Chancer : How One Good Boy Saved Another : A Memoir

Chancer : How One Good Boy Saved Another : A Memoir
By Donnie Kanter Winokur
Grand Harbor Press, 2017. 272 pgs. Nonfiction

This memoir begins with Donnie and her husband, Harvey, going through the adoption process in Russia for their two children, Morasha and Iyal. As they adjust to parenting and the kids start to grow up, they notice Iyal is having some developmental issues. After many doctor visits and ongoing struggles, Iyal is diagnosed with FASD's (Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders).  Struggling to find the best solution for giving Iyal a better life, Donnie researched more into how Service dogs can be trained to help children with hidden disabilities. Eventually Chancer becomes the first FASD trained service dog, and he forever changes life for Iyal and the whole family.

Donnie Winoukur's memoir is such a touching story. I felt so much love for this family, and a lot of sympathy for Iyal. I was not aware of the extent FASD's has on a child's life. She is open about the emotional toll, and real moments that were so hard on all of them as a family. It is wonderful that Donnie put her last hope into a service animal. If you read this, you will fall in love with Iyal and Chancer's relationship, and forever respect all the service animals out there for the care they give.

MM

Mindset: The New Psychology of Success

Mindset: The New Psychology of Success
By Carol S. Dweck
Ballantine Books, 2008. 277 pgs. Nonfiction

Carol Dweck is a researcher at Columbia who has spent her time exploring the way our minds view and interpret the world. She argues that people either have a fixed or a growth mindset. The fixed mindset is more common in our society because we are taught from a young age that if you are talented or smart, then you will succeed. If you fail then that means you weren't as talented as you thought. The growth mindset, on the other hand, believes that hard work is more important than success. Failure just means that you need to try something different the next time and that you are capable of anything you work towards. The book uses many examples from sports and business to show the differences between someone with a fixed or growth mindset.

This book was fascinating! I especially liked the chapters where she explains how these mindsets fit into parenting and education. She gives examples of the praise we give children and the harm that can be done by a well meaning comment. She also gives examples of better ways of saying things. The biggest thing this book helped me with was being more aware of myself and ways I can improve my mindset. This is a book that I plan to read again!

AL

Love Remains

Love Remains: A Hope Springs Novel
By Sarah M. Eden
Mirror Press, 2017. 366 pgs. Romance

Tavish O'Connor has been doing everything he can to hold his family together since his younger brother Finbarr's accident, but it is a heavy weight that is starting to take its' toll. Tavish decides to hire Cecily Attwater, a tutor for the blind, to help Finbarr learn how to navigate life without his eyesight. Cecily has dedicated her life to help others overcome the challenges she has conquered herself. When she arrives in the small Wyoming town, she knows it won't be easy, but she is not prepared for the hatred she encounters just because she is English and the frustration of having a student that refuses to learn. Tavish and Cecily must find a way to overcome their differences if they are ever going to make a difference to the whole O'Connor family.

This is the third book in the Hope Springs Series. I was so happy to have a book that focused more on Tavish. He has faced a lot of trials over the course of the series so it was nice to finally have him find some hope and healing. Sarah Eden creates amazing characters that work their way into your heart. She is able to tackle hard subjects by adding perfectly timed moments of humor. I highly recommend any of Sarah Eden's books, especially the Hope Springs series. It is best to read the series in order.

AL

The General vs. the President: MacArthur and Truman at the Brink of Nuclear War

The General vs. the President: MacArthur and Truman at the Brink of Nuclear War
By H.W. Brands
Doubleday, 2016. 437 pages. Nonfiction

