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studiomikarts's reviews
55 reviews
The Unofficial Harry Potter Vegan Cookbook: Extraordinary plant-based meals inspired by the Wizarding World by Imana Grashuis, Tylor Starr
I made several recipes from this book for Thanksgiving this year and I was able to provide my family with a complete and magical vegan feast! In fact, I had to make some recipes the weekend after the holiday because I chose way more things than I could make 😅 Here's what I made and how it was:
To make cooking easier for Christmas this year, we've ordered catering for the main meal, and I'm just going to make some desserts and drinks, several of them from this book, including the Apple Pie and Arthur's Eggnog 🤤 And there are so many holiday appropriate recipes still remaining, not just for the end-of-year holidays. How about Liquid Luck for New Year's? Amortentia for Valentine's Day? The Great Feast for Independence Day? Full Moon Cookies for Halloween? Not to mention Happee Birthdae Cake for all those special days! And there are plenty recipes more for whatever you're in the mood for, such as Cheery Owl Breakfast Donuts, Buckbeak's Stuffed Pumpkins, Coconut Snow Cones, Caramelized Devil's Snare, Ernie's Sandwich, Slithering Snake Ravioli, Polyjuice Potion, and Treacle Tart (Harry's favorite!).
I hope everyone will try this cookbook and enjoy all its magical offerings~!
adventurous
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
5.0
Absolutely five-star cookbook! For TL;DR: the recipes are delicious, the book beautiful, and the information about veganism and vegan cooking both helpful and inspiring!
If you're a Harry Potter fan, get this cookbook! It doesn't matter if you're not vegan, forget about the stereotypes, this food is indulgent and beautiful and absolutely satisfying. The good you'll be doing for animals, the environment, and your own health can just be considered bonuses! It's easy to forget, but the book itself is a beautiful showpiece as well, with a silky, embossed cover; patterned endpapers; well-organized, easy-to-read text; and full-page, color photographs included with every recipe.
Before I describe my experience with the half-dozen recipes I've already tried, here are some highlights from the other sections of the book:
If you're a Harry Potter fan, get this cookbook! It doesn't matter if you're not vegan, forget about the stereotypes, this food is indulgent and beautiful and absolutely satisfying. The good you'll be doing for animals, the environment, and your own health can just be considered bonuses! It's easy to forget, but the book itself is a beautiful showpiece as well, with a silky, embossed cover; patterned endpapers; well-organized, easy-to-read text; and full-page, color photographs included with every recipe.
Before I describe my experience with the half-dozen recipes I've already tried, here are some highlights from the other sections of the book:
- Enthralling foreword by Evanna Lynch. If you're already vegan, your passion for the cause will be set ablaze ❤️🔥 For those who are veg-curious, you may be moved to finally take the next step!
- Listing the reasons to go vegan and tying them to the Wizarding World we all know and love~
- Vegan alternatives section that can help veganize any recipe or allow you to throw together a quick vegan meal without instructions.
- Fun and helpful Kitchen Witch Tips. A bit too new age witch (spiritual/religious) and not enough fantasy witch (my view of the Wizarding World) for me, so I came up with my own versions because I did like the core ideas being presented (such as clean the kitchen before cooking, get as much light into the kitchen as possible when working, be mindful and grateful as you cook, etc.).
- The appendix section that lists all recipes, including by which Harry Potter book they're from (such a good idea!), and the metric conversion page (I grew up with Imperial but I prefer metric for its precision!).
I made several recipes from this book for Thanksgiving this year and I was able to provide my family with a complete and magical vegan feast! In fact, I had to make some recipes the weekend after the holiday because I chose way more things than I could make 😅 Here's what I made and how it was:
- Rabbit Food Grazing Board: So delicious, so filling, perfect for a big gathering or party! The grilled olives were an awesome, unusual addition that I loved, and it was treat to have pomegranate seeds for the first time since childhood (they went well with everything), but the star was the tzatziki sauce. I will make this sauce any time I want tzatziki from now on!
- Dragon Roasted Nuts: These were a big hit with my entire family, one of the things people called out as particularly delicious. The best thing is, they have a flavor that is both seductively familiar and yet wholly unique. It's hard to stop eating them because you just want more and more of that enchanting taste!
