Draw Like an Artist: 100 Realistic Animals by Melissa Washburn

Draw Like an Artist: 100 Realistic Animals by Melissa Washburn ISBN-13: 9781631598197 Paperback: 112 pages Publisher: Quarry Books Released: December 17th 2019

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Draw Like an Artist: 100 Realistic Animals is a step-by-step guidebook demonstrates fundamental art concepts like proportion and spatial relationships as you learn to draw a full range of creatures, all shown from a variety of perspectives. Each set of illustrations takes you from beginning sketch lines to a finished drawing. Author Melissa Washburn is a skilled illustrator whose clear and elegant drawing style will make this a go-to sourcebook for years to come.


My Review:
Draw Like an Artist: 100 Realistic Animals is an art instruction book on using graphite pencil to draw realistic line drawings of animals. After the brief introduction to her method, the author provided step-by-step drawings for 85 animals with one animal demonstrated per page. She then had 15 pages of close-up details for dogs, cats, and horses (heads, paws, fur, and such). There's no text in the demonstrations, just 6-8 easy-to-follow steps leading from basic shapes to help block in angles and positions to adding details and cleaning up the guidelines.

The author demonstrated how to draw a wide variety of animal types so you can apply the lessons from one animal to similar animals. She covered common animals like dogs, cats, and other pets, farm animals, wild land animals, marine animals, and birds. Overall, I'd recommend this book to beginning artists who want to improve or learn how to do realistic line drawings of animals.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

The Ultimate Fluid Pouring & Painting Project Book by Jane Monteith

The Ultimate Fluid Pouring & Painting Project Book by Jane Monteith ISBN-13: 9781631597633 Paperback: 144 pages Publisher: Quarry Books Released: November 12th 2019

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Join mixed-media artist and international instructor Jane Monteith, a master of the fluid artforms and creator of the stunningly beautiful and popular paintings called MOD Minis. Fluid pouring and painting can result in beautiful, organic, and abstract designs that can be captured on special papers, canvas and board substrates, used to make gorgeous lampshades, poured into molds or dishes to create coasters, geodes, and agate slices, and can even be formed into vases, vessels, and bowls.

For both novice and experienced artists, this expressive book shares detailed, comprehensive techniques for working with high flow inks and acrylic paints. The Ultimate Fluid Pouring & Painting Project Book guides you through a variety of different fluid projects, from fluid-painted collage to resin-poured paints on different substrates. You will learn to use various tools and solutions to create beautiful colors and textures on paper. Learn how to work with resin and avoid common mistakes to produce a flawless finish. Understand how to seal and protect your work for years to come.


My Review:
The Ultimate Fluid Pouring & Painting Project Book explains how to complete a number of abstract art projects using alcohol ink and often resin. There was also one project that demonstrated three acrylic paint pour techniques: swipes, dirty cup pours, and ring pours. She started off by talking about the materials, then she provided the actual step-by-step instructions for the various projects. Her descriptions and the pictures were clear and easy to follow. She included troubleshooting tips. Although there were 12 projects overall, many projects had several ways to complete that project or several ways to achieve different looks for that same project. She had you create things like coasters, flower vases, and resin pieces that looked like geodes or agate slices. These projects look very interesting and doable if you have the needed materials. Overall, I recommend this book to anyone interested in learning more about using alcohol ink and resin to make interesting abstract art.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

Mindful Artist: Sumi-e Painting by Virginia Lloyd-Davies

Mindful Artist: Sumi-e Painting by Virginia Lloyd-Davies ISBN-13: 9781633228122 Paperback: 128 pages Publisher: Walter Foster Publishing Released: December 3rd 2019

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Centuries ago, Buddhist monks used black ink and brushes to practice mindfulness and create gorgeously harmonious works of art called "sumi-e paintings." The popularity of sumi-e, or ink wash painting, continues to this day.

Mindful Artist: Sumi-e Painting opens with an introduction explaining the links between mindfulness and sumi-e and how they enhance one another. Sections on “The Four Treasures,” as the tools needed for sumi-e painting are called; brushstrokes and painting techniques; and “The Four Gentlemen,” or the most common subjects in sumi-e painting, ensure that you have a solid background before getting started on the simple, approachable step-by-step painting projects. Throughout the book you can find stunning full-page artwork, tips for remaining mindful while you work, creative prompts and exercises, inspirational ideas, and suggestions on how to add color to black ink pieces.


My Review:
Sumi-e Painting "Sumi-e Painting" is an art instruction book on sumi-e, or ink wash painting. The author briefly talked about the philosophy behind the style and the needed tools and materials. I liked that only two brushes are needed, but I would've liked more information about the different papers. She provided step-by-step instructions on how to make different flowers and animals. For each flower, she first talked about how to make each part: a petal, a stem, and so on. Then she did a demonstration project that combined all of these parts into a finished painting. She demonstrated bamboo, orchid, plum, chrysanthemum, iris, peony, wisteria, grapes, lotus, insects, birds, rocks and water.

I felt like the instructions were more for someone who was familiar with the style. Her instructions tended to be 'use this color and this brush and hold it in this way' along with the picture showing the result. I felt like this required the reader to figure out what she meant by how to hold the brush and make the mark. There were only one or two photos showing how to hold the brush, though she did reference a YouTube video you can watch which shows a full bamboo demonstration painting. I enjoyed learning more about sumi-e and would recommend this book to people who already have some experience with watercolor or ink painting.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

The Meatless Monday Family Cookbook by Jenn Sebestyen

The Meatless Monday Family Cookbook by Jenn Sebestyen ISBN-13: 9781592339051 Paperback: 176 pages Publisher: Fair Winds Press Released: November 19th 2019

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
The Meatless Monday Family Cookbook features more than 100 delicious, plant-based, kid-approved recipes perfect for busy weeknights, or whenever you feel like trying out a meat-free meal. From filling Lentil Bolognese with Spaghetti to Tex-Mex Stuffed Peppers and Smoky BBQ Burgers, these meals will satisfy even the pickiest of palates. And most can be made in 30 minutes or less!

Chapters cover all types of meals, from Bountiful Bowls (perfect for lunch or dinner), to One-Pot Wonders, to everyone's favorite—Breakfast for Dinner. You'll also find great tips for getting the kids involved, which has a funny way of making them enjoy the meal even more.

Find something for everyone with recipes like: Creamy Tomato Soup with Orzo, Sloppy Lentil Sandwiches, BBQ Chickpea and Veggie Bowls, Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese, Quick Peanut Noodles, Black Bean and Zucchini Enchiladas, Thai Sweet Potato Curry, Cheesy Broccoli Stuffed Baked Potatoes, Banana Walnut Baked Oatmeal.


My Review:
The Meatless Monday Family Cookbook is a cookbook with kid-friendly, plant-based recipes for those wanting to try out a meatless Monday or wanting to add more plant-based dishes throughout the week. The recipes used no meat or dairy, and most were gluten-free or had tips on how to make them gluten-free. She did use added oil, but she also explains how to cook a dish without added oil if you want to. The recipes were often similar to familiar dishes, like mac & cheese, and usually used familiar or common ingredients that should be easy to find. The recipes look relatively simple to make. The meal recipes usually served 4 to 6 people.

