This academic work didn’t provide the exact research angle I needed, so I ended up skimming a good bit, but it was still interesting, as I began knowiThis academic work didn’t provide the exact research angle I needed, so I ended up skimming a good bit, but it was still interesting, as I began knowing very little about the relationship between Russia and Kazan Muslims. The book goes deep into the religious teaching schools that formed the backdrop of society for centuries, and how different Russian powers fought against or worked with them. I did highlight several passages of interest....more
The Grand Tour is interesting, not simply because it's insightful regarding the life of Agatha Christie, but how it depicts a large swath of the worldThe Grand Tour is interesting, not simply because it's insightful regarding the life of Agatha Christie, but how it depicts a large swath of the world in 1922. Agatha's husband Archie was offered a job as part of the British Empire Exhibition to travel the world, visiting diverse places of the commonwealth, in order to gain support and interest in the forthcoming event in London. Agatha was able to travel along at reduced expense. The almost year-long adventure is told through some excerpts from Agatha's autobiography, most mostly through letters that she sent home to her mother and her toddler daughter. They are supplemented by many of the Christies' own photographs and memorabilia. They traveled by boat to South Africa, Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand, Hawaii (where their entire focus was on surfing most every day they could), across Canada by rail, then by boat back to England. A forward by Agatha's grandson, who also has editing credit, adds to the context of the work.
The fascinating work demonstrates Agatha's great writing talent, too, in how she describes places (such as the vivid colors of New Zealand, or Lake Louise in Canada which she considered the most beautiful of places for many years) and the people she meets along the way. The most colorful character is the head of their exhibition group, Major Belcher, an absolute terror who could shift from jovial to having days-long temper tantrums over perceived slights. The book is, of course, largely a work of the 1920s, so expect a very elite perspective and some racist terms....more
This is a rare book with a narrow focus on the involvement and depiction of Russians in American film. The work is academic in focus, but a delightfulThis is a rare book with a narrow focus on the involvement and depiction of Russians in American film. The work is academic in focus, but a delightfully easy, intriguing read. I was disappointed that it wasn't well suited for my personal research needs, though; I'd hoped for more detail on the 1920s and the silent film industry, but the greater emphasis was on recent decades (and there's no denying those works are easier to watch and information is more readily available). Across the decades, the author focuses on actors, other film professionals, composers, and to a mild degree, dancers. I was disappointed that one aspect was ignored, that of touring Cossacks through the 1920s; I'd read of them elsewhere and hope to find more here, as Russian equestrians had recurrent roles in Russia-inspired silent films.
In summary, an interesting work on a niche subject, but a book better suited for people who want to study the roles of Russians in more contemporary film....more
An interesting historical book published 20 years ago, focusing on the rural Minnesota county of Goodhue. I bought this at local indie Fair Trade BookAn interesting historical book published 20 years ago, focusing on the rural Minnesota county of Goodhue. I bought this at local indie Fair Trade Books only a few days after moving to Goodhue's county seat of Red Wing. Author Jim Franklin, raised in the town of Goodhue, explores the land of his youth town by town, section by section. The book follows a stream of consciousness with his route, which could be frustrating if returning to the pages for particular information; for example, Red Wing comes up repeatedly, nothing neatly confined to a chapter. Old photographs and diagrams are throughout. Franklin's voice is easy-going and friendly, making him a good tour guide for the journey... but his voice also shows its age. The book is written with the assumption that the audience is descended from the white European pioneers who settled the county. Native Americans are "othered" in a jolting way.
