Chapter Two Hundred Fourteen: Edible: An Adventure into the World of Eating Insects and the Last Great Hope to Save the Planet

I couldn't resist following up Candyfreak with an audiobook about eating bugs, and the library where I work kindly obliged!  (Actually, I wouldn't have found either of these titles if I hadn't been browsing the shelves at the library, an exercise I highly recommend.)  Daniella Martin's Edible offers a fascinating look at global entomophagy (that's a fancy word for eating insects).  Martin is herself an enthusiastic insect eater, and her enthusiasm infuses Edible as it covers topics as diverse as entomophagy's health benefits, its environmental benefits, and some of the various cultures that already embrace eating at least some insects.  Most important, Martin reminds listeners and readers that many insects, if prepared well, actually taste good!  Martin has spent years of her life researching entomophagy, and not just by eating insects, so if you're looking for some well-informed and informative non-fiction about a topic you probably haven't thought much about, definitely try Edible--you might be surprised at what you learn!

Chapter Two Hundred Thirteen: The Invisible Library (and The Masked City and The Burning Page)

So, for a book club I'm in, I read Genevieve Cogman's fantasy novel The Invisible Library, which I'd been vaguely meaning to read for some time, and I enjoyed it so much I had to immediately read its sequels, The Masked City and The Burning Page, and now I'm eagerly awaiting the next book (The Lost Plot), which is due later this winter!  Cogman's novels have all, or at least most, of the elements of the elements I want in a fantasy story: a strong female lead, alluring supportive male characters, a fearsome villain, a mysterious organization (which in this case is a library, even better!), dragons, fae, and multiple worlds with varying levels of magic, technology, chaos, and order.  If I haven't already convinced you, perhaps you're not a fantasy reader, in which case these books may not be for you, but if you like fantasy at all, or want to dip your toes into clever, action-packed fantasy for adults, check out The Invisible Library and its sequels.  I really can't recommend them enough!

Chapter Two Hundred Twelve: Candyfreak

I just finished listening to Steve Almond's (nonfiction) book Candyfreak: A Journey through the Chocolate Underbelly of America, and let me say that this was a really fun listen!  While it does have the occasional dark moment, Almond's joy (Sorry, I couldn't resist!) for all things candy is infatuating.  He delves into the sales and manufacturing of several regional candies, from my one of my very favorites (NECCO's Sky Bar) to ones I'd never heard of (Twin Bing, anyone? Big Hunk?).  His focus on the little guys of the candy world not only serves as a cultural exploration of various parts of the U.S. (he travels throughout the country to visit small candy factories) but also introduces a quirky cast of characters, as the people running these small candy companies tend to be as weirdly passionate about candy as Almond is.  If you like candy, or if you're looking for a light but fascinating non-fiction experience, give Candyfreak a try.

Chapter Two Hundred Eleven: The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry

So I wanted something short-ish to read on a plane ride recently, and also something that I could get as an e-book (due to luggage restrictions...), so I finally got around to Gabrielle Zevins's The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry, which has been vaguely on my to-read list for quite some time.  It wasn't quite what I expected it to be, but I really enjoyed this novel nonetheless.  The narration is oddly distant from the characters, sort of keeping them at arm's length, which I normally wouldn't go in for, except they're all so loveable, or at least interesting (plus they're book lovers) that I didn't mind the emotional distance of the narration.  This novel is sort of a cross between a curmudgeon-finds-family tale (think A Man Called Ove) and a small-town-life tale (think At Home in Mitford), and I found it totally delightful, if a little rough at the start.  If you're looking for a heartwarming tale of an unusual family and its unusual little town, try The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry.

