Book Review: Beauty and the Beast of Paradise Lost , Volume 1, by Kaori Yuki

Beauty and the Beast of Paradise Lost , Volume 1, by Kaori Yuki is the start of a new graphic novel series. It presents the story of Belle and her beast as you've never seen it before, with sinister, creeping shadows suffusing a door to a wider, magical world. Young and rambunctious Belle insists on going out to play in the forbidden woods, but her adventurous streak abruptly ends when her mother is spirited away by a beast known to kidnap beautiful women. Twisted by the loss of his wife, Belle’s father keeps his daughter and her unusual violet hair locked away in an effort to “protect” her from prying eyes. Years later, news of the beast’s reappearance coaxes Belle back to the woods where it all began—but her desperate search for the truth may be more perilous than she could have ever imagined. 

Beauty and the Beast of Paradise Lost is a new and engaging story. First off, I loved the art style and think the graphics do a great job of illustrating the mood and action oft he story while adding a great deal to the story as a whole. I enjoyed the twist on the beauty and the beast idea, and think the characters, action, and plot are all well build and carries through out the story. I thought the emotional scars for Belle and the other characters were just as evident as their more obvious attributes. Belle and the Beast had me wanting to know more about them and how everything would come together right from the start, and I was disappointed to see the last page of this volume because it felt like all of the groundwork had been laid and everything was just about to get even more interesting. I must admit that there were a few moments where I got a bit lost as to exactly where the characters were, and how certain things came to pass, but those moments were definitely the exception rather than the rule. I really enjoyed this read and look forward to the second volume. 

Beauty and the Beast of Paradise Lost is a solid start to a new series, and I am intrigued. I look forward to following the story as it continues. 

Early Book Review: Oddball: A Sarah's Scribbles Collection by Sarah Andersen

Oddball: A Sarah's Scribbles Collection by Sarah Andersen is currently scheduled for release on October 12 2021. This is the fourth book in this graphic novel series. This particular collection of Sarah's Scribbles comics explores the evils of procrastination, the trials of the creative process, the cuteness of kittens, and the beauty of not caring about your appearance as much as you did when you were younger. When it comes to humorous illustrations of the awkwardness and hilarity of millennial life, Sarah's Scribbles is without peer.

Oddball is exactly what fans of the artist will be looking for from this book. Her art style and humor is consistent and enjoyable. The perils of living as an artist, introvert, or anxious individual are portrayed well, and in ways most of us that fall into those categories can relate to. While some of the pages were familiar to me, since I follow the artist on social media, others were new. The humor is relatable on several levels, even if some of the generational jokes pretty much ignored the existence of generation x- but everyone does. I think fans will want to pick this up, or at least give it a read through. 

Oddball is not the first I have read from this collection, and hopefully it will not be the last. It offers humor and self awareness to all the socially awkward, anxious, and otherwise odd feeling introverts trying to survive day to day life. 

Book Review: Country Kitchen Cookbook: A Collection of Traditional American Home-Cooked Recipes by Jennifer Boudinot

Country Kitchen Cookbook: A Collection of Traditional American Home-Cooked Recipes by Jennifer Boudinot is full of recipes for anyone who is a fan of bacon, cheese, buttermilk, savory casseroles, the sweetest pies, or anything deep fried. With a flexi-bind format that stays open while you cook, Country Kitchen Cookbook provides  Perfect for hanging around at home or inviting guests for a late, light supper, there is a recipe for everything. Recipes include Strawberry Shortcake, Loaded Baked Potato Soup, Apple-Smothered Pork Chops, Beef Stew with Dumplings, Country Corn Fritters, Collard Greens and Bacon, Hush Puppies, Home-Fried Sausage Casserole, Chocolate Chip Pancakes, and more!

Country Kitchen Cookbook is well organized and full of southern inspired comfort food recipes and corresponding photographs. The recipes are divided by themes and are easy to navigate. This is not a collection for those that are trying to eat healthy or have dietary restrictions. However, for those that are looking to master some favorite comfort food recipes or to treat yourself (and/or others) to a down home meal this will hit all the notes you need. As someone that does not often indulge in this style of cooking, this would be a book I would gladly check out from the library in order to master a few recipes for special occasions or days that I just fill the need to treat myself or my friends and family to something special. I think this would be a great addition to most public libraries fr that very reason. Those that tend to cook this style of food more often, or want to learn how, just might want to add it to their personal collection

Country Kitchen Cookbook is a great collection of recipes for those looking to serve up some comfort food.

