Waukegan Public Library - nonfiction

Have You Heard About... It Gets Better

Fran J — Thu, 22 Nov 2012 07:08:18 +0000

… the project to inspire hope for kids and teens who are harassed because they are (or people assume they are) gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender? It Gets Better: Coming Out, Overcoming Bullying, and Creating a Life Worth Living is a collection of essays edited by Dan Savage and Terry Miller. High school is hard for everyone, but it’s even worse if you’re different in some way. After several teens who were gay or were perceived to be gay committed suicide in 2010, Dan Savage wanted to reach out to other kids who felt hopeless. He and his partner, Terry Miller, made a video about how terrible high school was and how much better their lives have gotten since then, and they put it on YouTube. They hoped to get one hundred videos like theirs. They got thousands.

People from all over the world wrote about their experiences and offered encouragement in this book. The essays are short, many only a page or two. They have to be to fit the dozens and dozens of stories and words of hope that people wanted to share. The writers come from all walks of life – politicians, business people, entertainers, religious leaders, educators, scientists, students, and many others. Some are famous, and others are everyday people. They may be gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, or otherwise “different;” or they may be supportive of those who are. All of them want to encourage kids and teens not to give up. Life is hard, and sometimes it feels like the bullying will never end. However, it got better for everyone in this book – they made new friends, got tougher, found support, got away from the bullies, fell in love. It wasn’t always easy, but it did get better for them, and it can get better for you.

This is not an easy book to read. Many of the contributors suffered abuse, bullying, and depression. Some attempted suicide because they didn’t think they could keep going. However, they all talk about the importance of staying strong and believing that life will improve. Now they’re able to give others the encouragement and hope that they wish they had had. While much of the book is aimed at LGBT teens, the message applies to all teens who are having trouble. Share this book with people who need that help, or read it to learn what you can do to make a difference for someone else.

Reviewed by Fran (staff)

Have You Heard About... Food in Jars

Fran J — Thu, 04 Oct 2012 06:51:13 +0000

… all the benefits of preserving your own food? If you’re like me, you’ve heard about the better flavor, the lower price, the more natural ingredients, the satisfaction of eating something you made yourself, and all of the other advantages. However, you wondered when you would have the time, where to get the fancy equipment and tons of fresh produce, and where to store umpteen jars of pickled beets (not to mention what to do when you discover that you hate pickled beets, even if you did make them yourself). Marisa McClellan’s Food in Jars: Preserving in Small Batches Year-round takes care of many of those concerns. Most of her recipes make just two to five pints and use fewer than ten ingredients, so you can try them without investing a lot in supplies or time. Ms McClellan gives clear, concise instructions on how to do everything from preparing the jars to cooling and storing the finished products, even suggestions for how to use some of the less common ones. She also explains why the steps are important, particularly when doing long-term storage.

The recipes have a sample of almost anything food-related that you could store in jars — jam, jellies, chutneys, pickles, whole fruit, granola, nut butters, soup stock, and mixes to make later. Most of the recipes use boiling water bath canning for long-term preservation, but some are designed for dry storage or freezing. Each section has a variety of familiar and exotic options. For example, the jams range from raspberry and blueberry to vanilla rhubarb jam with Earl Grey (yes, the tea), honey lemon apple jam, and even tomato jam, which sounds bizarre, but the recipe and description are tempting.

If you have fond memories of home-made jam, or want to store the extra tomatoes from your garden, or would like to make a unique gift for a few close friends, check out Food in Jars. With its variety of treats, you’re sure to find something you want to try (even if you hate pickled beets).

Reviewed by Fran (staff)

Have You Heard About... Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil

Fran J — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 06:20:32 +0000

… the bizarre and colorful citizens of Savannah, Georgia? In his nonfiction book, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, John Berendt examines the history and personality of the town, as well as the eccentric citizens who live there. The book is loosely centered around a murder investigation that took place in the city in the 1980s, but the real focus is on the people that Berendt met while living there: The Lady Chablis, a transsexual African American drag queen; Minerva, a voodoo priestess; and Jim Williams, an antiques dealer who has been charged with murder.

Berendt does an excellent job of bringing the Savannah culture to life and exploring the complexities of living in a city with such deep historical roots. But even though this is a nonfiction account, the book reads like a novel, making this a good suggestion for anyone who enjoyed In Cold Blood by Truman Capote or Devil in the White City by Erik Larson.

Reviewed by Katie (staff)

Have You Heard About... Living Large in Lean Times

Fran J — Tue, 03 Jul 2012 06:33:12 +0000

… ways to spend smarter and save money? Clark Howard’s Living Large in Lean Times is a lot of common sense, with some new twists that you might not have thought of. This is a brand new, up-to-the-minute book on the current recession we are going through. There are more than 250 ideas and lots web sites for further ideas to check out.

Clark tells us how to save money in a neighborly, over the backyard fence kind of way. Some of his ideas I thought were laughable they were so outrageous, but other ideas sure made a lot of sense. When I went to several of the web sites, I was very impressed at what they had to offer in the way of saving more money and how to spend what little you might have more wisely. The book is nicely divided into sections, so you only need to read what is of importance to you if you don’t have time to read the entire book.

