Wednesday, April 20, 2016

TMS Book Club April Pick - Life From Scratch: A Memoir of Food, Family, and Forgiveness by Sasha Martin


Title: Glory Over Everything
Author: Sasha Martin
Publisher: National Geographic
Format:  Trade Paperback
Source: From the publisher
On Sale Date: March 1, 2016 (Originally published in hardcover on March 3, 2015
Rating






Synopsis from Penguin Random House Canada

Witty, warm, and poignant, food blogger Sasha Martin's memoir about cooking her way to happiness and self-acceptance is a culinary journey like no other.

Over the course of 195 weeks, food writer and blogger Sasha Martin set out to cook—and eat—a meal from every country in the world. As cooking unlocked the memories of her rough-and-tumble childhood and the loss and heartbreak that came with it, Martin became more determined than ever to find peace and elevate her life through the prism of food and world cultures. From the tiny, makeshift kitchen of her eccentric, creative mother, to a string of foster homes, to the house from which she launched her own cooking adventure, Martin's heartfelt, brutally honest memoir reveals the power of cooking to bond, to empower, and to heal—and celebrates the simple truth that happiness is created from within.

Review:

A memoir and cookbook rolled into a beautiful package.

Life From Scratch gives readers a sense of how a simple connection with food can mean so much to one person. Sasha and her brother Michael were raised in a single parent home. With only their mother to care for them, they had very little. However, the trio managed to make the best of the moments they had together gathering around central structure in their tiny apartment that acted as their dining table, kitchen island, and sewing table. It was here that Sasha's fascination and relationship with food began. Her mother baked birthday apple pies, crepes and her beloved German Tree Cake. Each one of these items eliciting a memory from her past and has made their way, recipe and all into this book.

I enjoyed Life From Scratch. I had never thought about picking up a memoir/cookbook before, in fact, I didn't even know they existed. This was a nice surprise. It was an engaging read and I loved how the book bounced back and forth between the memoir and the associated recipe. It gave me time to process my thoughts about what I had read and reflect on my own past. I still have to attempt the recipes and have marked a couple of my favourites for future experimentation. IF they turn out, perhaps you'll see an update to this post...

Sasha Martin's story is inspiring. Whether it was having to settle in a in a new country, learn a new language or start a new relationship with her estranged mother, Sasha managed to find it within herself to begin again and move on. I would recommend this book to those who enjoy reading memoirs. I think readers will find the incorporation of the recipes between the pages refreshing and don't take away from the highs and lows that memoirs normally contain. If you still need a bit more convincing, check out the Life From Scratch book trailer below and hear about it from the author herself:


For more information on Sasha Martin and her Global Table Adventure where she has "cooked the world", visit her website here.

TMS Book Club:
I discovered Life From Scratch via The Morning Show Book Club. Each month, Janet Joy Wilson (@jsquaredink) selects a book and is discussed on the air with the Global Morning Show team at the end of the month. Janet Joy has yet to steer me wrong!

Past book club picks include: The Last Policeman by Ben H. Winters, The Life-changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondō and Mad Miss Mimic by Sarah Henstra, Learn more about the book club and past/future selections here.


Tuesday, April 19, 2016

Teaser Tuesday #26: Life From Scratch: A Memoir of Food, Family, and Forgiveness by Sasha Martin


Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by Jenn at Books and a Beat. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
  • Grab your current read
  • Open to a random page
  • Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page (some times you need more than two for it to make sense).
  • BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
  • Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers


This week's teaser comes from Life From Scratch: A Memoir of Food, Family, and Forgiveness by Sasha Martin 



Life From Scratch is a memoir and cookbook rolled into one. A touching story of one woman's struggle and reconnection with her roots. Here are a couple teasers from the book:

"The better part of wisdom is turning failure into victory. You have to complete the transition."

"Feeling different does not guarantee a different result; one has to act to invite change."





Come back tomorrow to read my full review of the book!

