Books and Breads Blog

May 5, 2023

Two Wheels Good *** by Jody Rosen

Jody Rosen really does elucidate the mystery and history of the bicycle. A consistent theme is the bicycle’s lifelong conflict with motorists and pedestrians. Since...

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April 21, 2023

American Gods by Neil Gaiman *** (of 4)

Neil Gaiman, a British author, has written an Icelandic saga about American gods. Equal parts fantasy, history, sociology, and Americana, Gaiman’s protagonist, and our guide...

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April 21, 2023

The Devil’s Element by Dan Egan *** (of 4)

Kudos to Egan for calling out the devil’s bargain humanity has made with a single element: phosphorus. On one side of the equation, phosphorus is...

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March 21, 2023

These Truths by Jill Lepore **** (of 4)

It is no small feat to write a history of the United States. Choose any event, say, for example the Presidency of George Washington, The...

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March 12, 2023

Shrines of Gaiety by Kate Atkinson *** (of 4)

Atkinson did her homework before reproducing the details of England in the raucous 1920s. Britons released from the devastation of WW I and the influenza...

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March 12, 2023

The Word is Murder by Antony Horowitz *** (of 4)

Antony Horowitz – a prolific writer of mysteries for adults, children, and television – definitely had fun writing this one. He cast himself as one...

Europe

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February 2, 2023

People Love Dead Jews by Dara Horn **** (of 4)

In a series of essays, no not essays, but rather really well-done rants, Dara Horn made me pause and reconsider a lot of what I...

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February 2, 2023

What it is Like to go to War ***(of 4)

There are not a lot of books about the philosophy of war, but there should be, especially as we are a country that in the...

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January 17, 2023

Sourdough Fig and Walnut Bread

Every once in a while everything comes out just right, or almost just right. The scoring on this bread and the other loaf I’m not...

Sourdoughs and SCOBYs

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January 17, 2023

Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan **** (of 4)

The perfect follow up to We Didn’t Know Ourselves, Claire Keegan’s novella describes in exquisite detail the conflict between religion and morality within the mind...

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