- Fang's Boarhound Treats: I made these as my pups' Thanksgiving treat and they LOVED them. Absolutely no hesitation or polite curiosity, just munch, munch, down the hatch! Being vegan, these treats are made with stuff humans wouldn't mind eating, like applesauce, peanut butter, and vegan yogurt. I might have to reserve one for myself next time...
- Butterbeer Three Ways: For Thanksgiving, I chose to make the hot butterbeer and kept it warm in a small slow cooker. The only downside is the calculation necessary to quadruple the recipe, as it only serves two normally. This was another item that was particularly praised by everyone in my family!
- Pumpkin Patch Brownies: SO INDULGENT. So rich and delicious~ To simplify the recipe, I replaced the cubed pumpkin, coconut oil, and gingerbread spices with canned pumpkin pie filling. It worked great (the pumpkin pie flavor sat evenly with the rich chocolate) and cut off at least a good half hour of cooking/prep work!
To make cooking easier for Christmas this year, we've ordered catering for the main meal, and I'm just going to make some desserts and drinks, several of them from this book, including the Apple Pie and Arthur's Eggnog 🤤 And there are so many holiday appropriate recipes still remaining, not just for the end-of-year holidays. How about Liquid Luck for New Year's? Amortentia for Valentine's Day? The Great Feast for Independence Day? Full Moon Cookies for Halloween? Not to mention Happee Birthdae Cake for all those special days! And there are plenty recipes more for whatever you're in the mood for, such as Cheery Owl Breakfast Donuts, Buckbeak's Stuffed Pumpkins, Coconut Snow Cones, Caramelized Devil's Snare, Ernie's Sandwich, Slithering Snake Ravioli, Polyjuice Potion, and Treacle Tart (Harry's favorite!).
I hope everyone will try this cookbook and enjoy all its magical offerings~!
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child - Parts One and Two by J.K. Rowling
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
I finally decided to try reading this again for the first time in years because it was the December selection for the Protego Foundation book club, which I had only recently discovered. The first time I attempted to read this, back when it was first published, I only got a few pages in before completely losing interest. This time, my second attempt, I got a bit farther. I found it easy to read, and even though I'm extremely busy this time of year, I was able to finish Part One before the book club meeting.
By that point, I am disappointed to say, I didn't care if the meeting ended up spoiling Part Two. There was so much that was off about the story, the characters, and their relationships. I did my best to give a generous amount of leeway, in consideration of the fact that this is the script for a stage production and not a novel, but that wasn't enough. A word I found myself constantly using in my reading notes was "unbelievable". Examples:The father-son issues between Harry and Albus felt contrived, even forced. The Trolley Witch throwing explosives and growing spikes from her hands as a method of keeping passengers onboard the Hogwarts Express was utterly ridiculous; I think most people would jump overboard in fear, not quietly return to their seats! And the big drop, Cedric turning Death Eater because he was publicly embarrassed. Truly unbelievable to anyone who is a fan of the main series of novels. But that was not the worst moment. The poor taste of including a scene where adult Harry literally stands there and watches his parents being murdered: sickening, and out of line with everything we have come to expect from the Harry Potter stories. There were plenty more complaints along those lines, but I don't want to spend any more time on this book than is necessary to express my deep disappointment. The only reason I finished it at all, after the book club was over, was because it was so easy to read. Even without the impetus of interest, I was able to breeze through it without any effort. I think that's perhaps the reason I gave it one star, instead of zero.
I think I'm generally quite a generous reviewer and an easy-to-please reader, but this book was horrible. I kept thinking, well, at least it can't get worse than this, and I kept being proven wrong! At the book club, I was hesitant to present a sure opinion, but it was already strongly unfavorable. Now that I'm done, I can say for sure I hated this story!
P.S. The Protego Foundation is an animal rights charity, so I read this with a focus on the depiction of animals. While there weren't many animals in it, I can't say I ever saw a positive mention. They were either used as weird insults (like 'only animals wet the bed' wtf?) or as symbols of evil, when they weren't rehashed elements from a previous Harry Potter novel or weak jokes (a book club member pointed out that it's ridiculous to suggest Harry had no problem with the filthy owlery at Hogwarts but finds pigeons creepy because they're dirty? ). Even when reading it from this unusual perspective, there was nothing good about Harry Potter and the Cursed Child...at the book club, many people espoused the opinion that the actual performance is much better than the book. At the time, I said I'd probably see the play if I ever had the opportunity. Now I don't feel that way. I feel like it would be saying all the things that were so miserable about this reading are acceptable so long as something else is there to cover them up.
