We've read many great memoirs, collections of essays and cultural analyses by female authors in recent years. Here are some feminist voices that kept the conversation going this year. In her honest and incisive memoir Shrill, Lindy West examines internet culture and body image through a feminist lens. Her absorbing essays and polemic against rape jokes in comedy combine Roxane Gay's…
6 Books by Asian/Pacific American Writers
Have you read books by Asian/Pacific American writers lately? To celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, I've rounded up six of my favorites. The Guest Cat by Takashi Hiraide is about a childless couple in their thirties, a small rented cottage, a garden that blooms different flowers all year, ailing friends and acquaintances and Chibi, the neighborhood cat. Set in the late 80s…
5 Food Memoirs for Hungry Readers
If you, like me, are drawn to books that incorporate personal anecdotes, food descriptions and literary references, I offer you these personally vetted food memoirs. Voracious by butcher and food writer Cara Nicoletti spawned from her literary supper (book) club with friends. It offers well-crafted stories about literary food scenes from Nicoletti's impressive reading lists since childhood. Her tasty recipes will leave you craving jelly…
It’s Oktoberfest: Celebrate with German Food and Beer!
The world's largest beer festival is celebrated in Munich from late September through the first weekend of October. Here are a few titles to help you mark this glorious occasion. Julia Skowronek's Biergarten Cookbook has great recipes for roast pork, cheese spaetzle, dumplings, and traditional Bavarian desserts and cakes. For newbies who prefer a modern and…
55th Anniversary of the Pill
On May 9, 1960, the FDA announced its approval of the contraceptive pill. Soon after, the first birth control pill, Enovid, released by G.D. Searle, hit the market in the United States. The Birth of the Pill by Jonathan Eig traces the fascinating history of its development. The genesis involved tireless efforts by feminist Margaret Sanger, the wealthy Katherine McCormick, Dr. Frankenstein-like…
Graphic Novels to Read If You Can’t Get Away This Summer
If I could spend the entire year traveling, I would. But like most people, I can't afford it. So I take pleasure in reading leisurely paced graphic novels that take me on virtual adventures. They are not packed with lots of information like travel guides and don't demand a lot of commitment like a novel…
Asian Films of Influence
Celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month by watching these Asian cinema classics. Start with Infernal Affairs. It's the original version of the crime drama The Departed, which earned Martin Scorsese the Academy Award for Best Director. You can decide which version you like better, but I have to say that Tony Leung using Morse…
Treat Your Taste Buds to Korean Soul Food
If you’ve been to a Korean restaurant, then you’re probably familiar with kimchi. This traditional Korean dish is made of vegetables and seasonings, and fermented like wine and cheese. Fermentation is an ancient technique of preserving food that creates a wide variety of nutrients, including vitamins, fatty acids and probiotics, that make food healthier and…
Graphic Novels for Gourmands
Do you like graphic novels and food? Here are some fun reads about life in the kitchen, opening a new restaurant and solving crimes by eating. In her mouth-watering memoir, Lucy Knisley shares charming tales and delightful drawings about growing up around chefs, food travel adventures and cooking. Each chapter is bookended with sumptuously drawn…
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