Truman, who never expected to be President, approved the use of the atom bomb in Japan and subsequently won re-election at a time when the U.S. was recovering economic prosperity but facing the start of the Cold War. Truman’s postwar successes in Europe included the Marshall Plan and the Berlin airlift, when he stood firm against Stalin in Germany. In Asia, however, the Communists took over China and North Korea invaded South Korea. At the same time, General MacArthur was incredibly successful as the head of the U.S. occupation and rehabilitation of Japan. MacArthur was famously insubordinate to Truman while Truman thought he had accurately taken the measure of MacArthur and could tolerate his disrespect. But international events created a situation where these two very capable but very different men would clash over U.S. policies in Asia. Brands skillfully portrays the relationship between these two men and the background to events that still shape the world we live in. SH

Take Me With You

Take Me With You
by Andrea Gibson
Plume Books, 2018. 200 pages. Nonfiction

An award-winning poet and activist, Andrea Gibson's latest collection of poems, one-liners, and more comes in a pocket-sized volume you can carry along anywhere. Chock full of emotive, relateable, touching poetry, this collection features work divided into three themed sections: Love, The World, and Becoming.

Don't let the size fool you; this petite book packs a real emotional punch.  I loved feeling so connected to a writer. Gibson has an amazing talent for making you feel their feelings and relate to their experiences, which I think is their greatest strength as a writer. I felt as though we shared in each other's joy, fear, pain, excitement, or wonder reading the poems similar to my life experiences, and  felt my heart and eyes open in equal measure to struggles, issues, and situations completely alien to me. This book was an uplifting, celebratory, hopeful look at life. Take it with you.


MW

Compost City: Practical Composting Know-how for Small-Space Living

Compost City: Practical Composting Know-how for Small-Space Living 
By Rebecca Louie
Roost Books, 2015. 209 pages.

According to author Rebecca Louie, anyone can compost, in any living space, any time of the year. This statement sums up Louie’s can-do attitude when it comes to composting in small spaces. First of all, why compost? Composting not only reduces the amount of garbage that goes into landfills, but also produces a lovely rich fertilizer for your household plants or garden. Many people are put-off by the idea of composting, thinking that it takes a large yard, lots of labor, and/or requires the use of creepy crawlies. The good news is that none of the above is required, and with the right system, anyone can compost!

I especially love the readability of this book. Injected
with humor at every turn, Louie makes composting easy to understand and thoroughly enjoyable. Several different composting methods are explained in this book, complete with illustrations and tips and tricks. Out of the many composting books I have read in order to start my own compost, this book is by far my favorite. If you have ever had even a passing interest in composting, definitely give this volume a try.

ALL

Zero Waste Home: The Ultimate Guide to Simplifying Your Life by Reducing Your Waste

Zero Waste Home: The Ultimate Guide to Simplifying Your Life by Reducing Your Waste 
By Bea Johnson
Scribner, 2013. 292 pages. Nonfiction


Bea Johnson is the queen of living Zero Waste. But what is zero waste, and why is it important? It is nothing new to hear that our garbage has a detrimental effect on the environment (Great Pacific Garbage Patch, anyone?), and it can be overwhelming to think about how one person can make a difference. Johnson chronicles her journey to transform her household into one that produces just one quart of garbage a year. According to Johnson, going zero waste not only helps the environment, but decreases annual spending, and increasing overall physical and mental health.

While this book can be overwhelming, I like to think of it as a guide for taking things one step at a time. The first section is dedicated to the Five R’s: Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, and Rot. In my opinion, learning and living the Five R’s is the first and most effective step that anyone can take in order to reduce their waste output. Johnson also dedicates a section to each of the largest waste-producing areas of our home: the kitchen, the bathroom, wardrobe, workspace, and more. Having incorporated many aspects of Zero Waste into my own life, I believe that anyone and everyone can find a few tips and tricks in this book to work into their lifestyle.

ALL

Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead

Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead
by Sheryl Sandberg
Alfred A. Knopf, 2013, 228 pages, Nonfiction

Chief Operating Officer of Facebook, Sheryl Sandberg examines why there are so few women in major leadership positions, especially in the tech industry, and shares advice from her own experiences and other women on what can be done to help solve this problem as well as how women can find work they are passionate about.

