Motivation for the New Year

Are your New Year's resolutions waning by now? Did you even bother to make any? Well, if you're still hanging in there (or want to be inspired) try out these books.

For those of you planning to get healthier this year, I'd recommend The New Health Rules by Dr. Frank Lipman. This is not a diet book; it includes no elaborate plans or instructions. Every other page is a photo and an accompanying paragraph describing a lifestyle change to make. It reminds me greatly of Food Rules by Michael Pollan, but this book also incorporates exercise, the mind, and overall wellness.

If you're looking to clear the clutter, try The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing by Marie Kondo. I'm not hugely into this topic, but this book seemed different- and it is. Kondo challenges the status quo in de-cluttering. She does not advocate buying tons of storage bins (that's just organized hoarding). She doesn't want you to decide what to get rid of, but what to keep. She advises letting your items "rest" while not using them and to thank them for their service to you. It's a bit odd at times, but I think this book has the potential to really change lives.

If you're looking to just simplify your life (this can go along with the above recommendation), try Lessons From Madame Chic: 20 Stylish Secrets I Learned While Living in Paris by Jennifer L. Scott. Her points are about adopting the lifestyle she witnessed as an exchange student for six months in Paris. It's in line with the francophile books that have been popular the last several years, but I think Scott does a better job of describing ways of applying simpler ideals to your lifestyle. In particular, she discusses the idea of a capsule wardrobe, where you only keep and wear a small amount of clothing each season. Quality over quantity, from clothing to food. If you like this book, Scott recently published a companion book, Madame Chic at Home.

It's National Candy Day!

Sweet candy facts:

• The first commercial solid eating chocolate was produced by Fry & Sons in Bristol, England, in 1847
• M&M’s (packaged in cardboard tubes) were first manufactured for soldiers during World War II. Forrest Mars got the idea for M&M’s when he visited Spain during the Spanish Civil War and saw how soldiers kept chocolates from melting by rolling them in sugary coating.
• When peanut M&M's were first introduced in 1954, they were only available in the color brown
• Milton S. Hershey, the founder of Hershey, owned a caramel manufacturing company before he focused on chocolate
• The M's in M&M's stand for Mars & Murrie: Forrest Mars (son of Frank Mars) entered into a partnership with Bruce Murrie, son of William Murrie (president of Hershey). Hershey provided the chocolate for M&M’s.
• A Milky Way bar is known as a Mars bar in the United Kingdom

Here are some recommendations if you are looking for some candy-centric books to celebrate National Candy Day:

* For even more fascinating history behind the Mars and Hershey candy companies, and the people who started them:

	The Emperors of Chocolate: Inside the Secret World of Hershey and Mars by Joël Glenn Brenner 338.766 BRE Find it in the catalog!
	Hershey: Milton S. Hershey's Extraordinary Life of Wealth, Empire, and Utopian Dreams by Michael D'Antonio  BIOGRAPHY HERSHEY Find it in the catalog!

* If you have bags of leftover Halloween candy and would like a fun way to use it all up:

Candy Construction: How to Build Edible Race Cars, Castles, and Other Cool Stuff Out of Store-Bought Candy! by Sharon Bowers 641.86 BOW Find it in the catalog!

* If you want to take on the challenge of making your own candy:

	Field Guide to Candy: How to Identify and Make Virtually Every Candy Imaginable by Anita Chu 641.853 CHU Find it in the catalog!
	The Liddabit Sweets Candy Cookbook: How to Make Truly Scrumptious Candy in Your Own Kitchen! by Liz Gutman 641.853 GUT Find it in the catalog!

* If you want to give homemade candy as presents for the holidays:

	Sweet Christmas: Homemade Peppermints, Sugar Cake, Chocolate-Almond Toffee, Eggnog Fudge, and Other Sweet Treats and Decorations by Sharon Bowers 641.568 BOW Find it in the catalog!
	Delicious Gifts: Edible Creations to Make and Give by Jess McCloskey 641.5 MCC Find it in the catalog!

New Non-Fiction

A selection of new non-fiction titles that recently hit our shelves:

101 Two-Letter Words by Stephin Merritt. You may recognize the author's name, but from a different medium: he's the founder of the band Magnetic Fields. Short (and sweet) book of two-letter words presented in a witty, rhymed fashion.