Reviewed by Terry (staff)

Have You Heard About... The Indispensable Book of Useless Information

Fran J — Tue, 01 May 2012 06:23:56 +0000

… the fun book of totally useless information? The Indispensable Book of Useless Information, by Don Voorhees, is a must for read for trivia fans and those who think they know everything. Did you know that the U.S. Post Office is the largest employer in the United States and Wal-Mart comes in second? The Pentagon is so large that it has 6 different zip codes.

Want to know what WD-40 stands for? Which rock star is about to become a Dad at age 65? Which president has a library book that is 220 years overdue?

This is a fun book is very hard to put down. You’ll find yourself reading it out loud to everyone. It’s amazing!

Reviewed by Terry (staff)

Have You Heard About... Eagle Brand Best-Loved Desserts

Fran J — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 06:10:25 +0000

… all of your favorite Eagle Brand recipes in one book? Eagle Brand Best-Loved Desserts has sections for classics, kids, quick and easy, gifts, and the basics. Seventy-one of the recipes that cooks have been clipping from newspapers, magazines and can labels are gathered in one delicious cookbook.

Remember 7 Layer Magic Cookie Bars, Foolproof Fudge, Simple Fruit Smoothies, S’more Cookie Pizza, and Creamy Cinnamon Rolls? If you’ve never heard of any of these, it’s time to check out this book and give them a try. Very easy to make and very yummy to eat!

Reviewed by Terry (staff)

Have You Heard About... Calico Dresses and Buffalo Robes

Fran J — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 07:03:04 +0000

… the clothing worn in the Wild West? Calico Dresses and Buffalo Robes*, by Katherine Krohn, looks at clothing and fashion in the American West from the 1840s to the 1890s. It covers everyone from Native Americans to cowboys and farmers to city slickers, with brief mentions of non-European immigrants and the military. In addition to clothing, this book looks at accessories and hair styles for both men and women. Where people got their clothing is also mentioned – whether it could be made at home or purchased from a store or catalog.

Calico Dresses and Buffalo Robes would be useful to people interested in costuming for theater or re-enactments (or just for fun), as well as those writing about the time period or with an interest in it. The text is accompanied by photographs and illustrations from the late 1800s. There is a section on trendsetters and rule breakers, such as Levi Strauss and Calamity Jane. An epilogue looks at how Western fashions have changed over time and how they are still popular today.

This book is short, designed to be a brief overview and introduction to the topic rather than a comprehensive work. A bibliography and list of recommended books and websites will help people who want more detail. Words that are likely to be unfamiliar are defined in the text and included in a glossary at the end.

* Other books in the Dressing a Nation series include Buckskin Dresses and Pumpkin Breeches, Petticoats and Frock Coats, Hoopskirts, Union Blues, and Confederate Grays, and The Little Black Dress and Zoot Suits.

Reviewed by Fran (staff)

Have You Heard About... The Great American Cookbook

Fran J — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 07:50:19 +0000

… the cookbook that collects favorite foods from every state in the union? The Great American Cookbook by Clementine Paddleford has 500 time-tested recipes. Little stories throughout each state tell of how some of the recipes came to be. Ever hear of “Zimtsterne,” commonly known as Cinnamon Stars or Potato Kugel? Both are favorites in Illinois. How does Schaum Torte , a Wisconsin favorite sound? Maine’s famous Lobster Stew or California Guacamole? Are you hungry yet?

This is a reprint of How America Eats, originally published in the 1960s. Some of these recipes are easy, and several are rather challenging. Even if you never make any of the recipes, looking through this book is well worth it.

Reviewed by Terry (staff)

Have You Heard About... How to Boil Water

Fran J — Thu, 12 May 2011 06:17:14 +0000

… the Food Network’s great basic cookbook? If you are just learning to cook or want to learn how to cook more simply, How to Boil Water: Life beyond Takeout is the book for you. It really does teach you how to boil water! This book is a basic guide to cooking. It has how-to hints and tips worded in an easy-to-understand way (no big, fancy words). Photos guide you along in how to prepare comfort foods.

Learn how to make easy potato salad, cut up meat or a whole chicken, make a fried egg without flipping it – this was one of my favorites – and much more. I thought this book was really informative and very helpful.

Reviewed by Terry (staff)

Have You Heard About... Antiques Roadshow behind the Scenes

Fran J — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 06:00:00 +0000

…what people around the country are doing with their antiques (and old junk)? You can find out with Antiques Roadshow behind the Scenes: An Insider’s Guide to PBS’s #1 Weekly Show, by Marsha Bemko. Whether you are a fan of Antiques Roadshow or are just wondering if it’s worth it to try to go and see if grandma’s tea service is the big payout, you will love this informative, entertaining account of how it all comes together. We all think we have something valuable tucked away – because it’s old, it must be priceless – but that’s not always the case.

This book will give you insight as to what’s involved in possibly appearing and how you yourself are evaluated. Something that is also intriguing is how much work and how many people are involved in making this #1 weekly show a success!

Reviewed by Doreen (staff)