Taking examples from her own experience, Sandberg shows how expected gender roles work against women seeking leadership positions. Not only are women forced to balance family and job responsibilities, but they also experience more bias and subtle pressures from both men and other women whether knowingly or not.

This book is well-researched and relevant for all working women (and I would add men too). Though some of the ideas are not necessarily ground-breaking, such as being more self-confident, remaining engaged, and getting more help at home, the information provided gives women a clear path to improving their work life situation whether the goal is to make it to the top or not.

AJ

I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter

I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter
by Erika L. Sánchez
Knopf Books for Young Readers, 2017. 344 pgs. Young Adult

Julia and her parents are mourning the loss of her sister Olga, who bound the family together with her level head and responsible nature.  Now Julia languishes under the domineering eye of her mother, who disapproves of her confrontational nature.  Julia can't help but feel that her mother mourns the loss of her "perfect Mexican daughter" and wants Julia to start shaping up - regardless of what Julia wants for herself.  But when Julia discovers some unusual items in Olga's room, she begins to suspect that Olga had her own secrets.

This coming-of-age story centers around Julia, a combative, aggressive, resentful, angry, and hurting young woman.  While her personality seems off-putting, I couldn't help but relate to her throughout the book.  Julia's life is also colored by her family and their traditions, foods, and values, and while she chafes against some of the more rigid aspects of her culture, other parts give her a special perspective on the world and help to define her.  While I initially thought this book would be about processing grief from Olga's death and navigating their family without her, I soon realized the book is instead largely focused on Julia and her journey to find her place within her family and the larger world.

BHG

Glow of Death

Glow of Death
By Jane K. Cleland
Minotaur, 2016. 291 pgs. Mystery

Antiques expert, Josie Prescott, is also an amateur sleuth. Appraising an authentic Tiffany lamp for a wealthy woman named Ava seems like the opportunity of a lifetime.  When Ava is found dead a few days later, the local police, unable to contact Ava's husband, ask Josie to identify her.  To Josie's shock, the dead woman is not the person who let her into Ava's home to appraise the lamp.

Finding that the lamp is indeed authentic, Josie can imagine a large number of people who might have wanted to steal the lamp, perhaps even murder the owner.  But the lamp is still in the house and doesn't seem to have been disturbed in the course of the murder.  And why and how would someone impersonate Ava? As Josie learns more about the murder, she becomes angry about being deceived by the person who asked her to appraise the lamp and at whoever is trying to murder her as she delves deeper into the murder investigation.

Glow of Death is #11 in the Josie Prescott series. The series doesn't need to be read in order and offers more complex plots than some "cozy mysteries."  SH

The Comfort Food Diaries

The Comfort Food Diaries
By Emily Nunn
Atria Books, 2017. 310 pgs. Nonfiction

Emily Nunn worked for many years as a food writer in both New York and Chicago, she was engaged to a wonderful man, and had an amazing view from her high rise apartment. However, after the sudden death of her brother Oliver, Emily's perfect world fell apart. Her engagement ended and she turned to alcohol to find relief.

One night she wrote a drunken Facebook post about what's been happening in her life and while she was embarassed the next day, she was also pleasantly surprised at the compassion she received from her friends. Many offered words of sympathy and more offered to have Emily come visit their homes, to cook with and for her. With that idea, Emily's Comfort Food Tour began.

She spent a few months in rehab before making a cross country trip, making and eating comfort foods all along the way. Emily reconnected with friends that she hadn't seen in many years and found a way to put her life back togther. Scattered throughout the text are over 50 recipes, recipes that are sure to bring a feeling of warmth and love.

AMM

Warcross

Warcross
By Marie Lu
G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 353 pages, Young Adult Fiction

When teenage coder Emika Chen hacks her way into the opening tournament of the Warcross Championships, she glitches herself into the game as well as a sinister plot with major consequences for the entire Warcross empire.

