{and now for something different.} Knisley, Lucy: Relish

April 2, 2013
First Second
Graphic Novel/Memoir, 192 pages 

A vibrant, food-themed memoir from beloved indie cartoonist Lucy Knisley.

Lucy Knisley loves food. The daughter of a chef and a gourmet, this talented young cartoonist comes by her obsession honestly. In her forthright, thoughtful, and funny memoir, Lucy traces key episodes in her life thus far, framed by what she was eating at the time and lessons learned about food, cooking, and life. Each chapter is bookended with an illustrated recipe—many of them treasured family dishes, and a few of them Lucy's original inventions.

A welcome read for anyone who ever felt more passion for a sandwich than is strictly speaking proper, Relish is a book for our time: it invites the reader to celebrate food as a connection to our bodies and a connection to the earth, rather than an enemy, a compulsion, or a consumer product.

It is rather ironic that, not even forty-eight hours after Ramadan ended, I am sitting here and fighting the urge to lick my fingers - over a graphic novel.

I think the particular beauty of Ramadan, and Relish as well, is that it all rests in being grateful for what you have, and appreciating it more when you have it in front of you. You can have the simplest Iftar and close your eyes in bliss in the first moments of it rolling over your taste buds: a pot of simply served ramen, a few dates and a water bottle.

Like Lucy Knisley, a lot of my fondest reminiscences are interlinked with what I ate at the time. My childhood memories are peppered with wading in the Atlantic Ocean, raising butterflies and numerous trips to the library, as well as my best friend's mom packing a "little" lunch to tide us over during our adventures at the aquarium (fresh parathas and perfectly spiced omelets) and the Carvel ice cream cake that graced my fourth birthday.

(Yes, I do remember. And it was pure, sugary goodness.)

And of course, there are the Eids: fluffy plates of biryani, syrup-soaked gulab jamun lovingly handmade by my uncle's own hands, colorful platters of fruit that are often passed over for slices of Trader Joe's carrot cake and ice cream. 

The best moments of the reading experience is when you feel the presence of someone like you behind every word - or at least, somewhat like you.

 I definitely can't claim Knisley's lovely, often humorous words or drawings, or her gourmet upbringing; though, I could tell you a lot of interesting facts about growing up Muslim, and how quickly I learned to decipher the back of a food label.

At the heart of Relish, though, is the shared pleasures of eating, of finding new things you like or the comfort of returning to old faithfuls when times are bad - and, of course, celebrating the communal aspects of a good dinner and sharing that experience with friends and family and beloved ones.

It made me miss last year, when, stressed and overtaxed from all sides, I spent hours browsing Foodgawker, discovering that lemon bars may just be my claim to fame and telling myself that one summer, if not that summer, I'd make a peach cobbler.

(It's July. I still haven't baked one. But there's always next summer, right?)

This little jewel of a memoir celebrates the fancier dishes, and the moments when you just need a little salt and grease on your fingers. It's studded with deliciously illustrated recipes and college student angst and a little bit of self-reflection. I'm grateful, I'm inspired, I'm determined to square off some time for kitchen duty during the semester, and I'm hungry.

10/10.

Of note: I just took a gander at GoodReads and realized that this is listed as adult nonfiction, so. Teen readers (particularly my conservative ones), please take note.

There are discussions about relationships and dating (yes, I know some people who will be concerned by this, but there's nothing really major) and...I think you can skip over most of the part about the trip to Mexico and take in the huevos rancheros recipe instead.

Fama, Elizabeth: Monstrous Beauty

Expected publication: September 4, 2012
Farrar, Straus and Giroux (Macmillan)
YA Paranormal/Mythology (Mermaids), 304 pages

Acquired and read: From the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for a fair and unbiased review; I stopped for a bit on this one, but after a bit of a nudge from the lovely Wendy Darling, I picked right back up where I left off and finished it within an hour. No lie.


Disclaimer: This is a pre-release ARC received from the publisher. As such, please check any quotes or information against the finished copy of the book.  