Chapter Two Hundred Ten: La Belle Sauvage (Book of Dust, Volume I)

So naturally I had to read Philip Pullman's newest book about Lyra as soon as it came out!  And I'm thrilled and relieved to report that this first book of a prequel trilogy (titled The Book of Dust) to His Dark Materials absolutely fulfilled my expectations and hopes for a continuation of Lyra's story--or maybe an expansion of her backstory is a better way to put it, since she's only six months old during this novel, though, as anyone who knows Lyra will suspect, that doesn't stop her from being quite a character!  But an eleven year old boy, Malcolm, is the main hero of this tale, and this new character is a totally worthy addition to the cast of characters from His Dark Materials. (I also really like Alice Parslow, a major accomplice of Malcolm's in La Belle Sauvage, although I hesitate to call her a new character, because I suspect that she'll later become the Mrs. Lonsdale of the early chapters of The Golden Compass, though I could be wrong...)  It's also fun to see younger and less major characters from His Dark Materials, especially Hannah Relf and Coram Van Texel, in a different context--and of course, we get some fascinating glimpses of the younger Lord Asriel and Mrs. Coulter, too.  While I think you could enjoy La Belle Sauvage without having read His Dark Materials, I also think everyone in general should read His Dark Materials anyway, and La Belle Sauvage not only lives up to His Dark Materials but also expands that universe in interesting and meaningful ways that make me want to go back and re-read His Dark Materials again.  I also can't wait for volume two of The Book of Dust--it literally can't be published soon enough to suit me!

Chapter Two Hundred Nine: The Woman Who Smashed Codes

I listened to Jason Fagone's biography of Elizebeth (yes, that's how she spelled her name) Smith Friedman as a sort of follow-up to Code Girls (see Chapter Two Hundred Five)--apparently everyone is writing about American women code-breakers of WWII just now...  It was a really interesting listen, especially in the context of Code Girls as Elizebeth Smith Friedman was certainly the first American woman to gain fame and steady work as a code breaker.  While her husband, William Friedman, is better known--he also broke codes during WWII and is considered the father of the NSA--Elizebeth Smith Friedman was a distinguished cryptanalyst in her own right.  The couple worked together to break codes for the U.S. government during WWI, from there continuing to build some of the U.S. government's and military's first serious code-breaking departments during the interwar years.  Elizebeth Smith Friedman also spent time in the 1920s and 1930s working with the U.S. Coast Guard to help bust rum runners during Prohibition, adding to the general excitement of her life, at least from an onlooker's perspective.  This biography also includes more personal details, like the fact that for years the Friedmans sent out their Christmas cards to family and friends in (simple) codes, and that their daughter wrote to them from summer camp using a simple code.  If you're looking for a good biography or an exciting story or more information on WWII, The Woman Who Smashed Codes is an excellent choice.

Chapter Two Hundred Eight: All About Emily

This small novella by (my favorite) Connie Willis practically jumped off the shelf at me while I was visiting another library for a meeting.  You don't need to have seen All About Eve to enjoy this novella about a series of encounters between an aging broadway actress and a very lifelike "artificial" (i.e. a robot) who aspires to become a Rockette.  All I'll say is that I was really surprised by how this story ended, and that I'll probably spend more time mulling it over than I did reading it (it's very short).  It's set around Christmas, too, so if you're ready to get into the holiday spirit now that Halloween is past, or if you just like stories about robots, or if you're looking for a quick read, try out All About Emily.

Chapter Two Hundred Seven: Yawn: Adventures in Boredom

I was pleasantly surprised to discover that Mary Mann's little non-fiction book about boredom was actually quite interesting.  (Also, at about 150 very small pages, there isn't much time to get bored!)  Inspired by her own experiences with boredom, Mann briefly considers boredom in the workplace, boredom in romantic relationships, and boredom in entertainment (particularly the unique frustration experienced by people who have paid for entertainment only to find it boring).  She also offers a brief history of boredom, muses on its class implications, and considers some of the consequences of boredom, including irritability and violence.  If you've ever been bored, or especially if you've somehow never been bored, give this small book a try for a wider perspective on a very common phenomenon.