August Book Club Reviews
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Ice Cream: A Global History by Laura B. Weiss
I wanted something to fit the season and be short for a summer pick. For the hottest months, I always try to pick the shortest books to make them as beach-reading friendly as possible. For August’s pick, I chose one of the Global History titles, a series of nonfiction books covering a wide range of concepts. And what better way to work through what is becoming a grueling summer than the one focused on ice cream?
A lot of ice cream books are based on the author’s personal journey to creating an ice cream business or simply a collection of recipes. Ice Cream: A Global History is different because it’s a historical survey of the dish. Though a bit cursory, it touches on global variations before delving into the popularization and development of ice cream. What’s fascinating is how the really interesting culinary work was being done in Europe until the advent of industrial refrigeration in the United States. And I’m also now on the hunt to try some booza, a chewy Middle Eastern type of ice cream made with orchid flowers, giving it a stretchy consistency.
If you’ve attended the in-person edition of book clubs past, odds are you know I have a bit of an obsession with ice cream (both making and eating). I will share one of my own recipes for relatively simple ice cream. Feel free to leave out the mint if you feel that the three flavors are getting a little too crowded on the tongue. This is a good starter ice cream for two reasons. The first is that it doesn’t involve heating (and potentially scalding) the dairy ingredients, so it’s more forgiving during the cooking. The other reason is that it uses cocoa instead of melted chocolate which thickens the ice cream and gives the frozen end product an almost pudding-like texture.
Review by Adam
Chocolate Mint Malt Ice Cream
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Banned Book Club by Kim Hyun Sook
Starting college in 1983, Kim Hyun Sook is excited to open her mind and learn far more than she would from staying at her parent’s restaurant. But this was during South Korea’s Fifth Republic, a military regime that enforced its power through censorship, torture, and the murder of protestors. To cope with molotov cocktails flying and fellow students disappearing for hours and returning with bruises, Kim turned to books for comfort. Noticing this, a classmate invited her to his reading group. She expected to talk about literary classics, but instead, she hid in a basement as the youngest member of an underground banned book club.
Based on a true story, Banned Book Club is a graphic novel about Kim Hyun Sook, a South Korean woman who joined an underground banned book club in the 1980s. During this time, the political climate in South Korea consisted of a corrupt government that banned Western literature and a military regime that obtained and enforced power through censoring, torturing, and murdering protesters that were involved in consuming such content. Kim takes a great risk in joining a banned book club, one that she initially isn’t sure about. One of the reasons I liked this book was to watch Kim grow from someone eager to learn but naive about her world to someone willing to take a stand.
Another reason I liked this book is that it brings up questions about censorship that are pertinent to today: why do we ban books? Because we disagree with the content? Because we see danger in the content? Or maybe because we see ourselves as the villains in the books and don’t like it? With all the book banning happening in the US today, it is essential to learn from the world’s history. Progress is not a straight line, it’s full of twists and turns, but regardless of how much turmoil we face, it is important to remember to keep moving forward, a lesson this book reminds us of. While this book was marketed toward young adults, I recommend this book to adults who enjoy reading nonfiction graphic novel memoirs and anyone interested in the history of South Korea or the ideology behind why books are banned.
Trigger/Content Warnings: torture, violence, rape/sexual assault (implied)
Review by Liz
The Secret to Superhuman Strength by Alison Bechdel
I generally like graphic novels because they are light, easy, and quick to read and provide a different experience than reading a typical book. The best graphic novels bring something to the table that couldn’t be found in a non-graphic and are constantly using the “show, don’t tell” adage in the artwork that adds so much. The absolute, very best graphic novels make you think and weave together a story within the writing and the artwork and the overall message of the book – and Bechdel’s latest is probably the absolute, very best graphic novel I’ve ever read. Because of this, I especially appreciate the larger size and longer length of it compared to most graphic works!
