Reader's Loft

Ready Player One

noreply@blogger.com (E Melander) — Thu, 24 Jan 2019 18:41:00 +0000

Wade Watts is a teenager that lives in a trailer. The only time he feels like his alive is when he is plugged into the Oasis, a virtually reality world where nearly everyone lives their lives. It's how he attends school and has social interactions. But like any virtual reality, there is a creator behind it. In this case the creator of the Oasis is ready to pass on the torch for maintaining and running the Oasis. The Oasis creator has hidden clues and puzzles in the Oasis and the new game master has to find all the keys. Wade Watts finds the first key and the race is on. Ready Player One.

The story is a throwback to many pop-culture gaming references including Pac-Man, Dungeons and Dragons, and more. I listened to most of the book which is read by Wil Wheaton. Wil is the perfect person to read this book. He does a very good job and as a listener, I know that Wil is a gamer at heart. He gets the story. I did return the audio book because it was taking me a long time to read it, so I finished up reading the print edition.

Overall, I found the story interesting and engaging. The author does a good job delving into the Oasis but also pulling out and seeing the real world. But, the story does start to drag about three-fourths of the way through. I simply got bored of the ongoing quest to find the next key. I did get most of the references mentioned in the story, but only because I lived through some of the things mentioned. I had to wonder if kids today would understand it. But as kids borrowed the book at the library, they did.

I was curious about the movie adaptation. I haven't seen it, but I have wondered how the movie would portray the Oasis. There is also the problem of all of the gaming references, which would require extra rights to mention or portray. From what I have read, the reviews were mixed and the movie over-all did not do as well as expected. Still, I'm curious and may watch it one day.

Book Rating: 4 stars

The books I select for review are books which I personally select from my local library. I do not receive any reimbursement from authors or publishers or free books. I do provide links to Amazon as a convenience to the readers of this blog.

Who's the new kid

noreply@blogger.com (E Melander) — Tue, 22 Jan 2019 18:25:00 +0000

Nine year old Breanna Bond weighed 186 pounds. At such a young age, she was experiencing the health consequences of obesity, not to mention the teasing and taunting from classmates. Something had to be done. Breanna's mom, Heidi, had made attempts to limit food, but almost always gave in to her daughter's wants. Finally, Heidi made one more attempt to save her daughter. Who's the new kid is their story.

Heidi started by throwing out all the junk food in the house and buying healthy foods instead. She had been unwittingly enabling her daughter by just having junk food in the house. Next she and her daughter started exercising. She soon realized they both needed to start slow and work up to running. So began their daily walks. Over time, with Heidi's firm hand, her daughter began to lose weight. Eventually, Breanna lost enough weight to be considered normal.

This book has received some criticism. Some believe Heidi acted like a bully, though she did have to take a tough stance. There is also the sustainability of her eat less, move more approach. With all the nutrition and health books I have read, I have to agree that it could become a problem. There were moments where Breanna complained of being hungry. Still, Breanna did lose the weight and eventually wanted to eat better to feel better.

This book is an interesting look at childhood obesity and one family's experience. It may motivate other families to make different lifestyle choices. From a nutrition perspective, it is problematic since the eat less, move more concept has been largely debunked. I have to wonder where Breanna is now. Has she maintained her weight loss? Does she have a healthy relationship with food?

The books I select for review are books which I personally select from my local library. I do not receive any reimbursement from authors or publishers or free books. I do provide links to Amazon as a convenience to the readers of this blog

Folks, this ain't normal

noreply@blogger.com (E Melander) — Fri, 18 Jan 2019 02:41:00 +0000

Joel Salatin is a famous American farmer. He is considered to be controversial for his methods. But when you read or listen to the things he says, it can make a lot of sense. He promotes sustainable permaculture farm methods, methods long passed over for "modern" farming systems that damage the soil and raise sick animals. As these things go, he has garnered attention of animal activities and government regulators. Salatin's book Folks, this ain't normal is a collection of essays filled with Salatin's observations and personal experiences both with farming and a few other topics.

I really enjoyed this book. I found his folksy way of speaking interesting. Some of the difficulties he has had with government regulators is almost unbelievable, but amazingly true. His observations about the problems with current farming methods are spot on. Anyone who eats a more traditional foods diet will recognize the problems Salatin highlights.

I appreciated Salatin's insight and I think this book is worth a read.

Book Rating: 5 stars

The Secret Life of Fat

noreply@blogger.com (E Melander) — Wed, 16 Jan 2019 02:25:00 +0000

The Secret Life of Fat by Dr. Sylvia Tara is an interesting book. Fat, both what we consume but also the fat in our body is not really understood well. Dr. Tara presents the science and case studies about fat. There were two particularly interesting cases regarding fat. One was of a girl who had no fat. Her body simply could not absorb and process it. The result was a very sick, thin girl. Another was of a young woman who literally could not stop eating. Both cases make you wonder about fat and the importance of it in the diet. Our bodies, especially hormones and our brains, depend on fat to function properly.

