Own Your Everyday--Jordan Lee Dooley

I received a copy of this book free from Waterbrook & Multnomah in exchange for an unbiased review. All opinions are my own. 

Sometimes you get handed the right thing at just the right time in life--Jordan Lee Dooley’s debut book Own Your Everyday is one of those things for me. I’ve been in a time of major transition after graduating college and trying to figure out my place in the world. I’ve listened to Jordan’s podcast, The SHE Podcast, since it launched and followed her for several years. Her words of encouragement have helped me along this journey already, but I didn’t expect the impact this book would have. When I first joined the launch team for this book, I expected to read and promote a good book (of course)--not a book that spoke exactly to where I am right now and who I am right now. But that’s what I ended up doing.
Own Your Everyday is filled with personal anecdotes that can seem disjointed at first, but as you continue reading, Jordan connects each story to her points so artfully that you can’t help but admire the way she looks at her past experiences. Instead of seeing obstacles in her life as setbacks, she is able to acknowledge them for the growing points they were. Touching on topics such as outside pressure, un-met expectations, and discouragement, her words are applicable to almost any season of life the reader could be experiencing.
Although I resonated with many of the stories she told, her experience with her Nana really hit home for me. I was surprised, in fact, that her story could be so incredibly similar to my own. Without revealing too much of her own story, we both experienced losing our Nanas our first year of college (and it seems to have shaped us both in similar ways.) As I read about her thoughts on this specific experience, especially her teenage reluctance to be the caretaker (it’s true, it’s hard to see someone who is supposed to take care of you become the one who needs care), I went through all those feelings all over again. As she reminisced on the lessons her Nana taught her, I reminisced on mine. This may not have been something Jordan intended when writing this specific story, but oh how it did impact me.
The style of this book is very conversational. It’s been described by many as “feeling like a coffee shop girl talk,” and I would agree with that. From advice about purpose and planning to thoughts on freedom, envy, and vulnerability, this book has a little bit of it all. If you have anyone--a mom, sister, daughter, friend, anyone--who needs encouragement (or just a little push) at this point in life, I would recommend Own Your Everyday. I feel blessed to have read it and learned from it, and plan to come back to it throughout my life. Gift it to a graduate during this time of transition or a friend who needs it. You won’t regret it.
This review has been cross-posted to my main blog, Gwenith J.

The Field Guide to Dumb Birds of North America--Matt Kracht

A delightful answer to the question I always ask myself in the morning, "who is outside my window making all this annoying noise?!" Sometimes that answer is a neighbor with a leafblower, but more often the answer is one of these dumb guys. How dare they. Matt Kracht pokes fun at the sport (oh the irony of using the word sport in this review) of birdwatching/birding in a refreshing and kindhearted way. Describing birds by shape, from normal bird to murder bird, the book leads you through whatever little bothers you may find in your backyard or on a trail in any given moment. I was laughing the whole time I read this and couldn't put it down. Anyone who loves birds, or the outdoors, or just simply laughing should read this book. (Disclaimer: I received this title free from Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.)

Simply Hot Pots--Amy Kimoto-Kahn

🌟🌟🌟🌟 (4 out of 5 stars) 
Disclaimer: I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest reveiw.
Simply Hot Pots, the new offering from Amy Kimoto-Kahn, author of Simply Ramen, is a cookbook for anyone who wants to implement an easy, delicious set of staple meals into their family diet.
Kimoto-Kahn presents her relationship with the food she makes as something that naturally flows from her upbringing and her family background. In her introduction, she explains how her association with her mother's tight-knit group of Japanese-American women, The Dames, gave her an introduction to dinner parties and the deep social roots of eating food together. She lays out recipes in the book that are connected to her society and her heritage--family recipes, recipes from friends, and recipes inspired by those she loves (she mentions that her Beef Brisket disk is inspired by her Jewish mother-in-law.)
The author walks us through each step of hot pot cooking, or nabemono, a traditional Asian style of cooking which she describes as not only a complete meal in a single dish, but it is also delicious, affordable, and simple to make comfort food. She begins with helping you choose a donabe (clay pot) and telling you tips on how to cure it, or choosing an alternative to an earthenware pot altogether. She then has a helpful list of all the equipment she uses, and that you may need, for a successful hot pot dinner.
Recipes you will find in this book are often accompanied by beautiful photos which, at least in my case, were enough to make me want to start making hot pot meals tonight. There are many different types of broths and sauces you can make, most which include some animal products, but some which are vegetarian or vegan. I imagine that some of the others could be tweaked to make them vegetarian-friendly as well. There are sections for each type of protein you could want, whether pork, beef, poultry, or seafood, and--once again--a spattering of vegetarian options. Despite the name of the book, there's a little more than "simply" hot pots here, too--there are several side dishes and a few desserts (the photos for which made my mouth water!)
I am very much looking forward to nabemono in my own home after reading Simply Hot Pots!