Sew Mindful Cross Stitch by Sophie Crabb

SEW MINDFUL CROSS STITCH by Sophie Crabb is a wonderful concept – I know plenty of people who choose to sew or knit as a form of relaxation. Crabb, a designer, crafter, and small business owner from Norfolk in the United Kingdom, tackles mental health concerns by writing about her own experiences and offering subtle suggestions (like avoiding the comparison loop). She has designed cross stitch examples with supportive pithy sayings (e.g., self-care isn’t selfish or today is a new day); to get a better idea of her style check out her UK website (the US Esty page has a security warning). The book itself illustrates “22 beginner friendly cross stitch projects to bring you color and calm.” These are intentionally small projects – just right for a beginner and the book’s photos are colorful and appealing. Plus, Sophie shares helpful insights for executing the projects (like what color to use first). The preview of SEW MINDFUL CROSS STITCH that I saw lists supplies (including specific quantities and colors for embroidery thread), but the patterns were indecipherable to me on the Kindle app. The pdf version on NetGalley was significantly improved and there are several projects which would be fun to try. They’d make great gifts, too!  

Mother-Daughter Murder Night by Nina Simon

I found it hard to believe that MOTHER-DAUGHTER MURDER NIGHT by Nina Simon is a debut novel. Simon started writing it when her own Mom was diagnosed with cancer and one of the characters in this mystery battles cancer, too. She needs a diversion and an unsolved murder is the perfect distraction. Simon introduces readers to a very likeable and somewhat quirky trio: a hard as nails real estate dealmaker and grandmother (Lana); her hard-working daughter (Beth) who is a nurse and single Mom; plus, teenage granddaughter (Jack for Jacqueline) who loves outdoor activities like paddleboarding and kayaking. They have their differences, but truly love and respect each other so when it appears that Jack is a prime suspect in a recent murder, all three eventually get involved in the investigating. Yes, there are some poor decisions, but plenty of surprises for the characters along with both suspenseful and amusing vignettes for readers. MOTHER-DAUGHTER MURDER NIGHT received a starred review from Library Journal (“dazzling debut delivers everything a mystery fan could crave”) and has been chosen as a Reese Book Club pick. You are sure to enjoy this light, cozy and very entertaining mystery! 

Right Kind of Wrong by Amy C. Edmondson

RIGHT KIND OF WRONG by Amy C. Edmondson is a thorough examination of “The Science of Failing Well.” Edmondson, a Harvard Business School professor writes about the Failure Landscape and Practicing the Science of Failing Well in the two main sections of her new book. For example, she describes Basic Failures – those everyday errors which often occur due to inattention, making assumptions, or over confidence – and contrasts them with Complex Failures and with Intelligent Failures. Edmondson clearly illustrates how these failure types differ in terms of preventability and uncertainty and she employs memorable examples (e.g., Citibank transferring $900 million in principle instead of $8 million in interest or pilots not recognizing the need to turn on de-icing equipment under unusually cold conditions). For more information from Edmondson about “productive failures” and conducting post-mortems, check out her interview in Harvard Business Review. RIGHT KIND OF WRONG received a starred review from Library Journal (“information-rich study”). See also The Perfection Trap by Thomas Curran or Never Enough by Jennifer Breheny Wallace which garnered a positive blurb from Lisa Damour. 

Leveling the Learning Curve

Just made available by Columbia University Press, LEVELING THE LEARNING CURVE by William B. Eimicke, Soulaymane Kachani, and Adam Stepan takes an in-depth look at “Creating a More Inclusive and Connected University.” These academicians provide an excellent overview at the very beginning and then each chapter lists references – EXCEPT chapter 7 which is supposed to be a TOOLKIT – there are no live links (that I could find) to the informational videos which the authors discuss. Since I only saw a preview, perhaps those details will be in the final version (or do the authors mean that these are tools which readers need to develop themselves?). As is, that section, potentially among the most useful and practical, is instead quite confusing and disappointing. In other parts of the book, the authors probe topics like the COVID moment in context, digital competencies, and networked learning. Given their credentials (Columbia University professors affiliated with Picker Center Digital Education Group) and experience working with others in the field, it is heartening that they DO have a generally positive attitude towards online teaching and learning. They make worthwhile suggestions (e.g., hire TAs in the summer so they can help plan a course and create digital support like improved course websites or “Universities’ hands-off approach to monitoring and regulating how (and if) instructors use their LMS should change”) and in general, the text raises important points. However, it seems more of a rationale for administrators to build support for online learning than a useful guide for practitioners.  

