Hope you all had a great weekend! What's everybody reading today?
I'm a busy reader these days. Here's what I'm steeped in right now:
The Sex Lives of Cannibals by J. Maarten Troost
At the age of twenty-six, Maarten Troost—who had been pushing the snooze button on the alarm clock of life by racking up useless graduate degrees and muddling through a series of temp jobs—decided to pack up his flip-flops and move to Tarawa, a remote South Pacific island in the Republic of Kiribati. He was restless and lacked direction, and the idea of dropping everything and moving to the ends of the earth was irresistibly romantic. He should have known better.
The Sex Lives of Cannibals tells the hilarious story of what happens when Troost discovers that Tarawa is not the island paradise he dreamed of. Falling into one amusing misadventure after another, Troost struggles through relentless, stifling heat, a variety of deadly bacteria, polluted seas, toxic fish—all in a country where the only music to be heard for miles around is “La Macarena.” He and his stalwart girlfriend Sylvia spend the next two years battling incompetent government officials, alarmingly large critters, erratic electricity, and a paucity of food options (including the Great Beer Crisis); and contending with a bizarre cast of local characters, including “Half-Dead Fred” and the self-proclaimed Poet Laureate of Tarawa (a British drunkard who’s never written a poem in his life). (from Goodreads)
I'm reading this for April's Around The World challenge (South Pacific), and LOVING it. It's a hilarious travel memoir that's teaching me a lot about an area of the world I am unfamiliar with. Oh, you thought all islands of the South Pacific were idyllic gems like Fiji? Not so much. Troost's travelogue is leaving me in stitches and I can't wait to review it.
Frozen In Time by Mitchell Zuckoff
On November 5, 1942, a U.S. cargo plane on a routine flight slammed into the Greenland ice cap. Four days later, a B-17 on the search-and-rescue mission became lost in a blinding storm and also crashed. Miraculously, all nine men on the B-17 survived. The U.S. military launched a second daring rescue operation, but the Grumman Duck amphibious plane sent to find the men flew into a severe storm and vanished.
In this thrilling adventure, Mitchell Zuckoff offers a spellbinding account of these harrowing disasters and the fate of the survivors and their would-be saviors. Frozen in Time places us at the center of a group of valiant airmen fighting to stay alive through 148 days of a brutal Arctic winter by sheltering from subzero temperatures and vicious blizzards in the tail section of the broken B-17 until an expedition headed by famed Arctic explorer Bernt Balchen attempts to bring them to safety.
But that is only part of the story that unfolds in Frozen in Time. In present-day Greenland, Zuckoff joins the U.S. Coast Guard and North South Polar--a company led by the indefatigable dreamer Lou Sapienza, who worked for years to solve the mystery of the Duck's last flight--on a dangerous expedition to recover the remains of the lost plane's crew. (from Goodreads )
I'm at the beginning of this book, and already HOOKED. I'm a bit of a Coast Guard groupie (both my brother and stepbrother currently serve) so this historical account of a World War II search-and-rescue mission is fascinating to me. Plus, I love that the author got involved in the more recent search for one of the planes that was never found. Adds a unique twist the story.
Weelicious by Catherine McCord
After her son was born in 2007, Catherine McCord sought out resources to teach her how to prepare fresh, healthy, appealing meals for young kids—but she came up empty. With culinary school under her belt and a hungry baby to feed, Catherine started Weelicious.com, a website that has since grown into a comprehensive offering of kid-friendly family meals.
Complete with beautiful color photos, tips and tools, lists of pantry staples, feeding plans, and more than seventy new recipes never before seen on Weelicious .com, Weelicious makes it easy to get kids eating healthy foods from their first bite. Catherine teaches parents how to turn their kids into great eaters who appreciate food and are open to exciting new flavors. (from Goodreads)
You guys know I love Small Fry to pieces. He's the shizzle. But seriously, one of the hardest things IN LIFE is trying to feed him. He is the world's pickiest eater, hands down. I have been on a desperate quest for the last year to find foods that will appeal to him (other than PB&J and fruit...which in themselves are not terrible, but a good diet they do not make). I heard amazing things about Weelicious and decided to give it a try. It's been an interesting journey. I only have the book for 2 more days from the library, so will soon be reviewing it and sharing my saga with you...
And my audiobook is still Don't Go by Lisa Scottoline--should be finishing up this week!
What will be coming up next?
The Honest Toddler: A Child's Guide to Parenting by Bunmi Laditan. I've been trying really hard to delay this awesomeness until close to its release date, and that is quickly coming upon us, so this is next in my queue! Others on the horizon include Jordan Freeman Was My Friend by Richard White (for this month's Keyword Challenge: friend), The Midwife's Revolt by Jodi Daynard (for an upcoming book tour) and Fly Away by Kristin Hannah (ARC that I'm pretty excited to review).
What are you reading this week, friends?
Frozen in time sounds amazing! I am adding this one to my list. Thanks for sharing! Have a great week.
ReplyRebecca @ The Key to the Gate
It is great. Pulled me in right away, which does not always happen with nonfiction.
The Sex Lives of Cannibals, ha! I'd grab that one for the title alone. I'm very curious about Frozen in Time. That sounds like the sort of nonfiction that I really enjoy. I can't wait to hear what you think about Honest Toddler, I have a feeling that it's going to be hilarious :)
ReplyHave a fab week dahhhling!
Yes, I was reading Cannibals in a waiting room this weekend with a bunch of elderly people around me, and I'm quite sure they thought I was some sort of sexual deviant...
Frozen In Time sounds great - especially since I love historical fiction! :)
ReplyYes...and this is better than fiction! Hehe.
Uhhh yeah. I think I need Weelicious. My kiddo has been an amazing eater, and all of a sudden about 6 months ago, turned into a picky picky picky eater. Gah!!! Hoping it's just a phase (she's almost 4). I don't usually get cookbooks because, well, I'm a terrible cook, but that one sounds like it could be helpful AND easy! ;)
ReplyI'd definitely suggest it! She has a few chapters at the beginning that give advice about working with picky eaters. It's tough for me because Small Fry is only 22 mos (he doesn't really understand consequences yet and is not real interested in helping me prepare the food), but for older kids I think she gives good suggestions.
I'm most excited about the weelicious book review as I'm always on the website and thought about buying the book! Can't wait!
ReplyI will definitely let you know! These picky toddlers, oy...
I've had Frozen in Time on my TBR list for awhile now. I'll be curious to know what you think of it. I've also heard good things about Don't Go...Have a great week!
ReplyI'm curious to read other reviews of Don't Go once I've finished it. It's had its good and bad sides so far. Will be an interesting review!
I've had The Sex Lives of Cannibals sitting on my shelf for sometime and have heard lots of good things about it. I need to read it!
ReplyIt is SO funny! Highly recommend!
Oh my gosh, The Sex Lives of Cannibals sounds fantastic. I love totally random books like that. What a great list you have this week!
ReplyYes, one thing I love about some of the challenges I'm doing this year is all of the random books they force me to read. I love going beyond the current bestsellers once in a while!
I don't buy cookbooks but those one's got my attention, especially cooking for kids.
ReplyFly Away is on my list to read next also.
I usually don't buy cookbooks either, but I'm considering purchasing a copy of this one. I really like it.
A lot of great books here! I think the cookbook sounds terrific.
ReplyCongrats, Kelly! You've won a book on my blog. Please "stop by" when you get a chance. Thanks!
AWESOME! I love winning books :) Thanks!!!
Just finished reading Knots and Crosses ans started Haunted Grounds.
ReplyThanks for stopping by!