book review, food & drink, nonfiction

Asian Vegetables by the Wang Sisters (Review)

While bok choy is now a staple on Western grocery store shelves, other Asian vegetables remain unknown―even though they’re delicious, nutritious, and easy to grow in northern climates. Caroline, Stéphanie, and Patricia Ho-Yi Wang, three sisters of Cantonese descent, have made it their mission to introduce gardeners, cooks, and vegetable lovers of all flavours to wider sources of sustenance. Organized around fifteen Asian vegetables that are presented according to the rhythm of the seasons, this lush, full-colour book offers advice on growing and harvesting organic crops intended for both weekend and commercial gardeners, along with a host of ideas to preserve and prepare them, including forty or so recipes, some of which have been developed by renowned chefs. The Wang sisters complement the book’s practical advice by offering thoughts on Asian vegetables from a cultural point of view and sharing the importance of these foods within their own family, members of whom left China to immigrate to Madagascar before settling in Québec. Asian Vegetables is a generous and gorgeous tribute to good food, to the land, and the importance of strong roots… Read More Asian Vegetables by the Wang Sisters (Review)

book review, nonfiction

Good Sh*t: Your Holistic Guide to the Best Poop of Your Life by Julia Blohberger and Roos Neeter (Review)

It’s time to talk sh*t—literally—with this relatable and humourous interactive handbook that will help you conquer the (ceramic) throne so you can conquer your life. If you grew up in the Western world, you were probably taught that poop is gross. Unspeakable, even. But it’s a waste to think of poop as a waste. Bags under our eyes tell us we’re not getting enough sleep. Sallow skin, thinning hair, and brittle nails tell us if our diets are imbalanced or if we’re overstressed. Poop tells us all of that—and much more… Read More Good Sh*t: Your Holistic Guide to the Best Poop of Your Life by Julia Blohberger and Roos Neeter (Review)

book review, food & drink, nonfiction

Carpathia: Food from the Heart of Romania by Irina Georgescu (Review)

Romania is a true cultural melting pot, rooted in Greek and Turkish traditions in the south, Hungarian and Saxon in the north and Slavic in the east and west. Carapathia, the first book from food stylist and cooking enthusiast Irina Georgescu, aims to introduce readers to Romania’s bold, inventive and delicious cuisine. Bringing the country to life with stunning photography and recipes, it will take the reader on a culinary journey to the very heart of the Balkans, exploring it’s history and landscape through it’s traditions and food… Read More Carpathia: Food from the Heart of Romania by Irina Georgescu (Review)

book review, food & drink, nonfiction

Home Style Cookery: A Home Cookbook by Matty Matheson (Review)

Matty returns with 135 of his absolute favorite recipes to cook at home for his family and friends, so you can cook them for the people you love. Home Style Cookery is his definitive guide to mastering your kitchen, covering everything from pantry staples (breads, stocks, and pickles) to party favorites (dips, fried foods, and grilled meats), to weeknight go-tos (stews, pastas, salads), and special occasion show-stoppers (roasts, smoked meats, and desserts)… Read More Home Style Cookery: A Home Cookbook by Matty Matheson (Review)

book review, comic/graphic novel, nonfiction

Cheeky: A Head-to-Toe Memoir by Ariella Elovic (Review)

Too tall. Too short. Too fat. Too thin. The message is everywhere–we need to pluck, wax, shrink, and hide ourselves, to not take up space, emotionally or literally; women are never “just right.” Well, Ariella Elovic, feminist and illustrator extraordinaire, has had enough. In her full-color graphic memoir Cheeky, she takes an inspiring and exuberant head-to-toe look at her own body self-consciousness, and body part by body part, finds her way back to herself. Charming and hilarious, full of empathy and candor, and gorgeously illustrated, Cheeky aims to inspire all of us to embrace our bodies, flaws and all, as well as our bodies’ needs, desires, and inherent power.… Read More Cheeky: A Head-to-Toe Memoir by Ariella Elovic (Review)

book review, nonfiction

The Art of Toy Story 4 & The Art of Ralph Breaks the Internet (Review)

