What have you been reading? Show me your TBR pile on Instagram and Twitter using #BriBooks. Subscribe to our newsletter bribookspod.com/newesletter!
You know you need a break from the screen, so Bri Books is here with 5 books worth adding to your ‘TBR’ (‘To Be Read’) pile. Last Sunday, I woke up on a mission: organize the Bri Books library’s several TBR piles that were inexplicably cropping up around my home. Here are the reads I’m diving back into (after finishing “The Mirror and the Light” by Hilary Mantel, of course.)
Pssst, Bri Books just published a podcast episode about historical fiction novels and TV shows you should watch.
“The Paris Hours” by Alex George (May 2020) - Told over the single day in 1927 Paris, this novel takes four ordinary people whose stories, told together, are as extraordinary as the city they inhabit.
“Lady in Waiting: My Extraordinary Life in the Shadow of the Crown” by Anne Glenconner (March 2020) is an extraordinary memoir of royal secrets, legacy, and loss. Anne Glenconnor is a close member of the royal circle and was Lady-in-Waiting to Princess Margaret, as seen on Netflix’s “The Crown.” If you love the Royals and if Megxit gave you a buzz, you should pick up “Lady in Waiting.”
“Volcanoes and Wine: From Pompeii to Napa” by Charles Frankle (November 2019) takes us across the stunning and dangerous world of volcanic wines. It sounds like the perfect blend of geology, world history, and wine.
“The Art of Showing Up: How to Be There for Yourself and Your People” by Rachel Wilkerson Miller (May 2020) is the perfect companion piece to, well, our current reality. Could it BE any more on-the-nose?!
“The Art of Making Memories: How to Create and Remember Happy Moments” by Meik Wiking (October 2019) is a keepsake worth distilling into a future episode of Bri Books. I’ll definitely write down what I learn from this book and any insights into how we can all make deeper memories during these uncertain times.
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What have you been reading? Show me your TBR pile on Instagram and Twitter using #BriBooks. Subscribe to our newsletter bribookspod.com/newesletter!
Anyone else in the mood for comfort reading? In this episode, I'm revealing the two historical fiction series that’ll get you through the next phase of social distancing. What are you reading? Let me know by reviewing Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, joining the community on Instagram, and show me your TBR pile using #bribooks! SUBSCRIBE TO BRI BOOKS ON APPLE PODCASTS
Bri Books Best Historical Fiction Novels to Read During Quarantine (and What to Watch)
Historical literature, in a nutshell, is a piece of writing wherein the plot takes place in the past. What sets historical fiction apart is the detail the author takes to create a world that pays attention to the period being discussed. When it comes to historical fiction, you want to select an author who will ‘do right’ by the characters being created. Women write fantastic historical fiction. I’m certain former Bri Books guest Liana Rodriguez would agree!
These two historical fiction novel series have visual counterparts (like an accompanying TV series). Welcome to the Bri Books Pod Multiplatform Book Club!
Series #1: “Outlander” by Diana Gabaldon
3:25 - The origin story of the “Outlander” historical fiction novel series by Diana Gabaldon and the novel's plot
Series #2: “Wolf Hall” Trilogy by Hilary Mantel
6:30 - “Wolf Hall” series by Hilary Mantel is my all-time favorite historical fiction collection. The trilogy spans “Wolf Hall,” “Bring Up The Bodies,” and Mantel’s final installation “The Mirror and the Light.” Reading “The Mirror and the Light” by Hilary Mantel feels like riding a roller coaster. The first novel, “Wolf Hall,” chronicles the rise of Thomas Cromwell and the fall of Cardinal Wolsey, the Archbishop; and the impact of Anne Boleyn. “Bring Up the Bodies” traces the beginnings (and end) of Anne Boleyn, and the ushering in of Jane Seymour, the third of King Henry’s queens. Oh, and a casual Protestant Reformation sweeping the nation, NBD. I highly recommend you read the entire “Wolf Hall" trilogy, and to accompany your reading, watch the 2015 BBC six-part mini-series “Wolf Hall,” which follows the plots of the first two novels.
