Chomp!

I get excited whenever I see that Carl Hiaasen is releasing a new book (be it for young adults or adults) and Chomp does not disappoint. As is often the case Hiaasen sets the book in the Florida Everglades, and in this story, Wahoo Cray lives on the animal wrangler farm that his father runs. Their animals, especially their prize gator Alice, often appear on TV shows or in movies, but ever since Wahoo’s father was hit on the head by a frozen iguana (pure Hiaasen!) business has been down and money is tight. When the going gets really tough a successful survivalist TV show (Expedition Survival!) comes a calling. It’s just a shame that the famous host, Derek Badger, is a flaky fake. Can Wahoo keep his father in line, keep track of Derek Badger, and help his new friend Tuna escape from her abusive father? Hiaasen blends humor, slapstick antics, and his own personal brand of satire to take his readers on Wahoo’s crazy ride. I hope you all will check it out when it is released in March 2012!

Sweet Valley Blah

I read a lot of Sweet Valley books when I was younger; Twins, High, Sagas and The Unicorn Club that is, I read the first five Sweet Valley University books and decided that they weren't for me. I was excited eight years ago when the then titled Sweet Valley Heights was announced, and that excitement carried me up to the point when Sweet Valley Confidential came out last March. Upon the book's release though, I experienced a fizzling out. I didn't really enjoy the sample of the first chapter, but I figured I couldn't quit now and I would read it someday. That day came today, and man I want those two hours of my life back. This book irritated the hell out of me, but in that same vein of needing to slow down to look at a car crash, I kept reading anyway.

The story was underdeveloped, choppy, and in the end unbelievable ... though come to think of it now, that's Sweet Valley... unbelievable. I found myself caring less and less about Jessica, Elizabeth, and Todd's falling out and more about the stories of the background characters who got little more than passing blurbs written about them. Who would have ever thought that Bruce Patman would end up my favorite character and that the best part of the story would have involved hearing the always put together Alice Wakefield call to her husband to have someone "bring out the fucking cake!"???

Combine Two Loves

In addition to the genres I have already rambled about I have to tell you that I love cookbooks. This is firstly because I love to cook and bake, but secondly I find cookbooks fascinating. It has rightly been said that books unlock the doors to imagination. I find that well executed cookbooks unlock not only our sense of imagination, but all of our other senses as well. I can spend hours pouring over cookbooks dreaming up special meals.

Recently I joined netGalley, and the first book I read for this program was Food from Many Greek Kitchens by Tessa Kiros, which is being released June 14th by Andrews McMeel Publishing. I love Mediterranean food and have long been on the lookout for a good Greek cookbook. It seemed like kismet when I saw this title listed in the available galleys and I have to say Tessa Kiros does not disappoint.

Food from Many Greek Kitchens is a veritable feast for the senses. Not only does every recipe sound both wonderful and delicious (even the ones with octopus, and it takes a lot to make me want to eat octopus), but the book itself is gorgeous. The pictures spaced throughout the book are breathtaking. They truly make Greece come alive for the reader. I honestly cannot decide which recipe I want to make first. I need to make a grocery list so my pantry and fridge can be stocked and ready for many possibilities! I have already put this book on my Amazon "Need Now" list because I cannot imagine not owning a hard copy. I may never get to actually see Greece in person, but I am very sure that in a short amount of time spent with this cookbook I will begin to feel like I have been there. Each recipe is like taking a trip.