Fire on the Track

I am definitely an inspirational biography fan. From “Hero Tales” by Dave and Neta Jackson when I was young to my freshman-year-of-college-read “Unbroken” by Laura Hillenbrand, biographies have gripped and propelled me.

That’s why I picked up “Fire on the Track” by Roseanne Montillo. In the vein of “Unbroken,” this biography highlights the rise and triumph of several Olympic runners–living contemporary to Louis Zamperini, to boot. However, “Fire on the Track” also features its own novel-like writing style–at some points slowed down by this style, at others endowed with vivid form.

I recommend this biographical novel to anyone who enjoyed “Unbroken” or who likes to study the history of women in sports.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest review.

Hmmmm….What’s a Milk Bar?

Creative. Artistic. Different. Delicious.

These are all words that one might use to describe the recipes in Milk Bar Life by Christina Tosi.

You may be wondering, as I was: What is a milk bar? Apparently, it is a restaurant–and a unique one, just like the cookbook that comes from it. The Momofuku Milk Bar in New York bakes and sells cookies. That’s right: cookies. Now if that isn’t unique, I don’t know what is. And I think that uniqueness is on purpose. The restaurant’s owner, Tosi herself, says, “I think quirks are what make the world go ’round, just like dogs, dessert, quilting, jumping rope, bad movies, and great music” (10).

The very title itself should make it obvious that this is no ordinary cookbook with to-be-expected recipes. Whether Cookie-Dough Cookie, Kimchi Quesadilla, or Eggs in Purgatory, the foods in this cookbook are truly unique. Yet twists on classics–Haute Dogs and Grilled Cheese a la Pauly Carmichael–have their due place, too. And so do unique photographs ranging from “cookie doctors” to glam shots with cookies.

This cookbook is divided into sections: tried-and-true hand-me-down recipes, supermarket dishes (which, surprisingly, are not cookies), family meals, craft night and sleepover treats, etc. There is even a section on the lingo specific to a milk bar.

Overall, I would recommend this book for cooks who need to step outside of the box, hipsters who want something fun to put on their shelves, and white-elephant gift-givers. Some will love its recipes; some couldn’t care less about them. It all depends on how creative–and quirky–you are.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest review.

Why Books?

What’s so great about books? Why spend time curled up by a fireplace or by a window when there are millions of other entertainment venues vying for our attention?

Because books teach us about humanity. When we allow them to penetrate to our hearts, they shape who we are. 

Because books open up culture to us. Through their pages, we catch a glimpse into another culture, time, place, or mind.

Because books display human creativity. As creatures created in the image of God, we instinctively wish to make, to weave, to tell, to draw. Our creativity is a God-given characteristic.

Because books teach us about our faults, our sins, our humanity.

And because books allow us a glimpse beyond the chaos and sin and depravity of the world and into a higher purpose, a calling.