The Complete Cookbook for Young Chefs

 

The Complete Cookbook for Young Chefs by America's Test Kitchen -- 208 pages

I thought this was a really good cookbook for kids.  It includes several handy sections on proper kitchen tools, usage of kitchen tools, ingredients, etc.  The recipes were also very simple to follow and also included ways on how to personalize the recipe to their tastes.  The only issue I had was the "cook time" that was listed.  Several of the recipes were not actually cooked or the time listed was off from what was given in the recipe directions.

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab, 442 pages

"France, 1714: in a moment of desperation, a young woman makes a Faustian bargain to live forever and is cursed to be forgotten by everyone she meets.

Thus begins the extraordinary life of Addie LaRue, and a dazzling adventure that will play out across centuries and continents, across history and art, as a young woman learns how far she will go to leave her mark on the world.

But everything changes when, after nearly 300 years, Addie stumbles across a young man in a hidden bookstore and he remembers her name."

This book got a lot of hype within the book world. While I thought it was good, I did not have the highest praise that some other had for it. It started very slowly and took a quarter of the book to really get going. Characters are well-written, but hard to like. Definitely worth the read, but go into it without the expectations. 
 

Daylight by David Baldacci

Daylight by David Baldacci, Atlee Pine #3, 432 pages

CW: Kidnapping, child abuse

"For many long years, Atlee Pine was tormented by uncertainty after her twin sister, Mercy, was abducted at the age of six and never seen again. Now, just as Atlee is pressured to end her investigation into Mercy's disappearance, she finally gets her most promising breakthrough yet: the identity of her sister's kidnapper, Ito Vincenzo.
With time running out, Atlee and her assistant Carol Blum race to Vincenzo's last known location in Trenton, New Jersey -- and unknowingly stumble straight into John Puller's case, blowing his arrest during a drug ring investigation involving a military installation.
Stunningly, Pine and Puller's joint investigation uncovers a connection between Vincenzo's family and a breathtaking scheme that strikes at the very heart of global democracy. Peeling back the layers of deceit, lies and cover-ups, Atlee finally discovers the truth about what happened to Mercy. And that truth will shock Pine to her very core." --Amazon blurb

While I don't read many bestselling authors, I inexplicably love David Baldacci. He writes well thought out characters and manages to write female leads well. As much as I love Atlee, I also love her brave assistant Carol Blum. I was excited to see a character from another favorite Baldacci series, John Puller. This one had some scenes that were hard to deal with. 
 

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine

by Gail Honeyman - 352 pages

This is a debut novel for Gail Honeyman and it has caught the attention of many critics and the general public.  I was intrigued by the main character, who by the description, has no real contact with anyone after she leaves work.  Even then, the interactions are short and have no depth.  As the story unfolds, I appreciated seeing how the character grew and developed through the help of others. I also appreciated that the author explained and delved into how the character came to be in that sort of situation in the first place.  While I enjoyed this book and the overall story, it does involve mental illness and could raise some issues for some.  I would recommend this book to others, but not before sharing this point.

Gwendy's Button Box by Stephen King

Gwendy's Button Box by Stephen King and Richard Chizmar, 171 pages

I have only read a few Stephen King books in my life, but I must say this would go down as being one of my favorite ones.  When Gwendy is approached by a man named Mr. Farris in the summer of 1974 in Castle Rock, Maine close to what is known as the suicide stairs, he gives her a most powerful box with a special button on top she is told not to touch.  The box changes her life.  She loses weight and becomes popular, not to mention the chocolates and gold coins it also dispenses.  Through the years, Gwendy discovers the great powers the little box possesses and how it can change the world.

Room by Emma Donoghue

Room by Emma Donoghue, 321 pages

When I heard this book was being made into a movie, I knew I had to read it. This book is written entirely from the perspective of Jack, a five year old who is born in a shed where he and his mother are held as prisoners by Old Nick. Jack's Ma is kidnapped as a college student by the man known as Nick.  She is raped and tortured for seven years in the shed in the backyard also known as the "room."  It is very interesting to read what life is like from the point of view of a five year old who only knows the world as it is inside this room.  This book reminded me of the Jaycee Dugard story, but was written before that. The story may also remind people of Josef Fritzel, who held his daughter captive for twenty four years in Europe.

Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer

Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer, 293 pages

Into Thin Air is a personal account of the disaster that happened on Mount Everest in 1996.  Recently made into the movie by the title Everest, this a detailed account of what happened on that fateful climb of the tallest mountain in the world.  Krakauer writes a griping account of what happened on the mountain when a freak storm hit and killed 8 climbers.  With the recent April earthquake in Nepal, this book is an even more compelling read. Jon Krakauer's writing style can't help but make you feel what the climber's are feeling as each one attempts to complete their individual quest for the summit of Everest.  I read this book previously in 2008 for a book club and recently saw the movie.  I enjoyed the movie so much I felt the need to reread Krakauer's bestselling account.