Book Review: The Backyard Bird Chronicles by Amy Tan

The Backyard Bird Chronicles by Amy Tan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

In addition to being a prolific author, Amy Tan is also an accomplished artist, and this book is quite a testimonial to that!  Her pencil and ink sketches, along with her handwritten notes, make up almost as much of this book as her bird watching diary.  

She started watching birds in September 2017 and the book finishes in December 2022, taking her through the pandemic.  She has been interested in bird watching since she was a young child, thanks to her ornithologist father.  Starting at age three, she also wanted to be an artist.  These two loves dovetail in this fantastic book!  She definitely has an eye for detail and color, which helps distinguish all the varieties of birds that she sees.  

I started reading this wonderful book right before Christmas.  What a joy it was to take some time every afternoon, make a pot of tea, and read about Amy Tan's birds!  I took this book in little bits and pieces at a time so I could stretch out my enjoyment of it, and it has taken me through winter, spring and now summer.  

Barnes & Noble was nominated this book as their Book of the Year 2024, and I can see why!  Do yourself a favor and buy this book - you won't regret it!

Read more of my reviews at https://thegoodreader13.blogspot.com/. 

View all my reviews

Book Review: The Ford Homes: Assembling a Neighborhood by L. Glenn O'Kray

The Ford Homes: Assembling a Neighborhood by L. Glenn O’Kray
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Between 1919-1921, Henry Ford commissioned the architect Albert Wood to develop plans for homes to be built in West Dearborn.  The majority of these houses were sold to Ford Motor employees upon their completion.

Wood was the original architect for both Henry Ford Hospital and Masonic Temple prior to Ford's project.  Eventually, 250 homes were built in West Dearborn using 6 different plans (A-F), and sold for $7,000-$10,000 each.  Each house contained a living room, dining room, kitchen, three bedrooms and one bathroom.  The Ford Homes Historic District was created in 1979.  

This is a wonderful "coffee table book" covering the Historic Ford Homes in Dearborn.  There are pictures of each of the 250 original houses, along with articles and information about many of the current residents.  It is obvious that this is a close-knit community neighborhood, with block parties, Halloween celebrations, Christmas lights and more.  As someone who has spent much of my life in Dearborn, it was wonderful to read about this neighborhood community.  I have frequently walked through this neighborhood, spent time at their local businesses, and most importantly, spent my student teaching in the 4th grade at the local Duvall Elementary School.  Such a wonderful tribute to a fantastic neighborhood!

Read more of my reviews at https://thegoodreader13.blogspot.com/. 

View all my reviews

Book Review: Bowls: Vibrant Recipes with Endless Possibilities by America's Test Kitchen

Bowls: Vibrant Recipes with Endless Possibilities by America's Test Kitchen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a beautifully photographed book with extensive recipes for various "bowl" dishes.  The chapters include:  Salad Bowls, Grain & Bean Bowls, Noodle Bowls, and Soup Bowls.  There's also a final chapter with recipes categorized as "Bowl Basics."  All-in-all a very comprehensive book with many incredible recipes.

Most of the recipes serve 2.  And each recipe includes "Why This Recipe Works" and "Customize It" which has additional ingredients or substitutions.  We have been trying to increase the amount of grains in our diet, and also eat a healthier lunch, so this was the perfect book for us.  As the sub-title indicates, there are "endless possibilities."

My only quibble was the fact that I got the Kindle version of the book from my library.  The page formatting was a little skewed for much of the book.  Rather than having the color photo after the recipe, it was usually included at the bottom of the previous recipe.  However, that didn't stop my enjoyment in finding wonderful recipes!

Read more of my reviews at https://thegoodreader13.blogspot.com/. 

View all my reviews

Book Review: The Light We Carry: Overcoming in Uncertain Times by Michelle Obama

The Light We Carry: Overcoming in Uncertain Times by Michelle Obama
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I received a copy of this book for Christmas right after it was published.  I started it several times, but it has taken me this long to set aside time to devote to reading it exclusively and immersing myself in the wonderful words created by Michelle Obama.

I absolutely loved her first book, Becoming.  This is slightly different, incorporating stories of her life, together with the challenges she encountered along the way.  She wrote this during the pandemic which of course gives it a different outlook than her first book.  She gives the reader plenty of suggestions and ideas for coping with various challenges and situations.

I really enjoyed the chapter on making friends as an adult, "My Kitchen Table."  The chapter about her mother also rang true to me, "Meet My Mom."  Her mother was a no-nonsense woman with an overabundance of commonsense and suggestions for parenting.

I read the print book, switched to the Kindle version, and also listened to a good portion of it on audio, just to hear her read the words she had written.  All in all, highly recommended and I'm sorry that I waited so long to appreciate her words of wisdom.  

Read more of my reviews at https://thegoodreader13.blogspot.com/. 

View all my reviews

Book Review: Hunting Time by Jeffery Deaver (Colter Shaw / Tracker #4)

Hunting Time by Jeffery Deaver
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Colter Shaw (Tracker) is hired by the president of a small nuclear power company to find and protect his key engineer and her 16-year-old daughter.  They are on the run from her ex-husband who was just released from prison early after serving time for her attempted murder.  

This is a thrilling, page-turning cat and mouse game with plenty of twists and turns --just what I expected from Jeffery Deaver and Colter Shaw!  The mother/daughter team is initially effective at evading capture, but the book really clicks when they are teamed up with Colter Shaw.  He works best when he setting up traps for the individuals trying to catch them and making his way through the woods.  The reader also gets additional backstory about his parents and siblings when they were living on the compound in California.  All in all, a very exciting and escapist book - a fantastic summer read!!

Read more of my reviews at https://thegoodreader13.blogspot.com/.

View all my reviews

Book Review: Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver

Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The story is told from the point of view of Demon Copperhead, a 10-year old boy living in rural Lee County, Virginia.  His father died before he was born, and he lives with his mother in a rented trailer.  Luckily Demon has some very positive influences in his life, which counterbalance all of the negative individuals that he encounters.  

It is the story of Demon's resilience and self-sufficiency despite terrible situations and incredible loss.  It is grim and difficult to read; at times I could only read a chapter or two before having to set it aside.  However, I'm still thinking about this book days after I have finished it, which shows the impact that it had on me.  Multiple content warnings abound!

Read more of my reviews at https://thegoodreader13.blogspot.com/.

View all my reviews

Book Review: Grow Low Maintenance: Essential Know-how And Expert Advice For Gardening Success

Grow Low Maintenance: Essential Know-how And Expert Advice For Gardening Success by D.K. Publishing
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a wonderful gardening book which is great for the beginner gardener, but also has relevant information for the long-term gardener.  I checked it out from the library because I wanted to update my perennial garden bed - hostas and daisies had become quite overgrown and I wanted to add some other colors and sizes of perennials.  This was the perfect book for me to peruse during the early spring months until Michigan's chance of frost was over!

The book is divided into short, very helpful chapters -- low-maintenance planting, container gardening, water features, lawns and patios, and overall maintenance.  It also contains a wonderful table of contents and index.

Who doesn't love books published by DK?  I first became aware of them when my kids were little -- they published the best photographs along with text perfect for children.  I bought so many of their books and even hosted a couple of DK book parties (can you say free books??).  

My only quibble is that the photos tend to be smaller than I would prefer.  Unfortunately, I found quite a few plants and flowers that I was interested in, only to be disappointed because I couldn't find them in my local nurseries and garden stores.  Overall, I would highly recommend this as a basic gardening book for all.

Read more of my reviews at https://thegoodreader13.blogspot.com/.

View all my reviews