Fans of Marie Lu know she writes great page-turners set in fantastic places, and peopled with interesting characters. One of the appeals of this book for me was that it’s set in the not-too-distant future, where a lightweight version of virtual reality glasses are used to enhance everyday life. This technology seems like it’s just around the corner for us, and it made it so the story wasn’t too bogged down with world building. This book is packed with action, a bit of romance, and a few twists and turns that I didn’t see coming. If you’re looking for a great read similar to Ready Player One or The Hunger Games, look no further!

MB

Dragon Bones

Dragon Bones 
by Patricia Briggs
Ace Books, 2002, 295 pgs. Fantasy

Ward has recently inherited his family’s estate when his father dies on a hunting trip. As Ward is adjusting to his new position and debates whether or not to drop the façade of being the castle idiot the King sends soldiers to take Ward to an asylum. Ward goes on a quest with key members of his family’s household to go about reclaiming his home.

I love Patricia Briggs, I loved listening to this book the reader beautifully portrayed Ward’s deep voice. I really enjoyed Ward’s growth and his awareness of the people around him.

MH

The Bone Witch

The Bone Witch
by Rin Chupeco
Sourcebooks Fire, 2017, 411 pages Young Adult Fiction

Tea has a very strong gift for death magic which causes most of the people in her land to fear, avoid, and respect her. After raising her brother from the dead, Tea undergoes the training to become an Asha, someone who can wield elemental magic. She will have to face many obstacles and make choices that will impact the world.

This was a book with beautiful world building. Think Geishas with magic powers; it was absolutely fascinating exploring this world where magic and tradition are so saturated in the culture. This is not a standalone book, and because of this I am very excited for book two Rin has set up a fantastic story and I am excited to read the follow through.

MH

Covenant Motherhood: Reflecting the Role of Christ in Our Lives

Covenant Motherhood: Reflecting the Role of Christ in Our Lives 
by Stephanie Dibb Sorensen
Covenant Communications, 2013, 109 pgs, Nonfiction.

This uplifting LDS book compares the roles of Christ with the roles of mothers. Author Stephanie Sorensen uses examples from her own life as well as teachings from general authorities and scriptures to illustrate how the many different roles of motherhood reflect the roles of Christ and his mission. The trenches of daily mothering can become overwhelming, but by seeing parallels to the Savior’s mission in the chaos of domestic life, women can find power in family service as they develop Christ-like attributes through motherhood.

This book is so hopeful, I love it. I love how the author helps the reader to find deeper meaning in those repetitive, sometimes menial and dreaded domestic tasks like laundry and changing diapers. I really felt uplifted and encouraged that I’m not doing everything wrong and there is wonderful purpose in my new responsibilities as a mother.

ER

Glass Houses

Glass Houses
By Louise Penny
Minotaur Books, 2017, 391 pages, Mystery

When a mysterious figure appears in Three Pines one cold November day, Chief Superintendent Armand Gamache and the rest of the villagers are at first curious, then wary. Through rain and sleet, the figure stands unmoving, staring ahead. From the moment its shadow falls over the village, Gamache suspects the creature has deep roots and a dark purpose. When the figure vanishes overnight and a body is discovered, it falls to Gamache to discover if a debt has been paid or levied.

Months later, on a steamy July day as the trial for the accused begins in Montréal, Chief Superintendent Gamache continues to struggle with actions he set in motion that bitter November, from which there is no going back. More than the accused is on trial. Gamache's own conscience is standing in judgment.

Louise Penny has won numerous awards for her writing, and after reading this latest book in her popular detective series, I can see why. I liked that this book had the appeal of a cozy mystery (it’s set in a small town in Quebec populated with quirky side characters), but it deals with current issues ripped from the headlines. I also liked how the story started from the end, and went backwards gradually while still never giving away who the guilty parties were.

I listened to the audio version of this book, and I thought the narrator did an excellent job of distinguishing each character.  This is a pretty solid mystery with a few twists and turns on the genre. Louise Penny reads like a modern-day Agatha Christie or P.D. James, and she shouldn’t be missed!

