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The Little Paris Bookshop Review

September 2, 2015 by Pechluck 11 Comments

My The Little Paris Bookshop review can be summed up with the following 5 points.

This book will make you fall in love with prose again. There are many books that tell a story and it is the characters and the events that are the main attraction. The words on the page or screen are there to help communicate and serve those attractions. The author of the Little Paris bookshop, Nina George, has a way of putting together phrases and sentences that you will enjoy reading a second or third or fourth time, even though you already have the message, because of how poetically it is stated.
Nina is adept at discerning the great range of complex emotions we live through. I love that she distinguishes and names these throughout the book via the main character Perdu. Like her protagonist, it seems Nina also wants to treat them. Perdu mentions a few of them early on –

“The feeling that washes over you when another summer nears its end. Or when you recognize that you haven’t got your whole life left to find out where you belong.”

Through various characters in the book, you will explore and feel various levels of peace, sadness, yearning, being disturbed, companionship and more with her keen observations. Even though you may not be in the exact same situation as those characters, the way she writes about them resonates within that makes you remember and contemplate yourself.
The character and idea of this type of bookshop will make you want to visit small bookshops and wish you could find this type of bookseller who has such breadth and depth of knowledge of books that they can help you find the book for your needs. A thread that runs throughout is that books that can not only transport away from your life for a little while, but can also fill in holes in your life that are empty, even if you don’t know it, and can make you a better person. You may start questioning the types of books you normally have been choosing and now have the yearning to find these other types of books that are soul enrichment, not just entertainment or self-help/skill teaching. Now where can I find a book doctor like Perdu?

“A book is both medic and medicine at once. It makes a diagnosis as well as offering therapy.”

“He calls books freedoms. And homes too. they preserve all the good words we so seldom use.”
Don’t be surprised if after reading this book you feel like taking a vacation to France, or at least spend some time in a small town by a river. Although the book title names Paris, at one point in the book you begin a journey through the south of France. Since I was not familiar with many of the places named, I did a Google Image search out of curiosity as I was reading. You will not be sorry if you follow my lead and I highly recommend doing this as you read. She really picked some incredibly breathtaking places, and seeing the photos helps you appreciate the journey and how the environment contributed as an important character itself to the story.
You will want to eat some French food. First of all, they mention warm buttery croissants and fresh baguettes a lot. There are other important meals as well, varying from poaching fish in a pan while talking with a loved one and just eating it from the pan with wine, risotto with red wine on a boat (or somehow al fresco) under the stars, bohémienne de legumes and lamb cutlets with garlic flan or lavender ice cream (thankfully these are included as recipes at the back of the book), scrambled eggs with truffles, mussels in a herb and cream sauce with a view of the ocean. This isn’t a book about food. But, as seems truthful and honest, when you are traveling there will be some strong memories of moments that do involve food – and that happens in the book.

There are a couple small things that bother me about the book. For instance, how the various characters logistically afforded the lives that they lead in the book. I found the Manon Travel Diary sections sometimes too overwrought, which as a personal diary I can forgive a little but the entries ran long. It also made it harder for me to understand why Manon is held on such a high pedestal – it was one of those typical people describing a character as incredible but now showing how she deserved the praise. But, I forgave these flaws because the positives that I mentioned in my 5 points made this book more than worth the read.

If you haven’t read it yet, don’t forget to have a good croissant source in mind – I tell you, you will be craving some with coffee as you are reading passages, and this craving will repeat more than a couple times.

Have you read The Little Paris Bookshop, and if so what did you think? If you haven’t, does it sound like something you would put on your book list as a to read, why or why not? And where do you get your favorite croissant (my current faves are Gabriel’s Bakery’s cheese croissants found at the Farmer’s Market, and Nuvrei Bakery which is what is pictured above)?

Disclosure: This book was provided to me as part of the Blogging for Books program, but I will always provide my honest opinion and assessment of all products and experiences I may be given. The views and opinions expressed in this blog are entirely my own.

