Recipes & Reviews & Reading Poetry

March 2023

Welcome to Recipes & Reviews, a monthly feature in which I share my favorite foodie moments and memorable reads.

I read my usual number of books in March, but you’ll only see a select few in my reviews today—here’s why:

1. I already mentioned one or two in previous newsletters and will simply link to those references.

2. I’m saving some reviews for special projects.

3. My reading life is better when I don’t pressure myself to share every single title I read.

I love sharing books with all of you. I’ll continue to share books with all of you! The irony is, the more public my reading life has become through #bookstagram, podcasting, and now newsletter-writing, the more private and selective I’ve become about which books I share, and how.

Over the last few years, I’ve learned I experience less decision fatigue over what to read next, less anxiety over whether I’m reading “enough,” and less overwhelm from #bookstagram when I preserve my reading log for my eyes only. Then, when I read something spectacular, I can share it and shout about it after savoring the experience for myself. When I read something middling or meh, I don’t place pressure on myself to review it; I can forget about it or recommend it to the right reader.

I used to regularly share current reads, reading wrap-ups, and audiobook updates on Instagram—and I love seeing those posts from others! I’ve just found that balancing better social media use, for me, means more selective sharing.

There is no right way to share your reading life online. I’m always curious to know how small decisions or habits shape fellow readers’ lives, so please share your thoughts in the comments.

Recipes

Here’s what we made in March:

1. Squiggly knife cut noodles with scrambled eggs and stir-fried carrots, topped with green onion and sriracha.

2. Cheese tortellini in olive oil and parmesan with bacon-wrapped asparagus.

3. Grilled steak with multicolored cauliflower and mini sourdough toasts.

4. Sourdough chocolate chip cookies.

Reviews

Shop my book lists: Bookshop | Amazon

Georgie, All Along by Kate Claybourn

Believe it or not, this was my first Kate Claybourn book! I know, I know. I need to read her backlist. This was a lovely place to start, though, and I recommend it to readers who love romance novels with an emphasis on female friendship, avid watchers of Gilmore Girls, and anyone who feels like they should have things “figured out” even though life is ever-changing.

Georgie Mulcahy absolutely rocks at her job as personal assistant to a Hollywood powerhouse, but when that powerhouse decides to retire, Georgie is set adrift, back in her small hometown with her parents and her high school bestie. When Georgie finds a notebook filled with plans drawn up by her 15-year-old self, she wonders if it holds the key to figuring out her future. Maybe if she follows those plans, she can see herself more clearly? Enter handsome, dog-owning Levi Fanning, the town troublemaker-turned-loner. Thrown into Georgie’s orbit, Levi finds himself opening up to possibility and dare he say it…fun. If you enjoy a Luke & Lorelai dynamic, you’ll love watching their relationship turn from awkward to sizzling to comfortable. Plus, there’s a very, very good dog who helps bring them together.

The Scandalous Ladies of London: The Countess by Sophie Jordan

I don’t watch any of the Real Housewives franchises, but when I saw the new Sophie Jordan series pegged as “Real Housewives but make it Regency Romance,” I was in. I’m always curious to see how romance authors, particularly historical, twist and turn tropes to experiment and stretch their craft, thereby expanding the genre itself. The Countess features a group of wealthy women with truly terrible husbands. The ladies flirt with danger and drama as they navigate society’s strict expectations of wives, mothers, and widows.

In the first installment, Lady Gertrude sets out to make a love match for her daughter—she wants her to find satisfaction and contentment in marriage, the opposite of what Gertrude has experienced. The ridiculously wealthy Jasper Thorne enters the picture, and well, well, well…wouldn’t you know, he ends up in a torrid affair with Gertrude instead! This wasn’t my favorite of Sophie Jordan’s historicals, but it’s certainly scandalous, and I couldn’t put it down.

Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor

I recall reading this book in middle school, and I am SO glad I read it again as an adult for the Novel Pairings podcast. Mildred D. Taylor’s middle grade classic is atmospheric, tense, and terrifying—and it’s beautifully written, featuring a warm family and a compelling coming of age story. In our Novel Pairings discussion, Sara and I pose an argument for including this novel among coming of age classics like To Kill a Mockingbird or The Bluest Eye—books that aren’t seen as solely for children. If you loved The Warmth of Other Suns, South to America, or The Yellow House, consider picking up this children’s classic.

In case you missed it, I reviewed a surprising poolside read and my most anticipated book of the year in the post below:

Spring Break Book Reviews

Recommendations for National Poetry Month

Every year, National Poetry Month rolls around and reminds me, hey I do like poetry! Above all, I love teaching poetry. Here’s the step-by-step process I used in the classroom to walk through a poem with students. I follow the same steps in my personal reading while keeping this mantra in mind: you don’t need to fully understand a poem in order to enjoy it! For more poetry reading advice, check out Sara’s recent Reading in Public post or this in-depth guide from UW Madison.

1. Read the title and guess: what is the poem about?

2. Read the poem out loud.

3. Reflect: how does the poem make you feel?

4. Read the poem again: notice figurative language.

5. Read the poem again: notice word choice.

6. Read the poem one last time. Let it sink in.

If you’re looking for an approachable collection to read this month, here are a few of my favorites:

1. A Thousand Mornings by Mary Oliver

2. What Kind of Woman & And Yet by Kate Baer

3. Selected Poems of Langston Hughes

4. Catalog of Unabashed Gratitude by Ross Gay

5. No Matter the Wreckage by Sarah Kay

6. Above Ground by Clint Smith

For more contemporary poetry collections, check out this list from the NYPL.

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Did you cook or read anything wonderful in March? I would love to see your recipes and reviews (and poetry recs) in the comments.

Chelsey

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