By that point, I am disappointed to say, I didn't care if the meeting ended up spoiling Part Two. There was so much that was off about the story, the characters, and their relationships. I did my best to give a generous amount of leeway, in consideration of the fact that this is the script for a stage production and not a novel, but that wasn't enough. A word I found myself constantly using in my reading notes was "unbelievable". Examples:
I think I'm generally quite a generous reviewer and an easy-to-please reader, but this book was horrible. I kept thinking, well, at least it can't get worse than this, and I kept being proven wrong! At the book club, I was hesitant to present a sure opinion, but it was already strongly unfavorable. Now that I'm done, I can say for sure I hated this story!
P.S. The Protego Foundation is an animal rights charity, so I read this with a focus on the depiction of animals. While there weren't many animals in it, I can't say I ever saw a positive mention. They were either used as weird insults (like 'only animals wet the bed' wtf?) or as symbols of evil, when they weren't rehashed elements from a previous Harry Potter novel or weak jokes (
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Death of parent, Death, and Murder
Minor: Violence and Bullying
A Man and His Cat, Vol. 1 by Umi Sakurai
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
This was such a touching, heartwarming manga! It's very reminiscent of Chi's Sweet Home, both being cute tales told mainly from the point of view of cats who find new homes with loving humans. If you enjoyed Chi's story, I'm sure you'd love this. A Man and His Cat is a bit more bittersweet, with hints of past tragedy and more moments of sadness, but it's also full of humor and cuddly scenes that make you smile. The artwork is well done: pretty and easy to digest. When I finished this first volume, which I waited a long time to purchase so that I could save money by buying used, I immediately ordered all the following volumes--used if I could get them, but new if that was the only option--because that's how much I wanted to continue the story! If you're in the mood for something uplifting and fluffy, and especially if you were already considering reading this manga, I encourage you to give A Man and His Cat a try~
The Art of Slow Writing: Reflections on Time, Craft, and Creativity by Louise DeSalvo
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
5.0
It's hard to decide where to begin or what to include in my review. I have so many glowing remarks swirling inside me, I think I may end up saying less than I could, just because remarking upon all the individual points that make this book so informative and valuable would take too long! I think every writer should read this book, and just as is recommended in the book itself, they should read it slowly, while engaging in their writing practice. When I read that part, it convinced me to finally settle into a purposeful writing routine, with this book as my daily warmup. It is no exaggeration to say that the thousands of words I've added to my manuscript this year are hugely due to the constant, gentle encouragement this book provided. It didn't matter if the advice was relevant to what I was writing at the time. I absolutely filled the book with written sticky notes, marking things I want to remember later, things that I'll need when I finally get to that point in the process, things to be reminded of when I'm starting my next project, and things that are just good advice for any creative professional engaging in long-term projects.
I just happened to come across this book when shopping at Barnes & Noble one day, looking to use a coupon. The title caught my eye because it had already been years since I started my current novel and I still hadn't finished chapter one of my first draft. Who knew it would become my favorite book on writing, a paper teacher, encouraging and informing, and a magic talisman, spurring me on through darkness and doubt? It may sound overdramatic, but that's really the feeling I have toward this book. You can bet I will be reading it again and again throughout my writing career.
I just happened to come across this book when shopping at Barnes & Noble one day, looking to use a coupon. The title caught my eye because it had already been years since I started my current novel and I still hadn't finished chapter one of my first draft. Who knew it would become my favorite book on writing, a paper teacher, encouraging and informing, and a magic talisman, spurring me on through darkness and doubt? It may sound overdramatic, but that's really the feeling I have toward this book. You can bet I will be reading it again and again throughout my writing career.