The book claims to provide the secret to losing weight. This is the weakest part of the book and the advice was really not all that helpful. This book provides insight and interesting case stories about fat and that is the main reason to read the book.

Book Rating: 4 stars.

Herbal Antibiotics

noreply@blogger.com (E Melander) — Thu, 10 Jan 2019 19:57:00 +0000

Herbal Antibiotics by Stephen Buhner is a great reference manual. I picked this up because I was curious. Are there herbal remedies that can help fight infection? According to Buhner, there are and they are more effective long term than antibiotic pharmaceuticals. The herbal remedies are gentler on the body and have fewer side effects. More studies need to be done to really understand how the herbals work in comparison to prescribed antibiotics, but it is worth knowing what options may exist.

The books is a bit dry, detailed, and technical. There are bits and pieces of humor sprinkled throughout, so you may be surprised to read some of Buhner's personality coming through. I did read most of the book, skimming a few sections. Buhner describes each remedy, sources, side effects and warnings. He includes some dosing and preparation recommendations.

This is a handy manual to have on hand. Buhner has written extensively about herbal medicine and he is considered an expert on the topic. He does get some criticism because herbal medicine relies on "folk wisdom" rather than scientific. It's not that he hasn't encouraged more studies, it's just there isn't much motivation because there is little to no profit in it's application. Buhner is especially well known in the lyme community for putting together an herbal protocol for those patients.

Book Rating: 5 stars.

The books I select for review are books which I personally select from my local library. I do not receive any reimbursement from authors or publishers or free books. I do provide links to Amazon as a convenience to the readers of this blog, which are affiliate links.

Everything I Never Told You

noreply@blogger.com (E Melander) — Tue, 08 Jan 2019 19:47:00 +0000

I picked up Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng because I was intrigued by the mystery. The story is centered around a Chinese-American family living in Ohio. All of the parents hope are placed on their daughter Lydia to make something of herself. She is under intense pressure to perform and succeed. On an outing at a local watering hole, Lydia is found dead. Did she commit suicide or was she murdered? No one can quite figure out what happened.

As the story unfolds, the family must deal with their grief and guilt. The pressures of the investigation cause the family to fall apart. The mother and father drift apart, blaming each other. Siblings turn on each other and their parents. Secrets are slowly revealed.

I only continued reading this book to see if there was any resolution to Lydia's death. Otherwise the story is just so depressing. Individuals make decisions that are just despicable. Do people really do these things to their family? Maybe some do but I find it hard to read. I always hope that in the midst of tragedy a family would pull together for comfort and strength no drift apart and begin despising each other.

I don't know if I can recommend this book completely. If you are ok with a depressing story, this might be for you.

The books I select for review are books which I personally select from my local library. I do not receive any reimbursement from authors or publishers or free books. I do provide links to Amazon as a convenience to the readers of this blog, which are affiliate links.

Pines

noreply@blogger.com (E Melander) — Thu, 03 Jan 2019 23:05:00 +0000

I immediately liked the premise of Pines by Blake Crouch. It had a definite X-files vibe. The main character reminded me of Mulder. In this case Agent Ethan Burke is sent to Pines, Idaho to find and retrieve two agents that have gone missing. Shortly after his arrival, Ethan wakes up in a hospital with no i.d. and no idea how he ended up there. As he begins to explore the town, things don't seem quite right. There is a secret in Pines and none of the inhabitants seem too willing to talk. The town seems to be stuck 50 years in the past. No smart phones. No internet. And yet, the inhabitants seem to get along just fine. As hard as Ethan tried to escape, the more entrenched he becomes in Pines.

The mystery unravels slowly, but keeps you interested and intrigued. I could visualize the story as though it were a TV show. In fact, as I was reading I kept thinking that it should be a TV show, which eventually did happen.

I found the first story in the series to be really good. It had an intriguing and engaging story. You secretly hope Ethan can find a way to escape while also learning the town's secret. The first story does leave you hanging, so there are two more books in the series.

The exhaustion breakthrough

noreply@blogger.com (E Melander) — Thu, 20 Dec 2018 18:23:00 +0000

I read the Exhaustion Breakthrough by Dr. Holly Phillips in hopes that I could find some insight on my chronic fatigue. Since I read this book a while ago, I can't really remember a lot of details about her suggestions. Most of the suggestions are common sense : eat right, get better sleep, and exercise.