What have you been reading? Show me your TBR pile on Instagram and Twitter using #BriBooks. Subscribe to our newsletter bribookspod.com/newesletter!
I'm sharing the quarantine cookbooks and recipes that have been the most used and helpful to me during these first few weeks of the global pandemic. These are the titles that have been feeding my soul, my tummy, and aligning with my community. I’ve been buying a local CSA box from Local Roots NYC, while independently supporting my favorite Greenmarket farmers. When I get my Local Roots CSA subscription box delivered, I go straight to the indexes of my favorite cookbooks to uncover any recipes I can create with my new produce finds. What have you been eating? Show me your meals on Instagram and Twitter using #BriBooks. Subscribe to our newsletter bribookspod.com/newesletter and check out more behind-the-scenes photos on bribookspod.com!
Bri Books 6 Best Cookbooks for Nourishing Meals During Quarantine
3:00 - Book 1: “From the Oven to the Table: Simple Dishes that Look After Themselves” by Diana Henry. Thanks to the Local Roots CSA, I’ve been able to experiment more with cooking meats! This cookbook is full of tips on what to look for in your fresh produce and ingredients. The recipes are so simple, and they make you feel alive from the inside out.
6:30 - Book 2: “How to Cook Everything” by Mark Bittman. I mentioned this book on the Bri Books episode “How to Build Confidence in the Kitchen” featuring Danielle and Sherrod of “Slice and Torte” Podcast. This cookbook is where I go for technique and ingredient-specific help. For example, I was in search of a chili recipe to make with my Local Roots ground beef, and found the perfect one in “How to Cook Everything” (pssst…here’s the recipe.)
8:20 - Book 3: “Every Day is Saturday: Recipes and Strategies for Easy Cooking Every Day of the Week” by Sarah Copeland. This cookbook is the ultimate comfort food companion. Every recipe tastes like you’re eating at your favorite neighborhood joint; these recipes are 100% restaurant-worthy quality. I love Sarah Copeland’s ‘catch-all’ take on easy, leftovers-based, nibbly Sunday night dinners. The meals in this cookbook call on ingredients you already have--especially the mains! The "Every Day Is Saturday" cookbook reminds me to be my own best chef.
11:40 - Book 4: “Jubilee: Recipes for Two Centuries of African-American Cooking” by Toni Martin-Tipton. I mentioned this book on the “5 Most Delicious Cookbooks” episode of Bri Books. This book brings together the depth of African-American cuisine and techniques, and shines a loving light on the roots of American food. This cookbook is built on learning and sharing our knowledge, and I’m 100% committed.
13:00 - Book 5: “Vegetable Kingdom” by Bryant Terry. Terry is a James Beard Award-winning chef, educator and author of the iconic book “Afro-Vegan.” Terry’s renowned for his efforts to create a healthy and equitable food system. This cookbook is already inspiring the ways I take in the fresh flavors of spring.
14:50 - Book 6: “Cook Beautiful” by Athena Calderone, which I discovered at Sezane, one of my favorite French brands. Athena is a creator of beauty, a stylist, a lifestylist, an interior expert and advocate, she breathes life/ texture creativity into rooms. In this cookbook, she reveals the secrets to preparing unforgettable meals. You can feel how Athena loves to create a sense of belonging and warmth in both food and in life. One of my favorite things about the book is that it’s broken into seasons--you can come back to different sections for inspiration! Athena was featured on Glamour.com as 1 of 11 female interior designers to support (and follow on Instagram). Athena Calderone’s entire ethos is that you don’t need a sprawling space and an endless supply of farm-fresh food to live well— just need a bit of tender care, attention to detail, and inspiration. But the farm-fresh food doesn’t hurt ;) (Hiii, Local Roots!)
What have you been eating? Show me your meals on Instagram and Twitter using #BriBooks. Subscribe to our newsletter bribookspod.com/newesletter!