MB

Pitch Dark

Pitch Dark
By Courtney Alameda
Feiwel Friends, 2018. 384 pages. Young Adult

Tuck has been in stasis for 400 years after his ship, the John Muir, was jettisoned into deep space and stranded, unlikely to ever be found again. When he awakes, he finds his ship has been overrun by the mutated remains of other crew members whose screams alone can tear you apart. Laura is a young hacker onboard the Conquistador, a raiding ship looking for the key to the human race's survival. When the Conquistador and the John Muir collide, Laura and Tuck must work together to save their crews while trying to evade a malicious organization set on their failure.

This book excels at tension, suspense, and anticipation. Crouching in the dark and hoping things don't find you, you're holding your breath alongside the characters. Tuck and Laura are fantastic characters, with distinct voices and personalities that readers will enjoy spending time with. Pitch Dark is playfully sprinkled with references to contemporary movies, games, and pop culture (especially through the voice of Tuck) and sci-fi fans will love the play between Laura's futuristic tech landscape and Tuck's "older," more analog world.  Don't skip the author's note at the end of the book, which conveys just how much of Alameda's own experience and identity is wrapped up in the characters, tensions, and struggles of the book.

BHG

Thyme of Death

Thyme of Death
(China Bayles #1)
By Susan Wittig Albert
Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1992. 260 pgs. Mystery

China Bayles used to be a big city lawyer, but when the law profession became too stressful for her, she moved to the small town of Pecan Springs, Texas, where she opened up her own herb shop. One day, she gets a phone call that one of her good friends has apparently committed suicide. However some circumstances don’t quite match that conclusion. Is it murder? Using her police connections and knowledge of the law, China starts investigating, and when another murder is attempted, China realizes there is more going on in Pecan Springs than she realized.

This book has a nice small town feel where everyone knows each other and, for the most part, is willing to help each other out. It also includes the element of small town gossip where everyone (thinks) they know each other’s business. China is an interesting character and I loved how she uses her knowledge of law to direct her investigation. She knows what types of evidence will hold up in court, and that’s the type of evidence she looks for. This was a fairly light and easy to read mystery, and the first in a series if you want to read more about Pecan Springs.

ACS

The Alice Network

The Alice Network
by Kate Quinn
HarperCollins, 2017,  528 pgs. Historical Fiction

This historical fiction book is a dual chronology about Charlie St. Clair and Eve Gardiner. Charlie St. Clair’s chronology starts in 1947 during the aftermath of WWII, travelling with her mother to Switzerland to get an abortion because she is not married. She decides to leave her mother, and instead find Eve Gardiner, a woman who could be the key to finding her cousin who was never found after the war.  Eve Gardiner’s chronology takes us back to 1915 during the first war when she was recruited to be a spy in France for the Alice Network. As the story progresses you learn more about how these two strong women’s lives are connected by Eve’s past.

I enjoyed this book a lot, and had a difficult time not skipping ahead to see what would happen next in Eve’s dangerous situation as a spy for England. It is great to watch how much Charlie changes, and Eve opens up throughout the plot. Some parts are also deeply emotional, and devastating to go through each main character to see how their life was changed by the war. There was a great balance of reality and difficulties of war, but I wasn’t overwhelmed since there were happy moments of change too.

Content advisory: this book does have some stronger language, and as it is about a war contains violence. There are also some PG-13 sex scenes.

MM

Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death

Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death
By M.C. Beaton
St. Martin's Paperbacks, 1992. 272 pages. Mystery

Agatha Raisin has spent her life building a successful PR business in London from the ground up.  Now she has sold it for a pretty sum and decided to take an early retirement, buying a quaint cottage in the Cotswalds of the English countryside.  Trying to ingratiate herself into the village, she decides to enter the local baking competition, but having absolutely no knowledge of cooking, decides to bend the rules by purchasing her entry from a bakeshop in London.  Trouble finds Agatha when the judge who tastes her quiche turns up dead, and to keep herself out of trouble she decides to do some investigating.

