Craving Connection

Craving Connection
Crystal Stine, editor
B & H Publishing Group, 2017. 280 pgs. Nonfiction

This book of essays shares 30 challenges to build real-life engagement with the people around you. There are three sections of the book focusing on connecting with God, with friends, and with your community. Each essay begins with a bible verse and an inspirational quote, with the essay centered on the theme of that verse.

This was a book that took some time to read because I wanted to ponder the essay and the suggestions given to figure out ways that I could apply what was being talked about. This book would be good to re-visit in the future since there are so many ideas that can be applied.

AMM

Food Anatomy

Food Anatomy
By Julia Rothman
Storey Publishing, 2016. 221 pgs. Nonfiction

Have you ever wondered what all of those forks are for when you see a formal place setting? Rothman starts her book showing place settings from around the world and the evolution of the oven before delving into the "curious parts and pieces of our edible world" as the subtitle states.

She gives a brief history of food and then goes on to illustrate fruits, vegetables, meats, grains, spices, street foods, and finally desserts that can be found the world over. In hand drawn and colored illustrations this book is a visual treat. I found this book to be completely captivating! This was a such a quick read, due to the sparse text and interesting pictures, that I read it in a matter of hours.

AMM

The Gospel at 30,000 Feet

The Gospel at 30,000 Feet
By Dieter F. Uchtdorf
Deseret Book, 2017. 129 pgs. Nonfiction

Dieter F. Uchtdorf had an incredibly successful career as an German aviator before being called into the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 2004. He is known for his wonderful stories and metaphors on aviation in nearly every General Conference address.

 I really enjoyed this audiobook because it is read by Elder Uchtdorf. While many of the stories were familiar from past talks, there were several stories and insights that were new to me. Since this is such a short book, I was able to listen to it twice over the course of just a few days. I would recommend this book as a wonderful, uplifting read!

AMM

Hit the Ground Running

Hit the Ground Running
By Alison Hughes
Orca Book Publishers, 2017. 205 pgs,  Young Adult

Dee is freaking out! Her dad, an antiques dealer, left and hasn't yet returned. He's been gone for almost six weeks now and Dee doesn't know what to do. Social Services has started coming around and Dee is scared that they are going to take her and Eddie, her seven-year-old brother, to different foster homes.

Dee decides that her only option is to flee their small desert town in Arizona for their aunt's house in Canada. So what if their car is seriously old and the fact that Dee doesn't have a driver's license. This is an emergency! So begins Dee and Eddie's epic road trip from Arizona to Alberta, Canada.

This book was very fast paced. You could feel the tension building as Dee struggles to figure out how to best deal with this situation. I read this book in one sitting because I just had to know how it would turn out!

AMM

Capital Gaines: Smart Things I Learned Doing Stupid Stuff

Capital Gaines: Smart Things I Learned Doing Stupid Stuff
By Chip Gaines
W Publishing Group, 2017. 191 pgs. Nonfiction

I read Magnolia Story last year and was excited to learn that Chip Gaines was writing another book. In this tell-all, we learn more about Chip's growing up years and what has led to his success with Magnolia and his family. We also get an inside look at filming the show Fixer Upper.

 It was a treat to listen to this book, read by Chip, because he is such a great storyteller. There were several moments that had me laughing out loud as he described shenanigans of his youth and young adulthood. Chip is an extremely successful businessman who has learned many lessons though his life experiences to get to this point. I appreciated how much Chip credits his faith and his family for the man that he is today and would recommend this book to anyone.

AMM

How to Find Love in a Bookshop

How to Find Love in a Bookshop
By Veronia Henry
Viking, 2017. 340 pgs. Fiction

Emilia was raised with books, quite literally. She grew up in a flat above Nightingale Books, her father's bookshop. Julius, Emilia's father, had a way of connecting with people and had a vast influence in their tiny English town. After Julius's death, Emilia takes over the bookshop, facing challenges from the get go just to keep the doors open. Along the way we see how far the members of the community will go to help Emilia and each other.

I loved finding out about Emilia and Julius' back stories as well as meeting many of the local townspeople. This book had a similar feel to The Bookshop on the Corner, cozy and inviting. I found myself quickly cheering on the success of Emilia and those supporting keeping the bookshop in business. This was a light, fun novel; recommended for anyone who's looking for a bookish read!