Life From Scratch is The Morning Show Book Club pick for April. Those who read the book have the opportunity to win a meal for two at Ro House, an authentic Vietnamese restaurant in Toronto, Ontario. All you have to do is share your thoughts on the book with @jsquaredink on Twitter or Instagram using the following hastag: #TMSLifeFromScratch by April 22. Details on the contest and TMS Book Club here.




What are you reading this week? Leave me your TT in the comments below and I'll be sure to check it out!

Wednesday, April 13, 2016

Blog Tour: Glory Over Everything by Kathleen Grissom


Title: Glory Over Everything
Author: Kathleen Grissom
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Format: Paperback ARC / Digital Galley
Source: From the publisher
On Sale Date: April 5, 2016
Rating






A novel of family and long-buried secrets along the treacherous Underground Railroad.

The author of the New York Times bestseller and beloved book club favorite The Kitchen House continues the story of Jamie Pyke, son of both a slave and master of Tall Oakes, whose deadly secret compels him to take a treacherous journey through the Underground Railroad.

Published in 2010, The Kitchen House became a grassroots bestseller. Fans connected so deeply to the book’s characters that the author, Kathleen Grissom, found herself being asked over and over “what happens next?” The wait is finally over.

This new, stand-alone novel opens in 1830, and Jamie, who fled from the Virginian plantation he once called home, is passing in Philadelphia society as a wealthy white silversmith. After many years of striving, Jamie has achieved acclaim and security, only to discover that his aristocratic lover Caroline is pregnant. Before he can reveal his real identity to her, he learns that his beloved servant Pan has been captured and sold into slavery in the South. Pan’s father, to whom Jamie owes a great debt, pleads for Jamie’s help, and Jamie agrees, knowing the journey will take him perilously close to Tall Oakes and the ruthless slave hunter who is still searching for him. Meanwhile, Caroline’s father learns and exposes Jamie’s secret, and Jamie loses his home, his business, and finally Caroline.

Heartbroken and with nothing to lose, Jamie embarks on a trip to a North Carolina plantation where Pan is being held with a former Tall Oakes slave named Sukey, who is intent on getting Pan to the Underground Railroad. Soon the three of them are running through the Great Dismal Swamp, the notoriously deadly hiding place for escaped slaves. Though they have help from those in the Underground Railroad, not all of them will make it out alive

Review

Kathleen Grissom's follow up to the Kitchen House is a very riveting page turner and (lucky for me) a great standalone novel. When Glory Over Everything was first pitched to my by Simon & Schuster I was a bit intimidated about reviewing it since I haven't read The Kitchen House. Thankfully, I took the chance because I really enjoyed this one.

The book begins with a quote from Harriet Tubman and is also its namesake:
I looked at my hands to see if I was the same person now I was free. There was such a glory over everything. The sun came up like gold through the trees, and I felt like I was in heaven.
Inspiring words from a true heroine in a time where human rights and equality were in a very dismal state.

Glory Over Everything is a beautifully written novel that shines a different light on the topic of slavery. We meet the lead character, Jamie Pyke, who was born to a mulatto slave and a white master. Jamie was raised by his paternal grandmother and was raised "white" - wealthy and privileged. After a turn of events that leave him banished from his home, he escapes to Philadelphia where he builds a new life and persona for himself. Thirty years later, now living as wealthy aristocrat, James Burton. James continues to run from his past. It eventually catches up with him as he heads back to his roots in order to save a friend and in turn, himself.

I truly enjoyed Glory Over Everything. What I enjoyed most was Jamie's character. Jamie was constantly on guard and riddled with fear that his past would catch up to him. It took him many years to reveal his secrets, even to those that were close to him. There was also his ability to love. His relationship with Caroline unravelled his passion and vulnerability. Finally, there was his fighting spirit that emerged in the latter half of the book as he re-entered territories where slavery had not been abolished. Being given the opportunity to see the world from Jamie's eyes was an emotional and exhilarating roller coaster ride.

I would recommend Glory Over Everything to readers who enjoy historical fiction novels and of course to anyone who read and enjoyed The Kitchen House. You can hear more about Kathleen Grissom's inspiration and writing methodologies in the video below.





