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The New Menopause: Navigating Your Path Through Hormonal Change with Purpose, Power, and Facts

Mary Claire Haver. Rodale, $28 (320p) ISBN 978-0-593-79625-2

“Menopause is inevitable; suffering is not,” writes obstetrician/gynecologist Haver (The Galveston Diet) in this enlightening guide. Delving into the biology of menopause, Haver explains that estrogen production slows as “ovaries begin to run out of eggs,” causing hot flashes and missed ovulations. She warns that estrogen’s role in “slowing the breakdown of bone” and metabolizing glucose means menopausal people are at higher risk of developing osteoporosis and insulin resistance. To stem such risks, Haver recommends menopause hormone therapy (MHT), which prompts the body to continue the biological processes stimulated by estrogen. The author also describes lifestyle changes to help readers cope with menopause symptoms, though she skimps on specifics. For instance, she suggests reducing inflammation by eating a diet high in antioxidant-rich produce but doesn’t mention which foods meet this criterion, and she encourages lifting weights and other forms of resistance training without detailing specific exercises. Still, readers will welcome the affirming tone (there’s a chapter devoted to debunking doctors who claim symptoms are “all in your head”) and the attention paid to less-discussed symptoms, as when Haver provides an overview of pharmaceutical products that will help “reintroduce sexual pleasure” in patients with reduced clitoral sensitivity. It’s an informative manual on an important yet underdiscussed health matter. Agent: Heather Jackson, Heather Jackson Literary. (Apr.)

Reviewed on 03/15/2024 | Details & Permalink

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The New Silversmith: Innovative, Sustainable Techniques for Creating Nature-Inspired Jewelry

Nicole Ringgold. Quarry, $35 (160p) ISBN 978-0-7603-8569-2

Jewelry artist Ringgold’s winsome if daunting debut shows how to forge silver acorns, dandelions, and other ecologically oriented objects that can be attached to a ring, bracelet, or necklace. Though Ringgold provides an overview of required tools (an anvil and awl for punching holes are among the essentials) and recommended materials (she prefers working with sterling silver for its versatility), the volume is “geared toward metalsmiths with intermediate to advanced experience” and spends little time otherwise introducing readers to the craft. Standout projects include a poppy blossom with textured petals created by hammering “very consistently... from the center outward” and a silver clamshell featuring barnacles made from scrap wires. To create a monarch butterfly, Ringgold describes how to make the insect’s black patterning by drilling holes in a sheet of silver, which is then overlaid onto brass cut to resemble wings. Simpler projects include a necklace resembling a bicycle chain and leaves with wires soldered on to represent veins. This shouldn’t be anyone’s first metalsmithing guide, but Ringgold’s intricate designs impress and she doles out plenty of helpful tips. For instance, she notes that applying the chemical compound liver of sulfur to a finished piece “highlights details and emphasizes contours” by oxidizing the silver. Seasoned metalworkers will want to take note. (May)

Reviewed on 03/15/2024 | Details & Permalink

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All You Need Is Rhythm and Grit: How to Run Now—for Health, Joy, and a Body That Loves You Back

Cory Wharton-Malcolm. Pegasus, $27.95 (272p) ISBN 978-1-63936-660-6

“If you think you can’t run because you’re not the right body type, fitness or identity, then this book is for you,” writes Runner’s World columnist Wharton-Malcolm in his empowering debut. He recalls how in 2006, he was overweight and watching the London Marathon when he declared to incredulous friends that he planned to complete the race the following year, which he did. The author’s training was anything but smooth, however, and he explains how readers can avoid his mistakes. For instance, he discusses trying to push through persistent foot pain while on a run only to later learn he had plantar fasciitis, which occurs when connective tissue on the sole of the foot becomes inflamed, and that he should have instead stopped to stretch or roll a massage ball under his feet to reduce the tension. Detailed guidance outlines how to build a running routine; readers should start by covering one or two miles four days a week and then gradually build up those distances by 10% to 20%. The author’s you-can-do-it attitude uplifts, and the bounty of warm-up exercises, dietary suggestions, and strength and core workouts are practical and easy to follow. Readers will be inspired to hit the pavement. (May)

Reviewed on 03/15/2024 | Details & Permalink

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Nosh: Plant-Forward Recipes Celebrating Modern Jewish Cuisine