She had 11 recipes for soups, 9 for salads, 12 for wraps, sandwiches, and burgers, 11 for bowls, 11 for pasta, 11 one-pot meals, 8 for casseroles, 9 for vegetable–centered main dishes, 8 breakfast for dinner dishes, and 13 sauces and staples. Each recipe included cooking tips and ways to involve kids in the cooking. She did not include estimated preparation or cooking time, nor did she include nutritional information per serving. They included pictures of many of the recipes.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

The Rheumatoid Arthritis Healing Plan by Caitlin Samson

The Rheumatoid Arthritis Healing Plan by Caitlin Samson MSACN CEP CPT CET ISBN-13: 9781641528665 Paperback: 234 pages Publisher: Rockridge Press Released: October 15th 2019

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
When it comes to rheumatoid arthritis (RA), diet, exercise, and stress management can be the best medicine. The Rheumatoid Arthritis Healing Plan is a holistic, three-part approach to managing pain and inflammation in RA patients, specifically. Learn how to take control of your own comfort and long-term well-being with the easy-to-understand methods in this book.

Discover approachable workout routines, mindfulness-based meditations, simple meal plans, and 75 delicious recipes with anti-inflammatory ingredients that help ease RA symptoms. Help relieve rheumatoid arthritis symptoms with scrumptious dishes like Shrimp Veggie Noodle Soup, Sweet Potato and Sausage Hash, and Navy Bean Chard Soup. 2 helpful meal plans—Flare-Soothing and Everyday RA meal plans.


My Review:
The Rheumatoid Arthritis Healing Plan covered some natural ways to help reduce inflammation and RA symptoms. The author started by talking about the basics of RA and what causes it. She also discussed several methods of reducing RA symptoms, including exercise, certain stretching exercises, good sleep, stress reduction, and the food you eat. She included a couple meal plans and 75 recipes. These recipes included some anti-inflammatory ingredients and avoided foods that commonly provoke RA symptoms. I was disappointed that she didn't point out that GMO's can cause inflammation. Avoiding GMOs has put my RA in remission. She suggested avoiding processed foods, refined sugar, dairy, gluten, and maybe avoiding some other foods, while adding whole foods like fruits and vegetables.

She included 10 breakfast recipes, 10 snacks, 15 vegetarian main dishes, 15 fish and seafood main dishes, 15 poultry, pork, lamb, or beef main dishes, and 10 desserts. These recipes served between two and six people. She included cook time, prep time, and nutritional information per serving (calories, trans fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, sodium, total carbohydrates, fiber, protein). There was only one recipe pictured for each section, so many recipes did not have a picture. This is fine with me, but I know some people prefer more pictures. Overall, I'd recommend this book to people with RA who are new to the idea of using diet and exercise to reduce their symptoms.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

Sound Bath by Sara Auster

Sound Bath by Sara Auster ISBN-13: 9781982132941 Paperback: 320 pages Publisher: Tiller Press Released: Nov. 19, 2019

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Discover the use of sound in ancient traditions to transform consciousness, heal the mind, calm the body, build diverse communities, and help people live more mindfully. Sound Baths help people achieve a reflective, self-healing state. Sound therapist, meditation teacher, and thought leader Sara Auster has traveled the world facilitating sound bath experiences. Sara shares her personal journey to recovery from a traumatic accident and how she got involved with leading Sound Baths. She talks about what attending a Sound Bath is like and answers the most commonly asked questions about sound therapy, meditation, deep listening, and the ancient traditions that inspire her Sound Baths.


My Review:
Sound Bath is about the author's life, what led her into facilitating Sound Baths, and what her Sound Baths are like. The book sometimes came across as an ad for hiring the author to do a Sound Bath for your group or for buying her recordings. She spent chapters describing how she got into doing Sound Baths, what attending one of her sound bath sessions is like (with sound alone or in combination with scents, yoga, etc.), and how to get the most out of a Sound Bath session. There was a chapter full of letters from people who attended a sound bath and how it helped them.

She also gave an overview of the (mostly Eastern) ideas that inspired what she does in a sound bath. She talked about deep listening, yoga, mindfulness meditation (using sound as your guide), why stress is bad, your voice and words as sound, mantras, doshas, meridians, prana, chakras, etc. I thought the book was supposed to be about how sound benefits physical health, but she started talking like the point of Sound Baths is to achieve an altered state of consciousness. The author also briefly described the instruments that she uses and their history (origins, what they were used for in religious rituals, etc.). At the end of each chapter, she gave an exercise relating to that topic that you can do by yourself, but I felt like this was primarily a what-she-does book rather than a how-to book (especially if you're not interested in dabbling in Eastern religious practices).


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

Start Your Own Photography Business by The Staff of Entrepreneur Media, Inc., Jason R. Rich

Start Your Own Photography Business by The Staff of Entrepreneur Media, Inc., Jason R. Rich ISBN-13: 9781599186573 Paperback: 180 pages Publisher: Entrepreneur Press Released: October 22, 2019

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
If you have a talent for snapping great pictures, why not turn your hobby into a lucrative business? You can take portraits in a studio or on location, submit photos as a freelancer to media companies or businesses, frame and display your favorite shots in a gallery, or record special events like weddings and sweet sixteen parties. Whether you want to earn a little extra money or set yourself up as a full-time, professional photographer, all the information you need to succeed is inside.

Determine your specialty. Set up a home office and/or functional studio. Choose the right equipment for all types of photos--and find great deals on the cameras and accessories you need. Build an attractive online or traditional portfolio. Find paying jobs and market yourself professionally. Setup a fee structure for your service. Get great exposure for your work at art festivals, contests, galleries, local businesses and more. Protect yourself from legal concerns such as copyright infringement and privacy issues.


My Review:
Start Your Own Photography Business is intended to help people interested in becoming professional photographers to set up a business. It does not cover how to take photographs, but it does talk about what professional level equipment you will need and where to find it at a good price. The book started by talking about the different specialties that you can choose as a professional photographer, like taking stock photos versus taking on assignments, taking portraits or product pictures or fine art prints, and so on. They talked about setting your rates, creating a business plan, and figuring out the costs of running a business. They talked about hiring employees and paying them, creating logos and signs, going online and creating a website, marketing, office and business equipment you will need, finances and taxes, and legal issues related to photography. They also included advice from successful professionals. The information was useful and easy to follow. Overall, this is very helpful information for anyone trying to set up a professional photography business.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

The Urban Sketching Handbook by Stephanie Bower

The Urban Sketching Handbook by Stephanie Bower ISBN-13: 9781631597657 Paperback: 112 pages Publisher: Quarry Books Released: November 5th 2019

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Illustrator, architect, and international workshop instructor and Urban Sketcher Stephanie Bower has collected 101 of her best insider drawing tips, hacks, and techniques and shares them in this fully illustrated, portable book. Learn shortcuts to getting your perspective right, determining your composition, and balancing your light and shadow. This book collects many basic drawing techniques into one handy volume.

The book also features beautiful example illustrations from Urban Sketchers around the globe! Whether you are new to sketching or are an experienced artist, this book is chock-full of useful, practical, and clever tips to take your drawing to the next level.


My Review:
The Urban Sketching Handbook provided 101 drawing tips with a focus on urban drawing. The author provided tips that would be helpful to an absolute beginner at drawing as well as some tips that would be helpful to someone more experienced who wanted to learn to draw urban environments better. She started by talking about what materials to use for urban drawing and the basics about drawing lines and shading. She gave some very good tips on determining and including perspective in your drawings. She also gave tips on composition and how to use watercolor with your drawings. Overall, I'd recommend this book to artists interested in learning how to make more expressive and accurate urban drawings.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

The Grimy 1800s by Andre Gren

The Grimy 1800s by Andre Gren ISBN-13: 9781526731401 Paperback: 136 pages Publisher: Pen & Sword Books Released: December 19, 2019

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
In the nineteenth century, as towns grew, Britain became increasingly grimy. The causes of dirt and pollution were defined legally as 'nuisances' and, in 1835, the new local authorities very rapidly appointed an army of 'inspectors of nuisances'.