On a technical level, the book was outright annoying to read due to the formatting and binding. The book is rectangular with wide pages, and the book's binding is so thick and inflexible that it's hard to read the text at the interior. Both hands are required hold the thing open to read the entire page. Even more, the way things were formatted, the interior text was usually in a narrower column that was then largely obscured by the restrictive binding....more
I picked this up for research, and soon after I acquired it, I was delighted to come across Worsley's series on PBS that brings vivid life to the bookI picked this up for research, and soon after I acquired it, I was delighted to come across Worsley's series on PBS that brings vivid life to the book! That encouraged me to start reading all the sooner. While I've watched a number of Worseley's programs, I hadn't read her work before. I found her to be an incredibly breezy, fascinating read. She incorporates many details but never bogs down the narrative. Every so often, her own voice emerges with an aside as well. Agatha Christie had an interesting life, and is a figure greatly misunderstood. I really appreciated the author's incites into the period during which Christie went missing in 1926....more
A fascinating food history book that regards the history of bread, sourdough in particular, across the span of human history, as the author seeks to aA fascinating food history book that regards the history of bread, sourdough in particular, across the span of human history, as the author seeks to authenticate and understand the storied sourdough starter that's been in his possession for decades. There are scattered recipes throughout, but this is not a cookbook, but a fine example of creative nonfiction, with a personal story woven into a broader tale....more
Slow Foods International has complied a catalog of important regional foods and food-production procedures thI received an advance copy via NetGalley.
Slow Foods International has complied a catalog of important regional foods and food-production procedures that are endangered around the world. Culinary historian Sarah Lohman explores select items from that list, traveling around America to find out the real history of the food and how it's being kept alive today.
The trip is absolutely fascinating. Her tone is personable, the subject matter immersive. She's frank about how things such as climate change, colonialism, and capitalism have impacted which foods are popular and which ones die off.
In California's Coachella Valley, she examines how dates came to the state, how it was advertised using Arabic fantasy and biblical motifs, and how the industry gets by today. In Hawaii, she visited modern farms that continue to grow sugar cane, and discusses how canes came to Hawaii and how the sugar industry has changed through white settlement to only recently cease, and how people are trying to perpetuate older varieties of sugar cane.
She roams Navajo lands to butcher Navajo-Churro sheep and meets the Dine who raise and respect the animals who mean much to their people. Among the Lummi in Puget Sound, she sees what traditional reef net fishing is like and how Indigenous people are continuing the fight, legally and culturally, to catch salmon. In the Upper Midwest, she joins tribal members as they harvest manoomin, often branded as wild rice, and shines a light on environmental shifts in the region.
Apple cider has waned in popularity and prevalence over the centuries as religious and cultural norms have shifted, and today people are making a concerted effort to rediscover "lost apples" across America. The Choctaw people introduced sassafras powder to the Creoles of Louisiana, and today very few people continue the old ways of creating file powder for use in dishes such as gumbo. Free Black women sold groundnut cakes on the streets of Charleston, South Carolina, in the 19th century and into the 20th, and now people are trying to bring back heirloom peanuts such as Carolina Runner.
This is a book that will make you think. Past and perpetuated injustices will make you angry--but the way that people are trying to preserve foods, preserve their history and culture, will also make you grateful. Also: this is a book that will make you HUNGRY. Ultimately, the tale is one that encourages conservation so that these foods and their methods can continue to be eaten, enjoyed, and respected. ...more
I'm a new resident and I wanted to learn more about the state's history. I picked this up at the local indie bookstore, Fair Trade Books. This book haI'm a new resident and I wanted to learn more about the state's history. I picked this up at the local indie bookstore, Fair Trade Books. This book had its first edition released to coincide with the USA bicentennial in 1976, with this slightly updated edition released in the early 1980s. I expected it to be largely white male focused like most texts of the period, and it was, but it gave a much more analytical view of the Sioux War than I anticipated. That is good. While the text was often dry, it was still a fast read, and one that was filled with interested facts. There were several things I paused to share with my husband. I think this is a good book to keep around as I'll probably write about the state at some point, but I'll seek out more modern, comprehensive books....more
The Secret History of Christmas Baking is a fun, breezy overview of Christmas treats that doesn't ignore darkI received an advance copy via NetGalley.
The Secret History of Christmas Baking is a fun, breezy overview of Christmas treats that doesn't ignore dark aspects of the past, either. Really, this is an ideal book for people like me to geek out over food history.
