Book Reviews
So…What Now? Books to Help You Know What to Do About Problems in Society
If I know you–and I think I do–you’re nervous or scared about how things are going in the world and in the U.S., with the pandemic, racism protests, and other problems. You’re tired because you’ve either had to hunker down at home with your kids, becoming their co-teacher, or keep going to a job at…
Read MoreBooks on Racism, Anti-Racism, and Empathy for Teens and Tweens
I mentioned last month the journey I’ve begun as a result of the continued anti-racism protests. It started with providing a short list of science fiction and fantasy books by black authors, books that I’ve enjoyed, found deals on, and recommend. It continues with my participation in What Lies Between Us, an anti-racism course taught…
Read MoreBooks That Should Be Made Into Movies
Did you know that Goodreads has a list of 28,871 books that its users have said should be made into movies, the top ten of which are all YA titles? They are: City of Ashes, by Cassandra Clare Hush, Hush, by Becca Fitzpatrick City of Glass, by Cassandra Clare Clockwork Angel, by Cassandra Clare Marked,…
Read MoreBook Review: Two Emotional Books: If I Stay and Where She Went
What would you do if you were a teenage girl–one of those amazing ones that really gets along with their parents–and the only survivor of a car wreck that killed them and the rest of your family? What if you survived the wreck, but just barely, and you’re somehow conscious, in an out-of-body way, and…
Read MoreScience Fiction Books: Passage is a Long Masterpiece
Connie Willis continues to be one of my favorite science fiction authors, in part because she writes about time travel without making it convoluted and difficult. There’s nothing like reading some time travel books to make me feel stupid because I can’t keep all the timelines straight. The other books I’ve read by her–Doomsday Book…
Read MoreA Winner of a Keto Cookbook: Zilker Press’ Ketogenic Diet
As I’ve mentioned before, my family and I have been on the keto diet for the past few years, primarily because my husband has IBS and was pre-diabetic (even though he’s a sugar nazi). His functional medicine doctor recommended that he go on keto as a way of lowering his blood sugar and ameliorating some…
Read MoreA Good Contemporary Book Read: Plot Summary & Review for Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine
In my mind, it’s not often that the back-cover description of a book matches to a T what the book is about or conveys without hyperbole what makes it unique and special. The back-cover of Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine has one of those few en-pointe descriptions. “[It’s] the story of a…heroine whose deadpan weirdness…
Read MoreAn Incomplete List of Science Fiction and Fantasy Books by Black Authors
Like you, I’m watching the protests all across America this week and realizing that racism is more pervasive than I thought, still, and that I need to be more active in doing what I can to get rid of it once and for all. To start compiling a list of constructive actions I can take,…
Read MoreTop Nine Writing Books and Book Deals
As I’ve mentioned before, I’ve been writing for many years. Professionally, I’ve written hundreds if not thousands of blog posts, magazine articles, newsletters, white papers, product web pages, etc. and edited many more, plus a few books. And on the side, I’ve written fiction for seven years now. I have four complete manuscripts–all in the…
Read MoreMy Top Five Cookbooks: Cookbook Reviews
I don’t know about you, but I definitely feel like mine and my family’s eating habits have changed since we’re home 99% of the home under pandemic isolation. Obviously, I’m tempted to eat more frequently because the pantry and fridge are RIGHT THERE. And when I cook dinner, I’ve tried to be more purposeful about…
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