This book is the inspectors' chronicle: it offers their eye-witness accounts and a plethora of details pertaining to the workings of the scrutinising Parliamentary Committees that were set up in an attempt to ease the struggles against filth. Inspectors battled untreated human excreta in rivers black as ink, as well as insanitary drinking water, home to tadpoles and portions of frogs so large that they blocked taps. They dealt with putrid animal carcases in cattle markets and slaughter-houses, not to mention the unabated smoke from mill chimneys that covered towns with a thick layer of black grime. Boggle Hole Pond was a source of drinking water full of dead dogs; ice cream was coated in bugs; stinking rotting crabs, poultry and pigeon smells polluted the air. Even the dead floating out of badly drained burial grounds were 'nuisances', leading to the practice of burning the remains of the dead.


My Review:
The Grimy 1800s summarizes reports given by Inspectors of Nuisances in England on various sanitation topics between 1846 and 1915. These inspectors were created in the mid 1800s and reports were recorded by Parliamentary Committees over the years. The author summarized the contents of these reports, selecting ones that he felt were the most interesting. He covered overcrowding, privies, poor or no drainage, improper human waste disposal, lack of availability of clean water, water pollution, food safety, bad smells, reporting of infectious diseases, excess smoke from mills and such, and what type of ground made for a good cemetery. I'd recommend this to anyone researching specific examples of these problems (what town and at what time). It gets a little repetitive if you just want a general overview of the problem.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

The Vegan Spiralizer Cookbook by Barb Musick

The Vegan Spiralizer Cookbook by Barb Musick ISBN-13: 9781641528177 Paperback: 288 pages Publisher: Rockridge Press Released: October 8th 2019

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
The Vegan Spiralizer Cookbook is your how-to guide for vegan dishes with a twist—literally. It serves up 101 recipes that can be prepared with a spiralizer, making it easy and fun to eat more plant-based meals and create delicious, healthy options where fruits and veggies are the star, not just a sideshow. Whether you’re completely vegan, trying to cut back on calories, or just want to sneak some more vegetables onto your loved ones’ plates, this spiralizer cookbook can change the way you cook. No vegan or spiralizer experience required.

The Vegan Spiralizer Cookbook offers a huge variety of flavor-packed recipes for every meal, including pancakes, soups, and even fancy drinks! How to purchase, maintain, and safely use both hand crank and hourglass spiralizers. Find handy references for what to spiralize, how to spiralize it, and how to cook it—plus lists of other kitchen tools to keep on hand.


My Review:
The Vegan Spiralizer Cookbook is a vegan cookbook that uses a spiralizer to chop the vegetables and fruits in a visually interesting way rather than shredding or otherwise cutting them into pieces. She started by talking about how to buy and use a spiralizer and what vegetables and fruits work well with it. She used a lot of tofu in the recipes and would also use things like vegan cheese, vegan sausage, vegan butter, etc. Most of these recipes were made with ingredients that should be easy to find. The meal recipes usually served 4 to 6 people. Some recipes took under 20 minutes while others took over an hour.

She had 15 recipes for breakfast, 10 recipes for "bowls," 10 recipes for sides, 10 recipes for sandwichs, wraps, and burgers, 11 recipes for soups and salads, 20 recipes for main meals, 15 recipes for desserts, 5 recipes for drinks with a spiral of fruit or vegetable, and 5 recipes for sauces. Each recipe included preparation and cooking time and contained the nutritional information of calories, fat, carbs, fiber, sugar, protein, and sodium. She also indicated if a recipe was gluten-, soy-, or nut-free. There was a picture of one recipe in each section. While I usually don't mind if there is a lack of pictures, I think I would've liked more pictures this time since the point was how the spirals added visual interest.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

Vegan Everything by Nadine Horn; Jörg Mayer

Vegan Everything by Nadine Horn; Jörg Mayer ISBN-13: 9781615195886 Paperback: 224 pages Publisher: The Experiment Released: Nov. 1, 2019

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
100 gorgeously photographed, accessible recipes for every meal! Vegan Everything is the ultimate uncomplicated cookbook for everyone interested in plant-based foods. No matter what your skill level in the kitchen, these meals come together quickly, easily, and inexpensively. Here are recipes for pizza, falafel, burgers, banh mi, quesadillas, curry, ramen, jambalaya . . . in short, vegan versions of every dish you’re likely to look for.

But you won’t just find delicious vegan dinners here. Vegan Everything also contains a tempting array of breakfasts, snacks, and desserts. From bagels and frittata to brownies and ice cream sandwiches, veteran vegan authors Nadine Horn and Jörg Mayer have got readers covered. These 100 recipes can feed you all day, every day.


My Review:
Vegan Everything is a vegan cookbook covering a wide variety of recipes. I liked that she didn't always mimic meat-lover favorites but sometimes created unfamiliar dishes. She did use gluten-containing grains and occasionally even added gluten (seitan), but there were some gluten-free recipes. She did use soy, but there were plenty of recipes without soy, too. Because of this variety, probably everyone can find some new recipes that they can use.

The author occasionally used store-bought vegan "dairy" or "meat" in a recipe. Some recipes added oil or sugar or used less healthy options like white bread. But other recipes used whole grain bread or used fruit for sweetening. Most of the ingredients can be found in my grocery store. I also felt like I could easily make substitutions to the recipes to suit my tastes.

Each of the 110 recipes had full-color picture of the finished product. The recipes usually served 2-4 people. There were 11 recipes for Breakfast, 8 for Snacks (including chips, salads, crackers), 10 recipes for 20-Minute Meals (for which the prep time was 10-20 minutes, but the cook time added another 20-40 minutes), 11 for One Pan Used Meals, 12 for Family Dinners, 8 for Date-Night Dinners, 9 for Party Hits, 7 for Breads, 25 for Dips, Spreads, etc., and 9 for Sweets. I intend to try out a good number of these recipes.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

The Draw Any Animal Book by Robert Lambry

The Draw Any Animal Book by Robert Lambry ISBN-13: 9781631598418 Paperback: 176 pages Publisher: Quarry Books Released: October 15th 2019

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
In the 1920s and 30s, French artist Robert Lambry (1902–1934) created a series of charming step-by-step lessons for drawing animals for a weekly children’s paper. They were later compiled into a book Les Animaux Tels Qu'ils Sont (Animals as They Are) and now, almost 100 years later, these beautiful lineworks will guide you to drawing perfection. Lambry breaks down the process of drawing realistic animals into a series of simple shapes and lines, enabling you to recreate even the most complex creatures in just a few steps. Use the no-slip, wood-free pages to copy 100 wonderful animals—including big creatures, like an elephant, rhino, giraffe, and hippo; small creatures, like a snail, frog, butterfly, beetle, spider, and fly; all kinds of birds, like a swallow, peacock, turkey, heron, and swan; domestic animals, like a cat, dog, chicken, and cow; a range of wild cats, like a tiger, lynx, lion, and panther; Ocean creatures, like a whale, lobster, and seal; and more!