Raedisch references her own German-American background often, but her exploration is by no means confined to Germany. The history of Christmas baking means the entire world is involved, as many "holiday spices" come from tropical places. The tale of how those ingredients traversed the world--and then later became attached to Christmas--is a convoluted one. Sometimes Raedisch proposes theories, but they don't seem far-fetched. She acknowledges the role of slavery in things like the sugar trade and the develop of vanilla harvesting. The balance of grim reality and levity feels right. There are some wild historical tangents (witches are a regular theme) but they are all pretty fun and do carry some connection to Christmas baking.
There are recipes throughout, too, mostly from Europe. In addition, there are projects and even schematics for doing some papercrafts to accompany a Christmas meal. ...more
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
I geek out over food history. This book feels like it was written for me. Webster is an exI received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
I geek out over food history. This book feels like it was written for me. Webster is an expert on the Tudor era, and breaks down her delicious subject matter by season. She discusses different native and imported foods across the period and frequently cites primary sources, many of which are gifts that were ordered or received (wow, a lot of judges were bribed with fancy foods). The larger portion of each section is devoted to recipes. What sets this book apart in an amazing way is that the original recipes are included, followed by her modern re-creation packed with advice.
The only other current food history book that I've seen do this is Savoring the Past: The French Kitchen and Table from 1300 to 1789, but that one also translated from French to English; most of the recipes in Webster's book are in the original English (complete with creative spelling). I feel like the seasonal organization adds to Webster's work as well, as you get a greater sense of the natural flow of the year and how holidays were celebrated. A section on wassail and its evolution across time, including how a declaration of "toast" came to be involved with drinking, is especially fascinating. Following the seasonal sections is one on the Tudor concept of banquets, which were dessert-focused and came about because of the increasing availability and enjoyment of sugar.
I adored this book. I definitely would have looked to this for inspiration while working on my novel A Thousand Recipes for Revenge. I highly recommend Eating with the Tudors to my fellow food history buffs out there. ...more
What a fascinating book! Lexington was, truly, the horse that began the modern American Thoroughbred. WickensI received an advance copy via NetGalley.
What a fascinating book! Lexington was, truly, the horse that began the modern American Thoroughbred. Wickens's incredible effort gives life to the horse that awed thousands upon thousands of people in his races. He was a horse with "bottom," as they said in the 19th century, one with an enduring spirit who lost none of his confidence even as he lost much of his sight. The historical context around him is intriguing, too. The book discusses the changing American racing industry, New Orleans, the British racing industry, and also spends quite a bit of time on the Civil War and the perils that Lexington and his farm endured due to Confederate guerilla raiders. This is really a great example of modern narrative nonfiction....more
I knew this would be a devastating read, but ugh. This really has well-earned the acclaim it has gotten over the years. There are really two parallel I knew this would be a devastating read, but ugh. This really has well-earned the acclaim it has gotten over the years. There are really two parallel stories here: Art speaking with his cranky father in the "present," and the story his father tells of World War II and the horrors of the holocaust. This book is just part one and really acts as a horrific lead-up to the concentration camp reality (that's not a spoiler, as that path is made clear early on). The art is effective in its crudeness, the dialogue ringing with painful authenticity. It's a good book, yet also terrible in the truths it lays bare....more
This nonfiction work on Arkansas during the American Civil War breaks down the conflict year by year with sections written by different expert contribThis nonfiction work on Arkansas during the American Civil War breaks down the conflict year by year with sections written by different expert contributors. It's not creative nonfiction, but neither is it totally dry and boring; instead, it strikes a nice middle ground and is helped by the fact that the major content is about 172 pages. The text is often accompanied by photography and basic maps of battlefield actions and regions....more