Filed Under: Book Review, Sponsored Post Tagged With: #bloggingforbooks, Blogging for Books, book review, Nina George, Review of Little Paris Workshop, The Little Paris Bookshop

Book Review of The Fold by Peter Clines

July 26, 2015 by Pechluck Leave a Comment

The Fold, by Peter Clines, does a good job immediately from the first chapter of plunking you immediately into the feeling of something is off and not right. The story admirably carries that unexplained feeling through 2/3 of the book (about 200 pages) as you try to understand what is going on and endeavor to find the explanation of why something is not right along with the protagonist.

This is likely what will keep you turning the pages and make it hard to put this book down- you will get caught up wanting to know the answer as well. The clues are sprinkled in ways that you will likely put it together around the same time he does, and thankfully does not wait until the end with some twist ending.

Instead, the surprise for me is that the last 1/3 of the book turns into more of an action thriller. This part I had a harder time following as I read then the first 2/3 as it relies on translating the words into action scenes in your head, so I probably missed some details and can only hope someone DOES turn this into a movie.

Though there is a little science involved, it is explained in a way that an everyday person can understand. Thankfully the main character, although stretching a bit with his eidetic memory that automatically gives him a mini super power, is also very relatable in that he is an English high school teacher. You can follow his viewpoint and his understanding of the science well since they use comparisons to more common real world things.

In many ways it reminds me of Jurassic Park in setting up a fascinating science premise but focused less on the science that the JP books, though science is a foundation. The trade of the science speak in the book is to focus more on setting up intelligent, quirky, but believable people and the way they act towards each other where the science does not overshadow people (which in that way, reminded me of Interstellar). The main character also is a bit reminiscent of Sherlock Holmes but without the awkward social skills – and this is intentional.

Sprinkles of humor from current culture like Star Trek, Game of Thrones, mentions of Simpsons, Looney Toons, etc. make the characters seem real, and each one comes across as very intelligent, yet individual with their specific quirks. And the premise is fantastic – the wonder of a possibly life altering scientific breakthrough, being dropped into a new situation with a team where you are trying to figure out what the heck is going on and you are the odd man out… All of that engages you right along into the story. I don’t want to give away too much as the journey is the fun of the book.

A really fun rainy day read, I would recommend it for high school and up (there is a little bit of foul language).

Filed Under: Book Review, Sponsored Post Tagged With: #bloggingforbooks, Blogging for Books, book review, Peter Clines, Review of The Fold, The Fold, The Fold Review

Seven Spoons Review

June 9, 2015 by Pechluck Leave a Comment

As I would expect from a book that is written by a food blogger (the food blog Seven Spoons, written by Tara O’Brady), there are lots of gorgeous photos in the newly released cookbook of the same name, Seven Spoons. I mean, just look at the book cover.

So gorgeous that even though I may not have thought much of a recipe title (such as Savory Steel-Cut Oats with Cheese and Spinach), the recipe was immediately bookmarked when I saw the picture. I mean, Oats… normally I would have paged by as I skimmed through the book the first time, were it not for this drool-worthy photo that suddenly changed my perspective on oats.

Yes, many photos alone made me want to make the recipes included in this book. I wish there could have been photographs included with all the recipes. The way she writes the recipes is very conversational and chatty as if you are friends with her and cooking together in the kitchen. This is wonderful in how personal each recipe is. But it does also mean a lot of reading of the intro sometimes to get to the heart of why she loves this recipe or why you should make it – something each of her photos just cuts to the chase to in it’s stunning beauty.

The recipes Tara lists are diverse and take cues from lots of different cuisines – Roasted Carrots with Harissa Aïoli and Dukkah, Indian with Chaat Tostadas, Vietnamese Coffee Ice Cream, Bee-Stung Fried Chicken, Huevos a la Plaza de Mercado and more which I really appreciate.