My Review:
The Draw Any Animal Book teaches how to create simple but accurate line drawings of a variety of animals. Text was only used when the author needed to point out how he created a distinctive feature of the animal. Each lesson was basically 3 to 5 drawn steps showing how to create each animal, and the steps were clear and easy to follow. Common animals were often shown from different angles – like the side, front, and back – and in different poses. He covered around 150 animals, from cats and dogs to reptiles, rodents, rabbits, turtles, bugs, fish, and many more. His method basically uses simple lines to get the correct proportions in place and then he added distinctive details so that a person seeing the line drawing can tell which animal it is supposed to be. Overall, I'd recommend this book to anyone who wants to draw simple line drawings of animals, especially children and crafters.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

No Gluten, No Problem Pizza by Kelli & Peter Bronski

No Gluten, No Problem Pizza by Kelli Bronski; Peter Bronski ISBN-13: 9781615195411 Paperback: 240 pages Publisher: The Experiment Released: Oct. 1, 2019

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Inspired by the popularity of their Sunday family pizza night, the Bronskis have created a cookbook that divulges the secrets behind their perfect pizza pies, including: Recipes for a number of gluten-free doughs and styles, including New York–style thin crust, Chicago-style deep dish, as well as other Italian-American classics like Stromboli, pepperoni rolls, flatbreads, calzones, and more.

In addition to the classics, the Bronskis also provide flavor profiles that go well beyond the Italian-American core (such as Mexican, BBQ, Thai, and other flavors), and they also offer modifications for crafting pizzas without refined sugar, yeast, Top 8 allergens (nuts, peanuts, soy, etc.), dairy—you name it!—with vegetarian, vegan, grain-free and Paleo options along the way.

A guide to making pizza using a variety of techniques, whether it’s a typical 13-inch pizza pan, pizza steels, a cast iron skillet, wood fire oven, or grill. Packed with tips, tricks, and a bunch of scrumptious recipes, No Gluten, No Problem Pizza is the definitive guide to homemade, pizzeria-style pizza and more, without any of the gluten, yet all of the heavenly flavor.


My Review:
No Gluten, No Problem Pizza is a cookbook with recipes for gluten-free pizzas. The authors included 14 recipes for different types of crusts (thin, thick, bendable, etc.) plus recipes for different pizza topping combinations. They included New York style, Neapolitan, thin crust, deep dish, grilled, California style, grain-free, pizza pockets, flatbread pizzas, buckwheat pizza, breakfast and desert pizzas, and how to cook these pizzas over a campfire. The crust recipes use several types of flours, starch, and gums for each type of crust, so you will need to have six or more ingredients on hand just for this aspect of the crust. I had hoped for an explanation as to why the different flours and such were used (what they added to the finished product), but we're simply given their favorite results from extensive testing. The toppings were often what you'd already have on hand for your favorite pizza. The pizzas were about 12-13" across. If you're gluten-free and want restaurant-style pizzas made at home, then this cookbook will be helpful.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

Spinning and Weaving by Lynn Huggins-Cooper

Spinning and Weaving by Lynn Huggins-Cooper ISBN-13: 9781526724526 Paperback: 128 pages Publisher: Pen and Sword History Released: Novemeber 1, 2019

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description from Goodreads:
This book offers a whistle-stop guide to the history of spinning and weaving. The story begins in prehistory when people first wove yarns to create clothing and blankets. The book explores the ways in which spinning and weaving has continued to be important throughout human history (or should that be herstory), in artistic, economic and functional terms.

The second part of the book brings us up to date, via interviews with modern day spinning and weaving artisans. These textiles artists generously allowed the author a window into their studios and discussed the way they use and adapt traditional methods, techniques and tools for the twenty first century. Photos of their work, and their working environment offers a unique view into the world of this ancient craft.

Finally, if you are inspired to try your hand at this fascinating and most ancient of crafts, the book also has a resources section. It includes a valuable list of suppliers of fibre, dyes, tools and yarn, as well as information about training courses, useful websites and more - everything you need to get started.


My Review:
Spinning and Weaving looked at spinning and weaving throughout history and as a modern handcraft. The author started by explaining what type of tools were used for spinning and weaving in ancient times and what fibers were used for clothing. She then talked about the new technologies that changed how spinning and weaving were done up until modern day. The second half of the book contained interviews with modern weavers who talk about how they got into traditional weaving, what they make, what tools they use, how they learned the skills, their advice to others, what their business is like and a typical day. At the back of the book, there were lists of suppliers and educational websites. I'd recommend this book to someone interested in trying out weaving who wants some background on the possibilities for learning and using the skill.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

Uncommon Paper Flowers by Kate Alarcon

Uncommon Paper Flower by Kate Alarcon ISBN-13: 9781452176932 Hardcover: 240 pages Publisher: Chronicle Books Released: October 15, 2019

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
This book unveils the alluring world of uncommon botanicals, including a prickly cactus that played a storied role in the founding of an ancient city, a tiny pink mushroom that glows green in the dark, and a magnificent blue cactus with rows of golden spines.

Celebrated paper designer Kate Alarcón reveals the rich histories and unique characteristics behind 30 remarkable plants alongside instructions for crafting stunning paper versions of each one. These eye-catching creations make perfect wedding centerpieces, beautiful arrangements (that never wilt!) to brighten a home, and cheerful gifts for any occasion. Brimming with fascinating botanical trivia, vivid photography, and essential design techniques, this is a breathtaking resource for flower lovers, crafters, and anyone fascinated by the mysteries of the natural world.


My Review:
Uncommon Paper Flowers taught how to create 30 unusual plants from crepe paper. The author started by providing trivia and historical information about each plant (different flowers, mushrooms, cacti, etc.). She then briefly described the types of tools and materials needed for the projects. You basically need different colors and types of crepe paper, glue, and some paints and markers. She also briefly described the basic techniques for cutting, forming, and decorating the petals, leaves, and stem.

She then provided step-by-step projects for creating the unusual plants that she talked about earlier. There were clear, full-color pictures for each step along with written text describing what to do. Unfortunately, my review copy was missing most of the text directions, so I'm not sure how easy the instructions are to understand and do. I got the impression that a complete beginner might want more direction but that someone used to paper-cutting projects would be fine. There were templates for the petals, leaves, and such in the back of the book that you're supposed to photocopy and cut out. I'm not sure how that would work with an ebook, so buying a paper copy of this book may be best.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

Read the Face by Eric Standop

Read the Face by Eric Standop with Elisa Petrini ISBN-13: 9781250217059 Hardcover: 320 pages Publisher: St. Martin's Essentials Released: Oct. 1, 2019

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
We are born face readers—knowing to seek out human features and faces from the moment our eyes open. We all have the intuitive ability to read and interpret the feelings and expressions of those around us.

In Read the Face, master face reader Eric Standop unlocks the power of this innate human ability, sharing his own journey to become a face reading master, along with stories that illustrate the power of this unique language. Using a combination of three different schools of face reading, along with a scientific accuracy to detect the most fleeting microexpressions, Standop is able to read personality, character, emotions, and even the state of a person’s health—all from studying their face.

The book is divided into sections focusing on specific ways that face reading can offer insight, such as Health, Love, Communication, Work and Success. The stories are accompanied by black and white illustrations of faces, allowing readers to observe the same features that Standop interpreted. The final section of the book outlines the meanings of dozens of facial features and face shapes, so that readers can recognize their own innate intuitive powers and develop them.


My Review:
Read the Face is about face reading for insights into personality, character, life purpose, love, and health. (Reading, as in, a vertical wrinkle on the bridge of your nose between your eyebrows means that you're determined or stubborn.) The author started off by explaining how we're all born able to read faces. He also talked about facial recognition software (the pros and cons) and how face reading systems have been developed throughout the world and throughout history. He talked about how he got into face reading and learned several methods (mainly European and Chinese).

