has no choice but to conduct her own investigation. 

AL

I'm Not Charlotte Lucas

 I’m not Charlotte Lucas

by Kasey Stockton

Covenant Communications, 2023. 224 pages. Romance

Northern California girl Charlotte "Charlie" Lucas has two great loves: Diet Coke and Pride and Prejudice. But her passion for Regency classics is tempered by a very real fear: Charlie is terrified of having to endure the fate of her namesake--spinsterhood. Despite her best attempts to maintain a modern sensibility, she can't say no when an elderly neighbor asks Charlie to attend a charity ball with her grandson. Blind date or not, Charlie is powerless to resist the allure of a real-life ball. Soon it's clear that she will struggle to resist the charms of her blind date too. Liam Connell is every bit the swoon-worthy leading man, straight out of Charlie's daydreams. But he's completely unattainable--his last girlfriend was a gorgeous actress and a far cry from Charlie's world. So, after a magical evening with Liam, Charlie is ready to get back to reality, even if her best option right now is a former boyfriend who wants to give it another shot. Unfortunately, despite imagining she'll never see Liam again, he seems to be everywhere. How is a lady to move past a fantasy when life suddenly seems to be imitating fiction to an alarming degree?

This is a super-cute, clean romance. Charlie has her share of insecurities, but she knows when things feel right and when they feel wrong. She follows her gut. Liam is not perfect. He has his own share of issues. What is great is how they work through these issues together. This open, honest communication is refreshing in a love story. There are some fun nods to Pride and Prejudice and some definite swoon-worthy moments and that makes this book a fun escape.

If you liked I’m Not Charlotte Lucas, you might also like:

Engaging Emma

by Elle M. Adams

Covenant Communications, 2022. 216 pages. Romance

As a successful doctor in Los Angeles, Tucker Madsen left his small-town roots behind long ago, trading his flannel shirts for a glossy lifestyle and a beautiful fiancée. But when his mother requests his help to sell the family farm, Tucker reluctantly returns to a place that holds more memories than he cares to admit. Normal, Missouri, was the site of the golden days of childhood--and the blush of first love. Tucker fell in love with Emma McAllister at seventeen, but when youthful promises of forever ended in heartbreak, he and Emma both moved on. Or so they thought. When they are unexpectedly reunited at the Madsen family farm, both are unprepared for the rush of feelings that brings into question everything they thought they knew. They could never have imagined that now, years after they were torn apart, fate would offer them a second chance in the place where it all began. But when faced with the realities of the separate lives they've built, history seems doomed to repeat itself.

Brides and Brothers: A Novel

by Anneka R. Walker

Covenant Communications, 2021. 275 pages. Romance

Camille Kelly is in real danger of becoming an old maid--at least by Cherish, Montana, standards. She has all but given up on finding Mr. Right--until her broken laptop leads her to Aiden Peterson, a tall, dark, and handsome computer genius. Camille would never have believed her magic moment was right around the corner, but after two whirlwind weeks, she has a ring on her finger and has happily ever after in sight. However, she soon discovers Aiden is part of a daunting package deal . . . As the eldest of seven brothers, Aiden has never had a problem living under the same roof as his rambunctious siblings. When he falls for Camille, he is confident she'll fit right into his family's already bursting home. He thought wrong. Aiden and Camille's storybook romance comes to a screeching halt when she discovers her new living situation. Not willing to submit to a life mothering a bunch of grown men, Camille has only one option: she embarks on a campaign to improve her new brothers-in-law and marry them off. And what better candidates for wives than her own best friends?

 

Meet Me at the Lake

Meet Me at the Lake

By Carly Fortune

Berkley, 2023. 322 pages. Romance

Fern Brookbanks has wasted far too much of her adult life thinking about Will Baxter. She spent just 24 hours in her early twenties with the attractive, idealistic artist, a chance encounter that spiraled into a daylong adventure in Toronto where they made a pact to meet one year later. Fern showed up. Will didn't. At 32, Fern's life doesn't look at all how she once imagined it would. Instead of living in the city, Fern's back home, running her mother's Muskoka lakeside resort. The place is in disarray, her ex-boyfriend's the manager, and Fern doesn't know where to begin. She needs a plan. To her surprise, it comes in the form of Will, who arrives nine years too late, with a suitcase in tow and an offer to help on his lips. But how could she possibly trust this expensive suit wearing mirage who seems nothing like the young man she met all those years ago? Will is hiding something, and Fern's not sure she wants to know what it is. Ten years ago, Will Baxter rescued Fern. Can she do the same for him? 