AMM

Braving the Wilderness: The Quest for True Belonging and the Courage to Stand Alone

Braving the Wilderness: The Quest for True Belonging and the Courage to Stand Alone
By Brené Brown
Random House, 2017. 194 pgs. Nonfiction

I have read (and loved) all of Brené Brown's books and her latest is no exception! This summer I was had a front row seat to see Brené speak when I attended the American Library Association Annual Conference. It was exhilarating to hear her talk about this book before it came out. Like her other books this book focuses on her research. This time on the topic is courage.

Brené describes the four elements of true belonging in detail and explains that  once we live according to these principles we will belong truly to ourselves. The  four elements:
People are hard to hate close-up. Move in.
Speak truth to bullshit. Be civil.
Hold hands. With Strangers.
Strong Back. Soft Front. Wild Heart.

I loved this book so much that I listened to it twice in a row before returning it. I would recommend listening because there's nothing like hearing Brené read her own words. She has such great storytelling along with the research elements and this book is an incredibly interesting one to listen to. I can't recommend this book highly enough!

AMM

When the English Fall

When the English Fall
By David Williams
Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill, 2017. 242 pgs. Fiction

Jacob lives a simple life with his wife Hannah and their children Sadie and Jacob. They are an Amish family living in Pennsylvania where they interact mostly with their Amish community as well as occasionally with their English (non-Amish) neighbors. Sadie, who has recently begun having seizures often says some strange things in the midst of her shaking.

One day she begins talking about angels and later that night there are strange lights in the sky. Sadie believes they are angels, Jacob thinks it may be the Northern Lights, and the English call it a solar storm. No matter what the event was, the reality is that now planes are falling from the sky, everyone is without electricity, and cars are no longer running.

After the world as the English know it comes to a stand still, they begin looking to their Amish neighbors for food. At first the Amish aren't as affected by the new state of the world. They are used to living without electricity and have plenty of food stored in their larders. However, as the days and weeks go on without power, everyone begins to feel more and more anxious. Looting and violence begin sweeping the country and there isn't a lot of peace to be found.

This book reminded me a lot of Life as We Knew It because it was written in diary format and both books made me realize that I need to build up my food storage. I also felt like the writing in this book was similar to Station Eleven, another post-apocalypse story. This was a fast read with a lot to think about.

AMM

Changes in Latitudes

Changes in Latitudes
By Jen Malone
HarperTeen, 2017. 378 pgs,  Young Adult

Cassie's world is still reeling from the shock of her parents' divorce and she'd like nothing more than to get started on her summer road trip with her friends. Her mom has other plans; plans that don't include being on solid ground. Instead of that awesome road trip, now Cassie is stuck going on a four-month sailing trip from Oregon to Mexico with her mom and brother. The last thing she wants is to spend that much time in close proximity to her mom!

While this book had many light moments, there were also some pretty serious scenes happening between Cassie and her mom. Cassie experiences quite a bit of personal growth during the sailing trip and just happens to meet a cute boy along the way! This was a fun end of summer read.

AMM

The Burning Point

The Burning Point
By Tracy McKay
By Common Consent Press, 2017. 269 pgs. Biography

The subtitle perfectly summarizes this book, "a memoir of addiction, destruction, love, parenting, survival, and hope." Tracy weaves the story of her friendship, marriage, and later divorce to her husband David. The book is written with flashbacks and portions of her blog to tell her experience as a single mom, living in near poverty, and raising her children one of whom is on the Autism Spectrum. While David's decisions had a vast influence on not only her life, but her children's as well, Tracy doesn't bash him at all. She shows his humanity and his wonderful qualities and how addiction impacted their family.

Tracy writes with hope and love amidst some truly difficult situations. I've read Tracy's blog, Dandelion Mama, for years and while I was familiar with her story, this memoir was incredibly interesting to read. I was brought to tears several times reading about not only the hardships she faced, but also the many good people who helped her during her trials.

AMM

Present Over Perfect: Leaving Behind Frantic for a Simpler, More Soulful Way of Living

Present Over Perfect: Leaving Behind Frantic for a Simpler, More Soulful Way of Living
By Shauna Niequist
Zondervan, 2016. 236 pgs. Nonfiction

Shauna wrote five books in nine years and has spent considerable time on the road promoting those books and speaking to audiences of various sizes. As she started to realize the toll this schedule was taking on herself and her family, Shauna knew that something needed to change. In this book she writes essays on how she is making changes for the better and how these changes are not always quick or easy.