Sleep is a big factor and having good sleep hygiene is important. Turn off electronics, have a night routine, etc. Try to get around 7 hours of sleep a night. Eating right includes eliminating convenience foods and replacing your diet with minimally processed, whole foods. And yes, exercise but not too much. This kind of advice can be found in many places and it will probably help the person who has normal fatigue. She also advises a person be evaluated for thyroid problems and other conditions that contribute to fatigue. The book does focus on women since women tend have more trouble with fatigue and are more likely to be diagnosed with fatigue problems.

Unfortunately, her book does not really help a person who has chronic fatigue. I can say this because I have implemented some of her strategies. A squeaky clean diet, gentle exercise, and good sleep hygiene have helped me but it has not broken through the exhaustion. I have several theories as to why, but Dr. Phillips does not really deep dive on the subject. So this book is not really helpful for those who suffer from chronic, unrelenting fatigue.

The book is not terrible and may help those with normal fatigue.

Book rating: 3.5 stars

A Room with a View

noreply@blogger.com (E Melander) — Tue, 18 Dec 2018 18:09:00 +0000

A Room with a View by E. M. Forster is a classic. I picked up the book because I liked the movie version with Helen Bonham Carter and Maggie Smith. The book and movie are quite similar, though the book has a bit more depth.

In the story Lucy and her older chaperone, Charlotte, are traveling Europe. In Italy they were expecting a room with a view of the river Arno but are disappointed on arrival that they did not. After much discussion another hotel guest agrees to switch rooms with them. That hotel guest is a very handsome young man that is also a bit of a free spirit. Lucy forms an attachment to him and a romance ensues. As their journey continues to Rome, Lucy meets Cecil, a person who is more serious in life and a more likely life partner.

The story is an allegory, from what I've read. I guess I didn't think all that deeply about it. On the surface the story is a love triangle. It is also a story about a young woman coming into her own as an independent woman who knows her own mind. Regardless, I liked the story and the movie.

Book Rating: 5 stars

The life-changing magic of tidying up

noreply@blogger.com (E Melander) — Thu, 13 Dec 2018 17:54:00 +0000

I read The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo a few years ago. The book took the internet by storm and there were many youtube videos of people applying her principles. The book is mostly text based with a few illustrations.

I suppose we are looking for that magic formula that will help us stay organized and tidy. Perhaps this is why the book is so popular. The book is in two basic parts. The first part is about tidying up. In this there is no real innovation from other organizational books and ideas. Kondo has you declutter in categories. First, it is clothes, then books and papers, and later other areas. She has you select each item as you sort and ask yourself if the item gives you joy. If it doesn't, then you either donate or toss it. She believes each item in your life should bring you joy, not stress and worry. Other organizers do similar things by emptying a room and only adding back things that you really use or need. This part includes specific ways to fold clothing so that it takes up less space and helps prolong their useful life.

The second part is really about habits. One example is that Kondo cleans out her purse at the end of each day so that it does not become a clutter trap. There are also habits that help with sorting mail and kitchen clean up. The point is to create habits which prevent clutter from becoming a problem in the first place.

I liked some of Kondo's suggestions. I applied her suggestions on how to fold and store clothing and it has made a difference, especially with socks. Folding over the tops of socks does shorten the life of the elastic. Instead lay the socks together and fold them in thirds and file them into your sock drawer. Other principles, I just haven't gotten around to applying. If you read other reviews, people struggled with some of the more spiritual aspects of her organizing method. It's hard to thank an inanimate object for their service at the end of each day if you don't believe that object really cares. Still, I can understand an overall sense of gratitude for the things you do have.

Overall, I liked the book and felt it helped motivate me to organize and clean up.

Book Rating: 4 stars

Innovator's Dilemma

noreply@blogger.com (E Melander) — Tue, 11 Dec 2018 17:34:00 +0000

The Innovator's Dilemma is a book about disruptive technologies and how companies either adapted or not. Some companies go out of business because they either failed to recognize a new technology or because they fail to act on a new technology. Other businesses succeed because they do adapt quickly. So what is the dilemma? Company owners and managers have to make decisions about new investments and it can be difficult to know when and how much to invest. It's those decisions that lead to success or failure.

The author, Clayton M. Christensen, examines a few case histories exploring this dilemma. He tries to provide examples and perspective so that company owners can be a bit more aware of their business and new technologies. The most interesting case history was the study on hard drive manufacturers. Moore's law comes into focus and new hard drives became more powerful and smaller. Companies that adapted quickly did well, others did not because they could not see ahead. This case history was interesting to me because I have a fascination with computer history.

Another example was the evolution of the typewriter versus word processing on computers. If I remember correctly, the example compared the actions of IBM to Smith Corona, with IBM eventually coming out on top.