There is a whole section at the beginning just on bread! I would have never considered making my own bread that doesn’t involve my breadmaker, but the photo was really trying to convince me otherwise.
Seeded Boule recipe from the book Seven Spoons by Tara O'Brady

The variety in Seven Spoons means the recipes are both new takes on the familiar, but also offer things completely foreign to explore (such as below Coconut Kheer with Bronzed Pineapple and Halloumi in Chermoula (a Greek cheese enjoyed fried golden with Northern African dressing).
Halloumi in Chermoula recipe from the book Seven Spoons by Tara O'Brady

However, then some of the recipes call for specialty ingredients that I’m not sure I would use very often, and there are some recipes that sound amazing but then have a recipe list of 30 some items (such as Vietnamese-Inspired Sausage Rolls) and several pages worth of steps. Other recipes are only a page and a handful of ingredients – so it is a mix of levels. You have to really read each recipe through, and with no numbered steps you have to mentally break it up yourself.

Something like her recipe Mushrooms and Greens with Toast she explains that the measurements don’t have to be exact and can use a variety of possible vegetables from greens to squash, and can be any cheese. In homey fashion, she even advocates tearing the mushrooms by hand rather than slicing it. Very easy.

Others, like her Burger Treated Like A Steak she goes into the detail of the percent fat of the beef and thickness and width of the patty down to a divot in the center to compensate for swelling as the burger cooks and temperature before resting.
A Burger Treated Like a Steak recipe from the book Seven Spoons by Tara O'Brady

Then there is a recipe like Chia Pudding with Fruit and Golden Honey Elixir seems simple, but involves making Golden Honey Elixir (a recipe on another page) and after mixing the Chia Pudding letting it chill overnight.

Still, I think this is a great book to have in the kitchen to get a bit more variety of food to create in the kitchen, and there are several that I think will become staples for me thanks to her great taste of adding a bit more flavors or textures to make an otherwise normal dish extraordinary (such as the tip about using mayo for Cheese-Fried Toast Soldiers, and variations of peanut butter like Vanilla Espresso Walnut Butter). It seems that all of these recipes have been tested to be truly tasty, and so it’s up to you as the cook to decide what you want to invest in.

Filed Under: Book Review, Sponsored Post Tagged With: #bloggingforbooks, Blogging for Books, book review, Burger Treated Like A Steak, Chia Pudding with Fruit and Golden Honey Elixir, Coconut Kheer with Bronzed Pineapple, cookbook review, Halloumi in Chermoula, Mushrooms and Greens with Toast, Savory Steel-Cut Oats with Cheese and Spinach, Seven Spoons Review, Sponsored, Tara O'Brady

Review of Food: A Love Story

June 1, 2015 by Pechluck 4 Comments

I got a bit busy the first quarter of 2015, so temporarily dropped out of my online book club the Kitchen Reader (plus I was reading some books for Blogging for Books). But, I’m back with the book club this month of May, especially as I had a hand in suggesting the book for May 2015 (well, one of 3 people who wanted to read the book! For May we have the Book Club Review of Food: A Love Story by Jim Gaffigan (chosen by Vicki of I’d Rather Be At The Beach, Stephanie of Kitchen Frolic, and myself)

The reason why I think Food: A Love Story appealed to so many of us is that it’s a book about food from a stand-up comedian, and how often do you read a book about food that is amusing because it pokes fun while loving food? Jim admits he doesn’t really have any qualifications as a food writer. He has no background in professional cooking or working in the industry, he even shys away from calling himself a foodie because he doesn’t go on culinary escapades or seek out new restaurants or interesting dishes.

Instead, he calls himself an “Eatie”. He admits he doesn’t research food destinations in determining where to eat when he travels – he just asks for recommendations from locals and hopes for the best. At the same time though, he also admits that he often finds himself thinking about he will eat while in the midst of eating.

He thinks the best food adviser is someone

“pudgy or just a little overweight. This makes it clear they have a somewhat unhealthy relationship with food, but not a clinical problem. They are eating beyond feeling full. Sure, I am describing my own body type, but that’s why I am qualified to write this book about food. What other credentials do you need, really? Stop being a snob. Read the book already.”

If that introduction to himself isn’t enough to charm you, let me also state you should read his book especially because while he humbly says he is just an every man of regular food, Jim is humorously observant and insightful at recognizing how food makes people feel while also making fun of food culture and how food is so intertwined in our lives.