Blog Tour

Let's Take a Shelfie is the final stop for Simon & Schuster Canada's Glory Over Everything Blog Tour. The image to the left lists the previous blog tour stops. Check them out as each blogger has some very interesting takes on the contents of this riveting novel.


I received an advanced reader copy of Glory Over Everything from Simon & Schuster Canada for review purposes. I also obtained a digital galley of the book from Simon & Schuster via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

Tuesday, April 12, 2016

Top Ten Tuesday #9: Books every (soon to be) parent should read



This week's Top Ten Five Tuesday focus on books that I enjoyed reading while I was expecting my first child. Let's be honest, by the time the second came along, I was a pro. (Not really, but I like to pretend).

When I was browsing through the vast ocean of parenting books, I found them to be quite serious, not that having a child isn't, but I definitely preferred ones that were fun. It wasn't until after I collected a few titles that I realized a majority of my parenting reading materials were published by Quirk Books - Publishers of all things awesome. We even used them to decorate the cake table at my baby shower featuring another favourite of mine, The Hungry Caterpillar.



Here are a list of my favourites:

1. The Pregnancy Instruction Manual: Essential Information, Troubleshooting Tips, and Advice for Parents-to-Be by Sarah Jordan

Reading this book made some of my parent-to-be jitters go away. Unlike some of the other parenting books out there, this one didn't scare the living daylights out of you. There was a lot of humour and real life examples. There's even a section for dad's. 







2. The Pregnancy Test by Melissa Heckscher, Emily Sikking

Being pregnant is a scary thing. Everyone tells you what you can/can't, should/shouldn't do. The mixed signals don't really help. This book has answers to a variety of questions such as:
    •  Can I ride a rollercoaster in my first trimester?
     •  Is it safe to pump my own gas?
     •  Why is hair growing around my belly button?

     •  Can I get pregnant when I’m already pregnant?

And as funny as some of these may sound, they go a long way to ease a new mom's mind and make you feel just a bit less crazy.




3. The Baby Owner's Manual: Operating Instructions, Trouble-Shooting Tips & Advice on First-Year Maintenance by Louis Borgenicht, Joe Borgenicht, Paul Kepple (Illustrator)

4. The Toddler Owner's Manual by Brett Kuhn, Paul Kepple (illustrator), Joe Borgenicht, D.A.D., Jude Buffum (Illustrator)

These two books were written very similarly. And like their titles hint at, rather than long winded paragraphs of what to expect, these books are written like user guides. With useful (and funny) tips on how to raise your kids from birth right through the terrible two's. 



5. I Heart My Little A-Holes: A bunch of holy-crap moments no one ever told you about parenting by Karen Alpert

I can't even express how much I adore this book. When I was pregnant with my second child, I wanted a fresh outlook on parenting and really some sense of what it would be like to have two. This book nailed it on the head. You can check out of review of I Heart My Little A-Holes here.







Top Ten Tuesday is an original bookish meme created by The Broke and the Bookish. For the list of future top ten topics or details on how to participate, click here.

Teaser Tuesday #25: Glory Over Everything by Kathleen Grissom


Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by Jenn at Books and a Beat. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
  • Grab your current read
  • Open to a random page
  • Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page (some times you need more than two for it to make sense).
  • BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
  • Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers


This week's teaser comes from Glory Over Everything by Kathleen Grissom


This a follow up to Kathleen Grissom's Kitchen House which reads as a standalone novel. It follows Jamie Pyke, son of a mulatto slave and white master as he searches for a new life. Take a peek at the teasers below:

"You know, darling. First the heir, then the affair" p155

"Though he did not verbally share himself, his loneliness was palpable, as great as my own." p157

""Life is meant to be lived," she said, "and I mean to live it!"" p341


Let's Take a Shelfie is the final stop on Simon & Schuster Canada's blog tour for Glory Over Everything. Come back tomorrow to check out my review.