Olivia by Ian Falconer
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
What a charming book! I am so lucky to have snagged it from a Little Free Library 😊 It's no wonder it is a Caldecott honor book, what with how beautiful, elegant, and skillfully reserved the illustrations are. The character designs for Olivia and her family are so lovable. My favorite parts are the truly pig-like legs, the huge mouths, and the tiny eyes. So expressive! Seeing these characters engaging in all kinds of activities, from dress-up to art-making, is mesmerizing. The writing is spot on, as well. I laughed out loud a couple times! I added the Olivia box set to my wishlist; I want to read all of her adventures!
Small in the City by Sydney Smith
emotional
hopeful
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.75
Looking at the cover alone, there was nothing that drew me to this book. I had glanced at it for a split second while browsing the SCBWI summer conference faculty bookstore and didn't give it a second thought. But after having it read to me during the illustrators intensive by the author-illustrator himself, I was moved nearly to tears by its powerful storytelling. I ordered it the same day and it reached me less than a week later. Reading it again, this time from my own personal copy, and even knowing the surprise twist, I was still a tad choked up by the end. I took a measly .25 of a star away from my rating because 1) the art style, though award-winning, is not always to my taste (overall I enjoyed it; I especially admire the treatment of reflections in glass and the depiction of snow falling more and more heavily), 2) the font choice just doesn't appeal to me, and 3) the portrait format of the book, while I can see its use in conveying the idea of tall buildings and cramped city spaces, made the book physically hard to read (hard to keep the pages down so that I could see the illustrations properly). Other than those tiny dings, which would not prevent me from buying the book again if I could go back in time, I loved everything about this picturebook and I'm proud to have it in my collection, both as a student of storytelling technique, and as a simple reader who loves moving tales.
Content Warnings
Minor: Grief
His Majesty's Dragon by Naomi Novik
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
It's been over a decade since I last read this book. I remembered loving it at the time, so much so that I preordered all the sequels as they came available, but after the fourth book, life got busy and I never finished reading the series, even though I owned it. Well, this year, with many recent disappointments while trying to discover new fantasy books, and after hearing about the rerelease of the Temeraire series in a set of beautiful, matching trade paperback covers, I was inspired to read His Majesty's Dragon again.
I was afraid my memories of loving the book (I remembered nothing but my feelings about it; everything else had completely evaporated from my mind) might end up being rose-tinted relics of the past. That actually happened to me with a gryphon book series earlier this year; in an odd way, being disappointed by an old favorite is heartbreaking. So I was half expecting to be let down when I flipped to the first page of His Majesty's Dragon this time. Imagine, then, my elation when I was desperately taken by the story from the very first line! And how much pleasure I experienced when, every time I opened the book to continue reading, I felt just as excited by the plot and as enamored with the characters, as I had the last time I set the book down ❤️
Naomi Novik's storytelling has done nothing less than restore my faith in fantasy. My entire life, this genre has been my absolute favorite, but for many years now, I just haven't encountered anything satisfying outside my frequent rereads of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, and the Harry Potter series. I was legitimately questioning, when I picked up His Majesty's Dragon again, whether my tastes had actually changed as I've aged, and that the only fantasy I still liked were my childhood favorites. I am so grateful to feel completely reassured that I do indeed love fantasy books! I just need to be a little more selective when I give new books a try; from now on, if I don't feel gripped after reading the first page, I'll move on. I've spent too much time in recent years, trying to force myself to like a book, slogging through page after page, chapter after chapter, telling myself that I just need to give it more of a chance, perhaps reminding myself of how much other people have said they love it. As odd as it may sound, Temeraire has given me the confidence to respect my own tastes and opinions.
To get at last to talking about the contents of His Majesty's Dragon, I think my favorite part of the book is the deep, loving relationship between Laurence and Temeraire. There were so many moments that just touched my heart, and reminded me of my own feelings toward my non-human companions. I think, perhaps, the only reason I can write this review right now, is because of this heartwarming friendship. The reason being, just hours after I finished reading the book, my dog of 15 years passed away. I am still in the throes of grief as I write this, but rather than feeling like writing a book review is at odds with my feelings of loss and loneliness, instead I feel glad to finally have the motivation to put my ideas into words. The relationship between the principle captain and dragon in this story is so similar to those of us humans and our non-human friends, full of understanding, loyalty, love, comfort, and camaraderie that spans the boundaries of species (and confuses those who have not the pleasure of such a relationship).
