Cookery by the Book | April 13, 2020
The #1 cookbook podcast, Cookery by the Book, interviewed Alexander Smalls about his new cookbook, Meals, Music, and Muses. Follow the link above to listen to the full podcast.
Everett Herald | April 12, 2020
“Reading books, writing books, talking about books.
And walking the talk about books.
Seattle’s favorite librarian, Nancy Pearl, is known the world over for the shushing-librarian action figure bearing her likeness.
‘I’m one of those people, I think, who just has trouble sitting still,’ Pearl, 75, said in an interview following her annual ‘Nancy Pearl’s Picks’ book talk to a packed auditorium in Langley on Whidbey Island. ‘I need something to think about and keep myself mentally active.’
She’s no slouch in the physical department, either.
Last year, Pearl started combining her two greatest pleasures — reading and walking. Her love of books dates back to her childhood in Detroit, where she found words and refuge at the local library.
About seven years ago, Pearl took up walking. The loop route from her Seattle home gradually increased to about 5 miles.
Then, she added a good book between her ears and racked up even more miles.”
Follow the link above to read more about America’s librarian!
Kirkus Reviews | April 12, 2020
“Two roommates become friends at a prestigious boarding school.
Juniper, who goes by Jun, leaves her public school after winning a scholarship to the elite Ellsmere Academy. After scaring away her roommate, Cassie, during their first meeting, Jun later redeems herself when she stands up to Emily, queen bee and bully, for calling Cassie an orphan. Jun’s confrontation with Emily is the beginning of their rivalry, each vying to be the best student for her own reasons. Jun’s sarcasm and wit serve her well when dealing with Emily, but as the school year goes on, the bullying gets more and more severe. Driven by her desire to become a doctor, Jun finds her life at Ellsmere is constantly at risk due to Emily’s scheming. All the while Jun and Cassie’s friendship blossoms as the two get to know each other. A fantastical element involving the Ellsmere family and the dark forest next to the academy is woven into the story but lacks development. Fans of Hicks’ visually appealing artwork in Rainbow Rowell’s Pumpkinheads (2019) will enjoy the familiar art style and bold lines. Characters are expressive and cleanly drawn, complementing the straightforward text and accessible storytelling. Jun is illustrated with beige skin, dark hair, and dark eyes while her roommate, Cassie, has pale skin, light-brown hair, and green eyes. Several pages of notes on the illustrations are appended.
Kindness and friendship prevail in this charming story.”
Follow the link above to see the full review! One Year at Ellsmere will be published July 14, 2020.
BookPage | April 9, 2020
“It’s not often a contemporary novel is narrated by an inanimate object. In the 18th century, this convention was quite a bit more popular, referred to as ‘it-narratives’ or ‘object narratives.’ Francesca Momplaisir takes this classic form and combines it with contemporary issues in My Mother’s House, narrated by the titular dwelling.
[…]
In Momplaisir’s novel, cracks of light are always there to penetrate the dark.”
Follow the link above to read the full review!
Why Food? | April 9, 2020
Episode 119 Alexander Smalls: From Opera Singer to Restaurateur
“Alexander Smalls is a James Beard Award winning chef, author, and raconteur, and the visionary co-owner of renowned restaurants Minton’s and The Cecil, which was named ‘Best New Restaurant in America’ by Esquire in 2014. His new book, Meals, Music and Muses: Recipes From My African American Kitchen was published in February 2020 from Flatiron Books. Smalls is also a world-renowned opera singer and the winner of both a Grammy Award and a Tony Award for the cast recording of Porgy and Bess, by George Gershwin, with the Houston Grand Opera.”
Follow the link above to hear the full interview!
BuzzFeed | April 9, 2020
“This week, Goodreads is highlighting mysteries and thrillers — and they've rounded up the 40 most popular mysteries and thrillers of the past five years, based on reader ratings and reviews. Here are some of the best.”
The Good Daughter by Karin Slaughter, The Last Mrs. Parrish by Liv Constantine, and The Wife Between Us by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen were all included in this fabulous round-up! Follow the link above to read more!
Chowhound | April 8, 2020
“Alexander Smalls, a James Beard Award-winning chef and famous opera singer, unites his two favorite things in life—food and music—in his cookbook Meals, Music, and Muses: My African American Kitchen. The Southern chef showcases just how influential both food and music have been in his life, infusing this book with recipes, anecdotes from a childhood spent in Low Country, and the genres of music that help influence his cooking.”
Follow the link above to read the full article and get the recipe!
Seattle Book Review | April 3, 2020
“Been There, Married That by Gigi Levangie Grazer is written in a light, colloquial tone that I have not come across in books before. It was a refreshing new take to read, as if you’re having a conversation with a friend. I enjoyed the author putting Agnes’ additional true thoughts and feelings in parenthesis to let us know how Agnes really feels about the subject at hand. Been There, Married That is a light, fun read, perfect for your next vacation or to get away from reality for a bit.”
Follow the link above to read the entire review!
Modern Farmer | April 3, 2020
“The COVID-19 pandemic has paused a number of life’s simple pleasures: being with friends and family, travelling to new places, dining out.
One thing that hasn’t changed is the need to eat. Staying home will likely encourage some to perfect their culinary skills while those less experienced might attempt to crack open a cookbook for the first time.
To provide you with some kitchen inspiration, Modern Farmer connected with a number of top chefs to check in on what they’ve been cooking since staying isolated.”