Aside from those two examples, the rest of the book was fairly boring and a bit out of date. I don't feel the book provided all that much help in trying to deal with disruptive technologies. It is a dilemma and the marketplace is constantly changing as new technologies are developed. I'm not sure there is much that can be done to prevent a business from failing. It takes an insightful owner who is willing to risk that a business has a chance of both surviving and succeeding long term.

The books I select for review are books which I personally select from my local library. I do not receive any reimbursement from authors or publishers or free books. I do provide links to Amazon as a convenience to the readers of this blog. I may earn a small referral.

I am number four

noreply@blogger.com (E Melander) — Fri, 07 Dec 2018 03:42:00 +0000

I am number four is a young adult book by Pittacus Lore. The main character is John Smith, a teenager who is trying to keep a low profile. He and several other children escaped their planet to hide out on earth until they can develop their legacies (or powers). Each child has a guardian who protects and hides them. But the bad aliens from their home planet is hunting them down one by one. John Smith is number four, which means three others before him have been found and killed. This is John's story of survival.

I also read book 2 and 3 in the series, The power of six and The Rise of Nine. The books are great action reads. The story is interesting, though a bit predictable like others with similar storylines. (How many kids with special powers/abilities do we really need?). I probably would have finished the series out if the last book had not been checked out when I was ready for it. I kind of lost interest waiting. Still, these would be great stories for reluctant teen boys, and girls seem to like it just as well.

An I am number four movie was made based on the first book and I remember liking it. It didn't seem to get much traction and no other movies have been made.

The books I select for review are books which I personally select from my local library. I do not receive any reimbursement from authors or publishers or free books. I do provide links to Amazon as a convenience to the readers of this blog.

Shattered Dreams

noreply@blogger.com (E Melander) — Wed, 05 Dec 2018 03:26:00 +0000

I have read a few books about the Fundamentalist Mormon groups in Utah. These are groups of people who have split off from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints because they wished to continue practicing polygamy. After the original split, there have been further splits dividing the people and families over differences about leadership and doctrine. One of the more famous, recent groups was led by Warren Jeffs in Colorado City and Hurricane, Utah. Some of these groups also include the Allred's (Salt Lake Valley), Blackmores (in Canada), and the LeBaron's (Mexico). All of these groups are related to each other in some way and each group has had their own difficulties. I find these groups interesting, both in their beliefs and lifestyle. The group I knew least about were the LeBaron's in Mexico. I came across Shattered Dreams : My Life as a Polygamist's Wife by Irene Spencer at the library and had to read it.

Many of the books on this topic are written by women who lived in one of these communities. They usually explain how they were raised, what they were taught to believe, and then the life choices they made. Shattered Dreams is no different, but the story is fascinating. Irene secretly marries her husband Verlan as a second wife as a teenager and is quickly sent to Mexico. There, Irene and her sister wife endure a foreign land, language and a shared husband. They experience extreme poverty as they struggled to eke out a living in one failed farm after another. Pretty soon Irene has children and the stress and strain is palpable, but she never truly waivers in her faith. She is determined to live her beliefs. Then her husband decides to marry again. And again.

Eventually, she does begin to waiver. After the years of extreme poverty, constant moving in Mexico and South America, and multiple sister wives, Irene escapes with her children back to the United States. It's about this time that the religious leadership of her group begins to fracture. Her husband's brother Ervil murdered several people in the name of religion and his hit list included Irene and her family. After Verlan's death, Irene leaves polygamy for good.

The story is both honest and real. It's a bit rough. You question why any woman would willingly choose to live as she did. And yet, you have sympathy for her as she explains why she stayed as long as she did. This book is well worth a read.

Getting to yes

noreply@blogger.com (E Melander) — Wed, 28 Nov 2018 00:31:00 +0000

The version of Getting to Yes by Roger Fisher that I read is a revised and updated version to a book published 30 years ago. This is a self-help book to help you learn how to negotiate without giving in. The main principle of the book is to help you find a win-win solution so everybody is happy.

I read this book a few years ago and I honestly cannot remember all that much about it. It may be worth a re-read. Based on the reviews on Amazon it appears the book is often used as a college text to teach the principles of negotiation. I do vaguely remember thinking the book was very practical. At the end of the day, it may not solve all disagreements, but it probably is useful in many business situations.

Passionate Nutrition

noreply@blogger.com (E Melander) — Fri, 23 Nov 2018 00:18:00 +0000

Passionate Nutrition by Jennifer Adler is part nutrition advice and part memoir. Jennifer Adler shares her personal story and journey which includes malnutrition in childhood and adolescence. As a young adult she studied nutrition in college and she dutifully followed her training for herself and her clients. She sensed that nutrition was a factor in her physical and mental health, but when applying her education and training to herself it did not seem to work. Her personal story is not for the faint of heart. There is a lot of heartache there, but I appreciate her willingness to share her story. It is inspiring and motivating.