For instance, he observes in the chapter Proud American

“There are many elements that make up the American attitude towards food, but some are consistent. There always seems to be dissatisfaction with, and constant need to improve upon, the status quo of food. Americans are never satisfied when it comes to a food item… It’s the new American Manifest Destiny. We are the ones who for some reason needed a potato chip that tastes like steak and Jim Beam Jalapeno-flavored sunflower seeds.”

Ruffles Deep Ridged Classic Hot Wings inspired by Buffalo Wild Wings Lays Cheddar Bacon Mac & Cheese chips

Or, about our attitudes towards all you can eat buffets:

“If the buffet is twenty bucks, you must eat at least twenty dollars’ worth of food. If you eat more food, you make money right?… When I approach a buffet, aside from seeing it as a challenge, there is a compliant part of me that hears ‘all you can eat’ and says ‘Okay, I will try my best, I don’t want to let you down, buffet’.”

Gala buffet at midnight on Thursday (Day 6 of cruise) on Royal Caribbean Grandeur of the Seas.

There are 60 some chapters in this book, which is about 300 pages long, so each chapter is at most only a handful of pages, which is great for flipping through to read chapters in any order you want before bedtime, on a plane, on the beach, under the trees digesting between plates at a picnic at the park, maybe a lunch break… And, it could be a great book to listen to while driving as well because of the short nature of the chapter.

Each chapter is very conversational and storytelling in tone, and you will often find yourself smiling, maybe even laughing. Pretty much what you would expect listening to a stand up comedian, but you are reading instead. Each chapter is a fun, easy read and you will probably find yourself reading several chapters in a sitting.

That said, this is not the kind of book that you just read straight through – it is better to get doses at a time. For instance, you might find several chapters in a row about being fat, and several about general unhealthy eating, and then several on types of specific food item (steak, pizza, hot dogs, reubens, gyros, cheeseburgers, fries, vegetables, fruits, bottled water, bacon, cheese, ketchup, cake, etc. He is very thorough, haha!), then various types of dining experiences from restaurants, fast food, food courts to food delivery.

It’s like each chapter is a segment of a stand up show and depending on the audience reaction he either keeps riffing on it or moves on to a new topic. Depending on your feelings about a topic some may work with you – some may not – just give another chapter a try. It’s just finding that one comment or observation to get you to crack a smile.

My favorite chapters when I read the book were

The Buffet Rule
Not Slim Jim
The Geography of American Food, plus the ensuing chapters that explore each of those regions
Salad Days
The Cheeseburger – America’s Sweetheart
Museum of Food
The Royal Treatment
My Longtime Companion
Looking for Mr. Goodburger
Breakfast: A Reason to Get Out of Bed
The Bagel: My Everything

What do you think of Jim’s definition of foodie and eatie? What do you think defines a foodie, and do you identify with being a foodie or not? Would you call yourself an eatie? How would you identify yourself in terms of food?

If you are interested in Kitchen Reader check out the link!The gist of our casual online book club is there is a new book selected for every month. Each book is related to food, and members write a review on their blog during the last week of that month. It’s interesting to read the round-up of reviews at the beginning of the month and see what other members have thought of the same book.

The next books in our list are:

June 2015: The Third Plate: Field Notes on the Future of Food by Dan Barber (chosen by Melissa of Melos bookshelf and Emily of Highly Social Media)
July 2015: Delicious: A Novel by Ruth Reichl (chosen by Amanda of Omar Niode Foundation and also myself)

Filed Under: Book Review, Food and Drink Tagged With: book club, book review, book summary, Food: A Love Story, Food: A Love Story by Jim Gaffigan, Jim Gaffigan, Kitchen Reader

Review of Rejection Proof

May 2, 2015 by Pechluck 4 Comments

Jia Jiang, at 30 years old, took a large risk with his career and life. As it built up to an important question where he needed help, he asked – and was rejected. This shook him to his very core enough to give up. Fortunately, instead he tries to Google how to handle rejection, and from there, he decided to steel himself to rejection by seeking rejection 100 times. This book, Rejection Proof: How I Beat Fear and Became Invincible Through 100 Days of Rejection, is the autobiography of the journey through those 100 rejections. As it turns out, it’s about more than just asking for things and hearing nos.