Follow the link to see what top chefs are cooking while practicing self-isolation. Alexander Smalls is making bourbon pecan pie!
PBS Books | April 2, 2020
“2020 marks an important year for US democracy. This year, America will celebrate the 100-year anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment, officially granting women the right to vote, and PBS will launch multiplatform programming focused on ‘Trailblazers’ in order to commemorate the fight for women’s suffrage in the US and the stories of modern women, who continue to shatter the glass ceiling and transform modern history. We hope your children (ages 0-12) will enjoy learning about some trailblazing women, who have made a difference throughout the world, but especially in the US.”
Exquisite: The Poetry and Life of Gwendolyn Brooks by Suzanne Slade and Cozbi A. Cabrera was included on this fabulous list! Follow the link above to read the entire article.
Taste | March 30, 2020
“Alexander Smalls might be the only person we know who has a Grammy, a Tony, and a James Beard Award, and his new book, Meals, Music, and Muses, tells the story of how music and food interweave throughout Southern culture.”
The newest cookbook from Alexander Smalls, Meals, Music, and Muses, was included in this lovely article. Click the link above to read more.
Publishers Weekly | March 30, 2020
“Francis-Sharma (’Til the Well Runs Dry) delivers a satisfying and perceptive transnational family saga… In this masterly epic, the pleasure lies in piecing everything together.”
Book of the Little Axe by Lauren Francis-Sharma was reviewed in the most recent edition of Publishers Weekly! Follow the link above to read the entire review.
Library Journal | March 25, 2020
“From the farms of Trinidad to the forests of the American West, the tale of Rosa Rendón is hard yet engrossing… The various strands of the story come together to illuminate how power and race can warp a life… A sad, compelling novel about a woman of color who fights against society’s expectation .”
Book of the Little Axe by Lauren Francis-Sharma was reviewed by Library Journal. Follow the link above to read the full review!
School Library Journal | March 20, 2020
“Readers will be intrigued and inspired to dive into further research to understand some of the jargon and learn more about the women profiled here.”
Astronauts by Jim Ottaviani and Maris Wicks received a starred review from School Library Journal! Follow the link above to read the full review.
BiblioLifestyle | March 16, 2020
“If you’re a reader who lives for the thrill and you cant get enough of those plot twists that you’re always trying to predict, this book list is just for you. From bestselling authors you’re already acquainted with, to debut authors making their mark in the genre, we are sure you’ll find something to pique your interest. So make space on your bookshelves, make those library requests, reserve these titles and check out FIFTEEN of our most anticipated thriller, suspense and mystery novels that we will be reading during the Spring 2020 season!”
My Mother’s House by Francesca Momplaisir and The Wife Stalker by Liv Constantine were included in this beautiful round-up! Follow the link above to see the full list.
Page Six | March 15, 2020
“He sent her to the ‘nut’ house.
Super producer Brian Grazer’s ex-wife says he once sent her on a private jet to a rehab facility to get treatment for an addiction — to almonds.”
Follow the link above to read the full article!
The New York Times | March 13, 2020
“Alexander Smalls, who introduced New Yorkers to Afro-Asian-American cuisine when he opened the Cecil in 2013, has always loved Sunday. ‘I give myself permission to do anything and everything and nothing,‘ he said.
Cooking is a second act for Mr. Smalls. Before he opened Café Beulah, his first restaurant, which featured South Carolina Lowcountry fare, in 1994, he was a professional opera singer. In 1990, after starring in ‘Porgy and Bess‘ at the Houston Grand Opera, Mr. Smalls reluctantly left the stage. ‘An operatic career was my dream,’ he said, ’but I was not able to break that glass ceiling as an African-American male.’
He reinvented himself as a chef and restaurateur and cookbook author, most recently winning a James Beard Award for ’Between Harlem and Heaven‘ in 2018. His latest offering, ’Meals, Music and Muses: Recipes From My African American Kitchen,’ a tribute to his South Carolina heritage and the music that inspired him, was published last month. Mr. Smalls, 67, lives in Harlem.”
Follow the link above to read the full article on The New York Times and learn which markets Alexander Smalls recommends.
Thrive Global | March 11, 2020
“If you are an avid reader, there is a time when you come across one of those reads. Those iconic reads, taking you to a place and a world knowing, but unfamiliar. A world that you did not truly know. That you heard of. That you were exposed to. Yet, one that you truly never knew. A prevalent image of your mind for a particular culture of people has been shifted to include other realities of their existence. Reading of that world is initially. . .shocking. The shock is the beauty of it all because it is a shattering of any expectations, that you had. And, because you are surprised, you are compelled to begin an adventure in discovering that world. No matter now uncomfortable it may be.
This is how the journey began in my own, initial readings of Bittersweet Brooklyn, by Thelma Adams. This dynamic world of early 1900’s, Brooklyn, New York Jewish culture is captivating. Not because of the extreme conditions, but because of its complexity. This literary aesthetic conveys the harsh, migration stories of Jewish communities in the urban context of US soiling. Stories in the farcity of Jewish communities having always been united; or having always distributed natural compassion to those who were more unfortunate in their communities highlights this other world of Jewish existence in the United States. Thelma Adams is descriptive and keen in how she leads our reader’s eye into this world.”
Follow the link above to read the full review of Bittersweet Brooklyn by Thelma Adams!