Over time, Adler started to get a better sense of herself and food. She broke away from the conventional nutrition and diet advice and started to practice in a different way. She focused on whole foods that are minimally processed, locally grown, and organic. She encourages consuming plenty of healthy fats and bone broth. In other words, she encourages eating a traditional foods diet.

What I like about Adler's approach is her gentle transition to a healthier way of eating. In the traditional foods community it becomes an all or nothing approach. You must immediately change your diet and drop all the bad junk foods. Instead Adler suggests gradually transitioning so that you can observe how you feel and how your body reacts. For example, begin adding a salad to every dinner meal. Next, start reducing some carbs with more vegetables. This approach teaches a person to pay attention to how they are feeling after consuming the foods they eat and to learn how to make healthier choices over time.

Both the memoir and and nutrition advice are well worth the read.

Toxic War : The Story of Agent Orange

noreply@blogger.com (E Melander) — Tue, 20 Nov 2018 23:48:00 +0000

Few books have made me angry when I read them. Toxic War by Peter Sills made me angry because the very topic is so upsetting. Sills examines Agent Orange, a chemical used heavily in the Vietnam War. He explores its origins, manufacture, and use in warfare. He also details the long term health consequences of the soldiers that served and the people of Vietnam.

I had heard about Agent Orange but I didn't really know all that much about it. Agent Orange or dioxin was a chemical that was produced and used in herbicides prior to Vietnam, but not heavily. There were some reports of employees getting sick who had been exposed to the chemical, but these reports were largely buried. You could say that Dupont and Monsanto both manipulated studies to show the chemical was safe for use. But no one, up to that time, had ever used or applied dioxin in the quantities that were needed in Vietnam.

Vietnam presented a logistical challenge to warfare. The enemy could easily hide in the vegetation and disappear. The danger to soldiers was very high. The solution was to remove the vegetation and the easiest way to do it was to spray dioxin. Dioxin was sprayed around all the bases on a monthly basis. The bases had buildings with open windows, so the spray just drifted in. It was sprayed on top of soldiers and civilians in the field. Soldiers bathed in and drank water that had been contaminated. When people talk about a scorched earth, Vietnam became that place. Dioxin does not break down over time, so it contaminates the soil and plants that grow in it.

Despite the environmental damage and exposure, the US government deflected responsibility. They had been told it was safe, so they ran with that story despite mounting evidence it was not. The most heavily exposed soldiers died within months of returning home from bizarre cancers. Children born to these soldiers had odd birth defects. Then the lesser exposed soldiers started developing aggressive cancers as they aged to retirement. So while the government continues to deny responsibility, they now acknowledge it is possible that some veterans are sick because of Agent Orange. There is an official list of cancers that the VA will cover if a soldier served in Vietnam. Aggressive prostate cancer is now one of them as many Vietnam vets are dying of prostate cancer.

This books is well written and a must read.

Adrenal Reset Diet

noreply@blogger.com (E Melander) — Thu, 15 Nov 2018 23:09:00 +0000

Dr. Alan Christianson is a naturopathic physician that has helped people lose weight and rebalance their hormones. The Adrenal Reset Diet is Dr. Christianson's method for healing the adrenals. He has other books and supplements that help reset the thyroid, metabolism, and immune system. His approach includes diet therapy and behavior modification. The diet therapy, if you go all in, includes his own branded shakes and supplements. The book basically supports the sales of the shakes and supplements.

Dr. Christianson's treatment protocol probably does help some people. There is a prevailing theory that adrenal fatigue, or the idea that the adrenals are overworked and are starting to wear out, is a primary cause for weight gain and chronic fatigue. I am not completely convinced that such things find their root cause in the adrenal gland, but his dietary approach and life style changes are worth trying. Can one really "reset" the adrenal gland. Maybe not, but one can heal the body naturally with the right diet and lifestyle changes.

Dr. Christianson does not restrict any particular food macro. His diet allows healthy fats and carbs. It is not a gluten-free or paleo diet. He believes in carb cycling to force the body to lose weight. Based on my own experience and observation, women in particular need to be careful of extremely low-carb diets. I know that when I tried to lower my carbs to 20-30g carbs a day (a Keto diet level) and increase my fat intake I just did not feel well. I'm still low carb compared to many Americans, but not Keto low. Some in the Keto community do a form of carb cycling or carb ups in order to maintain energy levels.