Agatha Raisin is a strong, clever, and capable woman who is humanized by sometimes embarrassing but endearing mistakes.  This is the beginning of a long but classic series by popular author M.C. Beaton.

BHG

Soulful Simplicity: how living with less can lead to so much more

Soulful Simplicity: how living with less can lead to so much more
by Courtney Carver
Penguin Random House, 2017, 234 pgs. Nonfiction

Courtney Carver recollects her journey of change after she was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). This was her wake-up call to start changing her life to a simpler and more meaningful way of life. She provides steps and guideposts to make a plan with your loved ones to figure out what you want to change and accomplish. As she takes you through these steps, she talks about some of her personal things she changed. One of the major things she and her husband wanted to do was pay off all debt, so they downsized significantly. Although this book is not just about simplifying objects, she addresses the why behind letting go of so much and dressing with less items made her life better.

There was a period in my life when I also became really sick and when my job and responsibilities were too much. Carver’s belief that these moments are wake up calls really spoke to me, and reading her experience was very helpful and enjoyable. There are many ideas in here to slow down, simplify, and enjoy life. One we attempted at our home was to take as long to enjoy the dinner at the table as you took to make it. I had not done that since being in Europe, and it was a treat for our friends and family! I will revisit this book again later when I feel myself getting too caught up in things and being busy rather than spending time with my loved ones.

MM

A Study in Scarlet

A Study in Scarlet 
by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
BBC Books, 2011, 212 pgs, Mystery.

 Dr. John Watson meets Mr. Sherlock Holmes for the first time in A Study in Scarlet. Recently returned from the war due to injury and illness, Dr. Watson happens across an acquaintance who knows of a man looking for someone to share lodgings with at 221B Baker Street in London. Dr. Watson tries and fails to figure out the strange Mr. Holmes. Eventually Sherlock tells him that he is a consulting detective, and when a note from Scotland Yard arrives about a strange apparent murder, Dr. Watson convinces Sherlock to go investigate. Together they visit the crime scene at an abandoned house. The scene is covered in blood, but the deceased has no wounds, only a grotesque look of horror on his face. A woman’s wedding ring is found near the body, and the German word for revenge written on the wall in blood. The best detectives in Scotland Yard, Inspectors Lestrade and Gregson, are stumped. But after a look around the crime scene, Sherlock Holmes knows nearly everything about the murderer and how he committed the crime. But will he be able to catch the man?

 I have seen a lot of different film adaptations of Sherlock Holmes so it was quite fascinating to read the original source material to compare. I feel like the book and TV shows/movies didn’t ruin each other, which seldom happens. I got the impression that the author didn’t much care for the Mormon settlers, but it worked really well with the plot. I definitely will be reading the rest of the Sherlock Holmes novels.

ER

Martin Luther

Martin Luther: The Man Who Rediscovered God and Changed the World
by Eric Metaxas
Viking, 2017, 480 pgs.  Biography

Metaxas begins his carefully researched and thoroughly readable biography of Martin Luther by telling the reader that most of what they think they know about this great man of faith is not true.  Then he lays out the truth behind Luther’s life, actions, and cause.  Luther emerges as a courageous man who never intended to change the world but, when faced with adversity, stood firmly and fought for the God he felt was being abandoned by Western Christendom.

This biography was as gripping to me as many thrillers.  Though I thought I knew the story, Metaxas presents Luther in vivid color as a man searching for his own salvation despite real dangers and violent opposition.  His war was mainly waged with words in an age when the power of print was just taking hold thanks to the printing press.  I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading about history, religion, or fascinating individuals (or even those who just enjoy a great story).