Micah Siva. Collective Book Studio, $35 (256p) ISBN 978-1-68555-327-2

Dietitian Siva (coauthor of 1,2,3 Nosh with Me) shares vegetarian takes on classic Jewish dishes in this appetizing and enlightening collection. She addresses common questions those new to a vegetarian diet may have about everything from sources of protein and iron to egg and dairy substitutions and gives pointers on creating a Passover-ready kosher kitchen. The vast array of breakfast, soup, salad, main dish, dessert, and beverage options offers something to entice just about every palate. Lovers of matzo balls, kugel, latkes, and challah will not be disappointed, while those looking for more adventurous options will delight in hearty lentil goulash, savory pulled mushroom and tofu “brisket,” and everything bagel “fattoush” salad with za’atar cheeseballs. Siva promises her chickpea noodle vegetable soup is so flavorful that chicken won’t be missed, and her almond flour crepes and lemony blintzes are drool-inducing. A final chapter on essentials covers those small touches that make all the difference, including quick-pickled onions, hot mustard, and apple and pear charoset. With so much to savor, this expert guide will be a boon to vegetarian cooks looking to enjoy traditional Jewish cuisine. (Mar.)

Reviewed on 03/15/2024 | Details & Permalink

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Threads of Treasure: How to Make, Mend, and Find Meaning Through Thread

Sara Barnes. Schiffer Craft, $29.99 (168p) ISBN 978-0-7643-6761-8

Brown Paper Bag blogger Barnes (Embroidered Life) serves up an unusually reflective guide to embroidery that’s distinguished by its open-ended projects and thorough profiles of fabric artists. Highlighting embroiderers who incorporate found items into their work, Barnes discusses how Hillary Waters Fayle’s love of the outdoors inspired the geometric designs she embroiders onto leaves. Other artists make an art form of mending clothes, with Arounna Khounnoraj describing her sophisticated needlework as a means of “celebrating the things that we already own.” A third category of profiles showcase artists who work in daily installments, such as Amy Jones, who in 2020 made a visual “lockdown diary” by stitching one small image per day onto a piece of fabric (standouts include a bottle of cleaner and a coronavirus particle). Though the profiles and generous photos of the embroiderers’ impressive work are the main draws, Barnes also includes three “projects” that eschew step-by-step directions in favor of conceptual guidance on devising original pieces. For instance, one project offers tips for creating thread art based around a found item, encouraging readers to contemplate designs by studying the visual qualities of their item and then sketching out potential compositions before setting needle to fabric. Crafters who feel restricted by the rigid instructions of other how-to manuals will relish this invitation to let their creativity run wild. (Apr.)

Correction: An earlier version of this review misidentified the creator of the Covid-19 lockdown diary.

Reviewed on 03/01/2024 | Details & Permalink

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DIY Thrift Flip: Sewing Techniques for Transforming Old Clothes into Fun, Wearable Fashions

April Yang. Quarry, $24.99 trade paper (152p) ISBN 978-0-7603-8321-6

The lovely debut from Coolirpa blogger Yang shows how to customize secondhand clothing with creative alterations. A thorough overview of sewing basics explains the applications for various stitches (“Baste stitching is used to temporarily hold layers of fabric together,” while backstitching secures the end of a seam) and needle types (stretch needles work best with elastic fabrics like swimwear and spandex, while denim needles are well suited for thick fabrics). Yang encourages readers to shop “with no goal in mind” so that a clothing item, or even curtain panels or pillowcases, might spark inspiration. The creative projects range in difficulty, with the easiest consisting of cutting slits into the sleeves of a bodycon dress and embroidering flowers to cover up imperfections on a sweater. Standouts include a tiered skirt made from curtains, jeans transformed into cargo shorts, and a romper created out of a maxi skirt. Even novice sewers will be able to follow the straightforward primer on basic sewing techniques, which covers how to perform such alterations as adding cap sleeves or inseam pockets. Yang’s handy and inventive guidance is an excellent source of inspiration for eco-conscious sewers. (May)

Reviewed on 03/01/2024 | Details & Permalink

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Doing It All: The Social Power of Single Motherhood

Ruby Russell. Seal, $29 (336p) ISBN 978-1-5416-0219-9

Russell, a journalist and single parent, debuts with a probing meditation on how society fails unmarried mothers. The social ideal of the nuclear family harms women, Russell contends, citing as proof the story of a mother in Germany who was forced by the country’s courts to grant her manipulative ex-boyfriend joint custody of their son. Despite the fact that the son cried inconsolably after every visit with his father, the judges viewed such an arrangement as an acceptable approximation of the two-parent household to which all families should aspire. Though the peer support network Single Mothers by Choice was founded in 1982 by psychotherapist Jane Mattes to “refute the assumption that single motherhood is always a misfortune or mistake,” Russell criticizes the group for ostracizing women who become single mothers from divorce or unplanned pregnancy. Envisioning alternative social arrangements to better support mothers and children, Russell finds a powerful model in the “othermothering” networks seen in Black communities—in which women, potentially but not necessarily related by blood, rely on one another to meet the needs of each other’s children—and advocates for policies that ease the burden of childcare, such as a universal basic income and reduced work week. Buoyed by searching analysis and affecting stories, this makes a persuasive case for normalizing alternatives to the nuclear family. (May)

