=It's Time to FALL Back, on a Really Great Book #bookreview

The leaves are starting to change color in the Northeast. Here in Florida, it’s sunny and green. But September 22nd was the Autumnal equinox and therefore, the official beginning of Fall. I’m pleased to share six new books in this advicesisters.com book review roundup that will keep you informed, entertained, and more. No matter where you live, it’s time to FALL for a really great new read. (Alison Blackman)

Read a Great Biography:

stock photo book cover ernest lehman by jon krampner

I have been eagerly awaiting the arrival of my editorial copy of Ernest Lehman: The Sweet Smell of Success by Jon Krampner (University of Kentucky Press. September 2022). Before I praise the book, I need to mention that I’m proud that Jon Kramper is also my first cousin. However, Jon is not just family, he is an accomplished author. Jon has spent years focusing on researching somewhat obscure actors in the film business (Female Brando: The Legend of Kim Stanley and; The man in the Shadows: Fred Coe and the Golden Age of Television).

However, in 2012 advicesisters.com reviewed his magnum opus on peanut butter: Creamy and Crunchy, An Informal History of Peanut Butter, The All American Food (Columbia University Press, November 2012) *visit the amusing Creamy and Crunchy Website.

Now, as to Ernest Lehman, Mr. Krampner turns his attention to another very detailed and well-researched book about a screenwriter who was named byVanity Fair as “perhaps the greatest screenwriter in history.” I didn’t know anything about him prior to reading Ernest Lehman, The Sweet Smell of Success, but I certainly know his work from movie classics I’ve loved such as North by Northwest, The King and I, Sabrina, West Side Story, and The Sound of Music to name a few.

Apparently, for all the public hoopla surrounding the films he worked on, this screenwriter lived a quiet, private life. Writers are unsung most often, but Jon Krampners’ book puts Lehman front and center so you really feel that you know him. Well done!

I don’t know how I can say this kindly, so I’ll just say it: If you’re not good with words, it’s going to be a challenge. John is academic and quite erudite. But he has a wry sense of humor and he includes lots of bits of personal recollections and conversations that add a personal touch. It is a masterful biography that flows so well, I couldn’t put it down. And now, he has come alive for me.

* I know some of John’s sensibilities so I am referring you to the University of Kentucky Press for purchasing information where you can choose the outlet you want to patronize. Click on the highlighted link in the book title.

Two Books for Creative Cooking This Fall:

In Last Fall’s book review roundup for 2021, I reviewed the I Love My Air Fryer Affordable Meals Recipe Book by Aileen Clark (Adams Media 2021). This Fall, I’m delighted to say another one of these books. For bakers, there is the “I Love My Air Fryer” Baking Book: From Inside-Out Chocolate Chip Cookies to Calzones, 175 Quick and Easy Recipes by Robin Fields (Adams Media September 2022).

As with the other” I Love My” cookbooks, this one has a mouth-watering 175 recipes to make in your air fryer. But this one is about using your air fryer for baking things. Now that it’s Fall, it’s time to either heat the oven or use your air fryer!

Most of the recipes are for cookies, cakes, and other sweet things. But there are also some “for breakfast or brunch” suggestions including biscuits and savories. The recipes look super easy. For most of these, all you need is an air fryer baking pan or rack. This would be a great boon to anyone who has an air fryer or as an $18 paperback book bonus gift if you’re giving an air fryer this holiday season.

There are times I just don’t feel like cooking. Actually, that’s most of the time! So I’m loving The I Don’t Want To Cook Book by Alyssa Brantley (Adams Media 2022). Alyssa Brantley, the creator of Everyday Maven, comes the bare-minimum bible with 100 recipes that you can prepare in 15 minutes or less, without sacrificing flavor or nutrition. There are 100 recipes that ensure you and your family enjoy a healthy and delicious meal, fast. There are prep tips to save you time and even ideas about how to cook faster and smarter. The recipes are simple with a lot of assembly breakfasts (e.g. yogurt parfait with fruit) and sandwiches and salads.

If you like shortcuts and one-pot meals, you’ll love this book! I know I did. The rotisserie chicken Mason Jar salad is genius, and it can last up to 5 days in your fridge. And the One Bowl Peanut Butter Blondies with Chocolate Chips is easy and fast and makes 16 blondies fit for any crowd. The photos are great, too.

Short Stories:

I have mixed feelings about A Collection of Short Stories and Poems by Gary E. Smith (Gatekeeper Press 2022). Gary E. Smith has some interesting stories and experiences to share with readers. They offer a diverse collection of reflections on what the press information dubs “the human experience.” There are lots of stories that focus on romantic relationships and friendships, but many o them seem a bit thin. I just wanted more.

The author wants you, the reader, to consider what it is to be human. I suppose in that, he succeeds. I do like the fact that these stories which are supposed to be factual appear to be authentic. And I also like that fact that not every story has success or a happy ending. But I kept wanting to know more, and the author just gives you a tantalizing taste. I didn’t love it and I didn’t hate it, it’s just ok. Others certainly may disagree, since Mr.Smith has won awards for his writing. Get This Book

FALL for a New Romance Novel:

Starry Eyed Love by Helena Hunting is a cute romance novel. (London Sparks is the business administrator for her family’s event hotel, the Spark House. London goes out to a bar with her sisters to celebrate her newly single status. She rejects the advances of a man who offers to pay for their drinks. She doesn’t think much of it until she is working on a multi-million dollar partnership, and the CEO, Jackson Holt walks into her office—the same guy she rejected at the bar.

The characters are supportive and you want them to win. So will London seal the deal for her business and for love and romance? There is usually a happy ending to a romance book, but you’ll have to get this easy read to learn what happens next! It is a perfect book for a rainy weekend, or to give a friend that needs a diversion!

Not Just For Kids:

Extraordinary Women With Cameras: 35 Photographers Who Changed How We See the World by Darcy Reed Illustrations by Vanessa Perez (Rocky Nook, August 2022) is adorable as well as informative. It’s meant to be a children’s book, but any woman who loves photography will want this one in her collection. The book features short descriptions of 35 women whose photographs helped shape the photography genre.

As a photographer as well as an editor and writer, I loved the little bits of information that are a capsule of what each female photographer is known for. The illustrations as charming and really do capture the visual spirit of each woman. You may have heard of Dorothea Lange and Margaret Bourke-White and celebrity photographer Annie Leibovitz but maybe not the “SELFIE” photographer Cindy Sherman (1054-today) or the “grandmother of photographer” Imogen Cunningham (1883-1976) and many more. There are even more photographers to research listed in the back of the book. The entire presentation is uplifting and inspiring. It’s a keeper no matter what age you are.

The holidays are coming and I was going to save this for the advicesisters.com annual holiday gift book review roundup. I know Fall has just arrived. But I couldn’t wait to share it. However, consider the book as a great gift for girls looking for a hobby, or perhaps, a career!