Library Loot

Library Loot is a weekly event co-hosted by Claire from The Captive Reader and me that encourages bloggers to share the books they’ve checked out from the library. If you’d like to participate, just write up your post-feel free to steal the button-and link it using the Mr. Linky any time during the week. And of course check out what other participants are getting from their libraries.

People of The Book

My coworker raved about People of The Book. Actually she raved about Brooks so I foresee more of her books in my future. 

Problems

This one came recommended from Goodreads based on other books I read. 

The Runaway Pastor's Wife

This was recommended by a friend. 

What did you get this week? Claire's got the linky this week.

Shiro: Wit, Wisdom & Recipes by Shiro Kashiba

I've been lucky enough to eat at Shiro's twice. So when I saw his memoir, I had to pick it up. Shiro is a sushi legend in Seattle. I was excited to learn more about Shiro and hear about how he became a sushi chef. I enjoyed learning about Shiro's life in Japan and how he came to America. This was in the late 60's and early 70's. There was no internet and sushi shops weren't as popular so Shiro had to rely on a friend who was backpacking through the US to help him find Japanese restaurants that he might work in. Then he wrote letters to those restaurants asking for a job. It took a long time for him to find someone who was willing to give him a job but he found a restaurant in Seattle that was willing to take a chance on him.

There are some recipes in the back. I wanted to make a few of the recipes but I read the book over Thanksgiving and didn't have a chance. But the Sole Shioyaki and Poke Belltown looked really good. I can't wait to try his new place, Sushi Kashiba. Others who shared their thoughts on Shiro: The Matterhorn Review, Mode Nook, and The Oxen of The Sun.
This fourth read for the Foodies Read Challenge.

We Came All The Way From Cuba So You Could Dress Like This? by Achy Obejas

I found We Came All The Way From Cuba So You Could Dress Like This? on a list of books about LGBTQ and POC. Obejas' book definitely discusses the intersectionality of both. The stories are all touching, some humorous, some sad.

Each story is so different but most of the stories are focused on a gay or lesbian character. Sometimes about their lovers, sometimes about their health, about their families. The nationality of the person also plays a large part, most of the characters are Latinx. The stories don't all follow the same characters. Some stories are about men, and some women. Obejas doesn't shy away from talking about AIDS. I could this book wasn't written recently because I almost never hear about AIDS anymore in the United States. I'm sure it's still happening but it's not getting the press it once did. But Obejas' stories about AIDS were moving and real. In fact all of her writing was real. She talked about everything like she's been there.

I really enjoyed We Came All The Way From Cuba So You Could Dress Like This? I couldn't find any reviews about this book from independent bloggers. It seems like a lot of college courses have this book on their syllabi. I hope more people read it.
We Came All The Way From Cuba So You Could Dress Like This? fulfilled the country category for the What's In A Name Challenge.

Library Loot

Library Loot is a weekly event co-hosted by Claire from The Captive Reader and me that encourages bloggers to share the books they’ve checked out from the library. If you’d like to participate, just write up your post-feel free to steal the button-and link it using the Mr. Linky any time during the week. And of course check out what other participants are getting from their libraries.

Rose & Thorn

The sequel to Ash & Bramble. I really enjoyed Ash & Bramble. I look forward to this one.

Better Than Before

I liked The Happiness Project. I'm interested to see what I can learn in this one.

Holding Up The Universe

Another one I'm looking forward to.

What did you get this week? Share your loot below!

Lab Girl by Hope Jahren

I heard a lot of good things about Lab Girl. I'm always looking for engaging non-fiction. Jahren delivers.

We start when Jahren is finishing her dissertation. She's determined to open her own lab. It's in the last days as a student that she meets Bill, who becomes her best friend and lifelong lab partner. Hope finds a college where she and Bill can open a lab and start working. For most of the book, Hope must continue to find funding to support their work. Sometimes she's able to find enough, sometimes they must steal from other departments to continue working. All this happens while Hope deals with bipolar disorder. While some memoirs gloss over the hard parts, Jahren doesn't sugar coat anything. I appreciated her straight forwardness about her illness, about how difficult it is to be a scientist, and how trees and plants are dying at rapid rates thanks to humans. The science lost me at times but the story was so engaging, I just kept reading. Reminded me of The Martian.

Lab Girl is a great read for anyone even if you aren't interested in science. Science and the information about trees was important and facinating but Jahren's personal story was just as important. Others who shared their thoughts on Lab Girl: The World's Best Gardening Blog, Lost In A Great Book, and Some Beans.

Another Brooklyn by Jacqueline Woodson

This is the third Woodson book I've read this year. I keep gobbling up her books. They are so beautiful, unlike others I've read. Woodson is talking about this world, our world, and being brown in it. I look forward to more of her books.

August was living in Tennessee until her father moved her and her brother to Brooklyn. It's the 1970's. August is becoming a women, trapped between girlhood and adulthood. Although I was born later, I remember that in between stage. Being pushed towards adulthood while clinging to childhood. Not understanding what you are feeling but wanting to feel more, not wanting to feel at all. Woodson captures this all in such an amazing way.

