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Radiant Raffia: 20 Inspiring Crochet Projects Made with Natural Yarn

Olga Panagopoulou. Herbert, $22 trade paper (128p) ISBN 978-1-78994-198-2

Panagopoulou debuts with an elegant guide to creating accessories and homeware from raffia, “the fibre produced from the membrane found on the underside of [palm] leaf fronds.” Surveying different variants of the material, Panagopoulou explains that raffia viscose is durable yet flexible, whereas raffia paper string is “very stable and solid” but “rougher, tougher and definitely more difficult to crochet with.” She walks readers through the quirks of crocheting with the fiber, noting that raffia viscose can be shaped with a steam iron and recommending steel or aluminum crochet hooks because the “smoothness of metal... works well with the texture” of the material. The accessory patterns describe how to make a sturdy Celtic weave handbag from crossed front post trebles worked in the round, as well as a summer sun hat that “uses simple waistcoat stitch to give it structure.” Decorative items include a lace tablecloth, ornamental baubles, and a striking flexible vase with a malleable pinched exterior. Patterns are both written out and charted for maximum ease of use, and the idyllic photos modeling the items on the beaches of Syros, the Greek island where Panagopoulou lives, enchant. Intermediate and experienced crocheters eager to branch out from yarn will want to give this a spin. (May)

Reviewed on 03/29/2024 | Details & Permalink

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The Furniture Handbook: A Guide to Choosing, Arranging, and Caring for the Objects in Your Home

Frida Ramstedt, trans. from the Swedish by Peter Graves. Clarkson Potter, $29.99 (320p) ISBN 978-0-593-79615-3

“What are the important things to look for when considering a piece of furniture?” asks Trendenser blogger Ramstedt (The Interior Design Handbook) in this valuable reference book. She recommends paying close attention to ergonomics and anthropometrics (the measurement of the human body and its proportions), suggesting that chair seats should rise 16.5–18 inches above the floor to prevent hunched posturing, and that coffee tables should ideally be four inches higher than the tops of sofa seat cushions. Surveying the pros and cons of various materials, Ramstedt notes the durability of elm and maple, but warns that marble is easily stained by red wine or coffee. She also describes how to spot superior craftsmanship and observes that miter joints (which “join at 45 degrees, between the end wood and the fibers running lengthwise”) and inset fronts (when the front of a closed drawer rests on the same plane as the cabinet or dresser’s body) require precision carpentry. Ramstedt’s comprehensive guidance sometimes belabors the obvious (she warns that “fingerprints and marks show up immediately” on glass-topped coffee tables), but there are still plenty of helpful tips (she recommends three-legged tables for uneven floors because they won’t wobble). Readers would do well to consult this before their next interior design purchase. (May)

Reviewed on 03/29/2024 | Details & Permalink

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Game Plan: A Proven Approach to Work, Live, and Play at the Highest Level Possible—for as Long as Possible

Mike Mancias, with Myatt Murphy. Morrow, $29.99 (288p) ISBN 978-0-06-331643-0

Personal trainer Mancias debuts with an invigorating health manual detailing the dietary and exercise advice he gives to such celebrity clients as LeBron James and Usher (who contribute a foreword and afterword, respectively). The nutritional guidance emphasizes eating for longevity and physical performance rather than weight loss, recommending that every snack and meal contain at least one serving each of protein, complex carbohydrates, and healthy fats. Photos illustrate correct form for the 26-step workout, which is designed to be completed with virtually no equipment in roughly 20 minutes and involves a mix of stretches, core work, and strength building. Describing how to recover from an intense exercise session, Mancias encourages taking 10-minute ice baths to reduce soreness and meditating, which has “been shown to significantly improve energy levels, brain function, and decision-making.” The emphasis on performance (recipes for a berry quinoa breakfast bowl, coconut butter salmon, and other dishes are designated for either high- or low-activity days) will appeal to athletes, and suggestions on holding oneself accountable to a dietary regimen exemplify Mancias’s practical bent (he encourages sending pictures of meals to loved ones to ensure the food matches one’s nutritional goals). It’s a robust program for improving one’s health. Agent: Byrd Leavell, UTA. (May)

Reviewed on 03/29/2024 | Details & Permalink

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Jane’s Patisserie: Deliciously Customizable Cakes, Bakes, and Treats