For the lifestyle changes, Dr. Christianson recommends good sleep hygiene and moderate exercise, such as walking or yoga. The last few chapters have a few menu ideas and recipes.

Overall, the book was a "meh" for me. It didn't really add much to other things I have read. I also felt the book overall was light weight on documentation. His clinical experience counts for a lot, but the overall presentation did not inspire me. His suggestions will probably help some people, so it may be worth a read to see if it will be helpful. The recipe section was particularly weak and I think people who follow this diet will look elsewhere pretty quickly for recipe ideas.

The Shadow Lamp

noreply@blogger.com (E Melander) — Tue, 13 Nov 2018 20:58:00 +0000

The Shadow Lamp by Stephen R. Lawhead is the fourth book in the Bright Empires series. I have previously read The Skin Map, The Bone House, and The Spirit Well. So far my favorite of the series is the Bone House. Just to recap,Kit, Mina, Gianni, Cass, Haven, and Giles all travel through time via Ley lines. They use Shadow Lamps to help them detect Ley lines. There is some kind of unknown cosmic link between the shadow lamps, the skin map and the spirit well. Add to the mix, the Zetetic society discovers something that could unravel everything.

I must confess, I read this book quite a while ago and I'm just now getting around to writing up the review. In general, I've liked nearly everything that Stephen R. Lawhead has written. This series confused me with the time travel and Ley lines. It had great adventure and esprit de corps, but it lacked something cohesive. The shifts in time are a little jarring. One minute you are in the Middle Ages Europe, the next, ancient Egypt and then back in modern time. As I said, I really loved the Bone House. For whatever reason, that story has stuck in my head. Large parts of the Bone House take place in one time and location. The Shadow Lamp did not stay in my memory, and so I guess it was a bit forgettable. I can't really remember what the big reveal was with the Zetetic society - I didn't get it the first time either - nor what the deal was between the shadow lamps, skin map, and spirit well.

This series was hit and miss for me. I liked Stephen R. Lawhead's other books so much better.

Have your cake and lose weight too!

noreply@blogger.com (E Melander) — Thu, 08 Nov 2018 21:47:00 +0000

Have your cake and lose weight too is another diet and nutrition book focusing on eating a traditional food diet. Minimally processed, locally grown, in-season, organic foods. Unlike the Nourished Kitchen, this book is more accessible and practical.

In this book DaNelle Wolford breaks down why and how to eat healthier. She states that by eating better you can lose weight. She claims to have lost 35 pounds and cured her chronic illness. Her food suggestions allow fats and carbs in addition to real, whole foods. She doesn't eliminate any particular macro, but suggests moderation. She does recommend that you make choices that are right for you so there is no expectation to blindly follow everything she suggests. I have no doubt that she lost weight and felt better.

In theory, she is right. A better diet will help you lose weight. But what do you do if you follow her advice and still not lose weight? That happened to me. I have been following a variation of a paleo, gluten free diet for a long time and I was gaining weight. With the addition of exercise 4 times a week, the weight should have come off quickly. Needless to say, I was extremely frustrated.

I eventually figured out why I couldn't lose the weight, which was an extremely damaged gut. I made some changes in my supplements while maintaining my modified Paleo diet and the weight came off. I'm sure that my case is not unique. I think DaNelle, despite her chronic illness, was able to lose weight because she was younger and did not have the metabolic problems that many people have. So just a word of caution that your success may or may not happen in the same way.

With that said, her dietary recommendations are worth taking note and trying. Eating a more traditional foods diet will likely help you improve your overall health. I did not try any of the recipes because they were similar to what I was already eating. There is also no cake recipe. Like many other reviewers state, it can be difficult to find and afford grass-fed, pasture raised meat and all organic vegetables. Like anything, just do the best you can.

I read the printed version of the book, which had printing errors. There were several pages that were extremely light and a few pages were smeared. The book is self-published, so a bit of polish would have helped improve the overall quality.

Cedar Cove Series

noreply@blogger.com (E Melander) — Tue, 06 Nov 2018 21:25:00 +0000

I confess, I read the entire Cedar Cove series by Debbie Macomber. I read the first couple of books in the series before I started watching the Hallmark series. I then watched the series and later caught up with the rest of the stories. The tv version was canceled after two seasons and starred Andie McDowell and Dylan Neal. The tv version deviates from the original source material in the story lines, though the character names are the same.

Each book in the series in an address in the small town of Cedar Cove. Olivia Lockhart is a judge and often oversees the towns squabbles much in the same way Andy Taylor did in Mayberry. Jack Griffin is the recently sober journalist trying to rebuild his life after taking over the town's newspaper. Jack becomes the love interest of Olivia. There is a whole cast of characters that show up in the books. Each story focus on a different character with the others weaving in and out of the stories. This story writing style is similar to Macomber's Blossom Street series.

