book review: Astronaut! by Oana Aristide

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️  5/5

Thank you W. W. Norton & Company for providing an ARC for review consideration via NetGalley! All opinions are my own. 

In 1989, dictator rule clouds Romania. Eight-year-old Lia doesn’t fully grasp why she is constantly getting into trouble. She sees the oppression, rations, and suspicion among neighbors, but naively she just wants to be a kid. The fear and tension from her parents is palpable, that any mis-step their child might make could cause them to be imprisoned or worse. Paralleling Lia’s innocence is Detective Constantin, who is trying to solve a serial killer case without offending the high-ranking officials watching his every move. These two storylines eventually collide in a deeply satisfying conclusion. 

Through not only Lia’s eyes, but Constantin’s son as well, we get a really beautifully orchestrated look at childhood under oppression. I especially loved the nightly parables Constantin reads to his son to explain the world’s harsh truths; including the full text of these stories was a wonderful touch. Lia’s simple, poignant desire to “get the colour back into the world” really resonated with me. 

I highly recommend this to anyone who wants to open themselves up to something a little different, fresh, thought-provoking, and intriguing.

book review: We Are Legion (We are Bob)

Thank you Saga Press for the free book via NetGalley! All opinions are my own.

The first book in the Bobiverse series, We Are Legion (We Are Bob) by Dennis E. Taylor, took me completely by surprise. While I went in expecting a simple slapstick space romp, I found an incredibly complex story where humor adds genuine depth to the characters. The author expertly balances "hard" sci-fi concepts with a lightheartedness that makes the experience feel one-of-a-kind. 

Bob sells his software company and is looking forward to all of things he will do in retirement when he gets killed crossing the street. His head, which he paid to have cryo-freezed upon his death in the hopes of later being revived in some way with new technologies, is hi-jacked by the government more than 100 years in the future. He is forced into an AI with the job of searching space for a livable planet to relocate everyone from the dying earth to. This starts the absolutely amazing adventure this book took me on!

One of the first things Bob does is to create clones of himself to help him with his tasks (and they inevitably give him company as well). Despite this massive cast of "Bobs" to keep track of, the author gives each clone a distinct personality and specific task, making it remarkably easy to follow. This ambitious scope results in a gratifyingly robust piece of work, supported by imaginative world-building that spans from the realistic future earth, star systems, and my favorite...creative VR environments tailored to each "Bob."

I'd recommend this to sci-fi veterans and general fiction readers alike. The narrative is perfectly balanced - accessible enough to enjoy as a fast-paced story; yet detailed enough to satisfy science enthusiasts - you can pause to ponder the scientific theories or simply enjoy the ride.

Looking forward to reading the rest of the books in this series!

double chocolate walnut bread

This double chocolate walnut bread from Shiloh Farms is so delicious. It has a fully cooked, yet soft, crumb with a slightly crackly crust. This combo of textures along with the light dusting of nuts and chocolate chips on the top, the full experience of biting into this loaf is so yummy!

 

Double Chocolate Walnut Bread

Yields: 1 loaf

Equipment: 2 mixing bowls (1 medium, 1 large), spatula, whisk, 9x5 loaf pan, measuring cups, measuring spoons

Ingredients:

2 large eggs

3/4 cup pumpkin puree

1/2 cup plain yogurt

1 tsp vanilla

1/2 cup date sugar (or natural sweetener of choice)

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup organic cocoa powder

3/4 cup almond flour

1 cup brown rice flour 

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp Himalayan pink salt

1/2 cup dark chocolate chips

1/2 cup walnuts

Instructions:

1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2) In a large bowl, combine wet ingredients (through vanilla) and mix well.

3) To this mixture, add sugars and whisk until incorporated.

4) In a separate bowl, sift together cocoa powder, flours, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.

5) Add dry ingredients to wet and stir until well blended. Fold in chocolate chips and nuts.

6) Pour batter into greased 9x5 loaf pan. Top with additional nuts or chocolate chips, if desired.

7) Bake at 350 degrees for 50-60 minutes, or until knife inserted near center comes out moist, but clean. (In my experience, the loaf needs to bake for much longer, even up to 20 min longer. However, check every 5 min with a toothpick for any baking after 60 min and remove from oven when yours is done).

8) Remove from oven and cool on wire rack for at least 20 minutes before removing from pan, allowing to cool completely before slicing. (This is another place that in my experience needs much longer - letting it rest even for a few hours before removing from pan or cutting).

Don't forget to save this recipe on pinterest!