Archive | Uncategorized RSS feed for this section

Super Secret Cookbooks: Necronomnomnom, Lovecraft Cocktails, and Top Secret Recipes Unlocked

13 Sep

The Necronomnomnom: Recipes and Rites from the Lore of H.P. Lovecraft and Lovecraft Cocktails: Elixirs & Libations from the Lore of H. P. Lovecraft
by Mike Slater
My husband discovered two terrific Lovecraft recipe books recently; don’t worry they weren’t tucked away in a hidden tomb or a locked box in an attic, but it was when he met the author, Mike Slater, at a local convention. So if you borrow the copies of The Necronomnomnom or Lovecraft Cocktails from BCCLS Libraries you will find creative libations, but will be unlikely to actually summon any ancient gods (at least we haven’t yet). For those not familiar with Lovecraft, he is considered one of the early father’s of horror. His works have a looming menace and even if you have not read one of his stories you may be familiar with his most famous elder god, Cthulhu, who inspired many monsters in recent novels like The Kaiju Preservation Society and Lovecraft Country, which put a spin on some of the racism that is unfortunately a part of Lovecraft’s works reflecting a xenophobia often felt by the small town New Englanders he wrote about. These cookbooks though a must for Lovecraft fan are also enjoyable by fantasy foodies in general with their beautiful illustrations, fun puns, and quirky recipes that they contain like The Deep Fried Deep One and The Great Old Buns from The Necronomnomnom or Sunken Island Iced Tea and Moscow Ghoul from Lovecraft Cocktails. These would be great for planning refreshments at your next Horror Movie Marathon, Halloween Party, or Dungeons and Dragon Game. You can see a previous post about other fantasy inspired cookbooks here.

Top Secret Recipes Unlocked: All New Home Clones of America’s Favorite
by Todd Wilbur
Every year my recipe for sweet potato casserole gets rave reviews at Thanksgiving. My secret is that it is a homemade version of the one found at Boston Market. Top Secret Recipes Unlocked is a fun resource packed with clones of everything from Arby’s delicious Horsey Sauce to my childhood favorite popcorn treat, Crunch and Munch. Some entries include background about the restaurants or the dish itself and others discuss what it took to recreate the dish. In his introduction, Wilbur discusses his overall process in trying to recreate the classic dishes in ways that are close to the original in taste but use techniques and ingredients readily accessible to home cooks. The book includes fun diagrams that give a super secret spy feel to the endeavors. Wilbur’s take on the Boston Market’s Sweet Potato Casserole is egg free so can be made ahead so I may give his version a try this year. Top Secret Recipes Unlocked includes recipes from several Hoboken Fast Food Favorites including McDonald’s, Panera, Taco Bell, Dunkin, and Starbucks. This is a great resource for those looking to make their favorites in a healthier version or in away to accommodate dietary restrictions.

Written by:
Aimee Harris
Information and Digital Services Manager

Tags: , ,

A Quality Queer Romance: She Gets the Girl

26 Jul

She Gets the Girl may be a YA romance, but it’s not just for starry-eyed teens. Co-authors Rachael Lippincott and Alyson Derrick are married in real life and tell a story together that draws upon the experiences they once had. New college freshmen Alex is a little rough around the edges, and Molly is trying hard to get out of her quiet bubble. They’re opposites in most ways but join forces to get Molly the girl of her dreams, who she’s been crushing on since high school. Their friendship develops so purely as they learn the quirks and struggles of the other, and of course we can all guess how it ends. But like so many other books of this genre, we’re not really reading for a surprise so much as the emotions throughout–and it did not disappoint.

It was such a relief to me to read a YA queer romance in which the characters’ queer identities were not a plot point at all. There’s a need to represent the journeys and hardships of teens (or those around them) coming to terms with their identities, but I think it’s equally important to show the other side too: where someone of a marginalized group gets to simply be without their existence being an issue. Plus, it gave room for conflict we see less of in YA books. Alex dealt with economic issues and her mother’s alcoholism, and Molly navigated her social anxiety and how her mother’s internalized racism impacted her growth. I’ve read a fair amount of authors who were transracial adoptees themselves writing about the complexities of their experiences, but Molly was the first character I’ve read who is the child of a transracial adoptee. Written with so much emotion but readable for teens, I thought this perspective made the story richer and I’m really hopeful to read more of this type soon. 

My only critique is that I didn’t quite feel the chemistry between Alex and Molly the way I wanted to. However, every good romantic relationship has to have a super strong foundation of friendship–a message YA audiences aren’t always exposed to–and the authors really carried their weight in making it clear how important it is to genuinely like the person you’re with. I love how this book stayed fairly light even while trudging through some heavier topics, good for teens as well as adults who need a break but still want to get something out of their reading experience. You can read this book as an ebook or an audiobook from eBCCLS, or get a physical copy from the Hoboken Public Library or other BCCLS libraries.

Written by:
Stephanie Lodico
Access Services Assistant 

Tags: , ,

← Older Entries
Newer Entries →