This sweet second chance romance in the vein of Emily Henry makes for the perfect summer read. Fortune sets a beautiful scene with the lakeside resort that provides the setting for most of the story. While Fern is reluctant to be back in Muskoka, the author describes the resort and landscape so vividly and lovingly, it’s difficult not to fall in love with the place. It’s also easy to fall in love with Fern and Will, their whirlwind day spent in Toronto juxtaposed with the present day in Muskoka paints a picture of two individuals naturally drawn to one another. There’s a lot of angst and distrust between the two, but the flashbacks to their first meeting really cement their connection and make them a couple to root for. Fern’s conflicting feelings about being back home while grappling with the death of her mother creates an emotional layer to this otherwise charming romance. Overall, this heartwarming romance is an engaging read that will appeal to lovers of Emily Henry and Christina Lauren. 

If you liked Meet Me at the Lake, you might also like: 

Happy Place

By Emily Henry

Berkley, 2023. 388 pages. Romance 

Harriet and Wyn have been the perfect couple since they met in college. Except, now, for reasons they're still not discussing, they don't. They broke up five months ago and still haven't told their best friends. Which is how they find themselves sharing a bedroom at the Maine cottage that has been their friend group's yearly getaway for the last decade. Only this year, Harriet and Wyn are lying through their teeth while trying not to notice how desperately they still want each other. Because the cottage is for sale, and this is the last week they'll all have together in this place. They can't stand to break their friends' hearts, and so they'll play their parts. Harriet will be the driven surgical resident who never starts a fight, and Wyn will be the laid-back charmer who never lets the cracks show. It's a flawless plan. How hard can it be to fake it for one week in front of those who know you best? 

The Unhoneymooners

By Christina Lauren

Gallery Books, 2019. 400 pages. Romance 

Olive Torres is used to being the unlucky twin: from inexplicable mishaps to a recent layoff, her life seems to be almost comically jinxed. By contrast, her sister Ami is an eternal champion, she even managed to finance her entire wedding by winning a slew of contests. Unfortunately for Olive, the only thing worse than constant bad luck is having to spend the wedding day with the best man (and her nemesis), Ethan Thomas. Olive is determined to put on a brave face, but when the entire wedding party gets food poisoning, the only people who aren't affected are Olive and Ethan. Suddenly there's a free honeymoon up for grabs, and Olive will be damned if Ethan gets to enjoy paradise solo. Agreeing to a temporary truce, the pair head for Maui. After all, ten days of bliss is worth having to assume the role of loving newlyweds, right? But the weird thing is Olive doesn't mind playing pretend. In fact, the more she pretends to be the luckiest woman alive, the more it feels like she might be.

Historias Cortas Inspiradas en Sueños y Realidad

Bilingual Short Stories Based in Reality and Dreams: Historias Cortas Inspiradas en Sueños y Realidad

por Mayela Acuña Rojas-Hess
Xlibris, 2019. ESL

A veces vivimos momentos difíciles en nuestras vidas. Otras veces nos reímos de las circunstancias que se nos presentan. Y todos buscamos las respuestas al sentido de nuestra vida y quizás muchas de ellas las encontramos en nuestros sueños. Estos tres cuentos nos hablan de esos momentos que hemos vivido de una u otra forma. Sufrimos, nos reímos y soñamos.

Edición bilingüe.

Si le gusta «Bilingual Short Stories Based in Reality and Dreams» le recomendamos:

Killer Crónicas

por Susana Chavez-Silverman
University of Wisconsin Press, 2010. Memoria

Una mujer que vive y se comunica en múltiples países, Susana Chávez-Silverman transmite su desplazamiento cultural y lingüístico de manera humorística, agridulce e incluso tangible en esta obra literaria verdaderamente bilingüe. Estas piezas meditativas y líricas combinan una confesión personal conmovedora, una observación diaria detallada y un impulso de memoria que cambia a lo largo del tiempo y entre los espacios geoculturales. El ingenioso y extravagante uso que hace la autora del espanglish, un idioma híbrido inglés-español, y su adaptación de la "crónica" confesional hacen que estas memorias sean convincentes y poderosas. «Killer Crónicas» confirma que no hay voz latina como la de Susana Chávez-Silverman. Incluye un capítulo que obtuvo el primer premio en el Concurso de Excelencia Literaria Chicana de la revista El Andar en la categoría de memorias personales.