Then he told many stories about different clients that came to him for readings and what he told them. While reading these, you pick up some face reading information about the different face and hand shapes and what they indicate about personality, what wrinkles in different locations mean, and so on. The last 20% of the book gathered all of this face reading information into one spot. There were some drawings of faces to illustrate the different face shapes or what a client's face looked like, but (on a Kindle, at least) it wasn't always easy to see what he was pointing out.

While I did find the Health section interesting and the stories were entertaining, in the end, I felt like this was mostly a book about the author rather than practical application. Perhaps I'm not understanding his descriptions of what to look for, but it didn't seem accurate when applied to myself or my family, so why try to learn the information?


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

The Cabinet of Linguistic Curiosities by Paul Anthony Jones

The Cabinet of Linguistic Curiosities by Paul Anthony Jones ISBN-13: 9780226646701 Hardcover: 384 pages Publisher: University of Chicago Press Released: Oct. 7, 2019

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Open The Cabinet of Linguistic Curiosities and you’ll find both a word and a day to remember, every day of the year. Each day has its own dedicated entry, on which a curious or notable event—and an equally curious or notable word—are explored. So whatever date this book has found its way into your hands, there’s an entire year’s worth of linguistic curiosities waiting to be found.

On the day on which flirting was banned in New York City, for instance, you’ll discover why to “sheep’s-eye” someone once meant to look at them amorously. On the day on which a disillusioned San Franciscan declared himself Emperor of the United States, you’ll find the word “mamamouchi,” a term for people who consider themselves more important than they truly are. And on the day on which George Frideric Handel completed his 259-page Messiah after twenty-four days of frenzied work, you’ll see why a French loanword, literally meaning “a small wooden barrow,” is used to refer to an intense period of work undertaken to meet a deadline.


My Review:
The Cabinet of Linguistic Curiosities is a fun, year-long book of word and history trivia. Each day of the year has an entry, and every entry contains an unusual word along with an event that happened on that day in history which illustrates the word's meaning. So for each day of the year, there's a word and it's meaning and some history of that word--like it's first known use and how the meaning has changed with time. Often the author also included some other words with the same root. Then there's a summary of what happened during the tied-in historical event for that day. The historical events and words come from the Middle Ages up to modern times. The words are no longer in use, though similar words may be still in use.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

Get Coding 2! by David Whitney

Get Coding 2! by David Whitney ISBN-13: 9781536210309 Hardcover: 224 pages Publisher: Candlewick Press Released: September 24, 2019

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description from Goodreads:
Learn HTML and JavaScript. Design and build five interactive computer games. Create cool graphics. Code simple artificial intelligence. This appealing guide, covering essential coding concepts, offers an ideal introduction to all these activities and more. By following simple step-by-step instructions and completing five exciting missions, aspiring programmers are invited to code well-known games such as tic-tac-toe and table tennis, then customize their projects to test their skills.


My Review:
Get Coding 2! teaches teens (and adults) how to use HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to code five different old-style games: tick-tack-toe, snake, table tennis, an endless runner, and a side-scrolling platform game. The author teaches coding by breaking down the steps needed to create each game. He explained what game element you want to add next to create the game, how you can code that, and how that coding element works. He then walked you through adding each chunk of code to the html file (with the exact code provided) until you have a completed game.

By the end of each game, you've learned some new coding skills and other ways to use previously learned skills. You learn how to create 2D graphics, use object literals and arrays, make the game tick, process keyboard input, add moving or changing game elements, and more. By the end, you should understand enough to be able to modify the code to create variations of the game. However, I don't think the explanations were thorough enough that you could then code a completely new game from a blank text file by yourself. Still, this is a fun way to start learning for a beginner!


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

Slaves Among Us by Monique Villa

Slaves Among Us by Monique Villa ISBN-13: 9781538127285 Paperback: 224 pages Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers Released: Oct. 4, 2019

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Written by a global leader in the fight against human trafficking, this powerful book uncovers the hidden world of slaves who walk among us, trapped in a cycle of exploitation. Despite significant progress in the fight for human rights, slavery continues to flourish. In fact, there are more slaves today, in countries rich and poor, than at any point in the past. Three remarkable individuals share how they fell victim to traffickers and later escaped, taking us around the world to uncover how men, women, and children are dehumanized and reduced to obedient machines.


My Review:
Slaves Among Us provides details about global, modern slavery. The author looked at both forced labor and sex-trafficking slavery and had examples from various places in the world. While there were a few action points that the average person can do to help combat modern slavery, the book seemed more about educating people about the problem and a call for certain types of professionals to help fill current needs. The author mainly focused on the personal accounts of 3 people who experienced slavery. She added commentary about how people are tricked into slavery, what they go through, how they get free, and what they struggle with once they're free. She also talked some about what organizations are out there to help, what's being done, and what needs to be done in the future to really help victims and stop slavery. While the book was very informative, it's also hard to read what these people went through. However, I'd recommend it to anyone wanting to be better informed about this important issue.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

Zentangle(R) Dingbatz by Brian Crimmins

Zentangle(R) Dingbatz by Brian Crimmins, CZT ISBN-13: 9781497204171 Paperback: 160 pages Publisher: Design Originals Released: June 11, 2019

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Dingbatz are an easy way to incorporate the fundamentals of Zentangle into a wide variety of creative projects. Use Dingbatz to add flair to whatever you're working on-they provide a wonderful complement to any hand lettering, scrapbook and art journaling project. Beginner-friendly with few materials required to get started. Small enough to provide a sense of instant gratification when you make them, these "Zenbellishments" require few materials, making them accessible to all skill levels from beginner to advanced.

This book will introduce you to how Dingbatz are constructed, and how to build from that basic structure to create designs uniquely your own. Zentangle Dingbatz includes a variety of projects that will allow you to practice using Dingbatz not only as stand-alone designs, but also as accents and enhancements to other art projects.


My Review:
Zentangle(R) Dingbatz teaches a method of adding abstract designs as embellishments to cards, envelopes, place cards, journals, etc. The author first explained step-by-step the method of Zentangle for making abstract art, then he built on this by explaining the basics of how to do this to create embellishments. This book is for complete beginners--no previous art or Zentangle experience needed. It's a simple way to add unique designs to things to make them look "arty." Many of the pages were work sheets to practice the designs, frames, and such. He also provided several step-by-step projects for embellishing greeting cards and envelopes, weathergrams, and zines. He also suggested other places you might use these embellishments, like gift tags or name tags. Overall, I'd recommend this book to those who don't feel artistic (but want to be) or those interested in art as a meditative practice.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

The Little Women Cookbook by Wini Moranville; Louisa May Alcott

The Little Women Cookbook by Wini Moranville; Louisa May Alcott ISBN-13: 9781558329911 Hardcover: 112 pages Publisher: Harvard Common Press Released: October 1, 2019

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Here at last is the first cookbook to celebrate the scrumptious and comforting foods that play a prominent role in Louisa May Alcott’s classic novel Little Women. Do you wonder what makes the characters so excited to make—and eat!—sweets and desserts like the exotically named Blancmange or the mysterious Bonbons with Mottoes, along with favorites like Apple Turnovers, Plum Pudding, and Gingerbread Cake? Find out for yourself with over 50 easy-to-make recipes for these delectable treats and more, all updated for the modern kitchen.

