Review of The Vanishing Fleece by Clara Parkes

Vanishing Fleece: Adventures in American Wool by Clara Parkes

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Disclaimer: I was given an ARC of this book by Abrams Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I have to admit that I am a huge fan on Clara Parkes work and since I am an Indie yarn dyer, I found this behind the scenes look at the processing of wool fascinating!

This book follows the entire process from the raw wool bale to the finished skein. She sends a quarter of the bale to 4 different mill to be processed in different way and then has the yarn dyed by different methods. By doing this Clara Parkes is able to explore a variety of different methods that are used in the wool industry.

As someone who makes their living in one aspect of the fiber industry, it is wonderful to get a glimpse into the processes that lead up to where my portion of this amazing industry comes in.

I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the fiber industry, as well as how things are made in general!



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Review of The Fountains of Silence by Ruta Sepetys

The Fountains of Silence by Ruta Sepetys

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Disclaimer: I was given an advance reader copy from Penguin Teen via Bookish First in exchange for an honest review.

I found The Fountains of Silence by Ruta Sepetys to be completely enthralling and I couldn't put it down. I did find it a bit hard to follow at first due to the constant changing point of view and short chapters but I quickly found the rhythm of the story.

I did not know very much about Spain under Franco's rule and the aftermath of the Spanish civil war, so it gave me a very minimal glimpse into that history and has made me want to learn more. I did find the culture shock that Daniel, an American teen visiting Spain, experienced to be eye-opening because there are freedoms that are often taken for granted.

I would highly recommend this book.



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Review of Art in a Box by Marlis Maehrle

Art in a Box: 30 Creative Projects in Mixed-Media Assemblage by Marlis Maehrle

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


Disclaimer: I was given an advance reader copy from Schiffer Publishing Ltd. via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I had high hopes for this book based on the description but I was disappointed. It does have step by step instructions but I didn't find the projects very inspiring since many of them just looked like some random things were gathered and attached in a box.

I might suggest that someone checks this book out from a library but I wouldn't recommend buying it.



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Review of Vegan in an Instant by Marina Delio

Vegan in an Instant: 103 Plant-Based Recipes for Your Instant Pot by Alpha Books

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Disclaimer: I was given an advance reader copy by DK via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This has a good variety of recipes that should satisfy just about any tastes. I however did not like how many of the recipes included some processed vegan alternatives such as cheezes. This is a good first vegan Instant Pot cookbook because it does have good coverage of the staple foods that can be made in the Instant Pot.

I would recommend this book as a first vegan Instant Pot cookbook.



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Review of Plant-Based Meal Prep by Stephanie Tornatore & Adam Bannon

Plant-Based Meal Prep: Simple, Make-Ahead Recipes for Vegan, Gluten-Free, Comfort Food by Stephanie Tornatore

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Disclaimer: I was given an advance reader copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I found this book to have a good variety of recipes including a couple that I regularly get at restaurants and would like to make myself. I like how they explain how to do meal planning, which is something that I want to start doing. I like how at the top of the recipe it tells you what the recipe is free from, such as grain-free or soy-free.

I would definitely recommend this book!



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Review of The Yoga Plate by Tamal & Victoria Dodge

The Yoga Plate: Bring Your Practice into the Kitchen with 108 Simple  Nourishing Vegan Recipes by Tamal Dodge

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Disclaimer: I was given an advance reader copy of this book by Sounds True via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

As a vegetarian who eats mostly a vegan diet, but not strictly, I can see this cookbook becoming a staple in my kitchen. There are so many recipes in here that I want to try and none of them have hard to find ingredients like some vegan cookbooks rely upon.

I know of a few people that I may be giving this book to for Christmas this year.

I highly recommend this book!



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Review of Rebel Girls by Elizabeth Keenan

Rebel Girls by Elizabeth Keenan

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Disclaimer: I was given an advance reader copy of this book by Harlequin Teen via NetGalley in exchange for an honest opinion.

I really wanted to like this book but I had a hard time, not because it wasn't well written but because I found myself in the position that I am both too old and too young for this book. I felt too old for this book because it is written for teens, which I am not a teen. I felt too young for this book because I am just a bit too young for the late 80s to early 90s references that were being made.

With that said, I did find this to be well written and brought up tough subject matter (abortion and bullying) that was presented in a real way and how the issues were dealt with.

I would say to give this book a look if you are interested in these topics, but it is definitely written for teens.



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