Aarti Paarti: An American Kitchen With an Indian Soul by Aarti Sequeira. Recipes that fuse Indian and American cuisine from the Food Network chef. Lots of photos!

The Edge of the Sky: All You Need To Know About the All-There-Is by Roberto Trotta. Astrophysicist Trotta undertakes describing cosmology using the most common 1,000 words so that the average person (and non-astrophysicist) can understand it. Short book that comes in at 85 pages.

How We Got To Now: Six Innovations That Made the Modern World by Steven Johnson. Johnson details six technologies that changed our lives: refrigeration, clocks, lenses, water purification, recorded sound, and artificial light.

The Marshmallow Test: Mastering Self-Control by Walter Mischel. Based on studies (particularly Mischel's eponymous Marshmallow Test) about self-control and delayed gratification.

The News Sorority: Diane Sawyer, Katie Couric, Christiane Amanpour-- and the (Ongoing, Imperfect, Complicated) Triumph of Women in TV News by Sheila Weller. Details how these three women cracked the news industry and became successful, even influential.

Rebel Yell: The Violence, Passion, and Redemption of Stonewall Jackson by S.C. Gwynne. A biography of the other famous Confederate general.

Sense of Style: The Thinking Person's Guide to Writing in the 21st Century! by Steven Pinker. I was excited about this book, until I read the subtitle. Then, I re-thought this position and got excited again. Mainly because I could probably stand to read this book, as evidenced by my posts.

Smoke Gets In Your Eyes & Other Lessons From the Crematory by Caitlin Doughty. Anecdotes from a young, female mortician. This book had a lot of "pre-pub" buzz.


Wheat Belly Total Health: The Ultimate Grain-Free Health and Weight-Loss Life Plan by William Davis, MD. Sequel to Wheat Belly, with new tips and information for success with this diet.

The Drinking Cure: Cocktails for what ails you

"Here's to Alcohol!  The cause of- and solution to- all of life's problems."- Homer Simpson ( "Homer vs. the Eighteenth Amendment," The Simpsons: 8th Season).

While many people have turned to drink to (perhaps unwisely) cure their ills, many liqueurs and cocktail mixers were actually created for their medicinal purposes.  That is not to say that turning to your liquor cabinet is the best solution to your cold, though it might make you care a little less about it!  But if you are going to have a drink anyway, why not tailor it to what ails you?  Below are three recent non-fiction titles highlighting the curative properties of drinks.  Enjoy in moderation, of course!:

Apothecary Cocktails: Restorative Drinks  by Warren Bobrow (2013).
Call #: 641.874 BOB
Find it in the catalog!

Want your drink to have a little bit of medical history as a side?  Check out this informative book.   As a cocktail geek, I love finding out the role that liqueurs, bitters, and cocktails played in early medicine.  This book goes into a the history of several "restorative" drinks and includes recipes for both traditional and new cocktails made with healing herbs.  The drinks are divided up into seven categories: digestives and other curatives (drinks that aid digestion and other ailments), winter warmers, hot-weather refreshers, restoratives (drinks to cure hangovers), relaxants and toddies (to help you sleep), painkilling libations, and mood enhancers.  I personally argue that any drink will accomplish the last three tasks!

Stand out drinks include a unique spin on the Corpse Reviver using Calvados (apple brandy), gin and cognac  (p. 74, a restorative cocktail), the Cocktail Whisperer's Painkilling System #200 (a Tiki inspired drink with two types of rum, sure to numb your pain!, p. 116), and the Iberville Street Cocktail (a less potent spin on the class New Orlean's cocktail the Sazerac, using Lillet Blanc and brandy. Absinthe makes it a digestive, p. 20).

Dr. Cocktail: 50 Spirited Infusions to Stimulate the Mind and Body by Alex Ott (2012).
Call #: 641.874 OTT
Find it in the catalog!

