Fans of The Great British Bake Off love Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith and their encyclopedic knowledge of all things baking, and with their new cookbooks, "Bake: My best ever recipes for the classics" by Paul Hollywood and "Bliss on Toast" by Prue Leith, we can join in on the baking and fill our homes … Continue reading ‘Bake’ and ‘Bliss on Toast’ will keep you baking the Great British Bake Off way this winter
Adult nonfiction
‘Solito: A Memoir’ by Javier Zamora
Solito by Javier Zamora The Spanish word "solito" means alone, and in his memoir, "Solito," Javier Zamora shares the perilous journey the author made as a fairly sheltered nine-year-old child from a rural town in El Salvador, through Guatemala and Mexico, to the US. A disclaimer: I don't typically like memoirs. But I also lived … Continue reading ‘Solito: A Memoir’ by Javier Zamora
‘Nectar of the Gods: From Hera’s Hurricane to the Appletini of Discord, 75 Mythical Cocktails to Drink Like a Deity”
Nectar of the Gods by Liv Albert and Thea Engst First a disclaimer: I don't really drink much. But after reading and reviewing author Liv Albert's "Greek Mythology: The Gods, The Goddesses, and Heroes Handbook," I knew that I wanted to see "Nectar of the Gods: From Hera's Hurricane to the Appletini of Discord, 75 … Continue reading ‘Nectar of the Gods: From Hera’s Hurricane to the Appletini of Discord, 75 Mythical Cocktails to Drink Like a Deity”
‘The Betrayal of Anne Frank: A Cold Case Investigation’ by Rosemary Sullivan
The Betrayal of Anne Frank by Rosemary Sullivan It was a cold case all right. A very, very cold case. Rosemary Sullivan's fascinating and important study, "The Betrayal of Anne Frank: A Cold Case Investigation," takes us through an excruciatingly detailed account of the 2019 investigation whose goal was to find—once and for all—who was … Continue reading ‘The Betrayal of Anne Frank: A Cold Case Investigation’ by Rosemary Sullivan
‘The Forever Dog’ by Rodney Habib and Dr. Karen Shaw Becker is the complete handbook for how to help your dog live a longer & healthier Life
The Forever Dog by Rodney Habib and Dr. Karen Shaw Becker The full title of this very weighty tome by Rodney Habib and Dr. Karen Shaw Becker is "The Forever Dog: Surprising New Science to Help Your Canine Companion Live Younger, Healthier & Longer." It's a mouthful, and this book is not a one-night read. … Continue reading ‘The Forever Dog’ by Rodney Habib and Dr. Karen Shaw Becker is the complete handbook for how to help your dog live a longer & healthier Life
‘Funny Farm: My Unexpected Life with 600 Rescue Animals’ by Laurie Zaleski is touching, charming, and humorous
Funny Farm by Laurie Zaleski "Funny Farm: My Unexpected Life with 600 Rescue Animals" by Laurie Zaleski is not what I was expecting at all. We know from the first page, the Prologue, that it's about how Zaleski rescues animals, but what is unexpected is that more than half the book is about her childhood, … Continue reading ‘Funny Farm: My Unexpected Life with 600 Rescue Animals’ by Laurie Zaleski is touching, charming, and humorous
‘Life Glows On: Reconnecting With Your Creativity to Make the Rest of Your Life the Best of Your Life’ by Claire Cook is perfect for jump-starting your creative juices
Life Glows On by Claire Cook "Life Glows On: Reconnecting With Your Creativity to Make the Rest of Your Life the Best of Your Life" is yet another terrific piece of non-fiction by popular and prolific women's lit author Claire Cook. It's one that happily invites re-reading -- several times -- to thoroughly dig into … Continue reading ‘Life Glows On: Reconnecting With Your Creativity to Make the Rest of Your Life the Best of Your Life’ by Claire Cook is perfect for jump-starting your creative juices
Incredibly — ‘Better, Not Bitter: Living On Purpose in the Pursuit of Racial Justice’ by Yusef Salaam an inspiring read
Better Not Bitter by Yusef Salaam The set of blazing emotions provoked by Yusef Salaam's memoir, "Better, Not Bitter: Living On Purpose in the Pursuit of Racial Justice," includes strong doses of disgust, shame, anger -- and inspiration. In 1989, five teenagers, all Black or Hispanic, were convicted in the notorious case of a young … Continue reading Incredibly — ‘Better, Not Bitter: Living On Purpose in the Pursuit of Racial Justice’ by Yusef Salaam an inspiring read
‘Poppy in the Wild’ by Teresa J. Rhyne a story of love and determination
Poppy in the Wild by Theresa Rhyne The title of the story, "Poppy in the Wild: A Lost Dog, Fifteen Hundred Acres of Wilderness, and the Dogged Determination that Brought Her Home" by Teresa J. Rhyne is a bit misleading. It's not really just the story of a beagle from China who escapes from her … Continue reading ‘Poppy in the Wild’ by Teresa J. Rhyne a story of love and determination
Three Mothers: Unappreciated, Unnoticed, Unknown
The Three Mothers by Anna Malaika Tubbs Their names were Berdis Baldwin, Louise Little, and Alberta King. The percentage of Americans who might recognize those three names is approximately zero. But their lives, struggles, and accomplishments are every bit as important as those of the people we generally acknowledge as American heroes. And that is … Continue reading Three Mothers: Unappreciated, Unnoticed, Unknown
Attack dogs do not belong in jails
There have been many allegations that inmates in Virginia jails have been attacked by guard dogs, even when the inmates are lying prone on the ground — clearly not a threat. A Washington Post article dated March 6th, "Virginia is using dogs to 'terrify and attack' prisoners, say lawsuits that describe one man as mauled … Continue reading Attack dogs do not belong in jails
‘When Harry Met Minnie’ by Martha Teichner is a touching and heartbreaking story of dogs, friendship, and serendipity
When Harry Met Minnie by Martha Teichner I picked up "When Harry Met Minnie," by Martha Teichner, thinking it was a story about dogs. I was wrong. While the dogs, two adorable but quirky bull terriers named, obviously, Harry and Minnie, are part of this story — it's so much more. Teichner writes about serendipity, … Continue reading ‘When Harry Met Minnie’ by Martha Teichner is a touching and heartbreaking story of dogs, friendship, and serendipity