Space Station Mir

Just Finished: American Cake by Anne Byrn I started this awhile ago and finished it recently, but I can't emphasize enough how fascinating I found this book! I love how Byrn anchors the cakes in American history with references to contemporary cookbooks and interviews with contemporary cooks. It was amazing how even small things that I know tied in, like her reference to Passover cakes in the entry on flourless chocolate cake, and how pineapple upside-down cake was found in a synagogue cookbook. You can see the influence of different cultures and moments on American cake--she dates the 1990s cupcake boom to a Sex and the City episode, and she includes a Tres Leches Cake recipe for the 2010s. Highly recommend, and can't wait to read American Cookie ! Currently Reading: The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt I've been meaning to read this since it won the Pulitzer a few years ago, but I didn't love The Secret History , and it seemed like such a doorstopper. Well, I am...

Happy Top Ten Tuesday over at That Artsy Reader Girl ! Top Ten Books By My Favorite Authors I Still Haven't Read Honestly, there are some books by my favorite authors that I haven't read on purpose, whether because what I've heard means they aren't as good, or because I don't really want to reach the end just yet. But here, I've tried to include books I actually intend to read someday. 1. Lady Susan by Jane Austen I actually own this novella of her juvenilia, but I'm waiting to read it because what if it's not as good and/or Austen is over? That said, I still think I will read it someday. 2. The Word for World is Forest by Ursula K. Le Guin Le Guin is so prolific that, even though I've read most of her more famous work ( The Left Hand of Darkness, The Dispossessed, Wizard of Earthsea ), there's still much more to read. The Word for World is Forest is first on my list since I'm intrigued by the eponymous concept and the plot sou...

Happy Top Ten Tuesday Over at That Artsy Reader Girl! Top Ten Books On My Fall TBR I've already read a couple books on my fall TBR, but there are always more books to read! 1. I'd Rather Be Reading by Anne Bogel Already finished! Highly recommend to all readers! 2. P.S. I Still Love You by Jenny Han I love Lara Jean! 3. Sorcerer to the Crown by Zen Cho  This article on complicated magical families re-whet my appetite, and reminded me why it's been on my TBR list: "early reviews...made copious comparisons to both Austen's work and Clarke's masterpiece." 4. Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik Not only do I love fairy tale remixes generally, but "Rumpelstiltskin"was a recurring bedtime tale growing up at my house! 5. The Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy, 2018 ed. N.K. Jemisin Edited by N.K. Jemisin. Need I say more? 6. Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi I bought and started it over the summer, but it's lo...

I'm trying out monthly goal posts; we'll see how these go. I'm more into wrap-up posts, but it might be fun to compare monthly goals and wrap-ups. Or not. We'll see. Books I Want to Read This Month 1. I'd Rather Be Reading by Anne Bogel (aka Modern Mrs. Darcy ). I preordered the e-book, which came out yesterday, along with my free audio copy, which I'm looking forward to! 2. P.S. I Still Love You by Jenny Han I haven't managed to get my hands on a copy yet (my local Barnes & Noble is out!), but I really want to finish the series! 3. The Other Alcott by Elise Hooper I've always been interested in May Alcott, and the relationship between Louisa and May, so I'm looking forward to this novel. Just checked the audiobook out of the library. Other Goals This Month 1. Relax and enjoy Rosh Hashanah at my new synagogue, maybe do some baking, like Smitten Kitchen's apple cake.  2. Go to the Baltimore Book Festival. If I don...

I'm starting out my first monthly wrap-up , so the format may change as I write these. Right now, I'm basing it loosely on Jamie's Monthly Rewinds at The Perpetual Page Turner  as well as a sense of other wrap-up type posts I've read. Books I've Read This Month To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han Carry On by Rainbow Rowell Provenance by Ann Leckie Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows by Balli Kaur Jaswal Beauty in the Broken Places by Allison Pataki Blue Iris by Mary Oliver Let the Whole Thundering World Come Home by Natalie Goldberg An American Marriage by Tayari Jones Oh August! I doubt I'll read this many in September, but we'll see. Favorite Top 3 Books I've Read This Month I was going to choose a favorite, but...I can't. Honestly, they were all so good. For pure enjoyment value, I'm going to pick... 1. To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han Obviously, read this after the hype of the movie, whi...

Ten years ago last weekend, I started this blog. More accurately, I started a personal reading record that evolved into something...more. Although I still talk mainly about books and often about science fiction, I've enjoyed branching out to read others' book, baking, and lifestyle blogs, and it's becoming more of a virtual space for me to reflect on life as well as reading. I've gone from my initial representative space station to pictures of my TBR stacks and bookshelves. Back when I started this blog in 2008, I probably never would have guessed that in 2018, I would be: Married a NaNoWriMo winner Still blogging! I wonder what my life will look like in 2028! *crossing my fingers for transporters or at least driverless cars* Going forward, I'm going to try some updates around here, like: Monthly wrap-up posts Monthly book goals More pictures? Maybe? I know I promised that before.