What are you reading this week? Leave me your TT in the comments below and I'll be sure to check it out!

Monday, April 11, 2016

Spark Joy: An Illustrated Master Class on the Art of Organizing and Tidying Up by Marie Kondō

Title: Spark Joy: An Illustrated Master Class on the Art of Organizing and Tidying Up
Author: Marie Kondō
Publisher: Ten Speed Press
Format: Hardcover
Source: From the publisher
On Sale Date: May 5, 2015
Rating






Synopsis from the publisher:

Japanese decluttering guru Marie Kondo’s The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up has revolutionized homes—and lives—across the world. Now, Kondo presents an illustrated guide to her acclaimed KonMari Method, with step-by-step folding illustrations for everything from shirts to socks, plus drawings of perfectly organized drawers and closets. She also provides advice on frequently asked questions, such as whether to keep “necessary” items that may not bring you joy. With guidance on specific categories including kitchen tools, cleaning supplies, hobby goods, and digital photos, this comprehensive companion is sure to spark joy in anyone who wants to simplify their life.

Review:

I was introduced to Marie Kondō's decluttering style through her first title, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up earlier this year. Her follow up Spark Joy, gives readers a bit more insight and even more tips on how to life a happy life through a tidy home. The book begins the six basic rules of tidying:
  1. Commit yourself to tidying
  2. Imagine your ideal lifestyle 
  3. Finish discarding first
  4. Tidy by category, not by location
  5. Follow the right order (Clothes, books, papers, komono & sentimental items)
  6. Ask yourself if it sparks joy
The list itself seems fairly straight forward, but as one can imagine, it's much harder than it looks. I tested the above theory and localized it to my home office. I know this is against Kondō's teaching and that one should commit to an entire home, but I also believe in achievable goals. I was excited at the get go and followed steps 2-5 flawlessly. Where I failed was the commitment. My office was tidy in two days of uninterrupted cleaning. Three days later, we hosted a house party for my 4 year old's birthday. Young Jedis filled our home and that was the end of my tidying journey... I went back to my old habits of dumping my purse and other items on the floor and my desk was once again covered papers and electronics. Sad to say that this cleaning journey was not as successful as the one I began in January which was to keep my drawers tidy. But, I'll keep pushing on and continue the effort struggle.

I've been asked a couple times which of the two books one should read first. My answer: it depends. The two books compliment each other perfectly. However, if you're only interested in reading one, here are my thoughts:

The Life-Changing Magic provides general tips on how to create and maintain a tidy home. There is a strong emphasis on clothes. How purge, fold and place them. The book also includes many anecdotes on Marie Kondō's past and how she became the tidiness pro that she is today. It sparks a light in the reader to start their tidying journey. The one thing I found that was missing were pictures. Thankfully, Spark Joy includes them.

Spark Joy gets into the nitty gritty of cleaning up. It includes step by step photos on how to fold all types of clothing and how to properly place them in their respective drawers. There's also a strong focus on komono (miscellaneous items). Everyone has a variety of knick knacks around their home and Marie Kondō provides some insight and tips on how to manage them.

Overall both books follow the same underlying principles. Don't be afraid to discard your things and most of all, keep the ones that spark joy.

Have you attempted any of Marie Kondō's tidying methods? Which ones work best for you? Let me know in the comments.

I received a finished copy of Spark Joy from Penguin RandomHouse Canada. My opinions are my own.


Sunday, April 10, 2016

Still Mine by Amy Stuart

Title: Still Mine
Author: Amy Stuart
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Canada
Format: Trade Paperback
Source: Purchased
On Sale Date: March 1, 2016
Rating







Synopsis from the publisher's website:

The Girl on the Train meets The Silent Wife in this taut psychological thriller.

WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU VANISH FROM YOUR LIFE AND LEAVE NO STORY BEHIND?

SOMEONE WILL MAKE ONE UP FOR YOU.

Clare is on the run.