Jane Dunn. Sourcebooks, $27.99 (224p) ISBN 978-1-72829-180-2

Jane’s Patisserie blogger Dunn, in her tasty debut, offers 100 crowd-pleasing desserts served up with a hefty portion of hand-holding. Easy-to-follow recipes—some new, others culled from Dunn’s blog—range from the straightforward, like chocolate Viennese whirls, to the more complex, including rhubarb crumble cheesecake, which is constructed from a cookie base, two separate fillings, and a topping. Indeed, this collection is an ode to fillings, frostings, and decorations. No-bake salted caramel cheesecake sports an extravagant caramel, pretzel, and popcorn topping, while less elaborate treats include a gin & tonic loaf cake enlivened with a gin-tinged drizzle. Ideas for customizing recipes appear throughout, including a suggestion to amp up millionaire’s shortbread with orange, lemon, or vanilla flavorings. There’s also a chapter devoted to traybakes, an English term for baking bars, like sticky toffee brownies, in a pan, then slicing them. Enlightening ingredient lists and tips for successful preparations (be patient with “scary” techniques like frying doughnuts, the author counsels) provide further guidance for the home cook, though Britishisms, like caster sugar and sponge, may trip up some. With this accessible compendium, Dunn proves a supportive guide to bakers of any skill level. (Mar.)

Reviewed on 03/29/2024 | Details & Permalink

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Facing the Unseen: The Struggle to Center Mental Health in Medicine

Damon Tweedy. St. Martin’s, $30 (304p) ISBN 978-1-250-28489-1

“When a system marginalizes mental health... patients pay the price,” according to this ardent call for change. Tweedy (Black Man in a White Coat) draws on his career as a physician and psychiatrist to examine how the medical system fails people with mental illness. The trouble starts in medical school, he contends, recounting how he completed his psychiatric rotation at an inpatient ward that was miles from the nearest hospital and staffed by doctors who resented their patients, creating the impression that psychiatry fundamentally differs from other medical fields. Illuminating the complex ways that physical and mental health intersect, Tweedy discusses how a bifurcated health system hampered his attempts to treat a veteran whose opioid addiction stemmed from a need to quell persistent knee pain. To integrate care, Tweedy recommends providing mental health services in the same setting as primary care, which might take the form of a psychiatric evaluation immediately following an annual checkup within the same facility. As proof of concept, Tweedy describes how he helped a suicidal man brought to him after an annual primary care appointment the patient had intended to be his last. The personal anecdotes will help readers understand the view from the doctor’s chair, and the argument for a “collaborative care” model convinces. It’s an edifying proposal for overhauling psychiatric treatment. (Apr.)

Reviewed on 03/15/2024 | Details & Permalink

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The Farm Table

Julius Roberts. Ten Speed, $35 (320p) ISBN 978-1-984862-66-2

Chef-turned-farmer Roberts’s rustic and delightful debut offers 100 simple, seasonal recipes that capitalize on freshness and ingredients at their peak. The amazing array of options includes everything from small plates and vegetable dishes to fish, meat, and desserts. Recipes are appetizing, unfussy, and often palatably unusual, including spinach, smoked trout, and crème fraiche pasta; and sardine puttanesca. Inspired by a mission to reconnect with nature and grow his own food, Roberts explains that his philosophy is to minimally fuss with ingredients and let their natural flavors shine. This approach is evident in winter dishes such as mouthwatering pork belly braised in cider with onions and prunes, and puy lentils with spinach and pancetta. Spring fare includes savory mussels with leeks, bacon and cider, and a scrumptious coffee semifreddo with salted caramel pistachios. The bounties of summer and fall make for delicious pairings including zucchini pasta with mascarpone, basil, and lemon; chicken and ricotta meatballs in broth; and a rippled berry tart. Roberts also includes a chapter on basics such as chicken stock, aioli, pesto, and short crust pastry. Beautiful photos bring an already excellent collection to new heights, allowing the reader to see both finished dishes and glimpses of farm life. Readers will relish these unpretentious but flavorful offerings. (Feb.)

Reviewed on 03/15/2024 | Details & Permalink

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Cooking in Real Life: Delicious & Doable Recipes for Every Day

Lidey Heuck. Simon Element, $35 (288p) ISBN 978-1-66800-215-5

In this winning debut, chef Heuck presents exciting yet accessible recipes that promise to “come together without much fuss” and “deliver big flavor in a small amount of time.” Simple ingredient modifications, such as canned beans in lieu of dried beans for the sausage and white bean soup with swiss chard and skillet croutons, and chicken thighs instead of pork for the spicy barbecue pulled chicken sandwiches, drastically cut prep and cook time. She also provides plenty of helpful substitutions, noting, for example, that in a pinch, a mixture of cabernet sauvignon and sugar can replace the tawny port needed for the braised short ribs with port, shallots, and cranberries. Vegetarian dishes—including kale salad with gouda, honeycrisp apples, and walnuts; escarole salad with cara cara oranges, Marcona almonds, and goat cheese; and spaghetti with sweet corn pesto—are equally enticing. Heuck offers several feasible suggestions to make lighter dishes heartier, such as adding sautéed shrimp or seared salmon filets to the shaved carrot salad with creamy sesame-ginger dressing. Readers craving something sweet will be tempted by the plentiful desserts and breakfast options, such as roasted pears with brandy and brown sugar, flourless chocolate cherry cookies, and plum, cardamom, and cornmeal muffins. This will be a new favorite for busy home cooks looking to enhance their weeknight repertoire. (Mar.)