This book has a more modern spin on the homeopathic cocktails and features drinks that are the author's creation.  If you are all ready a cocktail snob, this is a great book to check out for something new.  It's also recommend for people who prefer their cocktails made with vodka, which is less common in more historical cocktails.   Ott has his drinks divided into several different categories including "appetizing libations,"  aphrodisiacs, and "memory-evoking elixirs" (this sounds kind of scary for those who drink to forget!). 

Stand out drinks include the great for Valentine's Day "Love in a Glass" which mixes vanilla vodka, chocolate syrup, and espresso (p.95); "Bardot"- a combo of citrus flavored vodka and grapefruit juice (p. 118), and "Scottish Mary"- a play on the brunch staple Bloody Mary using Scotch (p. 64). 

Bitters: A Spirited History of a Classic Cure-All by Brad Thomas Parsons (2012).
Call #641.874 PAR
Find it in the catalog!

This is perhaps the geekiest book on the list.  It appeals to those interested in the history of bitters and those ambition enough to want to mix their own.  For those unfamiliar with bitters they are aromatic flavoring agents usually sold in small bottles that you put a couple shakes into a drink to add a particular flavor.  The two most famous types are Angostura Bitters (used in Old Fashions and pretty much everything) and Peychaud's Bitters (used most famously and deliciously in a Sazerac).  Traditionally, bitters were usually invented for their restorative properties (Angostura and Peychaud's included).  This book is an excellent primer on bitters and setting up a decent bar.  Recipes are divided among the traditional cocktails using bitters (i.e. Champagne Cocktail, Manhattan, Negroni, etc.), and new drinks using bitters.  This book is highly recommended to cocktail geeks!

New Non-Fiction

Here's a sampling of some new non-fiction titles that just hit our shelves:

Stuff Matters: Exploring the Marvelous Materials That Shape Our Man-Made World by Mark Miodownik. The why behind the properties and attributes of various everyday objects like glass and paper clips. Find it in the catalog!

Coolhaus Ice Cream Book by Natasha Case & Freya Estreller with Kathleen Squires. Ice cream, gelato, and sorbet recipes. Need I say more? Well, I'll add that a handful of cookie recipes are included as suggested pairings so you could make ice cream sandwiches if you wish. Lots of delicious photos. Find it in the catalog!

8 Keys to End Bullying: Strategies For Parents & Schools by Signe Whitson. Written by a licensed social worker and school counselor, the books presents a straighforward plan to address bullying. Find it in the catalog!

Carsick by John Waters. Infamous filmmaker Waters relates the tales of his hitchhike across America. I can just imagine. Find it in the catalog!

If I Can't Have You: Susan Powell, Her Mysterious Disappearance, and the Murder of Her Children by Gregg Olsen and Rebecca Morris. True crime book detailing the heartbreaking saga of Susan Powell, her husband, and children. Includes photos. Find it in the catalog!

Proof: The Science of Booze by Adam Rogers. Ever want to get extra geeky about alcohol? This book's for you. Find it in the catalog!

The Romanov Sisters: The Lost Lives of the Daughters of Nicholas and Alexandra by Helen Rappaport. Focuses on the last Russian Czar's four daughters before they were assassinated during WWI. Includes photos. Find it in the catalog!

New Non-Fiction

Here's a selection of some new non-fiction that recently hit our shelves:
 
The Bohemians: Mark Twain and the San Francisco Writers Who Reinvented American Literature by Ben Tarnoff. Mark Twain heads to the West to explore San Francisco as it begins to boom, and meets some influential friends. Includes some black and white photos.


Devotion and Defiance: My Journey in Love, Faith and Politics by Humaira Awais Shahid. Pull quote from the book jacket:
"They cut off my microphone. I raised my voice. They vowed to defeat me. I said, 'Let the record show that someone tried.' They labeled me 'the most unmanageable woman in Pakistan.' My husband said, 'Tell me something I don't know.'"

  
A Nice Little Place on the North Side: Wrigley Field at One Hundred by George Will. I recently saw Mr. Will interviewed and he said (paraphrasing here) "I do politics commentary so I can feed my baseball habit." A history of Wrigley Field, includes some black and white photos interspersed throughout.

Nothing Like a Dame: Conversations With the Great Women of Musical Theater by Eddie Shapiro. Interviews with Elaine Stritch, Carol Channing, Patti Lupone, Audra McDonald, Kristin Chenoweth, Idina Menzel, and more.