Book Review: Sailor Proof by Annabeth Albert

Sailor Proof by Annabeth Albert is a contemporary romance, and the start of a new series. It’s petty, but Naval Chief Derrick Fox wishes he could exact a little revenge on his ex by showing off a rebound fling. His submarine is due to return to its Bremerton, Washington, home base soon and Derrick knows all too well there won't be anyone waiting with a big, showy welcome. Enter one ill-advised plan. Arthur Euler is the guy you go to in a pinch—he's excellent at out-of-the-box solutions. It's what the genius music-slash-computer nerd is known for. So when he finds out Derrick needs a favor, he’s happy to help. He can muster the sort of welcome a Naval Chief deserves, no problem at all. Except it is a problem. A very big problem. When Arthur’s homecoming welcome is a little too convincing, when a video of their gangplank smooch goes enormously viral, they're caught between a dock and a hard place. Neither of them ever expected a temporary fake relationship to look—or feel—so real. And Arthur certainly never considered he'd be fighting for a very much not-fake forever with a military man.

Sailor Proof is a contemporary romance that uses some of my favorite tropes to great effect. The friend's sibling romance, the kind of friends to lovers, fake romance turned real, and my favorite twist- there's only one bed! Derrick and Arthur were each great characters with their own personal issues to work out. I empathized with Arthur as he struggled with family dynamics and his perceptions of the past and his place in the present. I felt for Derrick as he noticed Arthur's discomfort and his gifts even as he had to come understand some of those dynamics and what he wanted from life at the same time. Seeing them both struggle and then find their way hit just the spot I needed it to.  I absolutely love Arthur and Derrick together, they hit the perfect blend of communication, chemistry, and charm that had me rooting for them right from the beginning. 

Sailor Proof is another great read from this author. I cannot wait to see what they write next.

Early Book Review: Underwater Wild: My Octopus Teacher's Extraordinary World by Craig Foster; Ross Frylinck

Underwater Wild: My Octopus Teacher's Extraordinary World by Craig Foster and Ross Frylinck is currently scheduled for release on October 19 2021. Craig Foster and Ross Frylinck regularly dive together in the awe-inspiring kelp forests off South Africa, without wetsuits or oxygen tanks. In Ross, he found a kindred spirit, someone who also embraced the ancient methods of acclimating his body to frigid waters, but whose eyes had not yet adjusted to the transcendent wonder Craig saw each time they dove. In the stories that make up this book, readers swim alongside Ross as he grows from skeptic to student of the underwater wild. And in the revelatory marine science behind the stunning photos, we learn how to track sea hares, cuttlefish, and limpets, and we witness strange new behaviors never before documented in marine biology. We realize that a whole world of wonder, and an innate wildness within us all, emerge anew when we simply observe. 

I have to admit that I picked Underwater Wild to read because of the photography. Seriously, the images are stunning and well worth a look at the book all on their own. They are simply stunning. The text is well written and talks about much more than the marine life feature. The narrative style brings readers along for the ride, showing rather than telling about what has been seen and learned. It is about marine life, exploration, family, relationships, and more. When paired with the photographs, the text gives an extra layer of wonder and heart to the book as a whole. I think this book will appeal to a wide range of readers, and some will definitely be taking more time to enjoy the pictures than the text, no mater how moving or interesting the information shared.

Early Book Review: Monkeys: Apes, Gorillas and other Primates by Tom Jackson

Monkeys: Apes, Gorillas and other Primates by Tom Jackson is currently scheduled for release on October 14 2021. As our closest relatives in the animal world, monkeys have always fascinated and amused humans in equal measure. Monkeys is an outstanding collection of photographs showing these complex, intelligent animals in their natural habitat. Arranged in chapters covering anatomy, family, behavior, feeding and young, Monkeys features a wide variety of monkeys and apes, including baboons, gorillas, orangutans, macaques, howler monkeys, spider monkeys, marmosets, gibbons, mandrills and chimpanzees. The smallest monkey is the pygmy marmoset, which can be just 117 millimetres (4.6in) in length with a 172-millimetre (6.8in) tail and weighing just over 100 grams (3.5oz); while the massive Grauer’s gorilla can weigh over 180 kilos (400lbs). With full captions explaining how the species act in a group, communicate, hunt and feed, and rear its young, Monkeys is a brilliant examination in 230 outstanding color photographs of these remarkable primates.

