A Bride’s Story by Kaoru Mori

Andrew ended his blog post Graphic novels for people who don’t read graphic novels with these words: “Did I not address a genre or topic you're interested in? Did I not name a graphic novel you'd love to see more people read? Speak up in the comments!”  I asked for graphic novels for historical romance fans, and he suggested A Bride’s Story, a shojo manga series with three volumes.

If I had been smart enough to read the catalog note that says “Book reads from right to left in the traditional Japanese format,” I could have saved myself the embarrassment of having to ask Sarah how to read manga, not to mention the time wasted beginning at the end and being very puzzled.  I’m glad I stuck with it because reading Mori’s book was a magic carpet ride.  The detailed art work enthralls; I only wish the inside pages shared the vivid colors of the cover. Kaoru Mori joins Jan Brett and Paul Goble as illustrators whose books I would buy just to ohhh and ahhh over the artwork; sometimes the words distract from the images.

Set in the mid-19th century in the Caucasus region of central Asia, the narrative of A Bride’s Story captives me while I learn about a society where a 20 year old woman marries a 12 year old boy.  I admire Amir, the central character, for her talents as a cook, horsewoman and archer.  The Halgal and Eihon family dynamics intrigue me.

Some critics fault the book for lack of plot and too much anthropology.  I find the richness of the drawings compensate.  It is a visual book, and the details satisfy me.  It’s not a fast food meal in a bag; it’s a slow-cooked feast.

 - Michelle, Adult Services

Spotlight: Delicious Food

We hope that you're enjoying 2013 so far, but if you're like us, you're probably feeling the pressure to lose a few pounds. Or maybe you're one of those lucky few who can eat whatever strikes your fancy and never gain a pound. Either way, Carnegie-Stout has you covered! We've gathered together information for some of the most popular diets, as well as some of the best cookbooks of 2012. Be sure to stop in and browse through our display on the first floor too!

Of course, our favorite diet advice comes from Michael Pollan: "Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants."

Gluten-Free
Gluten is a protein found in several grains including wheat, barley, and rye. A gluten-free diet is necessary for people who suffer from Celiac Disease or a wheat allergy, though some people follow this diet for other reasons. You can browse our collection for materials on gluten-free diets here.

Best Cookbooks of 2012
Homemade Pantry: 101 foods you can stop buying and start making
by Alana Chernila
(641.5 CHE)


Paleo Diet
Sometimes called the Caveman Diet or Stone Age Diet, this diet purports to recreate the eating habits of humans before the development of agriculture. This means one can eat fish, fruits, vegetables, and other meat animals fed on grasses rather than grains, but no grains (wheat, corn, rice), dairy products, or refined sugars. You can browse our collection for materials on paleo diets here.

Best Cookbooks of 2012 
Mastering the Art of Southern Cooking
by Nathalie Dupree & Cynthia Graubart
(641.5975 DUP)



Atkins Diet
The low-carbohydrate diet was first proposed by Robert Atkins in the '70s, but didn't become widely popular until around 2004. These days a number of low-carb diet variations exist. We have many cookbooks and diet guides that you can browse by clicking here.

Best Cookbooks of 2012
The Smitten Kitchen Cookbook
by Deb Perelman
(641.5 PER)



Detoxes/Cleanses
Detoxes and cleanses are not diets proper, but are closer to the experience of fasting or being restricted to a liquid diet due to food poisoning or stomach flu. While you may lose weight during a weekend or week of drinking only juices, advocates will tell you the real goal is to create a clean slate internally. You can browse our collection for materials on here.

Best Cookbooks of 2012
Barefoot Contessa Foolproof: recipes you can trust
by Ina Garten
(641.5 GAR)



Raw Food
A raw food diet consists of foods that have not been heated, or heated to a temperature of no more than 115 °F (though there is some disagreement on this point). Adherents might consume raw fish, raw milk products, or a completely vegan diet. You can browse our collection for materials on here. 

Best Cookbooks of 2012
The Farm: rustic recipes for a year of incredible food
by Ian Knauer
(641.5973 KNA)



Mediterranean Diet
Every so often we're inundated with diet and exercise advice based on one geographical region or another (French women have perfect children! Everyone needs to try the Brazilian booty workout!). Luckily, living by the dietary norms of the Mediterranean, as recognized by UNESCO, makes for some delicious meals, and if there's a health benefit too, well, bonus. You can browse our collection for materials on here.

Best Cookbooks of 2012
Fifty Shades of Chicken: a parody in cookbook
by F. L. Fowler
(641.665 FOW)



Ornish Diet/The Spectrum
Dr. Ornish led a medical study that demonstrated a diet rich in plants, mild exercise, and stress management could improve the health of individuals suffering from coronary artery disease. His research led him to write The Spectrum, which adapts his dietary research for a wider audience.

Best Cookbooks of 2012 
The Back in the Day Bakery Cookbook: more than 100 recipes from the best little bakery in the south
by Cheryl & Griffith Day
(641.86 DAY)


Zone Diet
The Zone Diet, developed by Barry Sears, calls for participants to balance the calories in their meals to follow a ratio of 40% carbohydrates to 30% proteins and 30% fats. The thinking is that this will help to balance your hormone and insulin levels. You can browse our collection for materials on here. 

We also have books for Weight Watchers, the Eat This, Not That series, books with "skinny" in the title, and more.

Real Simple is January's Magazine of the Month

Real Simple, our first Magazine of the Month for 2013, made its debut in 2000. The magazine was began with the idea of presenting useful tips and tricks for the household with a simple layout, uncluttered photographs, and clear text. You can stop into Carnegie-Stout to take a look at the latest issue, or check out an older issue to flip through at home!

Because the library is closed today for New Year's, you might enjoy looking through the Real Simple website: www.realsimple.com

You might also be able to catch an episode of their PBS program on TV: www.pbs.org/realsimple

Or if you come into the library on Wednesday, you can browse through the Real Simple books available in non-fiction.