A Sliver of Light: Three Americans Imprisoned in Iran by Shane Bauer, Joshua Fattal & Sarah Shourd. The true story of three hikers who were held in an Iranian prison after accidentally crossing over from Iraqi Kurdistan.

Sous Chef by Michael Gibney. Memoir of a sous chef who has worked with some of the most renown chefs, in some of the most renown restaurants. Foodies would enjoy this one.

Some New (and Cool) Additions to the Collection

Dancing Through It: My Journey in the Ballet by Jenifer Ringer. Ringer, a principal dancer for the New York City Ballet, pens her autobiography about her life as a dancer. Includes a section of photos. Find it in the catalog

How Paris Became Paris: The Invention of the Modern City by Joan DeJean. Many illustrations and maps litter this book on the city planning of Paris. Find it in the catalog

Mission at Nuremberg: An American Army Chaplain and the Trail of the Nazis by Tim Townsend. Lutheran minister Henry Gerecke is assigned to counsel the Nazi defendants of the Nuremberg trail. Includes a section of photos. Find it in the catalog

Money: The Unauthorised Biography by Felix Martin. "... a sweeping historical epic that traces the development and evolution of one of humankind's greatest inventions." Although, at 320 pages, it's not too epic. Find it in the catalog

The New Vegetarian Cooking For Everyone by Deborah Madison. A pretty extensive collection  but, unfortunately, it has no photos. Find it in the catalog

The Priority List: A Teacher's Final Quest to Discover Life's Greatest Lessons by David Menasche. English teacher Menasche's inspiring life lessons after he is diagnosed with cancer. Find it in the catalog

Vintage Quilt Revival: 22 Modern Designs from Classic Blocks by Katie Clark Blakesley, Lee Heinrich, and Faith Jones. Includes a CD-ROM of 12 printable patterns. Find it in the catalog

You Can Date Boys When You're Forty by Dave Barry. Barry's take on parenting issues. Find it in the catalog

Some New (and Cool) Non-Fiction Additions To the Collection

American Fun by John Beckman - The first line in the book jacket: "From the time the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock, Americans have defied their stodgy rules and hierarchies with pranks, dances, stunts, and wild parties, shaping the national character in profound and lasting ways." A history of our wily ways. Find it in the catalog!

The Antidote: Inside the World of New Pharma by Barry Werth - Werth follows the business story of  the pharmaceutical company Vertex, part of one of America's most profitable industries. Find it in the catalog!

Budget Bytes: Over 100 Easy, Delicious Recipes to Slash Your Grocery Bill in Half  by Beth Moncel - Begins with some kitchen basics (like stocking a pantry and becoming friends with your freezer). Includes sample menus and many vegetarian and vegan recipes. Find it in the catalog!

A Curious Madness: An American Combat Psychiatrist, A Japanese War Crimes Suspect, and an Unsolved Mystery From World War II by Eric Jaffe - The author's grandfather, Major Daniel Jaffe, was tasked with determining the sanity, and ability to stand trial for war crimes, of a Japanese man. Includes a section of photos. Find it in the catalog!

Doctor Who: The Vault by Marcus Hearn - Attractive book of the history, including behind the scenes info and a plethora of photos. A must for Doctor Who fanatics. Find it in the catalog!

The Economy of You: Discover Your Inner Entrepreneur and Recession-Proof Your Life by Kimberly Palmer - Thinking of starting your own side business? Check out this book. Find it in the catalog!

I Forgot to Remember: A Memoir of Amnesia by Su Meck - Chronicles a wife and mother's struggle to re-enter the life she doesn't remember after a traumatic brain injury. Find it in the catalog!

Seaside Quilts: Quilting & Sewing Projects for Beach-Inspired Decor by Carol C. Porter & Rebecca J. Hansen - Ah, the beach ... Anyway, I think the title explains is all really. Find it in the catalog!

Where the Locals Go: More Than 300 Places Around the World to Eat, Play, Shop, Celebrate, and Relax compiled by National Geographic - Just as the title suggests, a guide to all the happening places and things to do around the world. Includes lots of photos to entice you. Find it in the catalog!

