The advicesisters Fall book reviews feature 11 books that will capture your attention and imagination, or delight your stomach! Whether you’re using an E-readers or perusing the library or bookstore shelves for new book suggestions, These Fall book reviews should be your first step!
Real Life Non Fiction:
First up on my list of Fall book reviews is Transformed by Remi Adeleke (Thomas Nelson; Illustrated edition (May 2019). Remi was a youngster in Nigeria when the corrupt government stole his father’s assets. Then his dad died and his mother took Remi and his younger brother to America. They lived in the Bronx. Remi got himself into trouble and had two warrants for his arrest. I’m not going to tell you the entire story, but through hard work and determination, Remi became a Navy SEAL, He got two degrees, married, and had two sons. When he ended his successful naval career, he became involved in the film business. The story is so inspiring because Remy never gave up. I was transfixed by Transformed (buy this book)
The Menopause Manifesto by Dr. Gel Gunter (Citadel Press 2021) really isn’t a manifesto. Instead, it offers a wealth of information presented in simple but serious terms. The focus is on how the author feels women can (or should) feel about aging. She is an OB/GYN with more than 3 decades of experience. She methodically goes through each sign and symptom and treatment for more issues than any one of us will likely face. Therefore, really it’s a factbook (done very well). She also makes modest attempts at pointing out that women have traditionally been dismissed by doctors (predominantly men). Aso that more mature women are treated as dried-up crones or dismissed or discarded because they are over child-bearing age. This book brings everything out in the open. (buy this book)
Have you ever started to plan a trip somewhere and wished you could take your cat? Well, actually, you can. Adventure Cats Living Nine Lives to the Fullest by Laura J. Moss (Workman 2017) highlights the brave and stalwart cats that go everywhere and anywhere with their fur parents. But the book also explains the who, when, where, and why you might take your beloved pet. Things have changed since the Pandemic started, and we’re traveling again. Even if you are just taking a walk, there are many ways to include your cat in some of your activities or your next big adventure. And, if you do want to venture farther afield, you will be so inspired by these cats and their fur moms and dads. The photography is simply adorable and inspiring. (buy this book)
Ready To Come About by Sue Williams (Dundurn Press 2019) is a personal story written by a wife and mother. After her three sons were grown and her husband retired, she agreed to sail a boat with him across the Atlantic. Like any reasonable person, she had plenty of fear about this journey, at first. Her “diary” shows her growth as the journey continues. You can’t know what you will react until you are in a specific situation. The couple endures storms, lost anchors, broken parts, and more. But they also make new friends and see the world that only other sailors can truly appreciate. An adventure of a lifetime can often be the starting point for another adventure of a lifetime! (buy this book)
Attention Grabbing:
For these book reviews, I’m focusing on more serious topics, but this book is just plain fun! Total Olympics by Jeremy Fuchs (Workman Publishing) doesn’t have the latest from Summer 2021 but it has plenty from the other Olympics. It is full of memorable stories from past Olympics. They are sure to keep your attention. You’ll find stories that range from the unique to the ridiculous, inspiring, funny, and dramatic. Read about the heroes and the zeros, Check out scandals and successes. See photos, and find out more about the Olympics than you never knew existed. (buy this book) media.
Not fun per so, but as for these Fall book reviews, this focuses on the more intimate side of homelessness. You may feel just fine on the inside, but people judge what you look like on the outside. That’s the premise of Do Something For Nothing: Seeing Beneath the Surface of Homelessness Through the Simple Act of a Haircut, by Joshua Coombes (Akashic Books, May 2021) The author is a London hairdresser. In 2015 he took to the streets with his scissors. He began posting before and after shots of his homeless “clients.” on social media. The intent of hashtags #JustBe Kind and #DoSomethignForNothing are powerful and inspirational messages. You will learn something. They will make you take a second look at the homeless you see in your area. They should be treated with consideration, even if they don’t look just like you. (buy this book)
Fun Fiction Reads:
Don’t Make Me Turn This Life Around by Camille Pagan (Lake Union Publishing May 2021) is also about a middle-aged woman facing a relationship crisis. She thinks her marriage is stale, and one of her twins has been diagnosed with diabetes, The other twin acts out because the focus is on her sister. Nothing seems to help, so she decides to bring intimacy back by taking the entire family to Puerto Rico. While in an out-of-the-way village a violent storm knocks out all the electricity. It becomes and life and death situation. Adversity forces you to function in ways you never thought you could imagine. This is a good read for when you feel as though nothing is going right in your life. (buy this book)
A Summer to Remember: A Novel by Erika Montgomery St. Martin’s Press (May 11, 2021) is the story of celebs and their secret lives, and a young woman seeking her biological father. Frankie Simon sells movie memorabilia in the shop she opened with her late mother. It’s a labor of love for her and connection to her mom. But after her mother’s passing, Frankie gets a package containing a photograph of her mother and famous movie stars. In the package are also two letters. Intrigued, Frankie travels to a film festival in New England to find the truth about what’s in the letters. There’s intrigue, romance, and secrets revealed in the name of family. The ending was not what I expected, but I liked the story as it unfolded. (buy this book)
Yummy Yummy Yummy!
You can’t yet travel around the world again, but at least you can cook international dishes. The Global Family Cookbook by Katie Chin (Tuttle Publishing June 2021) brings “mostly” Asian cuisine to you in easy-to-do recipes The book has a really good beginner’s guide with tips on tools, techniques, spices, and ingredients. All this info is helpful for you to begin your international culinary journey. Some of the recipes are easy, some more complicated, I liked the large rice and pasta section, and a section on sauces that you can use for anything. The back of the book has recipes for multi-cultural celebrations holidays: the Lunar New Year, Greek Easter, Cinco de Mayo, and Chanukkah (buy this book)
To be a Tik Tok foodie star, your “hacks” have to be quick, easy, and photogenic. The Unofficial TikTok Cookbook: 75 Internet-Breaking Recipes for Snacks, Drinks, Treats, and More by Valentina Mussi (Adams Media June 1, 2021) brings you recipes that fit this formula. Valentina Mussi has over 1.2M followers on Tiktok. The book is nicely photographed (TikTok and Instagram are visual). A lot of the recipes rely on appliances and on packaged refrigerator rolls. However, the recipes mostly fall on the “comfort” side with sugar and cheese. Therefore don’t read about these yummy garden focaccia, air fryer gouda, or 3-minute doughnuts on your latest KETO or juice fast! You won’t be able to resist! (buy this book)
Do you love Multi-Pot cooking? check out the Instant Pot Asian Pressure Cooker Meals by Patricia Tanumihardja (Tuttle Publishing Spring 2021). This cookbook has a nice selection from meatless main dishes and noodles to meat and poultry and veggies. Most of these are pretty easy but there are plenty of more advanced recipes for those who don’t mind spending a little longer preparing in the kitchen. Each recipe gives the prep time and total time and the serving amount. Most of the work is in the chopping and measuring of seasonings Once that’s out of the way, the rest is easy and a way to wow with something unique. (buy this book)