From her past, from her husband, and from her own secrets. When she turns up alone in the remote mining town of Blackmore asking about Shayna Fowles, the local girl who disappeared, everyone wants to know who Clare really is and what she’s hiding. As it turns out, she’s hiding a lot, including what ties her to Shayna in the first place. But everyone in this place is hiding something—from Jared, Shayna’s secretive ex-husband, to Charlie, the charming small-town drug pusher, to Derek, Shayna’s overly involved family doctor, to Louise and Wilfred, her distraught parents.

Did Shayna flee? Was she killed? Is it possible she’s still alive?

As Clare uncovers the mysteries around Shayna’s disappearance, she must confront her own demons, moving us deeper and deeper into the labyrinth of lies and making us question what it is she’s really running from. Twisting and electrifying, this is a get-under-your-skin thriller that will make you question what it means to lose yourself and find yourself in the most unlikely places.

Review:

Five years after a terrible mining accident, Clare arrives in the remote town of Blackmore. She arrives undercover as a photographer and investigates the disappearance of Shayna Fowles, a Blackmore resident. Over the span of a week, she immerses herself into the community and pries into the lives of the residents. She hopes to uncover the details surrounding Shayna's disappearance.

Still Mine is a thrilling debut novel from Canadian author, Amy Stuart. It is a dark thriller that will take you on a journey to solve the mystery of one woman's disappearance which, at the same time leads you to learn more about the history and past of another. There were so many layers in this book that kept me engaged and flipping pages faster and faster. Each of the characters were carefully constructed and had back stories that just felt so believable.

The mystery itself about Shayna's disappearance was so intertwined in these characters' pasts that there were moments where I really had no clue what was going to happen, this doesn't happen very often for me. It left me to question: Was Shayna really dead? Was she murdered by someone she loved? Or, did she just pick up and leave, similar to what Clare has done? The emotional roller coaster that this book puts you on is pretty awesome and I highly recommend lining up for the front seat.

Readers who have enjoyed thrillers by Gillian Flynn and Joy Fielding should give Still Mine a try. An excerpt of the first two chapters is available via Amy's website located here.

Have you read Still Mine? If not, does it sound like it's something you would enjoy?  Leave me your thoughts in the comments

Wednesday, April 6, 2016

Waiting On Wednesday #4: Wonder Woman: Earth One, Vol 1


"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.


This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is Wonder Woman: Earth One, Vol. 1 by
Grant Morrison, Illustrated by: Yanick Paquette

Publisher: DC Comics
Publication Date: April 12, 2016 (Canada)

Synopsis from Goodreads:
Following the New York Times #1 bestselling original graphic novels Batman: Earth One and Superman: Earth One Volume 1 and Volume 2 comes Wonder Woman: Earth One Vol. 1!

Critically acclaimed, best-selling writer Grant Morrison (All-Star Superman, Batman, Inc.) once again pushes the boundaries of the graphic novel page in his mind-bending new take on the most powerful woman in the DC Universe. With stunning art by Yanick Paquette (Swamp Thing), Wonder Woman: Earth One Vol. 1 is an easily accessible jumping on point for new readers.

Thoughts: With all the hype around the Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, it's just fitting that this book is getting a ton of attention. In my opinion, Gal Gadot stole the show portraying Wonder Woman. I've never been a huge DC fan as my allegiance leans more towards the Marvel side of the superhero universe, but, I'm really excited to get my hands on it!

What's your "waiting on" pick this week?

Want to participate in Waiting on Wednesday? Grab the logo, post your own WoW entry on your blog, and join the conversation!

Tuesday, April 5, 2016

Top Ten Tuesday #8: Ten Bookish People to follow



This week's Top Ten Tuesday mission was to highlight ten bookish people you should follow. Let's Take A Shelfie has been around for just over a year. I'm super excited about this week's theme.
I've met some very amazing people both online and in person within the book community and will happily dedicate a post to those who have helped and inspired me....