With his easy going, simple writing style, Jia walks through each ask and rejection, recording it on his (camouflaged) smartphone for his video blog. Watching the videos himself, Jia begins to think more carefully about rejection not just being about getting used the feeling of rejection, but also pro-actively managing the fear, managing the requests in a way that can turn initial rejections to yes, and understanding why rejection hurts and has effects on our self-confidence and our actions so much.

It is not a project about developing a callous towards rejection through repetition, instead it grows into a project about overcoming fear and understanding yourself and others.

The chapters are fast reads, as Jia is very open with explaining his motivations. He is honest and straightforward, and does not hold back on sharing the emotional roller coaster that happens before, during, and after each attempt. This makes him a very like-able, approachable every day guy voice as we read the book.

More importantly, Jia is very insightful as he thinks carefully about each time he asks whether he gets a no or a yes. He strives to understand the why of the answer he received and why the experience turned out a certain way on both sides of the ask. That is what makes this book engaging, rather than just a diary of stories of asking for things that get more far-fetched as he goes.

As a self-help book, Rejection Proof works because he has already done the legwork for you through repeating opportunities for rejection, striving to learn from each one and then sharing those lessons with us as the readers so we can go along for the ride of asking without the risk ourselves. His advice is practical and specific, and he purposely notes that the general advice of “pick yourself up and get over it” is completely not sufficient and trivializes how heartbreaking and gut-wrenching rejection feels, and why it hurts more and how it is different then failure.

Becoming rejection proof, it turns out, can be helped by becoming de-sensitized to it, but there are many other factors to think about. He treats rejection as an equation that includes the before a request, tips on making the initial request, approaches on the conversation after the request, and dealing with the fear before and the hurt after. He includes both sides – the person asking and the person being asked – to also help us understand the factors that can influence the results, and what parts are outside our control – and what parts we can control.

Rejection Proof: How I Beat Fear and Became Invincible Through 100 Days of Rejection, by Jia Jiang

Some of the information he goes through are simple – explaining the request can help the rejection process. It may turn the answer to a yes, but even when it doesn’t, it could provide explanations that soften the rejection, or can lead to a referral that turns into a yes. Other information he shares are pivots that we may not think or realize in thinking about asking for something – and they are mind-sets that can help turn what we think are nos into yes!

For instance Jia explains that arguing turns the conversation into one of contention, and ends up with both parties feeling upset. Instead, Jia talks about being open-minded enough to collaborate to still reach your end goal, but perhaps not in the way you initially thought. He also talks about thinking about not just your own needs, but the other person’s needs. He explains the difference between retreating versus running. He gives examples and stories for every point.

This is an easy read that anyone can learn some lessons from to improve their life. We all go through rejection in our every day interactions. They may be big ones like asking for a raise but being afraid to ask, or stressing over asking for a certain favor from a friend. They may be little ones you may not even think of as rejections, like noticing you aren’t getting an advertised sale price or good or service to your satisfaction. They may be actual conversations where you ask – or worse, conversations that you don’t have because the fear of rejection subconsciously stops you from even asking.

All these interactions are about understanding what is it that you need from someone else and actively reaching out to communicate to see whether you can get what you want. With this book, you can get some thoughts on things you can do that can turn what you think is a no, or might initially be a no, into a yes. And, even if the answer turns out to be a no, reading this book can make every rejection less painful through understanding and seeing it in the larger perspective that Jia shares.

Filed Under: Book Review, Sponsored Post Tagged With: #bloggingforbooks, Blogging for Books, book review, Jia Jiang, Rejection Proof, Rejection Proof: How I Beat Fear and Became Invincible Through 100 Days of Rejection

The Little Paris Bookshop Review

Book Review of The Fold by Peter Clines

Seven Spoons Review

Review of Food: A Love Story

Review of Rejection Proof

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