Another Brooklyn is one of those books you don't want to end. Woodson has an amazing talent. I highly recommend picking up one of her books. This one if you can. It will transport you to 1970's Brooklyn. Make you feel young and old at the same time. Give you understanding and take it away. Amazing and beautiful. Others who shared their thoughts on Another Brooklyn: Library Love Fest, Hopelessly Devoted Biblophile, and Hollywood The Write Way.

Lots of Questions

Fired a Gun – yes
Been Married – yes
Fell in love – yes
Gone on a blind date – no
Skipped school – yup
Watched someone give birth – nope
Watched someone die – no
Been to Canada – yup but would love to explore more
Ridden in an ambulance – yes
Been to Hawaii – no
Been to Europe – no
Been to Las Vegas – yes
Been to Washington D.C. – yes
Been to Nashville – no
Visited Florida –no
Visited Mexico – only Baja. Would love to see more.
Seen Grand Canyon in person – no
Flown in a helicopter – no
Partied so hard you puked – yes
Been on a cruise – no
Served on a jury – no
Been in a movie – no
Danced in the rain – all the time in college
Been to Los Angeles – yes
Been to New York City – yes
Played in a band – no
Sang karaoke –yes
Made prank phone calls – no
Laughed so much you cried – yes
Caught a snowflake on your tongue – yes
Had children – nope
Had a pet – had dogs previously.
Been sledding on big hill – no
Been downhill skiing – no
Been water skiing – no
Rode on a motorcycle – no
Traveled to all 50 states- not even close.
Jumped out of a plane – nope
Been to a drive-in movie – all the time when I was young
Rode an elephant – yup
Rode a Horse – just ponies
Been on TV – no
Been in the newspaper – no
Stayed in the Hospital –no
Donated blood – yes
Gotten a piercing – yes
Gotten a tattoo – not yet
Driven a stick shift vehicle – not very well
Driven over 100 mph – yes
Been scuba diving – no
Lived on your own – yes
Rode in the back of police car –  no
Got a speeding ticket – yes
Broken a bone – no
Gotten stitches – yes
Traveled Alone – yes

Here’s another: Every answer must start with the last letter of your previous answer.
Name – Linda
Animal – antalope
Girl’s name – evie
Color – emerald
Movie – Donnie Darko
Something you wear – overalls
Drink – sangria
Food – apple pie
Item in the bathroom – exhaust fan
Place – Neverland
Reason to be late – delayed

Library Loot

Library Loot is a weekly event co-hosted by Claire from The Captive Reader and me that encourages bloggers to share the books they’ve checked out from the library. If you’d like to participate, just write up your post-feel free to steal the button-and link it using the Mr. Linky any time during the week. And of course check out what other participants are getting from their libraries.

Otherworld Chills
I loved the Otherworld world that Armstrong created. I'l always happy to be back in that world.

Shiro
Reloot.

We Came All The Way From Cuba for You To Dress Like This?
This one looked good.

What did you get this week? Claire's got the linky.

Top Ten Tuesday: Movies I Can Always Watch

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish in June 2010. This feature was created because we are particularly fond of lists at The Broke and the Bookish. We'd love to share our lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten lists!

Love Actually

My favorite holiday themed movie. I can watch this over and over again.

The Incredibles

If I don't feel good, this movie is on. No sick day is complete without it.

Guardians of the Galaxy

Always  guaranteed to put a smile on my face.

Romeo + Juliet

My favorite adaptation.

Sense & Sensibility

So much to love about this one.

Much Ado About Nothing

Again, plenty to love here too. A lot of my favorite actors and my favorite director.

Deadpool

I'm a pretty big Deadpool fan and a big Ryan Reynolds fan. 

America's Sweethearts

This one always makes me laugh.

Gross Point Blank

I love dark humor and John Cusack.

Inside Out

This one always makes me cry.

Library Loot

Library Loot is a weekly event co-hosted by Claire from The Captive Reader and me that encourages bloggers to share the books they’ve checked out from the library. If you’d like to participate, just write up your post-feel free to steal the button-and link it using the Mr. Linky any time during the week. And of course check out what other participants are getting from their libraries.

The Mothers

I heard a lot of good things about this one.

Lab Girl

Another one that sounded good.

Today Will Be Different

I liked Where'd You Go, Bernadette. I'm looking forward to this one.

What did you get this week? Share your loot below.

Library Loot

Library Loot is a weekly event co-hosted by Claire from The Captive Reader and me that encourages bloggers to share the books they’ve checked out from the library. If you’d like to participate, just write up your post-feel free to steal the button-and link it using the Mr. Linky any time during the week. And of course check out what other participants are getting from their libraries.

Invisible Man

We've been watching Luke Cage and I noticed he's been reading this book. I've never read it but I've heard a lot about it. 

Reliance, Illinois

I don't know why I picked this one up. Anyone read this one?

Once Broken Faith

I do love me some Toby.

What did you get this week? Claire's got the linky today.

Top Ten Books To Read If Your Book Club Likes Historical Romance

The Rogue Not Taken

Cold-Hearted Rake

Prelude To A Scandal

The Unlikely Lady

Scandal Wears Satin

The Duchess War

A Week To Be Wicked

Romancing The Duke

Forever and A Day

A Beginner's Guide To Rakes

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish in June 2010. This feature was created because we are particularly fond of lists at The Broke and the Bookish. We'd love to share our lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten lists!