From Hannah’s Pounded Potatoes to Amy’s Picnic Lemonade, from the charming Chocolate Drop Cookies that Professor Bhaer always offers to Meg’s twins to hearty dinners that Hannah and Marmee encourage the March sisters to learn to make, you’ll find an abundance of delicious teatime drinks and snacks, plus breakfasts, brunches, lunches, suppers, and desserts. Featuring full-color photos, evocative illustrations, fun and uplifting quotes from the novel, and anecdotes about Louisa May Alcott, this is a book that any Little Women fan will love to have.


My Review:
The Little Women Cookbook is a cookbook for Little Women fans. The author provided 50 recipes based on foods mentioned in the book and using cookbooks from the 1800s. She's updated the recipes so you use modern equipment and for modern tastes, but she included information about how the foods were made at the time along with quotes from the book. The recipes usually were "from scratch" but sometimes used store-bought puff pastry dough and such. These recipes do not cater to gluten or allergy concerns (which I didn't expect) and weren't what I'd call "healthy," but that's not really the point of this book.

The book contained 7 breakfast recipes, 10 gathering/picnic recipes (sandwiches, salads, etc.), 13 dinner and supper recipes, 18 treat and desert recipes, and 2 drink recipes. Along with some interesting historical cooking and meal information. There were some full-color pictures of the recipes, but not a picture of every recipe. The instructions seemed clear and simple (not complicated or a huge number of steps).


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

Papercutting by Patricia Moffett

Papercutting by Patricia Moffett ISBN-13: 9780764358081 Paperback: 128 pages Publisher: Schiffer Publishing Released: Sept. 28, 2019

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
These 25 projects show how ammonites, lichen rosettes, honeycomb, and other natural forms can help you apply the rules of mathematics to create complexly beautiful works. Clear, paper-art-focused explanations teach you the principles of mathematics we see in nature, including the Golden Section and Golden Angle, Fibonacci numbers, and symmetry. Learn about using flaps and piercings with various projects, including "A Murmuration of Starlings." Benefit from lessons in the Japanese art of kirigami and geometric principles, with projects such as "Kirigami Cascade" and "Rotational Symmetry." Tesselations and 2-D weaving, 3-D form assembly, woven 3-D forms, and stacked layers come into play for projects such as "Radiolarian" and "Sea Urchin." The role that display plays in your work is covered too, including flexagons in the "Undersea Frieze," black light in "UV Jelly Fish," and light-box effects in "Art Deco Scarab" and "Diatoms through the Microscope."


My Review:
Papercutting is a how-to instruction book on papercutting. The author did a great job of explaining different papercutting skills and techniques and building these skills with each new project. Each project had templates so you can copy what she's done, but she taught how to come up with ideas and use the techniques on your own. She clearly explained how to do each project, and even complete beginners should be able to follow the directions. She started with flat, cut-out projects, then she talked about weaving and explained different types of 3D projects. She even talked about how to display the finished projects, including lighting ideas and framing. Overall, I'd highly recommend this informative book to those interested in trying out papercutting.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

American Sfoglino by Evan Funke

American Sfoglino by Evan Funke ISBN-13: 9781452173313 Hardcover: 272 pages Publisher: Chronicle Books Released: Sept. 24, 2019

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Evan Funke, esteemed chef of L.A.'s Felix Trattoria, shares classic techniques from his Emilia-Romagna training. Funke provides accessible instructions for making his award-winning sfoglia (sheet pasta) at home. With little more than flour, eggs, and a rolling pin, home cooks can recreate 15 classic pasta shapes, spanning simple pappardelle to perfect tortelloni. Beginning with four foundational doughs, American Sfoglino takes readers step by step through recipes for a variety of generous dishes, from essential sauces and broths, like Passata di Pomodoro (Tomato Sauce) and Brodo di Carne (Meat Broth) to luscious Tagliatelle in Bianco con Prosciutto (Tagliatelle with Bacon and Butter) and Lasagna Verde alla Bolognese (Green Bolognese Lasagna). Stories from Italy and the kitchen at Felix Trattoria add the finishing touches, while sumptuous photographs and a bold package offer a feast for the eyes.


My Review:
American Sfoglino explains how to mix, roll out, and shape pasta by hand (no pasta machine). Plus some pasta-related stories from Italy and the author's life. The author explained how to make hand-rolled sheet pasta and provided 4 master dough recipes for making pasta. He also explained how to use those recipes to make 15 different pasta types, from strands to shaped pasta to stuffed pasta. The pasta types were: Lasagna Verde Alla Bolognese, Pappardelle, Tagliatelle, Maltagliati, Strichetti, Garganelli, Triangoli, Tortelloni, Balanzoni, Tortellini, Sorpresine, Cestini, Caramelle, Strozzapreti, and Gnocchi de Ricotta. Included were step-by-step photos that clearly demonstrated how to roll out and to shape the pasta.

There were also recipes for pasta sauces, fillings, and dishes. He mainly talked about using the pasta when freshly made, but he did explain how you can best keep it for later use. He gave tips on making tasty, evenly-cooked pastas. He kept the equipment you need to a minimum and even gave some make-shift ways to do things without needing specialized equipment. However, he sometimes used ingredients in the pasta dishes (not the pasta but the finished dishes) that might not be easy for the average person to find. He also sometimes suggested easier-to-find alternatives. If you don't mind the work of making pasta by hand, then this book should be very helpful in learning how to hand make and use sheet pasta.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

Vegan Mediterranean Cookbook by Tess Challis

Vegan Mediterranean Cookbook by Tess Challis ISBN-13: 9781641526142 Paperback: 166 pages Publisher: Callisto Media - Rockridge Press Released: September 24, 2019

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
The Mediterranean diet is one of the most-studied diets of all time, and is known to boost energy, lower cholesterol, strengthen your immunity, and help you maintain a healthy weight. Coupled with the nutritional and environmental benefits of plant-based meals, a complete vegiterranean cookbook will help you create wholesome, flavorful, satisfying Mediterranean dishes that are free of both animal products and artificial ingredients.

Learn the main tenants of the Mediterranean diet so you can continue mixing up masterpieces on your own. Recipes include prep time, number of servings, and are labeled for gluten-free, soy-free, and nut-free. This vegiterranean cookbook also offers guides and tips for a holistically healthy Mediterranean lifestyle, including exercise, attitude, and community.


My Review:
Vegan Mediterranean Cookbook is a vegan cookbook that is also based on the Mediterranean diet. The recipes focused on using minimally-processed, whole-food, plant-based ingredients. She sometimes used store-bought breads in the recipes. Most of the recipes served 4 to 6 people, took around 30 minutes to make, and had fewer than 10 ingredients. Almost all of the ingredients in the recipes should be easy to get. She labeled if a recipe was gluten-free, soy-free, oil-free, and/or nut-free.

She included 10 recipes for hummus, dips, and sauces; 10 recipes for small plates, sides, and snacks; 11 breakfast recipes (for smoothies, pancakes, etc.); 10 recipes for breads, wraps, and sandwiches; 18 recipes for salads and soups; 15 recipes for main meals; and 9 recipes for deserts. Each recipe included "per serving" information on calories, total fat, saturated fat, sodium, carbohydrates, fiber, protein, and iron. There were full-color pictures of some of the dishes.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

The Vlogger's Handbook by Shane Birley

The Vlogger's Handbook by Shane Birley ISBN-13: 9780711242876 Paperback: 96 pages Publisher: QEB Publishing Released: September 17, 2019

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
This fun guide to vlogging delivers an overview of the skills and tips you need to get started, produce a professional look, develop your skill level, and cultivate your creativity. With bite-sized text, learn about starting a vlog, inspiration for what to vlog about, how to storyboard a vlog, lighting and props, video skills, editing your vlog, adding sounds and effects, building an audience, and internet and social media safety guidance. Throughout the book, Q&A panels feature successful young vloggers who give their own personal tips and stories about how they got started.