At first glance, this is a memoir of growing up alongside a fascination with physical fitness. Bechdel traces the story of her life, decade by decade (it helps that she was born in 1960, so this evenly lines up with the phases of her life), from an intriguing childhood in Pennsylvania (see: Fun Home, her most acclaimed and famous book) to coming out in college in Ohio to her treks through New England as an adult, ultimately ending up in Vermont. There are a few major fitness fads throughout (Bosu balls, Pilates, karate, Jane Fonda), but overall, Bechdel focuses on getting outside, why she is motivated to work out, and how she feels about the different techniques, and ultimately what keeps her active. The more typical of her activities – running, cycling, skiing – seem to be the ones that stick, if not the ones providing comic relief.
All of that is what makes this a great book – but what makes it an incredible, thoughtful, layered book is the other parts – that are not just about running shoes or falling on your face or learning what HIIT means. Bechdel looks for enlightenment everywhere – why is she so intent on working out? What is the point? What is the point of life while she’s at it? What do other (brilliant, interesting) people say about it? Bechdel subtly tries to answer these questions while grappling with her own neuroses. She peppers in mini-biographies of other great over-thinkers and exercisers. She’s not afraid to question herself, her shortcomings, her relationships with others, and the fact that one day she’ll die. It’s a fascinating, smart read and would be an excellent start for someone who thinks graphic novels are less than!
Review by Shelly
The Windham series by Grace Burrowes
While everyone is very excited for the second season of Bridgerton and set on reading all those books, I wanted to introduce everyone to my favorite Regency Era family, the Windhams. Grace Burrowes describes the series on her website; “A duke determined to see all eight of his children married, eight headstrong offspring equally determined to guard their freedom!” The series starts with The Heir, Gayle, The Earl of Westhaven is in line to be the next Duke, and his father is determined to see him married before he assumes the title. Gayle falls for Anna Seaton, his employee, and not from a station that should be marrying an Earl and future Duke.
This book introduced me to Grace Burrowes, and I quickly read through all eight siblings and then jumped into her other books that take place in the same fictional universe she has created. The characters are all well written, and even if the storyline seems over the top, the writing keeps the plot grounded. The love stories are not rushed or forced and are incredibly satisfying.
Review by Amelia
Thor: Vol 1. The Goddess of Thunder & Vol 2. Who Holds the Hammer?
These two volumes comprise all eight issues of the Thor (2014-2015) limited series run. The new movie Thor: Love and Thunder pulls some of the plot from this story arch. In this series, Mjolnir lies on the moon, and Thor cannot lift the hammer as he has been deemed unworthy, and though others have tried, they too cannot lift the hammer. That is until an unknown woman appears and can raise the hammer. Just in time, too, as the Frost Giants have invaded Earth. The Frost Giants are the only thing this new Thor needs to battle, Odin wants the hammer back and is sending others after it, and Thor also returns and wants to know who this new person wielding Mjolnir is!
When I saw the trailer for the movie, I felt like I knew the storyline and then remembered this series. I had to reread it before seeing the movie. While the storyline is significantly different from the film, these two volumes are an enjoyable read. It’s female character driven and shows that a woman can wield the hammer. I also loved the art. It was bright and colorful in Vol 1. and more gray-toned in the more serious Vol 2. The art enhances the story in this collection.
Review by Amelia
The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon
The Priory of the Orange Tree is in a world where there is a divide between the East and West. The East draws a distinction between the fire-breathing dragons and the ones of wind and water that they worship but fear the Nameless One. The West despises all dragons and believes that if there is a living descendent of their first king on the throne, the dreaded and deadly Nameless One cannot reawaken. The book follows characters separated by religion and geography as they play important roles in helping the East and West come together as the Nameless one is found to return and destroy the world.
I was very hesitant to start The Priory of the Orange Tree as it was 848 pages long, but I finally took the jump and am so glad I did. The world-building was slow and did not feel like an info dump. The way the characters form a full circle bringing in plot twists and the climax was mind-blowing. This epic fantasy is incredibly detailed and includes action, LGBTQ romance, and tons of fantasy elements/tropes and is a perfect book for Tolkien fans.
Review by Sai
