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Friday, August 27, 2021

Book Review: Uprooted




I have been wanting to start a feature here on the blog called Small Town Saturday for some time. I just haven't had the chance. The idea is that I will feature books about rural places. I am forever grateful for my rural experience and feel that by sharing the voices of others, they can have their place too. 

Without further ado, here is our first book feature: Uprooted.

Author: Grace Olmstead

 
Summary from Goodreads:
In the tradition of Wendell Berry, a young writer wrestles with what we owe the places we’ve left behind. 

 
In the tiny farm town of Emmett, Idaho, there are two kinds of people: those who leave and those who stay. Those who leave go in search of greener pastures, better jobs, and college. Those who stay are left to contend with thinning communities, punishing government farm policy, and environmental decay.
 
Grace Olmstead, now a journalist in Washington, DC, is one who left, and in Uprooted, she examines the heartbreaking consequences of uprooting—for Emmett, and for the greater heartland America. Part memoir, part journalistic investigation, Uprooted wrestles with the questions of what we owe the places we come from and what we are willing to sacrifice for profit and progress.
 
As part of her own quest to decide whether or not to return to her roots, Olmstead revisits the stories of those who, like her great-grandparents and grandparents, made Emmett a strong community and her childhood idyllic. She looks at the stark realities of farming life today, identifying the government policies and big agriculture practices that make it almost impossible for such towns to survive. And she explores the ranks of Emmett’s newcomers and what growth means for the area’s farming tradition.
 
Avoiding both sentimental devotion to the past and blind faith in progress, Olmstead uncovers ways modern life attacks all of our roots, both metaphorical and literal. She brings readers face to face with the damage and brain drain left in the wake of our pursuit of self-improvement, economic opportunity, and so-called growth. Ultimately, she comes to an uneasy conclusion for herself: one can cultivate habits and practices that promote rootedness wherever one may be, but: some things, once lost, cannot be recovered.

Personal Review: If you enjoy books about rural places, stewardship, or about the journey of self, this may be the book for you. I resonated on many levels of this book having grown up in a rural place and moving away. I have had to learn that even though I may not be in that place anymore, the things that I learned in being there have forever shaped who I am. This book was moving and explored how rural America is being impacted. I enjoyed it very much.


 Disclaimer: I was awarded this book from the publisher/NetGalley. Though I did not pay for the book, the opinions are strictly my own.


Happy Reading!

Tuesday, August 24, 2021

Book Review: Black Cake



Author: Charmaine Wilkerson
 
Summary:

In this moving debut novel, two estranged siblings must set aside their differences to deal with their mother's death and her hidden past--a journey of discovery that takes them from the Caribbean to London to California and ends with her famous black cake.

In present-day California, Eleanor Bennett's death leaves behind a puzzling inheritance for her two children, Byron and Benny: a traditional Caribbean black cake, made from a family recipe with a long history, and a voice recording. In her message, Eleanor shares a tumultuous story about a headstrong young swimmer who escapes her island home under suspicion of murder. The heartbreaking journey Eleanor unfolds, the secrets she still holds back, and the mystery of a long-lost child, challenge everything the siblings thought they knew about their family, and themselves.
 
Can Byron and Benny reclaim their once-close relationship, piece together Eleanor's true history, and fulfill her final request to “share the black cake when the time is right?” Will their mother's revelations bring them back together or leave them feeling more lost than ever? 

Charmaine Wilkerson's debut novel is a story of how the inheritance of betrayals, secrets, memories, and even names, can shape relationships and history. Deeply evocative and beautifully written, Black Cake is an extraordinary journey through the life of a family changed forever by the choices of its matriarch.

Personal Review:

For anyone who has experience or likes to read about situations with a complicated family, this may be a book that resonates for you. The book covers the emotional situation of grief and the follow up that happens. It was interesting to see the story from such different views and the information that lead to each decision along the way. I found this to be a captivating take on how individuals process through the events of their lives and the stories that happen as a result. Thank you for the opportunity to read.

 Disclaimer: I was awarded this book from the publisher/Net Galley. Though I did not pay for the book, the opinions are strictly my own.