Monkeys is a wonderful collection of primate photography. My youngest is animal obsessed, so have have seen countless books and documentaries about animals of all kinds. I have to say that I have never before seen such a wonderful collection of primate photographs. The information provided for the pictures is succinct while still being informative and interesting. The eyes and facial expressions  of the various primates run just a wide range, much like those of people. The variety of size, coloration, habitats and more just might inspire further reading and care about the damage being done to habitats where some of these amazing animals live.  This book holds up after several looks and I think those intrigued by primates and animals in general will enjoy this book. It definitely belongs in libraries, but interested collectors and various school libraries might want to add this to their collections as well. 

Book Review: Stolen Science by Ella Schwartz

Stolen Science by Ella Schwartz is a middle grade non fiction book. Over the centuries, women, people from underrepresented communities, and immigrants overcame prejudices and social obstacles to make remarkable discoveries in science-but they weren't the ones to receive credit in history books. People with more power, money, and prestige were remembered as the inventor of the telephone, the scientists who decoded the structure of DNA, and the doctor who discovered the cause of yellow fever. This book aims to set the record straight and celebrate the nearly forgotten inventors and scientists who shaped our world today.

Stolen Science is an interesting look at how great discoveries, inventions, and innovations have been mis credited over the years, although not always maliciously. I think that this was an engaging and interesting read, and teaches readers more about some individuals that had great impact in a variety of fields, and teaching them a bit about those fields along the way. While it does drive home the point that life is often not fair, and that certain people tend to get credit even though others do the hard work, which is sadly still often the case. The book also points out that hard work, continuing to learn and grow, and perseverance are important factors in the achievements these individuals made. I had read some of the stories previously, but they were well framed and I liked some of the additional details about their lives and families as well as the science or industry most affected by their work.

Dwelling on how those in marginalized groups were, and sadly are, treated in most arenas does not leave me with all that much hope after reading, even though more and more of this sort of information is being  uncovered and shared has shed some light on the issues, but there will always be those looking to benefit from other's hard work and take advantage of those with less social standing in any way they can.  So I left the book feeling more than a little discouraged, mostly because of how some of today's social issues mirror the same pattern of problems. However, perhaps if we keep pointing it out the next generation will make more progress than my generation, and those previous, have this far.  

Book Review: Brides & Brothers by Anneka R. Walker

Brides & Brothers by Anneka R. Walker is a contemporary romance. Camille Kelly is in real danger of becoming an old maid—at least by Cherish, Montana, standards. She has all but given up on finding Mr. Right—until her broken laptop leads her to Aiden Peterson, a tall, dark, and handsome computer genius. Camille would never have believed her magic moment was right around the corner, but after two whirlwind weeks, she has a ring on her finger and has happily ever after in sight. However, she soon discovers Aiden is part of a daunting package deal. As the eldest of seven brothers, Aiden has never had a problem living under the same roof as his rambunctious siblings. When he falls for Camille, he is confident she’ll fit right into his family’s already bursting home. He thought wrong. Aiden and Camille’s storybook romance comes to a screeching halt when she discovers her new living situation. Not willing to submit to a life mothering a bunch of grown men, Camille has only one option: she embarks on a campaign to improve her new brothers-in-law and marry them off. And what better candidates for wives than her own best friends?

Brides & Brothers is a book I had a really hard time with, although I do recognize that fans of Christian romance and the musical 7 Brides for 7 Brothers will enjoy it much more than I. I did like that the attempt was made to deal with depression, anxiety, and some mental health issues. I thought most oft he characters were a little flat, only described enough to fit their necessary role. Furthermore, everything was tinted with the fundamentalist's idealized version of marriage with the wife as the caregiver, cleaner, cook, and pretty much everything else and with things very clearly along traditional gender lines. The idea that no one can be independent and happy alone or is incomplete without marriage was floated on the very first page and was pretty much a regular theme through the book. Look, I go to church every week and am happily married. However, I do not buy into the subservient wife or two halves of a whole ideology, and it often rubs me the wrong way.  This was certainly the case here. I just could not get past that to enjoy the read.Those that like those ideas and are looking for a book that does as well, will really enjoy this book.

