Katie's Reviews

Home brewing is sweeping the nation, and you could be a part of this delicious revolution! For those newly interested in brewing or for a seasoned drink maker, True Brews is a great addition to your library. Christensen writes in an easy-to-understand, accessible way, and provides fantastic recipes that will be surefire hits. True Brews has both alcoholic and nonalcoholic recipes, which makes it great both for kids and for parties!

As a proud lover of breasts in all shapes and forms, this book was a true joy to read. Williams writes about the science that is very close to our hearts in an accessible and enjoyable way. Her research into breasts has yielded some hilarious, surprising, and thought-provoking insights. Breasts will be interesting not only to lovers of our favorite mammary gland, but also to those readers interested in environmental studies, women’s issues, and history. Read the first chapter--you won’t put it down!

From the hilarious brain of funnyman-next-door David Sedaris, regular contributor to NPR’s This American Life and to the New Yorker, comes another book of observations and stories about daily life. Whether he is talking about disciplining children or jet-setting to Australia, Sedaris has a knack for pointing out the humor in all aspects of life, and doing it with perfect comedic timing. If you’ve never read Sedaris, this new book is a great place to start!

I read this book in one sitting overnight because the thought of putting it down seemed absolutely impossible, and I couldn’t rest until I knew how it ended. Hosseini’s latest work is touching, painful, and exquisitely beautiful. It is about an Afghani family scattered across the globe, the lives they touch, and the bonds between them that last forever. Each chapter is a masterpiece in itself. Hosseini, author of The Kite Runner, writes with the certainty and delicacy of one who understands the pain every human suffers, but who still remembers that our lives are filled with beauty. I cannot recommend And the Mountains Echoed highly enough. Don’t miss our event with Hosseini on June 2nd.

For those who love a story of overcoming incredible hardships, or for anyone interested in prostitution or North Korean politics, this book is an excellent choice. When two sheltered North Korean women are sold into sex slavery outside of their home nation, they must learn hard and fast how to adjust to life outside of the reach of their Dear Leader, and how to accept the curveballs that life throws them.

In a world where Russia is experiencing never-before-seen economic success coupled with political anger and resentment at corrupt government actions, it is worthwhile to look at the man who is at the forefront of it all. Vladimir Putin, claimed as a savior by some and a usurper by others, has had a fascinating journey to the top of one of Europe's most powerful nations. Gessen's research into how Putin came to lead Russia is perfectly detailed, and Putin's story is incredible. For anyone interested in post-USSR Russia, or modern Russian politics, this book is a great choice.

What's incredible about Applebaum's Iron Curtain is her attention to detail: she paints such vivid pictures of life in Eastern Europe under Soviet rule, you feel as if you had lived it yourself. Her meticulous research has paid off in a magnificent work on the trials and tribulations of the Eastern Bloc, a subject not as well-known as life in the USSR.

One thing is certain: love is epic. Sometimes love means traveling for ten years across stormy seas, facing furious gods, ravenous cyclopses, and terrible, magic-wielding witches. On Odysseus' journey to return to his lady-love in the aftermath of the Trojan War, he faces all this and more! If you view love as an adventure, The Odyssey is the book for you.

J.K Rowling's first book for adults, about the gritty, dramatic underbelly of an idyllic English village, is a compelling story. Rowling writes in such a way that you are drawn to her characters, whether you love them or loathe them. The Casual Vacancy is very much a book grounded in reality, with striking observances on humankind that will stay with you many hours after you finish.

For anyone interested in growing up in China under Mao Zedong, China's exploding
economy, or the trajectory of modern China, this is the book for you. Hua's ten
essays are each based on different words relevant to Chinese culture. Hua shares
personal stories as well as political ones, and his essays are as hilarious as
they are insightful. A great read!