Reviewed on 03/15/2024 | Details & Permalink

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Rooted Kitchen: Seasonal Recipes, Stories, and Ways to Connect with the Natural World

Ashley Rodriguez. Clarkson Potter, $35 (272p) ISBN 978-0-593-57932-9

YouTuber Rodriguez (Let’s Stay In) encourages readers to commune with nature in this inspirational collection. “Cooking over a fire connects to a deep ancestral relationship with Earth,” she asserts in a primer on campfire cuisine. Recipes are divided into seasons, with summer featuring zucchini blossom fritters with garam masala, and autumn offering a salad of roasted delicata squash, radicchio, and apples. Seattle-based Rodriguez promotes the local gathering of ingredients, but her taste ranges internationally; included are recipes for a simplified mushroom mole from Oaxaca and a green take on North African harissa. Some entries—like a carbonara with the nontraditional inclusion of clams—come with instructions for both cooking over an open fire and preparing in an indoor kitchen. Each chapter also includes a specific technique that ties into the season, such as preserving for summer. Rodriguez finds inspiration all around: foraged maple tree blossoms perk up a vinaigrette while fig leaves infuse the cream for panna cotta. The recipes lean toward the simple with innovative touches, as in a Caesar salad with a preserved-lemon dressing and roasted lentils scattered on top. There are a few inconsistencies, as when mushroom hunting appears in the spring chapter, and then wild mushrooms are a featured fall ingredient, but that’s a minor quibble. Overall, this proves a thoughtful guide for those looking to forge a deeper connection to food. (Mar.)

Reviewed on 03/15/2024 | Details & Permalink

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The Pain Project: A Couple’s Story of Confronting Chronic Pain

Kara Stanley, with Simon Paradis. Greystone, $19.95 trade paper (336p) ISBN 978-1-77164-840-0

Stanley’s 2015 memoir, Fallen, chronicled how she and her husband, Paradis, rebuilt their lives after he fell off a scaffold in 2008, receiving “catastrophic injuries” that left him with limited mobility and in near-constant pain. In this tender follow-up, Stanley recounts how, 10 years after the accident, she and Paradis dedicated a year to exploring options for mitigating his symptoms. Stanley captures the expected scenes of frustration and anguish, including the “sense of overwhelming defeat” they felt after a nerve block procedure failed to improve Paradis’s condition. However, there are plenty of lighthearted moments as well, as when Stanley offers a bemused account of purchasing anal THC suppositories at the recommendation of a budtender (the couple lives in Canada, where recreational cannabis is legalized). Other scenes split the difference between uplifting and heartbreaking, as when Paradis reflects on playing guitar in a gig with his band: “It was a great night, better than I could have imagined. But I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to rally the energy to do it all over again.” Salves for Paradis’s pain remain stubbornly elusive, but Stanley’s candor and nimble storytelling will have readers following closely every peak and valley of the couple’s quest for relief. It’s a probing account of what it’s like to reside in what Susan Sontag memorably called the “kingdom of the sick.” (Apr.)

Reviewed on 03/15/2024 | Details & Permalink

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Magnificent Minds: The New Whole-Child Approach to Autism

Suzanne Goh. TarcherPerigee, $29 (352p) ISBN 978-0-593-71271-9

Pediatric neurologist Goh (Spectacular Bond) provides a sensitive primer on how parents can take a holistic approach to raising autistic children. Delving into how the brains of autistic children differ from neurotypical counterparts, Goh notes that on average, an autistic person’s prefrontal cortex “has fewer connections to other brain regions,” which is thought to explain “why thoughts and behaviors tend to be less flexible in autism.” Her advice is based on addressing the “five key elements of the whole-child path: brain-body health, development, behavior, family, and community.” For instance, her tips for “strengthening the parent-child bond” encourage parents to build trust by working to reduce overwhelming stimuli during meltdowns. Pushing back against parents who discourage their child’s narrow focus on a single topic or activity, Goh contends that such “special interests” can constitute “a powerful way to build connection” and recommends creating opportunities for children to socialize with others who share their passion. Goh brings a welcome recognition of the autism spectrum’s diversity, remarking that following her suggestions can look wildly different depending on a child’s abilities. Anecdotes describing strategies her patients’ parents have used to teach their kids new social, emotional, and language skills flesh out the advice. This is a valuable resource for parents of autistic children. Agent: Jeff Herman, Jeff Herman Agency. (Apr.)

Reviewed on 03/15/2024 | Details & Permalink

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