Piecemeal by Kathryn Pauline and Lidia's Latest ...

PIECEMEAL by Kathryn Pauline describes “A Flexible Repertoire of Effortless Meals in 124 Recipes” and it truly is flexible. Pauline offers a unique method for trying new recipes. She suggests 30 basic components (e.g., caramelized tomatoes; garlicky mushrooms, or roasted grapes) and then, for each, offers an idea for 3 recipes. Of those, one takes 5 minutes to prepare, one about 15 minutes and the last, maybe 30 minutes or a little more. One example is smoky eggplant which could be used in Baba Ganoush, a Ricotta Frittata, and Chicago-style deep dish pizza. Pauline continues to emphasize experimentation by offering easy backup plans, including additional recipes for what she calls essential foundations (e.g., buttermilk biscuits, kale, and almond brittle). Plus, she offers two tables of contents; one divides components by type (e.g., vegetables, meats, sauces, fruits) and lists their potential uses while the second version offers a more traditional division (breakfast, soups, mains, and so on). I am looking forward to trying her ideas for coconut shrimp, turkey spinach meatballs, and cinnamon apples. The accompanying photos are excellent – colorful and appealing throughout.  Nutrition information is not provided, but Pauline stresses fresh ingredients and spans a variety of cuisines (e.g., German, Italian, Japanese, Middle Eastern, Polish, Thai and more).  PIECEMEAL received a starred review from Booklist. We will likely be purchasing this new title for use by our cooking class students, but this inventive cookbook merits a place on your shelf at home, too. 

LIDIA'S FROM OUR FAMILY TABLE TO YOURS by Lidia Matticchio Bastianich and Tanya Bastianich Manuali offers “More Than 100 Recipes Made with Love for All Occasions.” This latest cookbook from a prolific author will likely appeal to her many fans. However, the recipes do not seem especially healthy. Nutrition information is not provided; quite a bit of frying is recommended, and a fun appetizer like Spicy Crispy Roasted Caulifower still requires an entire sick of butter. Perhaps Lidia’s target audience is really an established, confident cook since other recipes are somewhat complicated (see Asparagus with Lemon Sauce) and throughout the authors assume a level of knowledge and sophistication from their readers (did you know that Grana Pandano is similar to Parmigiano Reggiano?). 

For easier meal ideas I plan to investigate instead 100 Easy Dinner Recipes for Right Now from The New York Times. 

The Raging Storm by Ann Cleeves

THE RAGING STORM by Ann Cleeves is the latest Matthew Venn novel following The Long Call and The Heron's Cry). As this title indicates, the environment of North Devon (with stormy days and often treacherous tides at the seaside) is once again a key feature in building atmosphere and suspense. Inspector Venn and his colleagues, Ross May and Sergeant Jen Rafferty, are out to investigate the death of around-the-world sailing phenom, Jem Rosco. A local boy made good, Rosco had moved back recently to a small village where its inhabitants (local schoolteacher, taxi driver, magistrate, landowners, tavern keeper and so on) are now suspects in his death. Venn quietly leads the investigation, focusing on the many past relationships (several characters were at school together or romantically linked) along with current tensions and jealousies. With plenty of twists and strong character development, THE RAGING STORM received starred reviews from Kirkus and Publishers Weekly (“Cleeves’s fans and newcomers alike will be hungry for the next entry.”).

Exit Inteview by Kristi Coulter

EXIT INTERVIEW by Kristi Coulter is a spirited and relatable discussion of employment at Amazon from 2006 to 2018. Coulter, a gifted writer, begins by describing the all-day interview process; although she seems surprised by some questions (e.g., How many gas stations in the US?). Coulter uses the subtitle “The Life and Death of My Ambitious Career” and she writes about the evolution of her feelings towards the organization for which she works and the content, decisions, and impact of that work. Some chapters looking specifically at events associated with female employment since 1972 – simultaneously disheartening and amusing, these are fascinating compilations of national (passage of the ERA; Ferraro for VP), local (harassment at Amazon), and personal (family dynamics, childhood games) occurrences. Her insights on gender are thoughtful; they are not overly strident, but they do allow readers to appreciate the inherent biases that are present in society and particularly (and unfortunately!) in the tech sector. Hopefully, some readers will recognize themselves and pause for deeper reflection. Her own father seems unable to acknowledge the prejudice she faces daily. Likewise, her own capitulation to work pressures and toxic workplace expectations should provide an opportunity for further introspection by all of us. Obviously, it is not just the warehouse conditions at Amazon that are prompting injury, burnout, and exit interviews.