My Review:
The Vlogger's Handbook provides basic advice on how to get started vlogging. It appears to be aimed at younger people (teenagers and up), and the author chose four young vloggers to offer tips and advice on each vlogging topic. The author covered how to decide on what type of vlog you want to do, how to come up with ideas to vlog about, online safety, what basic equipment is needed and what equipment you might like to get someday, the basics of filming, lighting, sound, and editing, and choosing what online platforms to use. If you've never really done video or audio editing or have never learned to storyboard or create a story sequence, then this book will get you started off quickly with good advice and basic information. However, this book didn't provide much detail (no step-by-step projects) or cover more advanced skills, so it might not be useful if you've already done some video work.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

How to Draw and Write in Fountain Pen by Ayano Usamura

How to Draw and Write in Fountain Pen by Ayano Usamura ISBN-13: 9781615196029 Paperback: 128 pages Publisher: The Experiment Released: Sept. 17, 2019

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
In this modern guide to fountain pens, first-timers will find an introduction to choosing, filling, and cleaning your fountain pen. Adorable step-by-step drawing instructions for everything from fried eggs to fedoras. Eight modern, handwritten fonts to copy and customize. Decorative borders and frames (perfect for scrapbooks and bullet journals). And seven fun project ideas: wedding placards, labels, birthday cards, and more!


My Review:
How to Draw and Write in Fountain Pen is a very basic art instruction book on using fountain pens to sketch. The author started by talking about fountain pens: the different types of nibs, what paper to use, how to fill and maintain a fountain pen, and things like how to use a fountain pen to draw lines, basic shapes, and fill in areas.

She then moved on to sketching cartoon-style line drawings. She provided 3-step picture directions for how to draw a variety of foods, everyday objects, clothing and accessories, outdoor gear, and plants. Next, she provided examples of lettering styles, decorative borders, frames, and such which you're supposed to trace using tracing paper. She also gave some tips on the layout of your design. She gave 4-step instructions for 7 projects: lettering a welcome board, making cupcake flags, gift tags, earring cards, birthday cards, sticker labels, and decorating planners and scrapbooks.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

Vegan Mac and Cheese by Robin Robertson

Vegan Mac and Cheese by Robin Robertson ISBN-13: 9781558329737 Hardcover: 144 pages Publisher: Harvard Common Press Released: September 17, 2019

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Awesome recipes for entirely plant-based vegan cheeses and cheese sauces, used in more than 50 recipes for comforting and deeply flavorful dishes. If you were a vegetarian before you became a vegan, chances are you ate a lot of cheese, some (or maybe even a lot!) of it in macaroni and cheese. But you don't need to give up cheese and cheesy dinners! Robin shows you how to make rich, delectable vegan cheeses that start with plant milks, vegan butters, and nut butters as their base ingredients. Using these—or, if you prefer, using store-bought vegan cheese—you then can make the delicious recipes in the rest of the book.

These include many variants on mac and cheese itself, from the familiar and homey, such as Mom's Classic Mac UnCheese, to the globally adventuresome, such as Indian Curry Mac or Salsa Mac and Queso. An entire chapter is devoted to veggie-loaded mac and cheese dishes, like Buffalo Cauliflower Mac, Arugula Pesto Mac UnCheese, or Smoky Mac and Peas with Mushroom Bacon. Another chapter serves up meatless mac and cheeses that use vegan meat substitutes. And, for delicious fun, there are recipes for Mac UnCheese Balls, Mac UnCheese Pizza, Mac UnCheese Waffles, and Mac UnCheese Muffins.


My Review:
Vegan Mac and Cheese is a vegan cookbook for a variety of non-dairy cheesy sauces which are combined with pasta and other ingredients for healthy, tasty meals. The author included recipes that were nut-free, gluten-free, or soy-free (and occasionally free of all three). While the book included many different combinations to create vegan uncheese sauces, she occasionally suggested using store-bought vegan "cheese" or vegan "meats" for a recipe...though she often also included homemade alternatives. The recipes usually only used ingredients that are fairly easy to find, and many could be made with what I (used to vegan recipes) already have around the house. I also suspect that these recipes will taste good even with some substitutions (like yukon gold rather than russet potatoes?). The recipes don't include an approximate guess at how long it'll take to make (which I would have liked) or nutritional information (which doesn't matter to me).

The author included 8 recipes for basic uncheese sauces (including one that's a dry mix for quick prep time), 12 recipes inspired by various pasta-and-cheese traditions around the world, 15 recipes that add various veggies to the pasta and uncheese, 11 recipes for vegan "meat" added to pasta and uncheese, and 10 recipes for re-using leftover mac and uncheese or other unique ways to eat pasta and uncheese. I immediately tried making the Free Mac, which my family enjoyed. As I expected based on the ingredients, it doesn't taste exactly like Mac and Cheese, but other recipes in the book do. The recipes sometimes assumed a basic cooking knowledge, though the recipes are not difficult to make as long as you have a high-speed blender. Overall, I'd recommend this cookbook.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

Nut Butter by Carolyn Cesario, Julie Sullivan

Nut Butter by Carolyn Cesario, Julie Sullivan ISBN-13: 9781449499488 Hardcover: 176 pages Publisher: Andrews McMeel Publishing Released: Sept. 10, 2019

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
NUT BUTTERS is a guide for those looking to make their own nut butters, as well as to incorporate more nut butter into your life in a healthy way. After making countless nut butters over the years, from some major hits (Cinnamon Snickerdoodle was a happy accident) to some, well…odder, concoctions (don’t ever make balsamic nut butter!), Julie and Carolyn share their wisdom so that you can make the perfect nut butter at home, too. All recipes will be peanut-free, gluten-free, dairy-free and refined sugar-free … but they’re so delicious that you wouldn’t even know it! You'll come away with the tools and know-how to make your own nut butters, as well as some helpful tips and recipes on how to use nut butters in your everyday cooking.


My Review:
Nut Butter explained how to make your own nut butters and how to use nut butters in other recipes. The authors have a small business that makes nut butters with no refined sugar or added oils; just nuts, seeds, spices, and a touch of honey if desired. They provided information on 12 common nuts and seeds and described how to make these into nut butters, from buying and storing them to toasting and food processing them. You only need the minimal ingredients, an oven, and a food processor. Then they provide 18 recipes for nut and seed butters, from plain almond butter to mixes like Cinnamon Snickerdoodle. Finally, they provided food recipes that used these nut butters (for example, adding them to smoothies). There were 11 recipes for breakfast, 8 for snacks, 8 for dressings and sauces, 14 for savory dishes, and 13 for deserts. Overall, I'd recommend this book to people interested in making their own nut butters.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

Drawing the Head for Artists by Oliver Sin

Drawing the Head for Artists by Oliver Sin ISBN-13: 9781631596926 Paperback: 160 pages Publisher: Quarry Books Released: Aug. 6, 2019

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Written by celebrated portrait artist and veteran studio instructor Oliver Sin, this informative and beautifully illustrated volume leads readers step-by-step through his method, from establishing a point of view to applying the timeless principles for creating an accurate and expressive likeness.