Zombie reading list for fans of "The Walking Dead"

A couple weeks ago, season four of The Walking Dead premiered on AMC to a record-breaking number of viewers. If you are a fan of the show or just enjoy some gore in your reading material, here is a list of zombie-related books to check out. You'll be surprised at some of the titles we have! First up, the most obvious:

The Walking Dead by Robert Kirkman
TEEN GRAPHIC NOVEL WALKING DEAD
RANDALL OAKS TEEN GRAPHIC NOVEL KIRKMAN
An epidemic of apocalyptic proportions has swept the globe causing the dead to rise and feed on the living. In a matter of months society has crumbled-- no government, no grocery stores, no mail delivery, no cable TV. In a world ruled by the dead, we are forced to finally start living.

Eighteen volumes have been published in this graphic novel series so far. You may check out each volume individually or....


...if you want to binge-read, I recommend:

The Walking Dead Compendium
TEEN GRAPHIC NOVEL WALKING DEAD

Compendium 1 collects issues 1-48 (Volumes 1-8)
Compendium 2 collects issues 49-96 (Volumes 9-16)

You will still need to request Volume 17: Something to Fear and Volume 18: What Comes After after reading both volumes to be current with the entire series!

If you do decide to binge-read, please be cautious, or you may end up like me, waking up in the middle of the night, screaming and holding out both arms in front of you in self-defense against an approaching walker. Embarrassingly, I can only handle zombies/horror in small doses.

FICTION

World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War by Max Brooks
FICTION BROOKS
An account of the decade-long conflict between humankind and hordes of the predatory undead is told from the perspective of dozens of survivors who describe in their own words the epic human battle for survival. See also: the movie adaptation starring Brad Pitt: World War Z (DVD)

Zone One by Colson Whitehead
RANDALL OAKS FICTION WHITEHEAD
In this wry take on the post-apocalyptic horror novel, a pandemic has devastated the planet. The plague has sorted humanity into two types: the uninfected and the infected, the living and the living dead.

Paul is Undead: The British Zombie Invasion by Alan Goldsher
FICTION GOLDSHER
Can the Beatles sublimate their hunger for gray matter, remain on top of the charts, and stay together for all eternity? After all, three of the Fab Four "are" zombies, and zombies live forever ....

Rise Again: A Zombie Thriller by Ben Tripp
FICTION TRIPP
Sheriff Danielle Adelman is threatened when her small town of Forest Peak is in danger of being overrun by residents who have suddenly died and become zombies and she flees across the California desert, searching for her missing sister.

TEEN

The Enemy by Charlie Higson
TEEN HIGSON
RANDALL OAKS TEEN HIGSON
After a disease turns everyone over sixteen into brainless, decomposing, flesh-eating creatures, a group of teenagers leave their shelter and set out for a harrowing journey across London to the safe haven of Buckingham Palace. More in this series: The Dead, The Fear, The Sacrifice.

Ashes by Ilsa Bick
TEEN BICK
Alex, a resourceful seventeen-year-old running from her incurable brain tumor, Tom, who has left the war in Afghanistan, and Ellie, an angry eight-year-old, join forces after an electromagnetic pulse sweeps through the sky and kills most of the world's population, turning some of those who remain into zombies and giving the others superhuman senses. More in this series: Shadows, Monsters

Dearly, Departed by Lia Habel
TEEN HABEL
In the year 2195 when society is technologically advanced but follows the social mores of Victorian England, recently orphaned Nora Dearly is left at the mercy of her domineering, social-climbing aunt, until she is nearly kidnapped by zombies and falls in with a group of mysterious, black-clad commandos. More in this series: Dearly, Beloved

Rot & Ruin by Jonathan Maberry
TEEN MABERRY
In a post-apocalyptic world where fences and border patrols guard the few people left from the zombies that have overtaken civilization, fifteen-year-old Benny Imura is finally convinced that he must follow in his older brother's footsteps and become a bounty hunter. More in this series: Dust & Decay, Flesh & Bone, Fire & Ash.