Edición bilingüe.

Inglés para Restaurantes
por NPG Music
NPG Music/Kamms, 2006. 2 hr. ESL

Este recurso esencial para el aprendizaje de idiomas enseñará cómo comunicarse e interactuar con personas de hablando inglés en situaciones específicos.

Aprenda palabras y frases esenciales en inglés para mejorar inmediatamente la comunicación en la industria de restaurantes. Podrá encontrar un mejor trabajo, estar más seguro en el trabajo o avanzar en su trabajo actual. Especialmente para ti «Inglés para Restaurantes» está diseñado para el empleado que quiere aprender inglés para poder hablar y entender más en el trabajo.

Aprenderás palabras y frases esenciales para mejorar inmediatamente la comunicación con tu supervisor, tus compañeros de trabajo o clientes. Adquirirás las habilidades lingüísticas necesarias para sentirte más seguro y tener éxito en el trabajo. No se requieren conocimientos previos de inglés. Aprenda frases cortas y sencillas rápida y fácilmente. Usted y su familia disfrutarán de una vida mejor si aprenden Inglés en el Trabajo.

MEB

Etiquetas: Español, MEB, No Ficción, ESL, Audiolibro, Bilingüe, Memoria

What's Gotten Into You?

What's Gotten Into You?: The Story of Your Body's Atoms, from the Big Bang through Last Night's Dinner

by Dan Levitt

Harper, 2023. 385 pages. Nonfiction

 

From the Big Bang to the creation of our Earth, and through the gradual evolution of organic matter to the state of our planet today, Dan Levitt writes an accessible history of how the building blocks that make us came to be. In the process, Levitt discusses ideas from astrophysics, geology, chemistry, botany, biology, and more.

This book takes on the big task of summarizing a variety of ideas ranging across a variety of scientific pursuits, all to answer the question: What are our foundational elements, and how do they work together? This is also one of the most accessible versions of this type of book that I've read. What I especially appreciated was that Levitt tackles the questions of not just how the elements that make up our bodies were formed (which many popular astrophysics books tackle), but also how they combined and evolved over time to create sustainable life. For that reason, the chapters on the discovery of photosynthesis, and how cells came to be, were the most interesting chapters to me. I also appreciated the stories of the scientists whose work led to what we understand about our world today. This is a great introduction to scientific principles that will appeal to anyone curious about the science behind the origin of life.

If You Like What's Gotten Into You? you might also like: 

How to Make and Apple Pie from Scratch: In Search of the Recipe for our Universe, from the Origins of Atoms to the Big Bang

by Harry Cliff

Doubleday, 2021. 385 pages. Nonfiction

Another accessible astrophysics book, particle physicist Harry Cliff parses the discovery of the various pieces of fundamental matter that create our universe by examining Carl Sagan's famous statement: "If you wish to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first invent the universe." In order to do that, Cliff visits some of the most famous labs across the earth that focus on this research.

The Song of the Cell: An Exploration of Medicine and the New Human

by Siddhartha Mukherjee

Scribner, 2022. 473 pages. Nonfiction

The discovery of cells—and the reframing of the human body as a cellular ecosystem—announced the birth of a new kind of medicine based on the therapeutic manipulations of cells. A hip fracture, a cardiac arrest, Alzheimer's, dementia, AIDS, pneumonia, lung cancer, kidney failure, arthritis, COVID—all could be viewed as the results of cells, or systems of cells, functioning abnormally. And all could be perceived as loci of cellular therapies. In The Song of the Cell, Mukherjee tells the story of how scientists discovered cells, began to understand them, and are now using that knowledge to create new treatments and new humans.

The Tangled Tree: A Radical New History of Life

by David Quammen

Simon & Schuster, 2018. 461 pages. Nonfiction

Nonpareil science writer David Quammen explains how recent discoveries in molecular biology can change our understanding of evolution and life's history, with powerful implications for human health and even our own human nature.

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