Scan barcode
bookmarksnbreadsticks's reviews
188 reviews
Donut Fall in Love by Jackie Lau
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Who wouldn't enjoy a story about love and donuts? I really appreciated the Asian representation in the cast. I also really appreciated focusing on grief and how the death of a parent, new or old, greatly impacts the children left behind. I happened to read it on the anniversary of my own dad's passing and it was sad and sweet. I think the author handled grief well but wanted more from our supporting characters. I think Ryan's sister needed a bigger arc and development - her grief dealing with the loss of her mother while she was pregnant could have had a larger impact. On the flip side, Lindsay's brother, Trevor, provided comic relief on her mother dating again after many years since their death, and I wanted more from him as well.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Our Lady of Perpetual Hunger: A Memoir by Lisa Donovan
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Wow, what a powerful book to read before closing out 2021. To say Lisa Donovan has persevered would be an understatement and be mindful of the content warnings.
.
The hunger in this story is palpable. Lisa's desire for more in the world is matched only by her calm and patience as she narrates her audiobook.
.
This memoir plots her joruney to the pastry station and the control of her voice. I first heard of her book she was noted as the pastry chef at Husk, owned by Sean Brock. Once she stopped letting me tell her story, Lisa reshapes her career. Once she escapes the vice grip of the abuse from men in her life, both generational and in the workplace, she grows stronger. As she bonds and builds relationship with women her voice becomes stronger in the story.
.
The hunger in this story is palpable. Lisa's desire for more in the world is matched only by her calm and patience as she narrates her audiobook.
.
This memoir plots her joruney to the pastry station and the control of her voice. I first heard of her book she was noted as the pastry chef at Husk, owned by Sean Brock. Once she stopped letting me tell her story, Lisa reshapes her career. Once she escapes the vice grip of the abuse from men in her life, both generational and in the workplace, she grows stronger. As she bonds and builds relationship with women her voice becomes stronger in the story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Abortion
Moderate: Addiction
A Pho Love Story by Loan Le
funny
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
My first read of December, and #apholovestory was a delightful read.
.
Two rival restaurants across the street from each other with a hatred between them. It takes a long time to learn the truth behind this anger. That's the real core of the story. Bao and Lin are two high schoolers each trying to find their futures, as individiuals, and as a couple.
.
As a fellow child of an immigrant, there were so many complexities here in the story.
.
I've heard this is a Romeo & Juliet reinterpretation but I never found it. Once I stopped looking for it the book became easier to read.
.
#recentreads #youngadult #yabooks #foodiebooks #foodbooks #ya #bookstagram #bookstagrammer
.
Two rival restaurants across the street from each other with a hatred between them. It takes a long time to learn the truth behind this anger. That's the real core of the story. Bao and Lin are two high schoolers each trying to find their futures, as individiuals, and as a couple.
.
As a fellow child of an immigrant, there were so many complexities here in the story.
.
I've heard this is a Romeo & Juliet reinterpretation but I never found it. Once I stopped looking for it the book became easier to read.
.
#recentreads #youngadult #yabooks #foodiebooks #foodbooks #ya #bookstagram #bookstagrammer
Treats & Tribulations from a French Kitchen by Guillaume Long
informative
lighthearted
fast-paced
3.0
#ToDrinkandtoEatVol3 #NetGalley.
I admit that I am reading this series out of order, as To Drink and To Eat Vol 3, is my first in the series. I am not a huge owner of cookbooks, I find I do not use them enough, but I do love anything in the foodwriting space. When I found this book on NetGalley I hoped for a docu-comic or food writing graphic novel. I was given just that!
My copy came in as a full color digital PDF at 164 pages. Guillaume Long's book is whimiscal and I appreciated the opening with "If I was a vegetable..." and expanding across all areas of food. If I was a dish, I personally would be over-cooked tahdig - crispy and nearly burnt - but delicious with some buttering up! I also really enjoyed that the book was broken up over the four season of the year and a manual that articulated the skill level required for each dish or preparation.
At times the book jumps topics all over the place, but I had a good chuckle at specific things, like parents and kids being forced to eat together early in the first 25 pages of the book. Is this the number one culinary cookbook I'd pull out when I need to cook immediately? No. But did it answer a lot of questions I had about food and was it presented in a way that's easy to understand, yes!
Thank you Net Galley for sending me this early reader copy!
I admit that I am reading this series out of order, as To Drink and To Eat Vol 3, is my first in the series. I am not a huge owner of cookbooks, I find I do not use them enough, but I do love anything in the foodwriting space. When I found this book on NetGalley I hoped for a docu-comic or food writing graphic novel. I was given just that!
My copy came in as a full color digital PDF at 164 pages. Guillaume Long's book is whimiscal and I appreciated the opening with "If I was a vegetable..." and expanding across all areas of food. If I was a dish, I personally would be over-cooked tahdig - crispy and nearly burnt - but delicious with some buttering up! I also really enjoyed that the book was broken up over the four season of the year and a manual that articulated the skill level required for each dish or preparation.