But the relationship between Laurence and Temeraire isn't the only thing carrying this book. There is so much depth in the characters, different captains who have different relationships with their dragons (even entering the painful, heartbreaking realm of abuse and neglect), complex relationships between humans (mothers, fathers, daughters, lovers, commanders, subordinates, etc.), and of course the myriad of dragons who have varying levels of intelligence, sizes, features, desires, personalities, etc. The writing itself is so good that all of these things are very well presented, so that I was never confused about which dragon can do what, or why something was happening, or where the story was going next. I will say, however, that my love for late 19th and early 20th century British and French writing is probably a boon for me; if you're not good with the original Sherlock Holmes stories or the English translation of The Count of Monte Cristo, for example, you might find this writing style challenging. It is so akin to older such writing (at least that which I'm familiar with) I actually took a moment to see whether the author was British herself (nope, she's a fellow American 😊). After the characters and writing, the plot is the next feature I'd like to highlight. I remember when I first read this book, I had no interest in history whatsoever. The idea of Napoleonic Wars-era dragons was wacky and wild, which is why I gave it a shot, but I didn't expect to actually enjoy the historical aspects, which I did, both then and again this time! Just goes to show that well-written fantasy can make everything it's associated with awesome 😄
Something I liked about the end of this book is the excerpts from the "sketchbook of Sir Edward Howe". It's a very fun addition to the world of Temeraire and a nice way to ease the reader off the high of the final, exciting chapters of the story. The inclusion, as well, of an excerpt from the next volume in the series was also a great way to get readers excited about continuing their adventures with Temeraire. Well, for this reader, it's not just exciting but worrying! I want Laurence and Temeraire to be happy! I need to get reading Throne of Jade right away, so that the versions of that pair who live in my mind can overcome the challenge that has been set before them by this final teaser!
I was afraid my memories of loving the book (I remembered nothing but my feelings about it; everything else had completely evaporated from my mind) might end up being rose-tinted relics of the past. That actually happened to me with a gryphon book series earlier this year; in an odd way, being disappointed by an old favorite is heartbreaking. So I was half expecting to be let down when I flipped to the first page of His Majesty's Dragon this time. Imagine, then, my elation when I was desperately taken by the story from the very first line! And how much pleasure I experienced when, every time I opened the book to continue reading, I felt just as excited by the plot and as enamored with the characters, as I had the last time I set the book down ❤️
Naomi Novik's storytelling has done nothing less than restore my faith in fantasy. My entire life, this genre has been my absolute favorite, but for many years now, I just haven't encountered anything satisfying outside my frequent rereads of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, and the Harry Potter series. I was legitimately questioning, when I picked up His Majesty's Dragon again, whether my tastes had actually changed as I've aged, and that the only fantasy I still liked were my childhood favorites. I am so grateful to feel completely reassured that I do indeed love fantasy books! I just need to be a little more selective when I give new books a try; from now on, if I don't feel gripped after reading the first page, I'll move on. I've spent too much time in recent years, trying to force myself to like a book, slogging through page after page, chapter after chapter, telling myself that I just need to give it more of a chance, perhaps reminding myself of how much other people have said they love it. As odd as it may sound, Temeraire has given me the confidence to respect my own tastes and opinions.
To get at last to talking about the contents of His Majesty's Dragon, I think my favorite part of the book is the deep, loving relationship between Laurence and Temeraire. There were so many moments that just touched my heart, and reminded me of my own feelings toward my non-human companions. I think, perhaps, the only reason I can write this review right now, is because of this heartwarming friendship. The reason being, just hours after I finished reading the book, my dog of 15 years passed away. I am still in the throes of grief as I write this, but rather than feeling like writing a book review is at odds with my feelings of loss and loneliness, instead I feel glad to finally have the motivation to put my ideas into words. The relationship between the principle captain and dragon in this story is so similar to those of us humans and our non-human friends, full of understanding, loyalty, love, comfort, and camaraderie that spans the boundaries of species (and confuses those who have not the pleasure of such a relationship).