If you're a fellow book blogger - well, a reader in general - you probably adhere to the one-chapter rule. This can be considered a distant relation to the (now defunct in most social circles) five-second rule - you know, five seconds to eat a scrap of food off the floor before the germs descend? That might have been disproved as untrue - and if you value your stomach and your health, I advise that you abandon it - but for me, one chapter before aiming a book for the scrap heap or settling in for the night saves me valuable time, sleep and, for the most part, peace of mind.

I won't lie. Up until last night, I had no intention of finishing Monstrous Beauty. Ever. The first time I attempted to read it, I broke the one chapter rule (*gasps* What a rebel I am!*) and eagerly clicked forward to see what the rest of the book might hold.

My discovery? A scene of violent assault (though, thankfully, not completely described) that had me shutting my Kindle cover and vowing never to open it to that particular galley again.

On the lovely Wendy Darling's suggestion, however, I decided to give the galley a second chance yesterday, and made it all the way to the end - as I mentioned before, in an hour. Not much else to do when you're stuck in a hot, empty car waiting for a class to finish. Since I'm feeling lazy (and there's still seven hours left before I can break my fast for the day), I decided to compile the pros and cons of Monstrous Beauty into a list so you can decide for yourself.

What Worked

The mermaids.

Nothing like you've seen in YA before. Trust me on this one. I'm not sure how much more I can say without spoiling, but they are still part-girl, part-fish, but they're much more...wild and raw than Ariel ever could be.

(Down side: Even Ariel invested in that shell bikini.)

The family history.

I really liked the way that the author brought the past into the present, and made the research and bloodline tracing and interviewing really believable.

The haunts.

Yes, that's right, ladies and gentlemen. You get mermaids and some good old fashioned ghosts for your money. A two-for-one deal you can only find in the wonderful world of YA literature.

The writing style.   

Didn't I mention this before? Anyway, the writing style. This is the main reason I carried through with Monstrous Beauty.

What Didn't  

(a.k.a. my Warnings a little earlier than usual, because as I said before, I'm lazy today)

The violence.

The aforementioned assault, a really freaky sea queen (see my note about Ursula in the conclusion), a murder-suicide mystery and a family curse that, despite a lack of distinct violence, might be a little sensitive if you're really attached to your mommy. 

The language.

I know I'm probably wearing this into the ground for people who don't care, but every. Other. Page. I was flinching away from a language bomb. It might not worry you, but it's really a sore spot for me. 

The ending.

Most of the loose threads are woven up - I mean, most of the storyline gets illuminated pretty quickly thanks to the author's approach to melding the past and future - but there were still some questions about the family history and the mermaids that I would have liked to find out just for the sake of it. It's not a big issue, but I just felt a little...unfinished.

The cover.

I mean, it's better than the first version, but still...I was too antsy to post it, so you'll have to look it up for yourself.

Conclusion = ?

I think you'll have to come up with that one yourself. Personally, I did like the unique touch the author gave mermaids - a slight hint of the (original, and quite dark in itself) Little Mermaid tale, a dash of Spirited Away - or so it felt like to me, and the rich culture of the Eastern coast, which being a resident myself I already can appreciate.

And the sea. You can practically smell it coming off the pages. Sometimes, I think I was an ocean-dweller in another life. Something with sparkly, iridescent fins. And a habit of rummaging through sunken ships.

Ultimately, I don't think I can give this book a complete "read it" or "don't read it". I'm not usually one for dark material - though, as I said before, I like the sinister edge to these mermaids - and I'm not in the mood for something with lots of violence and despair. (Actually, I can't think of a time when I do like violence and despair.)

If you want to read Monstrous Beauty, read it to appreciate the writing style, and be prepared to skip forward if the gore and woe-is-me-another-death scenes are freaking you out. This is not The Little Mermaid. No song-and-dance routines, no Prince Eric and no friendly fish companion (though there is a really bizarro-Gothic version of Ursula that should have your knees shaking).

For me, I'd definitely say that I like it, but with reservations. Or, I'd like it more if I didn't have to have those reservations. Because, you know, I'm cool and ambiguous like that.