CG

The Great Alone

The Great Alone
by Kristin Hannah
St. Martin’s Press, 2018. 440 pgs. Fiction

Leni Allbright is a thirteen-year-old just trying to fit in.  Her father, a form Vietnam POW, is constantly moving his family from place to place promising with each move that things will be better.  Thanks to a surprise inheritance, Leni and her parents move to the Alaska wild.  Completely unprepared for survival during the long brutal winter, the Allbrights need the help of the close knit community.  Initially,Leni’s father seems to be thriving in the wide open wilderness, but with winter comes darkness and his own dark past starts to emerge.

Watching Leni grow up in a home threatened by domestic violence is definitely not easy, but her courage and loyalty keep the narrative from becoming too oppressive.  I loved everything about this novel.  The writing was as beautiful as the Alaskan landscapes it describes.  The characters are wonderfully complex and the plot unexpected and engaging. 

CG

A World Ablaze: the Rise of Martin Luther and the Birth of the Reformation

A World Ablaze: the Rise of Martin Luther and the Birth of the Reformation
By Craig Harline
Oxford University Press, 2017. 300 pgs. Biography

BYU professor Harline's well-written biography of Martin Luther brings Luther to life for the reader.  Scholarly, yet very readable and interesting, Harline mainly covers the years 1515 to 1522 and the controversy generated in Catholic Europe by the 95 theses.  Harline helps the reader understand how Luther's preoccupation with his own personal salvation led to his understanding of justification by grace, ultimately leading him to write numerous books and theses. Though the sale of indulgences was already unpopular in many places, nonetheless, his ideas would place him in conflict with the religious and secular powers of his day.  This book deserves to be high on the reading list for people who are staying abreast of the numerous new books published about Luther and the Reformation for the 500th anniversary in 2017 of the posting of the 95 theses.  SH

When Dimple Met Rishi

When Dimple Met Rishi
by Sandhya Menon
Simon Pulse, 2017. 380 pages. Young Adult

Dimple Shah has big plans for her life, and they don't include arranged marriage and becoming the perfect Indian housewife. She thinks she's finally getting through to her parents when they agree to send her to a summer program for teen coders - until she meets Rishi.
Rishi Patel is the poster child of the ideal Indian son; creative and romantic, he loves the traditions and structure of his culture. When his and Dimple's parents suggest that she and Rishi would make a great match, he needs no persuasion. Better yet, they're going to the same summer program. They'll have all summer to get to know each other; he couldn't have planned it better himself. Except the part where Dimple's parents don't tell her about Rishi or their proposed match.
Dimple can't believe her parents would deceive her this way. Rishi can't believe his parents would think such an unconventional person would be a good match for him. And yet, the two aren't quite so different as they think, and despite the way they met, there might be something between them after all...

This book is delightful! I'm pretty picky about reading romances, and this one had me charmed from the start. First, it's a great execution of the "opposites attract" concept. Let's be honest, the trope works, and for reasons - namely tension. Right from the get-go we get fantastic tension between Dimple and Rishi, and unlike weaker romances where chemistry and attraction magically erase deep differences in the couple's values and opinions, Dimple and Rishi just have different perspectives. It's fun to see them come to understand each other, and themselves. This story is so relatable too - you might not know much about Indian culture, but I'd bet that at some point in life you've felt at odds with your parents, unsure about the future, or both scared and thrilled about chasing your dreams (and maybe all three). Now if you are familiar with Indian culture, or at least Bollywood, you're in for a treat. This book pays homage to while also providing some parody on Bollywood cliches. It's subtle, almost like an inside joke, but explained enough that anyone can join in on the laughs. For my fellow movie nerds, think Edgar Wright & Simon Pegg's films comedic nods to genre tropes rather than Mel Brooks' outright parodies. Lastly, this book is nerdy, ever so nerdy, and I mean characters and what they do (they are at an app summer camp after all), so the nerd culture is just one more element that makes this book so fun. And smart. And yes, romantic.