Brides & Brothers is a book that will appeal to some fans of Christian romance, but it was very much not my cup of tea. 

Early Book Review: Black Hole Chasers: The Amazing True Story of an Astronomical Breakthrough by Anna Crowley Redding

Black Hole Chasers: The Amazing True Story of an Astronomical Breakthrough by Anna Crowley Redding is currently scheduled for release on October 5 2021. In April 2019, the Event Horizon Telescope Team unveiled the first ever image of a super massive black hole. This inspiring scientific breakthrough took years of hard work, innovative thinking, and a level of global cooperation never seen before. The challenge was immense. The goal was impossible. They would need a telescope as big as the earth itself. The technology simply didn’t exist. And yet, a multi-national team of scientists was able to show the world an image of something previously unseeable. Based off extensive research and hours interviews with many of the team's ground-breaking scientist, physicists, and mathematicians, Black Hole Chasers is a story of unique technological innovation and scientific breakthroughs, but more importantly, it's a story of human curiosity and triumph.

Black Hole Chasers is a middle grade non fiction book that is just as interesting an engaging for older readers, including adults, that are interested in the topic. I found the writing to be accessible and interesting, not oversimplified for younger readers nor overly technical. The information was well presented and I found myself intrigued. I enjoyed the asides of additional information and pop culture references, I felt they put things in context and might help the younger readers understand some of these references  that seem to consistently find their way into these discussions. I also like that the author took the time to show how many different people had a hand in the evolution of our understanding of black holes,  and how diverse they and their ideas have been over the years. No one individual, culture, or country can be credited with the discoveries or ingenuity that allowed for us to get an actual image of a black hole- never mind out current understanding of what they are and how they behave.  I liked that the author also included a proper bibliography and endnote citations. This should always be the case in nonfiction, but somehow it is somehow forgotten on occasion so proper citations always make me happy. 

Black Hole Chasers is a great read for anyone interested in black holes, and the scientific journey thus far in understanding, finding, and finally getting an image of one. 

Book Review: Witch Please by Ann Aguirre

Witch Please by Ann Aguirre is a contemporary, witchy romance. Danica Waterhouse is a fully modern witch—daughter, granddaughter, cousin, and co-owner of the Fix-It Witches, a magical tech repair shop. After a messy breakup that included way too much family "feedback," Danica made a pact with her cousin: they'll keep their hearts protected and have fun, without involving any of the overly opinionated Waterhouse matriarchs. Danica is more than a little exhausted navigating a long-standing family feud where Gram thinks the only good mundane is a dead one and Danica's mother weaves floral crowns for anyone who crosses her path. Three blocks down from the Fix-It Witches, Titus Winnaker, owner of Sugar Daddy's bakery, has family trouble of his own. After a tragic loss, all he's got left is his sister, the bakery, and a lifetime of terrible luck in love. Sure, business is sweet, but he can't seem to shake the romantic curse that's left him past thirty and still a virgin. He's decided he's doomed to be forever alone. Until he meets Danica Waterhouse. The sparks are instant, their attraction irresistible. For him, she's the one. To her, he's a firebomb thrown in the middle of a family war. Can a modern witch find love with an old-fashioned mundane who refuses to settle for anything less than forever?

Witch Please is a romance that had its ups and down for me. I really liked the different components, but I do not think they all came together quite right. First off, I did like the characters, and thought that their banter with each other and their larger circles was well done and entertaining. There were some issues with the alternating voices, occasionally leaing me confused about who said or thought something.  I really enjoyed most of the secondary characters, and would love to see more of them. This includes family and friend of both Danica and Titus.  I liked the set up for Danica's power and family drama. I thought the drama of Titus's family was a little unnecessary, and kept waiting for there to be some kind of magical connection or issue there with how strange some aspects felt. I honestly expect one or more additional magical twists. I liked all of the individual parts, but it felt like we were getting an information dump for a series starter built into this story. There were just more story threads than really needed to be there to tell Danica and Titus's story. I do kind of want this to be a series starter because I have several questions left that I want answered about the secondary characters and their possible relationships, the neighbor's cat, the witch hunter, the grandmother, and more. That being said, I liked the characters and the world building but the book felt a little disjointed. If there are follow up books, I will be giving them a chance. 

Witch Please is a book with some great potential that might lead to even better follow ups.