NON-FICTION
I have never delved much further into the Romanovs than what we covered in AP European History, Anastasia, and assorted documentaries. Hearing the story from the sisters' perspective, "the most photographed and talk about young royals of the early twentieth century," was an especially engrossing and disheartening one. Reading historical works where you know the ending, but don't know everything that happens along the way is sometimes frustrating, but ultimately rewarding.
The Romanovs: The Final Chapter by Robert K. Massie
After finishing The Romanov Sisters, I almost immediately dove into The Romanovs, which covers what happens after the executions (and is as intriguing as their lives). I had previous read Massie's Catherine the Great and Peter the Great, and found his writing to be as compelling and clear as in previous reads.
Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood, and the Prison of Belief by Lawrence Wright
I read this book when it was released in 2013 and thought it was worth revisiting after reading Russell Miller's Bare-Faced Messiah, the ultimate Hubbard biography. I think both books are worth reading, but if you absolutely must limit yourself to one book on Scientology, I'd read Wright's, if only to hear what has happened since Miller's book was released in 1987 (so a lot).
Sex Object by Jessica Valenti
I have read and appreciated much of Valenti's short form work and have had this and her earlier The Purity Myth on my to read list for some time. It's an uncomfortable read (as many unflinching memoirs are), but one that I think is worth it.
Text Me When You Get Home: The Evolution and Triumph of Modern Female Friendship by Kayleen Schaefer
I was probably more excited about the premise of this book (celebrating lady friends! A whole section on Galentine's Day!) than the reality was going to deliver, and though I think it is a good book, I was ultimately a little underwhelmed. Schaefer brings together the work of a lot of authors I admire, but made me wish I was re-reading the books she references instead of the one I was reading. If one were to chose between this and Rebecca Traister's All the Single Ladies, which also celebrates women friends, I'd go with Traister.
Speaking of Rebecca Traister, I'm so looking forward to her new book (release date: Tuesday!), Good and Mad: The Revolutionary Power of Women's Anger. Who could have predicted the RAGE immediately preceding the release of such a book.
FICTION
I read the entire Harry Potter series again, but made no progress on my Penguin Drop Cap Challenge. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Something in the Water by Catherine Steadman
This book was first described to me as the next Gone Girl or Girl on the Train, which I understand the comparison, but think this is something quite different. The first chapter is masterful; the rest of the book is good, but doesn't quite live up to the high bar of introduction. I like to like the protagonists of books, which I understand isn't always possible or probable, but that is often the first thing I think of when considering if I liked the book or not. This is a limitation on my part as a reader. I do recommend this if you enjoy thrillers and suspenseful stories.
Austenland by Shannon Hale
I read this book many years ago (probably pretty soon after it came out in 2007) and recently watched the movie for the first time (how I'm just now seeing a movie with Keri Russell and Bret McKenzie is a question for another day) and piqued my interest to revisit the book. As far as Austen spin-offs go, it's a pretty cute one. Not the best, not the worst.
Emma by Jane Austen
Sense & Sensibility by Jane Austen
This marks the second reading of both of these this year. I would not have revisited them so quickly had I not wanted to listen to Audible's new versions. Rosamund Pike narrates Sense and Sensibility and matches the excellent performance she previous gave to Pride & Prejudice. This new version of Emma is "An Audible Original Drama," featuring Emma Thompson (narrator) and Joanne Froggatt (Mrs. Weston). I'm not always a fan of dramatized audiobooks vs. traditionally narrated ones (why so much music?), but this one is pretty good. It does have music at the end and beginning of every chapter, which I hate.
Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon
I have read the early Outlander books several times at this point and started thinking about re-reading Drums of Autumn before the fourth season of the TV show starts in November. But why just re-read #4 when you can re-read them all? Exactly.
I find re-reading series to be a comfort when the outside world fills one with anxiety (and fury). Just as I've already escaped to the magical world twice this year, I find Claire's overly dramatic life to be a comfort.
CANNING/COOKBOOKS
One-Pan Wonders: Fuss-Free Meals for Your Sheet Pan, Dutch Oven, Skillet, Roasting Pan, Casserole, and Slow Cooker by America's Test Kitchen
I am probably getting close to having too many ATK cookbooks, but I'm not there just yet. A legitimate criticism of many ATK recipes is their fussiness and that they require SO MANY bowls, utensils, pots, etc. As someone who preps mise en place about 98% of the time (and has a dishwasher. And nothing gets the kitchen messier than canning), I am less concerned about getting everything in sight messy, but some days ... I'd like a more streamlined process. This is a good book to pick up for those days.
Sous Vide for Everybody: The Easy Foolproof Cooking Technique That's Sweeping the World by America's Test Kitchen
I snagged a ChefSteps Joule Sous Vide for $119 on Prime Day and though I was pleased with the recipes available on the Joule's app, I was looking forward to this book's release. I have an Instant Pot, but have never been an super IP fan. I am ALL in with sous vide. I've long been hesitant to try expensive cuts of meat that I love, but didn't want to mess up. Sous vide takes the guess work out, and we've eaten a lot of steak and scallops in the last two months. Hooray. I also recently got a kitchen blow torch, so we'll be enjoying sous vide creme brûlée very soon.
Modern Pressure Canning: Recipes and Techniques for Today's Home Canner by Amelia Jeanroy
I pre-ordered this book a few months before its release because I've wanted to delve into pressure canning, but have been hesitant (the risks feel MUCH higher than water bath canning). It provides a good overview, equipment recommendations, and recipes. I expect to refer back to it often. I was surprised, however, to see so many recipes that I've been making utilizing water bath canning (pickles, peaches, cranberries). I'm not sure I see the point of pressure canning things that are safe for water bath canning. The book may be worth the price simply for the bacon jam recipe.
The Complete Guide to Pressure Canning: Everything You Need to Know to Can Meats, Vegetables, Meals in a Jar, and More by Diane Devereaux
This pressure canning book had the small misfortune of being released shortly after Modern Pressure Canning. Had it been the first dedicated pressure canning cookbook I had read, I probably would have been super impressed.
Preserving with Pomona's Pectin: The Revolutionary Low-Sugar, High-Flavor Method for Crafting and Canning Jams, Jellies, Conserves, and More by Allison Carroll Duffy
I got this book a little late in the season to fully utilize it this year, but hope to use it more next year.
Preserving by the Pint: Quick Seasonal Canning for Small Spaces by Marisa McClellan
I hesitated getting this book because a) I'm really not lacking for space and b) canning is a lot of work, so I prefer to get larger yields out of my effort. However, I really enjoyed the recipes in McClellan's other two books and figured I could double (or more) recipes than the yield felt too skimpy. I think this is a good starter for folks who'd like to dip their toes into canning and/or have limited space (hello New York friends!). I also really like that the recipes are organized seasonally. If you are new to preservation, it's especially helpful to know when items are fresh and easy to get.
WECK Small-Batch Preserving: Year-Round Recipes for Canning, Fermenting, Pickling, and More by Stephanie Thurrow
I have not tried using Weck jars yet (they are expensive!), but this book was $1.99 on Kindle, and I was curious. The book is aesthetically very pleasing, but nothing jumped out or inspired me to run out and get new jars. For folks who love Weck, this will be a great resource, but this is a book I think I can live without.