Blog Tour: Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

I was so excited to be part of the official Shadow and Bone blog tour - so excited that, apparently, I missed my posting date by five days. *hangs head* Fortunately, the lovely Ksenia Winnicki allowed me to post anyway. So if you were looking at the schedule and wondering why Sunday's post wasn't up...mea culpa. All the way.

Anyway, today we have Leigh giving us a few makeup tips that even a Grisha can appreciate; and, after that little snippet of wonderfulness, there's a giveaway of Shadow and Bone so you can have the awesomeness all to yourself. You can put it on your shelf or under your pillow so you can have sweet dreams of Ravka, or take off the dust cover and frame it...

Enjoy!

When I wrote Shadow and Bone, I was working as a makeup and special effects artist in Los Angeles. I still love to talk products and beauty, and there are a few questions that seem to come up again and again. So here are some tips and tricks inspired by the world of the Grisha Trilogy. (Just so you know, I don't rep or sell any of these products. They're just favorites that I can't do without in my kit!)

Problem: Fabrikator pallor

Too many long hours spent slaving in the Materialki workshops? Avoid the sun, and opt instead for my favorite bronzer, DuWop Revolotion (in Original). This lotion works on even the palest skin, and will leave you looking moisturized, dewy, and sunkissed. Plus, it's not too heavy on shimmer, so you needn't worry about glittering like a Cullen.

Problem: Chapped lips from the icy winds of Tsibeya

For soothing dry lips I like Smith's Rosebud Salve or Aquaphor. Tip: Licking your lips when they're dry only dries them out more. Press your lips together to release their natural oils instead.

Problem: Late nights at the Grand Palace

Too little sleep and too much champagne? When you're feeling tired or sickly, focus on perking up your skin. Benetint is a long-lasting berry stain that works for pretty much every skin tone. Posietint looks crazy in the bottle, but gives a subtle, pinky flush. It also has a creamier consistency than Benetint, so it's a little less intimidating. Tip: Posietint darkens slightly as it sets, so apply one layer and wait a few minutes before you add on.

Problem: Smudged mascara

If you just found out your regiment is headed into the Shadow Fold, you may have good cause to weep-- but at least you can look good doing it. Blinc and Fiberwig are both tube mascaras that don't require a base coat. They're easy to apply and easy to remove, and as long as you don't rub your eyes, they won't budge.

Problem: You aren't a Grisha

I like the idea that doing what you love and excelling at it make you beautiful. So, when Grisha use their power, instead of draining them, it just makes them stronger, healthier, and better looking. But we mere mortals must contend with spots, blotches, and wrinkles. My recommendation? Try FaceAtelier's Ultra Foundation. This brand takes a bit of work to find, but it gives a natural, radiant finish. (Also, unlike most cosmetic lines, they don't treat women of color as an afterthought. Their wide range of shades accommodates any and every skin tone.) Tip: Apply with a synthetic flat or domed kabuki brush from Crown.

Problem: There is no magic makeover

How many times have I heard or read that "confidence" is the real secret to looking and feeling great? Well, sure. But has there ever been a better example of "easier said than done"? Where do we get confidence and does it require a prescription?

I still struggle daily with insecurities about the way I look, so I'm not going to pretend to have it all worked out, but here is my best beauty advice: If you want to feel pretty and generally badass, you don't need expensive products or an elaborate skincare regimen. You just need to acquire skills-- take up a sport, learn to cook, master a language. Feel capable. Be competent. This is the mystical wellspring of confidence that trumps shiny hair and bee-stung lips. It's better than lip gloss, and it lasts longer, too.

 

Leigh Bardugo was born in Jerusalem, grew up in Los Angeles, and graduated from Yale University. She lives in Hollywood where she indulges her fondness for glamour, ghouls, and costuming in her other life as makeup artist

 L.B. Benson. 

Her debut novel, Shadow and Bone (Macmillan/Holt), is the first book in the Grisha Trilogy, a YA high fantasy series set in a world inspired by Tsarist Russia.

Places you can find Leigh:

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