I liked the series for the most part. Macomber is a bit of a guilty pleasure because her stories have a bit of romance without being trashy and interesting characters.

16 Lighthouse Road - introduces many of the characters who show up in later stories. Focuses on Olivia Lockhart and Jack Griffin. Disappearance of Grace's husband Dan.

204 Rosewood Lane - lots of characters and sub plots to keep track of. Story ends on a cliff hanger. Resolution on Grace's husband who disappears.

311 Pelican Court - Rosie and Zach's divorce is finalized and kids get to keep the house. All kinds of fallout from that. Maryellen has her baby and her relationship with Jon Bowman grows. Grace almost makes a serious mistake. Big changes for Olivia and Jack. A bit of mystery surrounding a man who dies at the Thyme and tide.

44 Cranberry Point - the murder at the Thyme and Tide is solved. Grace's relationship with Cliff is rekindled. Olivia and Jack have newlywed problems. The story drags.

50 Harbor Street - Roy the private investigator gets mysterious postcards questioning his past. Grace and Cliff's relationship is back on, and Cliff's assistant, Cal, falls for Linette.

6 Ranier Drive - Justine and Seth lose their restaurant and have to figure out a new future. Cal heads off Montana.

74 Seaside Avenue - Teri Miller who works at the nail salon worries her husband is hiding something. Also her friend Rachel has two love interests.

8 Sandpiper Way - Emily is afraid her husband Dave, the local pastor, is having an affair. Also the sheriff's long lost love moves back to town.

92 Pacific Boulevard - Troy, the sheriff, and Faith break up. Olivia is going through chemo.

1022 Evergreen Place - Mary Jo is in love but worries her ex may sue for custody of their daughter.

1105 Yakima Street - Bruce Peyton's wife is missing, his daughter is giving him trouble, and Olivia's mother is becoming more forgetful.

1225 Christmas Lane - my least favorite book of the series and also the shortest. Nearly everyone is having a disagreement with someone else. One character tries to place homeless puppies and also resolve a marriage conflict. This story focuses on an extremely minor character from the previous books and very few of the other characters show up.

Steelheart

noreply@blogger.com (E Melander) — Thu, 01 Nov 2018 19:56:00 +0000

Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson is a different kind of superhero story. It would be easy to assume that Steelheart is the superhero but instead he is the bad guy. David Charleston is a teen who want to avenge his father's death. His father was killed by Steelheart, a person with the ability to turn things into steel. Because of his ability, he has risen to power because no one can seem to overcome his super power. He reigns as a king in Chicago. David knows Steelheart's weakness, but will it be enough to avenge his father and free people of his tyranny?

Steelheart is book one of the Reckoner's series and Brandon Sanderson's first young adult story. I have not read any other of Brandon Sanderson's books, but he is a good writer. His take on superheros as villains is enough of a twist for people to pick up the story and read something new. But as a young adult story, you can expect to have the typical young adult story elements including romance.

Book Rating : 4 stars, worth a try

What Alice forgot

noreply@blogger.com (E Melander) — Tue, 30 Oct 2018 19:48:00 +0000

In a bizarre accident, Alice comes to on the gym floor with no memory of the last 10 years. From her perspective she is 29 years old, pregnant with her first child and very much in love with her husband. In reality, she is 39 years old with three children and in the process of going through a divorce. As she rediscovers her life, she's not sure she likes what she finds. She has become this high strung, type A personality that plans every detail of her life, and alienating those close to her. Does Alice try to reclaim what she had at age 29, fix what she has age 39 or create a new life?

What Alice Forgot was entertaining with bits of humor as Alice adjusts to what her current life is while dealing with her feelings from the past. I did finish the story, but I left it a bit unsatisfied. Some of the story was predictable and you can see Alice make choices that I did not like. I guess that is part of the journey of any life, and as an observer it is easy to sit on the sidelines and say, don't do it. We all want the happy, Disney ending, but it doesn't always work out that way. I think in Alice's situation, she made the decisions that were right for her.

Maze Runner Series

noreply@blogger.com (E Melander) — Thu, 25 Oct 2018 17:08:00 +0000

The Maze Runner series. I picked up the first book, the Maze Runner, on audio to listen while on a road trip. A kid wakes up in an enclosed environment with other trapped boys and no memory of his previous life. Each day a wall opens up and selected kids run through a mysterious maze hoping to find a way out. Each day, the maze changes and includes dangers from monsters. Each day there are new challenges among the inmates. And then a girl enters the maze as well.