This first group of fine folks are super awesome people that I've met at local blogging events and/or keep my Twitter feed and in turn myself, well informed about books and pop culture:

Next up are a few of my favourite Bookstagram accounts. Be warned, these accounts will likely make you drool and cause a sudden urge to run to your nearest book store.
A blog that I recently started following is Tea Time with Marce. Marce's blog has a great variety of new releases and back titles. Her reviews are engaging  and include a variety of media to enhance her readers' experience. Finally, a neat feature of her site is her "My Cup of Tea Blogs" which list the latest posts from her favourite bloggers.

The tenth and final spot goes to Janet Joy Wilson. An Executive Sales Director at Penguin Random House Canada who enjoys sharing her love of books with the world. You can find her on Twitter: @jsquaredink or on TV doing live spots on The Morning Show talking about books we all should read. You can learn about the TMS Book Club here.

I really love this week's theme and can't wait to stop blog hopping which I know will lead me through a rabbit hole of other fantastic bookish people. With that said, leave me your link below so the hopping can begin!

Top Ten Tuesday is an original bookish meme created by The Broke and the Bookish. For the list of future top ten topics or details on how to participate, click here.

Teaser Tuesday #24: Still Mine by Amy Stuart


Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by Jenn at Books and a Beat. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
  • Grab your current read
  • Open to a random page
  • Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page (some times you need more than two for it to make sense).
  • BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
  • Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers

This week's teaser comes from Still Mine by Amy Stuart. I'm about 20% through this book and if I had to describe it in one word, I'd choose: INTENSE.

Check this teaser out and you'll know what I mean. Note: Readers who are sensitive to books containing details of violence against women may not want to continue.








"This is what she dreams. Clare lies on the floor among shards of borken glass, her palms cut open. She looks up at him. When she opens her mouth to speak, the beer bottle hits her square between the eyes. She falls back to the cellar floor and the bottle smashes next to her. He bunches the lightbulb and Clare feels its glass rain down. Then he slams the door and locks her in." p.10



What are you reading this week? Leave me your TT in the comments below and I'll be sure to check it out!

Monday, April 4, 2016

Monday Shelfie #19: March Round Up




And just like that... it's April! But before I get into some of the fun things that I have coming up this month, here's a quick run down of what I read:


March is always a fun month because of  Canada Reads. It was said early on in the competition that only in Canada would there be a televised discussion and debate solely on books. This is one of the many reasons I love being Canadian. I didn't follow the debates as closely as I have in the past, mostly due to work commitments, but I was able to attend the final day of debates in person. Tension was definitely in the air on that final day. Vinay Virmani defended his book The Hero's Walk by Anita Rau Badami with so much passion. When The Illegal by Lawrence Hill, defended by Clara Hughes, was announced the winner, his disappointment and devastation was clearly evident. The small consolation here is that he has optioned the rights for The Hero's Walk and will be producing a movie adaptation of the novel. 

For my #ReadMyOwnDamnBooks challenge, I crossed off a third book book with Mad Miss Mimic. I've owned this book since last May and finally came around to read it because it was the March pick for The Morning Show's Book Club. The March giveaway was Tea4Two with Janet Joy Wilson, a.k.a The Book Guru and Sara Henstra, the author of the book. The winner of this fantastic prize was announced on March 31 and it was... ME!!! I can't wait to sit down with both of these ladies over some tea and chat about how much I adored this book. It will be fangirling at its finest. The April book club pick is a touching memoir: Life From Scratch by Sasha Martin. You can learn more about this book and The Morning Show Book Club here.

As for April, the first book on my list is Glory Over Everything by Kathleen Grissom. I'm about half way through this exhilarating ride. The book begins in the 1830s and follows the life of Jamie Pyke, now Jamie Burton, as he searches for his abducted slave, Pan. He must face his deepest fears and journey through the Underground Railroad with the hopes of saving Pan's life. 

Let's Take A Shelfie will be the final stop on Simon & Schuster Canada's Blog Tour. So, come back on April 13 to check out my review. If you can't wait that long, you can also check out all of the awesome bloggers that will be posting between now and then.


I'd love to find out what others are reading this spring. Feel free to leave the link to your March round ups and I'll check 'em out!




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