Tygiel goes into immense detail to describe an incredible drama of the 1920s that extended into the 1930s, about Southern California oil speculation, Tygiel goes into immense detail to describe an incredible drama of the 1920s that extended into the 1930s, about Southern California oil speculation, stocks, swindles, adultery, murder, attempted murder, suicides, and one guy even lost an eye. The stuff is interesting but also exhausting. I found myself skimming the financial details (and there are many), but was more engaged with the prolonged legal drama and the deaths and back-stabbing that came along with that. It's really a fascinating insight into the corruption intrinsic to LA from its earliest years, but this book isn't a keeper for me....more
I read this to find out more about what my great-grandfather endured in World War I when his Thirty-fifth Division lost 50% of its infantry due to comI read this to find out more about what my great-grandfather endured in World War I when his Thirty-fifth Division lost 50% of its infantry due to commander incompetence as they pushed into the Meuse-Argonne. It's a dry read, but fortunately a short one, and it does a good job of describing the circumstances around the horrendous losses for the Kansas-Missouri soldiers. Really, I marvel that my great-grandfather survived and that I even exist....more
This is the kind of nonfiction book that is a slow read, but an absolutely fascinating one if you geek out over historical details. This book describeThis is the kind of nonfiction book that is a slow read, but an absolutely fascinating one if you geek out over historical details. This book describes the invention of the toilet, the sofa, the concept of the private bedroom, how France warred against cotton, along with many other intriguing historical minutia. This is a book I'll keep around for reference....more
What a fun research read! It is essentially a food-focused travelogue of two friends traveling in Normandy, published soon after their deaths in the 1What a fun research read! It is essentially a food-focused travelogue of two friends traveling in Normandy, published soon after their deaths in the 1850s. It’s an incredibly easy read for the period, full of vivid characters and detailed explanations about harvesting marine life along the shore. There’s one tense bit where the men walked out too far on the sand and a local young girl saves them as the tide floods back in. For my research needs, I love that the top of each page references the general theme of the story beneath....more
A very interesting book for those curious about food-oriented history. Beahrs, in a personable tone, explores Twain's list of most-beloved American foA very interesting book for those curious about food-oriented history. Beahrs, in a personable tone, explores Twain's list of most-beloved American foods and hones in on several to explore them within the context of the 19th century and what has happened to them now--if they still exist. This, in many ways, is a book about conservation, ecology, and how tastes and perspectives of foods can evolve over time. The book discusses Midwest prairie hens, racoons and possum, Lake Tahoe trout, oysters and mussels of San Francisco, Philadelphia terrapin, New Orleans sheephead fish, and cranberries. Twain's life and stories are woven throughout....more
This is about a hundred page-long book describes two major western battles in Arkansas, Pea Ridge and Prairie Grove. The text is quite dry and the natThis is about a hundred page-long book describes two major western battles in Arkansas, Pea Ridge and Prairie Grove. The text is quite dry and the nature of the flow doesn't always make clear who is fighting on what side. There are massive footnote biographies of the major players that would have been better placed in their own sections rather than occupy 2/3 of some pages. The maps are simple in 1990s style but effective. There are a few other black and white illustrations and photographs from the war. There are some blatant typos, including an officer who time travels to the 1950s.
I bought this at a library used book sale. It was evident then that a chunk of pages was coming loose. Unfortunately, as I read, the majority of the pages broke free of the binding. I suppose it's just as well that I was underwhelmed by the book's content, as it is now very difficult to read and is fated for the recycling bin....more
This is a very academic book in structure but it's still a fairly straightforward read as it discusses the evolution of food in France from the medievThis is a very academic book in structure but it's still a fairly straightforward read as it discusses the evolution of food in France from the medieval period up to the Revolution. The emphasis is on French cooking savory dishes in particular, drawing on the works of several important chefs and cookbook authors of the era and their methods for cooking signature sauces, meats, and vegetables. Breads and preserved foods such as cheese are not expounded on, but there is a fascinating chapter on alcohol that addresses not only flavor but storage issues for brandy, wine, and champagne. The back of the book features a large section of very detailed recipes by the aforementioned major French cookbook authors, rewritten and thoroughly-tested for modern cooking....more
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