MW

The Upside of Stress

The Upside of Stress: Why Stress is Good for You, and How to Get Good at It
By Kelly McGonigal Avery, 2015. 279 pages. Nonfiction

If you’ve ever complained about being stressed, then you need to read this book. We all experience stress, and we’ve been indoctrinated that it is destructive to our health. Most of us do everything we can to reduce or avoid stress. But Stanford psychologist Kelly McGonigal, PhD, using cutting-edge research and examples, teaches us that stress isn’t all bad. This new research reveals that if we can learn how to embrace it and accept it in our lives, stress can, in fact, make us stronger, smarter, and more fulfilled.

I picked up this book after watching McGonigal’s TED Talk on the same topic. I was intrigued but a bit skeptical about how to embrace stress in my life. I’m pleased to report that this is a fascinating book as well as an empowering guide teaching us how to cultivate a mind-set that embraces stress, why stress can help us be more focused, and how stress even helps us connect with the people around us and strengthens our relationships. It has shaped the way I now think about stress. I would highly recommend you read it.

AJ

The Prince and the Dressmaker

The Prince and the Dressmaker
By Jen Wang
First Second, 2018. 288 pages. Young Adult Graphic Novels

The Prince and the Dressmaker starts on a hilarious note as Frances, working as a seamstress in a shop, designs a gown for a young lady looking to make quite a statement and a bit of payback to her overbearing mother. The dress causes such a splash that Frances is in the process of being fired from her job when she is snapped up by a mysterious but obviously high-ranking aristocratic client. She soon discovers that her employer is none other than Prince Sebastian, the most eligible bachelor in Paris that summer, who wants Frances to create gowns for him to wear! Sebastian asks Frances to keep his love of wearing dresses a secret as she designs gown after brilliant gown for him, but keeping his secret also means keeping herself a secret from the world.

Jen Wang is a talented author and illustrator whose work you may have seen in the graphic novel In Real Life (co-authored with Cory Doctorow).  She has outdone herself with this delightful story about forging your own identity, being true to yourself, and accepting others. In addition to her insightful storytelling, this graphic novel is beautifully illustrated and the flow from panel to panel is intuitive and dramatic. I haven't been so delighted with a graphic novel since Roller's Girls' meaningful and moving storytelling.  Although this may challenge some conventions, reading this book can help build empathy and is a great pick for young adult audiences.

BHG

A Lady in the Smoke

A Lady in the Smoke
By Karen Odden
Penguin Random House, 2016. 411 pages. Mystery

Set in Victorian England, Lady Elizabeth Fraser, the only child of the late Earl of Kellham, and who is said to have a dowry worth £10,000 per anum, is set to return home after a disappointing fourth Season in London. At the ball held the previous evening, Lady Elizabeth was shocked to overhear two ladies discussing the loss of her fortune, but when she confronts her mother, Lady Fraser is enraged and blames Elizabeth for not getting hitched sooner.

The next day, they board a train to return to their ancestral country estate, but a short time later the train careens off the rails and bursts into flames. Lady Elizabeth is thrown forward and hits her head and is knocked unconscious. After coming to, she manages to drag herself and her unconscious mother out of the wreckage but is unable to do more. Amid the chaos, a handsome young railway surgeon arrives, attends to their wounds and gets them moved to a local hotel. Elizabeth feels an immediate connection with Paul Wilcox though society would never accept a match between the daughter of an earl and a medical man. But headstrong Elizabeth refuses to let society’s strictures get in the way of helping him attend to the wounded. While helping, Elizabeth learns that the train wreck was no accident and the inspector who tried to prevent it died under mysterious circumstances.

As Elizabeth begins her own investigation, she discovers that the loss of her fortune may somehow be connected and is soon plunged into a dangerous conspiracy that reaches the highest levels of political power in England.

This is an enjoyable debut novel by Karen Odden about a headstrong young noblewoman unafraid to navigate a man’s world and reach for what she most desires. There is plenty of intrigue like family secrets, political conspiracies, lovers who are kept apart and more. I also enjoyed the historical details especially about the railway system in England. Fans of Anne Perry’s Victorian mysteries will likely enjoy this novel as well.

AJ

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