Happy Reading!

Sunday, August 22, 2021

Back to School


Happy Back to School. 

This is my last Fall semester (as a student)...that is crazy to think about after 20+ years of school.  I hope it is a great one for you all! 

Happy Reading!

Saturday, August 21, 2021

Book Review: Funny Farm




Author: Laurie Zaleski
 
Summary:
An inspiring and moving memoir of the author's turbulent life with 600 rescue animals.

Laurie Zaleski never aspired to run an animal rescue; that was her mother Annie’s dream. But from girlhood, Laurie was determined to make the dream come true. Thirty years later as a successful businesswoman, she did it, buying a 15-acre farm deep in the Pinelands of South Jersey. She was planning to relocate Annie and her caravan of ragtag rescues―horses and goats, dogs and cats, chickens and pigs―when Annie died, just two weeks before moving day. In her heartbreak, Laurie resolved to make her mother's dream her own. In 2001, she established the Funny Farm Animal Rescue outside Mays Landing, New Jersey. Today, she carries on Annie’s mission to save abused and neglected animals.

Funny Farm is Laurie’s story: of promises kept, dreams fulfilled, and animals lost and found. It’s the story of Annie McNulty, who fled a nightmarish marriage with few skills, no money and no resources, dragging three kids behind her, and accumulating hundreds of cast-off animals on the way. And lastly, it's the story of the brave, incredible, and adorable animals that were rescued.

Personal Review:
They had me with the cute photos on the front and the mention of a memoir. I loved that this story followed Annie's journey throughout her new adventures. Cliche... the phrase about who rescuing who...but this story played that out. I enjoyed the book and I love that is based on a real place that provides 24/7 support for the animals. All of my animal-loving friends should go get this book, please :). 

More information here:
http://funnyfarmrescue.org/

 Disclaimer: I was awarded this book from the publisher/Net Galley.  Though I did not pay for the book, the opinions are strictly my own.

Happy Reading!

Thursday, August 19, 2021

Book Review: Women, Food, and Hormones




Author: Sara Gottfriend
 
Summary from Amaon:
New York Times best-selling author Dr. Sara Gottfried shares a new, female-friendly Keto diet that addresses women’s unique hormonal needs, so readers can shed pounds and maintain the loss more easily.

Most diet plans were created by men for men, but women’s bodies don’t work the same way. Popular programs can actually make it harder for women to lose weight, because they can wreak havoc on a woman’s complex and delicate hormonal system. New York Times best-selling author Dr. Sara Gottfried has spent her career demystifying hormones and helping patients improve their health more broadly with personalized medicine. In Women, Food, and Hormones, Dr. Gottfried presents a groundbreaking new plan that helps women balance their hormones so they can lose excess weight and feel better. Featuring hormonal detoxification combined with a ketogenic diet that is tailor-made for women, coupled with an intermittent fasting protocol and over 50 delicious and filling recipes, this book shares a fat-burning solution that gets results. 

Personal Review:
I had not really considered the differences in diet based on gender before this book. It was interesting to understand the information behind this approach. My favorite part was the recipes at the end. Thank you for the opportunity to read it! 

Disclaimer: I was awarded this book from Net Galley. Though I did not pay for the book, the opinions are strictly my own.

Happy Reading!

Tuesday, August 17, 2021

Book Review: Things I Hear My Professor Say




Author: Dr. Curtis Odom
 
Summary:
In the following pages, you will find over two decades of professional insights, lessons learned, and personal experiences as captured by a student in my class who gave me the greatest gift of my career: a transcript of me putting my entire career's worth of context into the content of academic lectures taught over a fall semester in a college classroom. This engaged student distilled the insights heard in what I said-as his professor-into simple statements that most impacted him. Clear proof that words matter.

Personal Review:
As someone who considers the idea of being an adjunct faculty member some day, I really wanted to read this one. It was interesting to hear the perspectives and learn about the experiences in the classroom. It shows you that not only does the teacher teach, but the teacher learns too! 

 Disclaimer: I was awarded this book from NetGalley. Though I did not pay for the book, the opinions are strictly my own.