I really enjoy Shauna's writing and have read several of her other books. These essays gave me a lot to think about and consider how I can make changes in my own life. In particular, I loved the essays entitled You Put Up the Chairs, On Stillness, and Heart and Yes. I'd recommend this book to anyone who's looking for ways to find a little more peace in their crazy schedules.

AMM

Option B: Facing Adversity, Building Resilience, and Finding Joy

Option B: Facing Adversity, Building Resilience, and Finding Joy
By Sheryl Sandberg
Alfred A. Knopf, 2017. 226 pgs. Nonfiction

Sheryl Sandberg's world changed forever when her husband passed away while they were on vacation. In this book she talks about how this experience has changed her and her outlook on life. Sheryl and co-author Adam Grant discuss his research on resilience and rebounding from adversity using experiences from her life.

This book reminded of Brene Brown's work. I appreciated seeing how Sheryl worked through the grief process and how she has dealt with the impact of her husband's death with her children, friends, and co-workers. Although the topic of death is never a fun one, I never felt like this book was heavy or depressing. This book gave me a lot to ponder as I think about the ways that I can face adversity with resilience in my own life.

AMM

One True Loves

One True Loves
By Taylor Jenkins Reid
Washington Square Press, 2016. 331 pgs. Fiction

Emma and Jesse met and fell in love during high school. Both of them longed for the day when they could leave their hometown and travel the world. After college they do just that and also embark on the adventure of marriage. Just days before their first anniversary, Jesse goes on a work trip to Alaska. He is ecstatic to photograph glaciers, however the helicopter he's riding in goes down and he is presumed dead.

Emma's world is rocked by the death of her husband. She grieves deeply and soon decides that she doesn't want to continue living in California, but that she wants to go home to Massachusetts. Although as a high schooler she couldn't wait to escape her family owned bookstore, after Jesse's loss she begins to really enjoy the comfort of the store. A few years after Jesse's death, she runs into Sam. Sam worked with Emma at the bookstore in high school and while they were friends, they haven't been in contact for years. They slowly fall in love and have become engaged when one day Emma receives a phone call from Jesse. He hasn't died at all, but has spent several years on an island trying to find his way back home. Now Emma has to choose who she wants to be with, her husband and or her fiance.

I inhaled this book! I listened to it over the course of three days and was totally captivated by the story. Jesse and Sam are both really good guys and I was intrigued to see how and who Emma would choose. If you are looking for a light yet thought provoking read, I recommend you try this book!

AMM

Hidden Figures: The Untold True Story of Four African-American Women Who Helped Launch Our Nation Into Space

Hidden Figures: The Untold True Story of Four African-American Women Who Helped Launch Our Nation Into Space
By Margot Lee Shetterly
HaperCollins, 2016. 231 pgs. Young Adult Nonfiction

One of the recent trends I've noticed is, amazing nonfiction books being adapted for a young reader's edition. While I haven't yet read the original book, I've seen the movie based on the book (I loved it!) and I thought this was very good adaptation. Having seen the movie first, gave me the context needed to really enjoy learning about these women and this time in history.

Dorothy Vaughn, Katherine Johnson, Mary Jackson, and Christine Darden are a few of the many women who worked for NASA in the 1950s and 1960s. These women were master mathematicians who played a vital role in aeronautics during war times and in the space age. I was enthralled by their individual stories and the way these women as a whole influenced our nation. I would recommend this book (and movie) to anyone.

AMM

Loving My Actual Life

Loving My Actual Life
By Alexandra Kuykendall
Baker Books, 2016. 224 pgs. Nonfiction

Alexandra is a mother of four, looking for balance in her life, just like all of us. She decides to spend nine months focusing on ways that she can love her actual life, not the idealized version of her dreams. Working on one specific thing each month, she strives to find ways to more fully enjoy the season of life she is in.

I found this book reminiscent of Gretchen Rubin's The Happiness Project with more of a Christian slant. Filled with Bible verses and quotes from religious leaders, this book gives the reader many things to ponder as they evaluate their own lives. I listened to this eAudiobook from Overdrive and enjoyed the conversational feel of this book. While I'm not a mother balancing the needs of a family, I still found many things to think about as I decide how to love my own actual life!

AMM

Stir: My Broken Brain and the Meals That Brought Me Back

Stir: My Broken Brain and the Meals That Brought Me Back
By Jessica Fechtor
Plume, 2016. 274 pgs. Nonfiction

Jessica was 28, newly married, and a graduate student when she fell off a hotel treadmill while attending a conference. After going to the hospital the doctors determined that an aneurysm burst in her brain. She had surgery to put a clip in her brain to hopefully fix the aneurysm. All looked well, considering the circumstances, that is except for the fact that she lost vision in her left eye. After a few other complications and many, many months of recovery, Jessica finds her way back to a new sense of normal.