The first story in the series is a take off of the Lord of the Flies. The kids setup a pseudo government with rules and punishments. The maze challenge makes you think of Hunger Games because there are people watching the kids and manipulating them in a contest type situation. Still, the first book has excitement, adventure, and a bit of a mystery. Worth the time to read it.

The series begins to crumble with the second book, The Scorch Trials. The second book of the Hunger Games lacked in the story department too, so not really a surprise. The Scorch Trials is a bridge to the third book. The kids have to traverse a desert landscape in hopes of arriving at the last "safe" city where people who are immune to the plague live. It's not entirely clear why they must do this, but that is the power center of the remaining healthy humans. They lose a few companions and some become infected by the plague. I found the second book boring, tedious, and rather predictable.

The Death Cure is exactly that. The kids search for a cure for the plague to save one of their own in the city. There are underground movements of people trying to gain safety, others looking for revenge. In the midst of this, will the one person who can save the entire world do so or will he let the corrupt government implode on itself. The ending was better than I expected, though some readers will be disappointed.

I also watched the movie trilogy. Like the books, the second movie was boring and a bit annoying and a bridge to the third. In some scenes you can tell when the director said action and the actors start to run. The first move was great. The third was better than I expected.

The Nourished Kitchen

noreply@blogger.com (E Melander) — Tue, 23 Oct 2018 16:38:00 +0000

The movement to a whole foods, minimally processed diet is a well-needed food trend. The more I have read about food and nutrition, the more and more apparent it becomes that many of our modern health ailments are because of poor nutrition and diet. What does it take to give up our convenient foods and eat only locally grown, in-season, organic foods?

The Nourished Kitchen by Jennifer McGruther is perhaps one approach. The book is beautiful with lots of full color pictures. The book is mostly a recipe book, but there is some discussion on her philosophy of food. In some ways I would consider McGruther a food purist in which she searches for food that is as close to the farm as your own backyard. It's the idea that you know the farmer and how he raised or grew your food before you purchased it. In some cases you even do it yourself.

In an idealized world, we would be able to do all of this. The reality is that many of us are not close enough to a farm or a farmer to really know. We could make some efforts by shopping only at farmer's markets, but even that can be difficult. It's not to say that many of us are unwilling to trade our convenient life, but those who live in large cities there are many challenges to sourcing this kind of food. Even for me living in a rural area, it's not so easy to find certain foods directly from a farmer or to even grow certain foods. For example, I can only grow lettuce a certain part of the year and it is nearly impossible to grow peaches due to the elevation of my area. At the end of the day, we can only do the best we can to achieve such a lifestyle. In other words, I felt a bit of guilt that I couldn't achieve such food purism from reading her book.

Many recipes in the book call for "exotic" ingredients that may be difficult for the average person to obtain, like real lard direct from the farmer without any pasteurization or processing. Some recipes have no pictures and call for ingredients I've never heard of or have never seen. Some recipes could use some extra instruction, such as step-by-step pictures of the process. The recipes may be simple, but for newbies more instruction would be better.

The book is inspiring, I just wish it had a bit more practicality for the rest of us.

Real food fermentation

noreply@blogger.com (E Melander) — Tue, 13 Mar 2018 01:43:00 +0000

Preserving food through fermentation is a lost art in our modern society, but there has been a resurgence in the craft in recent years. People are looking for ways to improve their health through better food choices. You can find fermented foods in grocery stores but selection and quality will vary. Most likely the traditionally fermented foods found on grocery store shelves have been pasteurized rendering their health benefits null and void. This is especially true of sauerkraut and pickles. If you can find fermented, unpasteurized foods at the grocery store in the refrigerated section, the cost will shock you.

That is where books like Real Food Fermentationby Alex Lewin step in. Lewin provides recipes and step-by-step directions on how to ferment food on your own. It's always best to start with a proven recipe and method before experimenting because of food safety. Lewin does give guidelines on food safety and equipment. Thankfully, most equipment is pretty basic.

I did try my hand at making my own sauerkraut. Despite the instructions in the book, I also viewed YouTube videos and researched other recipes before trying it on my own. It was easier than I expected and also much tastier than any version purchased at the grocery store. The cost was significantly less, but then again there is a two week delay (minimum) before you can taste test.

The book is a handy guide for anyone wanting to try food fermentation. I will admit I only tried the sauerkraut. The other recipes didn't interest me and Kombucha seemed a bit scary - only because of the risk of brewing alcohol. The book is heavily illustrated with lots of full color pictures. All in all, a good book for beginners.

Book rating: 5 stars

The books I select for review are books which I personally select from my local library. I do not receive any reimbursement from authors or publishers or free books. I do provide links to Amazon as a convenience to the readers of this blog. I do earn a small referral pittance which is not even enough to buy a soda.