Happy Reading!

Sunday, August 15, 2021

Bout of Books 32


The Bout of Books readathon is organized by Amanda Shofner and Kelly Rubidoux Apple. It’s a weeklong readathon that begins 12:01am Monday, August 16th and runs through Sunday, August 22nd in YOUR time zone. Bout of Books is low-pressure. There are reading sprints, Twitter chats, and exclusive Instagram challenges, but they’re all completely optional. For all Bout of Books 32 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team

 

Happy Reading!

Thursday, August 12, 2021

Friday the 13th


Lol...Hope you all have a nice weekend! 

 

Happy Reading!

Tuesday, August 10, 2021

Waiting on Wednesday: The Donut Trap



Hi Everyone,

Just stopping by to let you know about a book I am waiting on.

Author: Julie Tieu
 
Summary from Goodreads:
Julie Tieu sparkles in this debut romantic comedy, which is charmingly reminiscent of the TV show Kim’s Convenience and Frankly in Love by David Yoon, about a young woman who feels caught in the life her parents have made for her until she falls in love and finds a way out of the donut trap.


Jasmine Tran has landed herself behind bars—maple bars that is. With no boyfriend or job prospects, Jasmine returns home to work at her parents’ donut shop. Jasmine quickly loses herself in a cyclical routine of donuts, Netflix, and sleep. She wants to break free from her daily grind, but when a hike in rent threatens the survival of their shop, her parents rely on her more than ever.

Help comes in the form of an old college crush, Alex Lai. Not only is he successful and easy on the eyes, to her parents’ delight, he’s also Chinese. He’s everything she should wish for, until a disastrous dinner reveals Alex isn’t as perfect as she thinks. Worse, he doesn’t think she’s perfect either.

With both sets of parents against their relationship, a family legacy about to shut down, and the reappearance of an old high school flame, Jasmine must scheme to find a solution that satisfies her family’s expectations and can get her out of the donut trap once and for all

Happy Reading!

Sunday, August 8, 2021

Thursday, August 5, 2021

Reverse Readathon




Happy Readathon!! 

Just stopping by to let you know about a readathon for the upcoming weekend...

The Reverse Readathon is August 6-7, 2021! They start on August 6th at 8pm Eastern Standard Time.  
 

Happy Reading!

Tuesday, August 3, 2021

Waiting on Wednesday: The Party Crasher



Hi Everyone,

Just stopping by to let you know about a book I am Waiting On. 

Author: Sophie Kinsella
 
Summary from Goodreads:
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Love Your Life comes a humorous and heartwarming novel about family, set against the backdrop of the most fabulous party you've ever snuck into.

It's been over two years since Effie's beloved parents got divorced, destroying the image of the happy, loving childhood she thought she had. Since then, she's become estranged from her father and embarked on a feud with his hot (and much younger) girlfriend, Krista. And now, more earth-shattering news: Greenoaks, the rambling Victorian country house Effie called home her whole life, has been sold.

When Krista decides to throw a grand "house cooling" party, Effie is originally left off the guest list--and then receives a last-minute "anti-invitation" (maybe it's because she called Krista a gold-digger, but Krista totally deserved it, and it was mostly a joke anyway). Effie declines, but then remembers a beloved childhood treasure is still hidden in the house. Her only chance to retrieve it is to break into Greenoaks while everyone is busy celebrating. As Effie sneaks around the house, hiding under tables and peeping through trapdoors, she realizes the secrets Greenoaks holds aren't just in the dusty passageways and hidden attics she grew up exploring. Watching how her sister, brother, and dad behave when they think no one is looking, Effie overhears conversations, makes discoveries, and begins to see her family in a new light. Then she runs into Joe--the love of her life, who long ago broke her heart, and who's still as handsome and funny as ever--and even more truths emerge.

But will Effie act on these revelations? Will she stay hidden or step out into the party and take her place with her family? And truthfully, what did she really come back to Greenoaks for? Over the course of one blowout party, Effie realizes that she must be honest with herself and confront her past before she'll ever be able to face her future.


 

Happy Reading!