At times the book jumps topics all over the place, but I had a good chuckle at specific things, like parents and kids being forced to eat together early in the first 25 pages of the book. Is this the number one culinary cookbook I'd pull out when I need to cook immediately? No. But did it answer a lot of questions I had about food and was it presented in a way that's easy to understand, yes!
Thank you Net Galley for sending me this early reader copy!
This item will be available on February 8, 2022
The Art of Sushi by Franckie Alarcon
The Art of Sushi by Franckie Alarcon is a docu-comic book all about the art of sushi. I have been a huge fan of docu-comics and food-comics since I received Let's Make Ramen! two years ago and I was so excited for the opportunity to review this book. Alacron's story is simple to follow and the book is informative without being pushy. It was interesting to watch a foreigner come to Japan and try sushi and I appreciated all of the rules of etiquette within the story as well.
The visuals are also stunning and had my mouth watering! I especially appreciate the selective use of color to highlight the sushi in its glory and letting the storyteller and other people recede into the background. In this story, the sushi is clearly the king!
I adored this book and I am very excited to own a finished copy.
informative
relaxing
fast-paced
4.0
The Art of Sushi by Franckie Alarcon is a docu-comic book all about the art of sushi. I have been a huge fan of docu-comics and food-comics since I received Let's Make Ramen! two years ago and I was so excited for the opportunity to review this book. Alacron's story is simple to follow and the book is informative without being pushy. It was interesting to watch a foreigner come to Japan and try sushi and I appreciated all of the rules of etiquette within the story as well.
The visuals are also stunning and had my mouth watering! I especially appreciate the selective use of color to highlight the sushi in its glory and letting the storyteller and other people recede into the background. In this story, the sushi is clearly the king!
I adored this book and I am very excited to own a finished copy.
#TheArtofSushi #NetGalley
The Heartbreak Bakery by A.R. Capetta
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
I am only removing half a star because I found myself losing attention at times or glossing over paragraphs. But over all this was such a wonderful read and I crushed it in an afternoon. This was my first time reading a book not only with different pronouns, but in Syd's case, agender and no pronouns. That was really an amazing experience for me even as a 30+ year old heterosexual woman. The premise is so CUTE! Bake your emotions into food? Take the premise of "Taste of Sage" and bring it to a Yong Adult audience with a diverse cast. There were some characters I wish got more page time but it was a really good book and the recipes are ADORABLE
In the Land of Men: A Memoir by Adrienne Miller
funny
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
Oh hoooo, a book not about food! Instead we have a memoir by Adrienne Miller. IN THE LAND OF MEN was published in 2020 and I was able to listen to this as an audiobook.
.
Miller was the fiction literary editor for Esquire magazine. She was the editor from 1997 to 2005 and her memoir spans that journey, the sexism she swallowed to work in the industry and her complicated related ship with David Foster Wallace.
.
@adriennemillernyc is kinder than I would be listening to these encounters and rampant sexism in the industry. But her love of the written word and her care for her writers is palatable. This was a lovely read but a constant reminder of the injustices women still face
Also DFW sounded like such a jerk.
.
Miller was the fiction literary editor for Esquire magazine. She was the editor from 1997 to 2005 and her memoir spans that journey, the sexism she swallowed to work in the industry and her complicated related ship with David Foster Wallace.
.
@adriennemillernyc is kinder than I would be listening to these encounters and rampant sexism in the industry. But her love of the written word and her care for her writers is palatable. This was a lovely read but a constant reminder of the injustices women still face
Also DFW sounded like such a jerk.
So We Meet Again by Suzanne Park
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
Heck yeah, Korean American female protagonist! Yay representation. I should say I am NOT Korean so I can't validate the accuracy of what was discussed but the author is, so I trust her. I really enjoyed a legitimate story about how to become a monetized success for YouTubers. Some things felt a little too convenient but it was a fun read
World Travel: An Irreverent Guide by Laurie Woolever, Anthony Bourdain
informative
slow-paced
As someone who has delayed her honeymoon for nearly two years because of this pandemic, this book gave me the wanderlust I needed. But ultimately it's more of a coffee book. It's truly a travel guide and it's a great reference to have, but it did not have anything truly groundbreaking.
But man oh man do I miss Bourdain.
Favorite quote "So many of the good times traveling this world relate directly to finding a human face to associate with your destination, the food you eat, and the memories you’ll keep forever."
But man oh man do I miss Bourdain.
Favorite quote "So many of the good times traveling this world relate directly to finding a human face to associate with your destination, the food you eat, and the memories you’ll keep forever."
The Secret History of Food: Strange but True Stories About the Origins of Everything We Eat by Matt Siegel
funny
informative
lighthearted
fast-paced
3.5
The narrator of the audiobook was quite good and brought a lot of personality. Were these secrets the most groundbreaking secrets in food? No. But I did learn a few more. These chapters don't have to be read in order either
These are fun foodie facts, great for conversations and dinner parties, but no overarching or critical point of view. The dark humor was most welcomed.
These are fun foodie facts, great for conversations and dinner parties, but no overarching or critical point of view. The dark humor was most welcomed.