CRAFTS AND RECIPES

In these craft books zombies aren't so scary:

Creepy Cute Crochet: Zombies, Ninjas, Robots, and More! by Christen Haden
746.434 HAD

Zombie Felties: How to Raise 16 Gruesome Felt Creatures from the Undead by Nicola Tedman
746.0463 TED

The cupcake designs in these books are creepily impressive:

Zombie Cupcakes by Zilly Rosen
641.8653 ROS

A Zombie Ate My Cupcake! 25 Deliciously Weird Cupcake Recipes by Lily Vanili
641.8653 VAN

Do you think the zombie apocalypse is a real possibility? Do you wish you had some advice so you can adequately prepare for life as a zombie? If so, the following books are right up your alley.

How to Be a Zombie: The Essential Guide for Anyone who Craves Brains by Serena Valentino

TEEN 398.45 VAL

So Now You’re a Zombie: A Handbook for the Newly Undead by John Austin
FICTION AUSTIN

Cooking for One or Two

Recipes are generally sized for about four or six people, which is great if you are cooking for a family or a small dinner party (or one teenaged boy).  However, when your cooking for one or two, there is simply too much food.  You are faced with a dilemma, endless leftovers or trying to scale down the recipe (which sometimes leaves you with awkward quantities of unused ingredients like half a can of beans).   Thankfully there are plenty of cookbooks out there for solo and couple diners.  Below are some of my favorites:

Cooking for One:

Pleasures of Cooking for One by Judith Jones.
Find it in the catalog!
Judith Jones was an editor for Julia Child and James Beard, so she has pretty good foodie cred.  After losing her husband, she decided to come up with great meals to cook by herself.  This has lots of great classic dishes to make for yourself including Ratatouille and Boeuf Bourguigon.  My personal favorite is a poached egg nestled in greens.  It's yummy, takes about five minutes to make and is great for nights I barely feel like heating something in the microwave.  Jones gives you lots of good ideas for what to do with
leftovers too!

What We Eat When We Eat Alone by Deborah Madison.
Find it in the catalog!
This is an interesting look into the actual eating habits of solo diners. It has lots of smart, practical during the week recipes as well as some outlandish, treat yourself recipes.  This is the book I most frequently turn to when making dinner for myself.  My personal favorite recipe is the avocado taco recipe which is cheap, easy and delicious!

Serve Yourself: Nightly Adventures in Cooking for One by Joe Yonan.
Find it in the catalog!
If you want seriously delicious food with Southwestern accents definitely check out this title.  Most recipes have several layers of flavor going them on, which makes them tasty but probably not quick mid-week meals.  I really enjoyed his recipes for mushroom tacos with caramelized onions and goat cheese.  Even though it turned out ugly thanks to my poor omelet making skills, the Swiss chard, goat cheese and bacon omelet was completely delicious and could definitely feed more than one with a side salad.

Cooking for Two:

One Pan, Two Plates by Carla Snyder.  
Find it in the catalog!
If you are looking for quick but delicious weeknight meals for two check out this cookbook.  Each recipe includes the hands-on cooking time as well as the total cooking time, so you can plan your meals easily.  A variety of different cuisines are covered in this book including French, Italian, Thai, and Indian.  Some tasty sounding recipes include: three cheese mac and cheese with crispy prosciutto, lamb korma, and balsamic braised chicken thighs with figs and creamy polenta.

Not Your Mother's Slow Cooker Recipes for Two by Beth Hensperger.
Find it in the catalog!
During the winter months, I'm a huge fan of using my slow cooker.  Mainly because it means I don't have to spend any time actually cooking, I just have to do prep.  However, most slow cooker recipes make a lot of food and I wind up eating the same thing for days on end.  Thankfully, this book gives you recipes that are just big enough for two.  And it actually has small batch soup recipes!  Yummy sounding recipes include: Provencal tomato soup with poached egg, chicken with basil cream sauce, and skirt steak fajitas with tomato-olive salsa.

Small-Batch Baking by Debby Maugans Nakos.
Find it in the catalog!
Excess baked goods aren't usually a problem; odds are you can hoist them upon loved ones, friends and coworkers with little resistance.  Who doesn't like a homemade cookie?  However, if the temptation of having 30 delicious freshly baked cookies is too much temptation to bear, you can check out this book which sized for one or two portions.