This book reminded me a lot of Molly Birnbaum's Season to Taste: How I Lost My Sense of Smell and Found My Way. I liked how the author talked about food and how certain recipes had influenced her life before and after this traumatic incident. She includes many of the recipes she talks about. I'm always interested in a memoir about food and this one did not disappoint!

AMM

How to Celebrate Everything

How to Celebrate Everything
By Jenny Rosenstrach
Ballantine Books, 2016. 288 pgs. Nonfiction

I love learning about the various traditions families have. This book was a really fun look at blogger and author Jenny Rosenstrach's family traditions and celebrations. From holidays to birthdays to vacations and everything in between we get a glimpse into the reasons those traditions and rituals have formed and the delicious recipes surrounding the occasion.

I enjoy reading cookbooks that have the story behind the recipe and this book was one of those perfect books for me. This book is filled with bright photographs, engaging text, and lots of yummy recipes! I've been meaning to read (and actually began, but had to return it before I'd finished) Rosenstrach's first book Dinner: A Love Story. After reading this book, I'm re-committing myself to finish that title too!

AMM

By Your Side

By Your Side
By Kasie West
HarperTeen, 2017. 342 pgs,  Young Adult

Autumn has spent her Friday afternoon at the library working on homework with her friends. They have plans to go up the canyon for a bonfire before the girls spend the weekend at a cabin. It was going to be the perfect way to spend a three day weekend.

However, Autumn's weekend plans are derailed when she runs back into the library to use the bathroom and when she goes back to the underground parking lot all of her friends have left. Each car thought she was riding with someone else. Autumn is now locked in the library with no way out until Tuesday morning. And to make things worse, her cell phone is in the trunk of her crushes car!

Her anxiety about this predicament doesn't immediately abate especially when she discovers she isn't alone. Dax, a boy who goes to her school and has a rough reputation is also locked in the library. They spend the days raiding the staff lounge fridge, learning about each other (tentatively at first) and playing games to pass the hours.

The setting for this book is loosely based on our library! That made this book a really fun read. I felt like I had to suspend my belief just a touch too much on some aspects of this book though. I didn't quite understand why Autumn and Dax couldn't just leave through an emergency exit or why there wasn't a landline phone available for them to call home. However, those things aside, I enjoyed this contemporary young adult book.

AMM

Wanderlost

Wanderlost
By Jen Malone
HarperTeen, 2016. 316 pgs,  Young Adult

Aubree can’t think of a better place to be than in perfectly boring Ohio, and she’s ready for a relaxing summer. But when her older sister, Elizabeth, gets into trouble for really the first time in her life, Aubree is talked into taking over Elizabeth’s summer job, leading a group of senior citizens on a bus tour through Europe.

Aubree doesn’t even make it to the first stop in Amsterdam before their perfect plan unravels, leaving her with no phone, no carefully prepared binder full of helpful facts, and an unexpected guest; Sam, the tour company owner’s son. Considering she’s pretending to be Elizabeth, she absolutely shouldn’t fall for him, but she can’t help it.

This was a fun, light read that made me wish I was traveling to Europe in the near future. I fell in love with the descriptions of each new city they visited as well as the very unique personalities of each of the guests on the tour.

AMM

Vanished: True Tales of Mysterious Disappearances

Vanished: True Tales of Mysterious Disappearances
By Elizabeth MacLeod
Annick Press, 2016. 184gs. Young Adult Nonfiction

Do you remember watching the TV show Unsolved Mysteries in the 90s? While I always found the host and the stories slightly too creepy to really enjoy, I was always intrigued with the facts behind the mysteries portrayed.

This nonfiction book discusses six true mysterious disappearances. From the lost colony of Roanoke in 1590 to the icy Franklin Expedition in 1848 and the Mary Celeste, a legendary ghost ship which disappeared in 1872. Next the mystery of the missing Russian Amber Room in 1941, the Alcatraz Prison break in 1962, and finally the art heist at the Gardner Museum in 1990.

I was familiar with the Gardner Museum after vising Boston a few years ago, and I had a general idea about Alcatraz, but the other stories were largely new to me. The section on the Amber Room was my favorite of the bunch. Filled with color pictures, sidebars, and maps, this book is perfect for anyone that enjoys a true mystery tale.

AMM