Reviewed on 03/01/2024 | Details & Permalink

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Something Sweet: 100+ Gluten-Free Recipes for Delicious Desserts

Lindsay Grimes. Weldon Owen, $35 (192p) ISBN 979-8-88674-013-4

Toasted Pine Nut blogger Grimes debuts with a tasty compendium of gluten free baked goods. She opens with simple instructions for homemade almond and oat flours alongside a handful of useful tips (for best texture when working with gluten free flours, allow baked goods to cool completely on the baking sheet before removing them). Cashew butter lends sprinkle cookies a soft, chewy texture, while the trick to gluten-free cut out cookies is to roll out the dough and freeze it for 30 minutes before going in with cookie cutters. A chapter on brownies and bars includes strawberry cheesecake swirl brownies and fudgy “brookies,” an imitation of the Trader Joes half-brownie, half-cookie treat of the same name. Oat flour funfetti cake and spiced sweet potato snack cakes appeal, while the slightly more limited pie chapter offers chocolate-on-chocolate brownie pie (with a dough that Grimes promises is “super forgiving”). Rounding things out are no-bake desserts (Pistachio freezer fudge, peanut butter bars with puffed quinoa) and assorted sauces and toppings. In addition to non-traditional flours, Grimes favors coconut sugar, agave, maple syrup, or honey over cane sugar in most recipes. Mouthwatering photos and personable introductions to each entry add charm. Those looking to go gluten-free without sacrificing taste will want to add this to their shelf. (Mar.)

Reviewed on 03/01/2024 | Details & Permalink

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Saucy: 50 Recipes for Drizzly, Dunk-Able, Go-To Sauces to Elevate Everyday Meals

Ashley Boyd. Chronicle, $19.95 (152p) ISBN 978-1-7972-1895-3

Home cooks can add “a little oomph” to weeknight meals through sauces, glazes, dressings, and dips, promises Pink Owl Kitchen blogger Boyd in her handy debut. Sorted into eight categories (including “creamy” and “spicy”), the recipes span a global range of flavors. A cup of parsley and a cup of cilantro form the basis of both a North African-inspired chermoula and orange chimichurri. Short intros suggest when a sauce can be used as a dip, including creamy avocado sauce and roasted beet hummus, and offer ideas of what to pair them with. In addition to a basic marinara, tomato-based sauces include Chinese-inspired tomato ginger and a Guava barbecue. The difference between the “Tangy” and “Spicy” chapters seems to be one of degrees: the tangy Jerk Sauce calls for one scotch bonnet pepper while spicy Caribbean Pepper Sauce calls for four. Savory sauces include a coconut curry and a blender hollandaise. Dessert sauces—including raspberry glaze, lemon curd, and Mexican chocolate sauce—can be drizzled over ice cream, brownies, and cakes. Boyd rounds things out with 10 recipes for simple fare to pair with the sauces, including pan-seared steak, fluffy rice, and bread pudding. This giftable guide will appeal to experts and novices alike. (Mar.)

Reviewed on 03/01/2024 | Details & Permalink

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House Rules: How to Decorate for Every Home, Style, and Budget

Myquillyn Smith. Revell, $29.99 (240p) ISBN 978-0-8007-4474-8

The Nester blogger Smith (Welcome Home) outlines 100 interior design principles in this middling manual for decorating one’s home. Among the “rules” are recommendations for readers to utilize a few large items instead of many small pieces when trying to fill a space and purchase covers for tissue boxes and other products to ensure their commercial design doesn’t disrupt the composition of a room. Smith sheds light on her design principles with anecdotes about how she’s decorated her own home, as when she encourages repurposing items one already owns and tells how she painted a new design over a factory-printed canvas after she grew tired of the original image. Other rules touch on the importance of contrast (“For that white room, try adding darker pieces”) and the principle of threes (“If you want something to look purposeful, either group it in threes or repeat it at least three times”). Despite a few useful tidbits, other suggestions feel redundant (“Timelessness is here to stay” and “find your own timeless classics,” for example) and Smith’s decision to only feature photos of her own home will turn off readers unmoved by her minimalist aesthetic, whose muted tones can border on bland. This comes up short. Agent: Karen Yates, Yates and Yates. (Apr.)

Reviewed on 03/01/2024 | Details & Permalink

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