But the relationship between Laurence and Temeraire isn't the only thing carrying this book. There is so much depth in the characters, different captains who have different relationships with their dragons (even entering the painful, heartbreaking realm of abuse and neglect), complex relationships between humans (mothers, fathers, daughters, lovers, commanders, subordinates, etc.), and of course the myriad of dragons who have varying levels of intelligence, sizes, features, desires, personalities, etc. The writing itself is so good that all of these things are very well presented, so that I was never confused about which dragon can do what, or why something was happening, or where the story was going next. I will say, however, that my love for late 19th and early 20th century British and French writing is probably a boon for me; if you're not good with the original Sherlock Holmes stories or the English translation of The Count of Monte Cristo, for example, you might find this writing style challenging. It is so akin to older such writing (at least that which I'm familiar with) I actually took a moment to see whether the author was British herself (nope, she's a fellow American 😊). After the characters and writing, the plot is the next feature I'd like to highlight. I remember when I first read this book, I had no interest in history whatsoever. The idea of Napoleonic Wars-era dragons was wacky and wild, which is why I gave it a shot, but I didn't expect to actually enjoy the historical aspects, which I did, both then and again this time! Just goes to show that well-written fantasy can make everything it's associated with awesome 😄
Something I liked about the end of this book is the excerpts from the "sketchbook of Sir Edward Howe". It's a very fun addition to the world of Temeraire and a nice way to ease the reader off the high of the final, exciting chapters of the story. The inclusion, as well, of an excerpt from the next volume in the series was also a great way to get readers excited about continuing their adventures with Temeraire. Well, for this reader, it's not just exciting but worrying! I want Laurence and Temeraire to be happy! I need to get reading Throne of Jade right away, so that the versions of that pair who live in my mind can overcome the challenge that has been set before them by this final teaser!
Content Warnings
Minor: Blood, Gore, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, and War
Among the Beasts & Briars by Ashley Poston
Did not finish book. Stopped at 23%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 23%.
I just can't continue reading. The book is in desperate need of a good copy editor and a decent developmental editor. The silly typos and repetitive wording are amateurish (most recent example, on page 78, a knot forms in the protagonist's throat and a couple lines later, she feels anxiety "like a knot in my throat" as if the first knot didn't exist? or it disappeared immediately? or there's a double knot?) and the protagonist's unbelievable obliviousness is unendearing (in a world where magic is the norm, and in a forest where supposedly no human lives, she doesn't put two and two together when her fox suddenly disappears and a naked man stands before her with the same colored eyes and hair as that fox? ). I'm going to move on; life is too short to read bad books.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood and Body horror
Moderate: Death, Injury/Injury detail, and Gore
Minor: Death of parent and Child death
Green Tea Living: A Japan-Inspired Guide to Eco-Friendly Habits, Health, and Happiness by Toshimi A. Kayaki
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
3.0
This is a solid three-star book for me. A little good, a little meh, but not mind-blowing or super terrible, either. A bit too much of the advice was overly specific (like saving green tea leaves to detail one's bathroom) or sensational (claims about beauty improvements were way too good to be true) and left a morning talk-show aftertaste, but there were a few gems I picked out, too. Using vinegar as fabric softener blew my mind (seems to depend on the type of fabric; some items were the same as with no softener, but others ended up delightfully plushy!) and the idea of using orange peels in bath water is definitely something I'm going to try. The book was a quick and easy read too, so even though it's not the kind of thing I'd read again, I don't feel like my time was much wasted.
Fragrant Palm Leaves: Journals 1962-1966 by Thích Nhất Hạnh
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
5.0
While I can't say I began reading this book with any specific expectations, I still felt blown away by how much I enjoyed it. It's a memoir written in journal format and offers glimpses of the author's life in Vietnam & New England during the 1960s, and his world view born of those experiences and the framework that his Buddhist training provided. I can see now why Thich Nhat Hanh is credited with bringing Buddhism to the West. That said, many of the progressive ideas he shared here are far more secular than anything else, pulling out the bits of Buddhism that can serve everyone without the need for religious belief. I highlighted many passages like that. Ultimately, however, the most gripping parts of the book were the author's personal experiences, which were described so vividly and fluidly that I felt hooked on the story, almost desperate to know what happened next, as if I was reading a contrived plot instead of a personal account. The end of the book was very satisfying, even exciting, but the one question it left me with is, "What, if anything, happened with his friend Steve once he returned to America?" Obviously not within the scope of this book, but something I'm very interested to know!