The Art of Toy Story 4: Beautiful art book features never-before-seen concept art, character studies, process animation, storyboards, and colorscripts from the Pixar studio animation movie. Includes exclusive interviews with the production team on the making of the film and insights into their creative vision. The Art of Ralph Breaks the Internet: A great collectors book for fans of Disney Oscar-nominated Wreck-It Ralph movies and a resource for animation and film students. Features exclusive content on the making of Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck-It Ralph 2… Read More The Art of Toy Story 4 & The Art of Ralph Breaks the Internet (Review)

book review, multiple reviews, nonfiction

Pocket Change Collective, Books 1-6 (Multi-Book Review)

Thank you so much to Penguin Random House Canada for sending me complimentary physical copies of the first Pocket Change Collective books to read and review! I am very conscious and interested in ways that we can make the world and society better, I also work for a social enterprise, so the Pocket Change Collective… Read More Pocket Change Collective, Books 1-6 (Multi-Book Review)

ARC review, book review, nonfiction

Billion Dollar Start-Up by Adam Miron, Sébastien St-Louis & Julie Beun (ARC Review)

It only took five years for two brothers-in-law to create a billion-dollar, award-winning, take-no-prisoners cannabis company called HEXO. How did they do it? That’s the story. From early roadblocks and devastating personal and financial setbacks to explosive growth and some of the biggest cannabis deals in global history, Billion Dollar Start-Up not only recounts the HEXO story but the history of Canada’s momentous road to legalization. In this part fast-paced memoir, part high-octane business book, writer and journalist Julie Beun gives us an intimate look at the life of a start-up and the ferocious entrepreneurial drive it takes to succeed — written in real-time, as the story unfolded. Throughout history, there have been fewer than 100 Canadians who have started a company and lived to see it become worth one billion dollars. Adam Miron and Sébastien St-Louis are two of them. This is their story.… Read More Billion Dollar Start-Up by Adam Miron, Sébastien St-Louis & Julie Beun (ARC Review)

ARC review, book review, nonfiction

Do Better by Rachel Ricketts (ARC Review)

Do Better is a revolutionary offering that addresses anti-racism from a comprehensive, intersectional, and spiritually-aligned perspective. This actionable guidebook illustrates how to engage in the heart-centered and mindfulness-based practices that racial justice educator and healer Rachel Ricketts has developed to fight white supremacy from the inside out, in our personal lives and communities alike. It is a loving and assertive call to do the deep—and often uncomfortable—inner work that precipitates much-needed external and global change. Radical racial justice includes daily, intentional, and informed action. It demands addressing the emotional violence we have perpetuated on ourselves and others (most notably toward Black and Indigenous women and femmes), both as individuals and as a society. Do Better provides the missing pieces to manifest practicable, sustainable solutions such as identifying where we most get stuck, mitigating the harm we inflict on others, and mending our hearts from our most painful race and gender-based experiences, plus much more… Read More Do Better by Rachel Ricketts (ARC Review)

book review, nonfiction

What Cats Want by Dr. Yuki Hattori (Review)

From the top feline doctor in Japan comes a fun, practical, adorably illustrated “cat-to-human” translation guide to decoding your cat’s feelings. When your cat’s tail is upright, she’s saying hello. If it’s quivering? She’s happy to see you. But if it swishes ominously from side to side across your living room floor? Beware-your cat is annoyed. With nineteen bones and twelve muscles, cats’ tails have countless ways of expressing their emotions. What Cats Want is here to uncover the meaning behind every movement, and the motivation beneath every quirk. Did you know, for example, that adult cats love to reconnect with their inner kitten? Or that cats prefer multiple watering holes over just one? Our cats are sophisticated-no matter what any dog lover says-and What Cats Want has the answers to every question asked by cat owners young and old. An invaluable new guide filled with creative tips and darling illustrations, What Cats Want provides a much-desired glimpse into the minds of our most mysterious pets… Read More What Cats Want by Dr. Yuki Hattori (Review)