Learn about necessary supplies and basic drawing techniques, including hatching, various stroke styles, and blending. Explore how the concepts of sight-sizing, value, negative space/shapes, and plane changes factor into a portrait’s underlying structure. Investigate how contrasting shapes, overlapping forms, and linear and atmospheric perspective are used to enhance depth. Examine how edges—contours as well as changes in value—are used to convey three-dimensional form.


My Review:
Drawing the Head for Artists teaches how to draw portraits using charcoal. The author talked about what tools to use and described some drawing techniques (both in general and for using charcoal). He then gave tips for drawing the head in proportion from the front, side, and three-quarters poses. He gave step-by-step directions for drawing the nose, eyes, ears, and mouth in each of these poses. Then he demonstrated the start-to-finish steps for doing a portrait. He also gave a step-by-step demonstration for hair and for facial hair.

He also talked about why you might use different lighting angles (three-quarters, rim, top, side, front, bottom), ways to make a portrait look less static, and how to convey the person's personality. He gave tips about drawing hats, scarves, collars, hands, children, the elderly, and the differences between men and women. He also talked about how do draw using toned papers and suggested some ways to create interesting background textures. This book is probably most useful to artists with some drawing experience, but I'd recommend it to anyone wanting to improve their charcoal portrait drawing.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

The Story of Painting by DK

The Story of Painting by DK ISBN-13: 9781465481788 Hardback: 360 pages Publisher: DK Publishing Released: Aug. 6, 2019

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
A fascinating new history of art, this gloriously illustrated book reveals how materials, techniques, and ideas have evolved over the centuries, inspiring artists and giving them the means to create their most celebrated works.

Covering a comprehensive array of topics, from the first pigments and frescos to linear perspective in Renaissance paintings, the influence of photography, Impressionism, and the birth of modern art, The Story of Painting follows each step in the developments in painting over the last 25,000 years, from the first cave paintings to the abstract works of the last 150 years. Packed with lavish color reproductions of paintings and photographs of artists at work and the materials they used, it also focuses on key paintings from each period to analyze the techniques and secrets of the great masters in detail.


My Review:
The Story of Painting is an art history book that's full of colorful pictures of painting, tools, artists, and such. The book started with cave paintings, Greek pottery, Roman statues, and frescoes and progressed throughout history to the modern day. The book covered information like the development of new technologies and how they impacted art trends, the different styles of art and how they developed, the different types of tools, materials, and pigments used over time, details about important paintings, biographies of significant artists, and information about the different methods of painting (like oil, watercolor, pastels, etc.). I found this book a very informative and enjoyable read. I'd highly recommend it to anyone interested in learning more about art history (though probably not to someone who has already taken an actual art history course).


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

The Best Veggie Burgers on the Planet by Joni Marie Newman

The Best Veggie Burgers on the Planet, revised and updated by Joni Marie Newman ISBN-13: 9781592338849 Paperback: 240 pages Publisher: Fair Winds Press Released: July 23, 2019

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
The Best Veggie Burgers on the Planet takes the popular veggie burger to the next level of flavor and fun with more than 100 daringly delicious, internationally inspired vegan burgers—burgers that stack up to any patty around (meat-full or meat-free) and will wow not only your vegetarian and vegan friends, but all the skeptics, too.

In this revised edition of the original, you'll find more than 30 new recipes featuring healthier options, fewer processed ingredients, and more whole-food, plant-strong ingredients like jackfruit and aquafaba (plus icons for no added oil/salt/sugar, and even more gluten-free recipes!). You'll also find budget-friendly tips and tricks, a "fast-food favorites” section that recreates iconic favorites from popular chains, updated techniques, and alternative cooking methods to include the slow cooker and air fryer. The recipes include such favorites as:

Denver Omelet Breakfast Burger
BLT with Avocado Burger
Pulled "Pork" Sliders
Inside-Out Sushi Burger
Super Quinoa Burger
Sesame Bean Banh Mi Burger
Mac and Cheese Burger
Split Pea with HAMburger
Summer Squash Burger
Korean BBQ Burger


My Review:
The Best Veggie Burgers on the Planet is a vegan burger (plus sides and sauces) cookbook. The author frequently used soy (texturized vegetable protein, tofu, miso, tempeh, soy milk, soy flour, soy sauce, etc.) or vital wheat gluten. Of the 106 burgers and 7 loose "meat" sandwiches, only about 25% of the recipes didn't use soy or could be easily converted to a non-soy ingredient. I think that the gluten-free recipes were about the same. That's still around 30 types of burger or sandwich recipes, though. Since I don't eat soy and don't add gluten to foods that don't naturally have it, this did limit the number of recipes that I could potentially use.

The author did use store-bought vegan "dairy" in some of the recipes (especially the sauces). Most of the recipes used ingredients that can be found in my grocery store, and the author tended to use the same base ingredients again and again (in slightly different combinations and/or combined with different spices), so you won't generally need to buy an ingredient that is used in only one recipe. The recipes made between 4 and 10 burgers.

There were 9 breakfast burgers, 12 beefy-tasting burgers (which usually used TVP), 10 bean-based burgers, 9 tofu-based burgers, 12 grain-based burgers, 12 veggie-based burgers, 16 gluten-based burgers (which used vital wheat gluten), 13 gluten-free burgers, 13 fast food mimic burgers, 7 loose "meat" sandwiches, 24 toppings, dips, and sauces, 8 buns and breads, and 17 fries, rings, and other sides.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

Coding for Kids: Scratch by Matthew Highland

Coding for Kids: Scratch by Matthew Highland ISBN-13: 9781641522458 Paperback: 172 pages Publisher: Rockridge Press Released: July 2, 2019

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
From sprites and code blocks to scripts and scorekeeping, Coding for Kids: Scratch helps you discover everything you need to know to create 10 amazing games that you and your friends can play. Watch your confidence grow with step-by-step instructions and clear directions that keep things simple—even as the games you’re making get more challenging. Game on!

Coding for Kids: Scratch includes: Coding for kids—Learn Scratch terms and concepts, then use them to build games you can start playing immediately.Create 10 games—Cake Clicker, Dino Hunt, Crystal Keeper, and more—code, play, and share 10 cool games.Master Scratch—Simple directions, full-color screenshots, and projects that get more difficult make mastering Scratch a breeze.


My Review:
Coding for Kids: Scratch teaches readers how to use the drag-n-drop coding language called Scratch. You sign up (for free) to use the Scratch website and need to use one of the following web browsers: Chrome, Firefox, or Safari. Kids 6 years old and older can use the language, but the author suggested that kids 6-8 years old may need an adult's help while they learn (and I'd agree). I'd suggest the adult work through the book first rather than learn it at the same time as the child, but either would work. Basically, you sit at your computer and follow his instructions to learn how to use the Scratch coding interface, then you put together his codes for the 10 games to learn how to make functioning games. In the game coding section, he simply showed the finished code and explained why the different pieces were needed. You must look for the code blocks and put it together.

Overall, it's an informative book written at a level that kids can understand. You can put together the suggested, basic games pretty quickly. But there were a few times in the instructions about using the Scratch coding interface where he'd say to do something and just assume you'd see how to do it. For example, I initially thought you were supposed to type "timer" into a slot when you were supposed to drag-n-drop that piece from the code selection area. Or he didn't say exactly where to find the code, so I had to scroll through the options to find it. It wasn't until coding the actual games that I got frustrated, though. I followed his code exactly, but the code for the first game sometimes worked perfectly and other times wouldn't completely reset. I figured out what piece of code was missing to make it always work, but I was disappointed that the very first game code that he gave us wasn't complete. Overall, though, this is a great way to teach your kids the basics of coding games.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.