Mushrooming With Confidence

 

Mushrooming With Confidence: A Guide to Collecting Edible and Tasty Mushrooms, by Alexander Schwab
Skyhorse Publishing paperback, also available as an ebook
November 2012
ISBN: 978-1-62087-195-9
Price: $14.95

This book is a delight.  In this guide Alexander Schwab describes how mushrooms grow, what the various parts of a mushroom are, and how to be sure that the mushroom you select is the edible treasure you are seeking.  The beautiful clear photographs, the easy to understand descriptions, and the helpful color bars and identification steps, make this book is a wonderful resource.  I love this book.

The book begins with helpful advice on how to use this guide to safely identify and gather edible mushrooms. 

The next section, ‘The Mushrooming with Confidence Method’ introduces the topic of what edible means.  The author points out that the definition of ‘edible’ is merely non-poisonous, which could include cardboard.  The author’s goal is for the reader to learn to identify and collect tasty mushrooms and leave questionable or non-prime specimens.  Other topics in this section include leaving some mushrooms to encourage growth for next season/year, steps to make sure you are choosing the mushroom that is edible and not a look-alike poisonous mushroom,  tools for gathering and transporting mushrooms, the issue of worms,  whether to cut or pull a mushroom, and the advisability of cooking wild mushrooms rather than eating them raw.

Next, the author introduces the basics of what a mushroom is and what parts make up a mushroom. I enjoyed learning about the different mushroom parts from the excellent photos with accurate identifying tags.

The next section of the guide describes the various features that separate different mushrooms such as gills, ridges, tubes and spines and how to tell which you are looking at on a particular mushroom.

‘Positively identifying Mushrooms’ contains sections describing edible mushrooms grouped into types.  Each mushroom is shown in sharply focused mouthwatering photographs, described in clear language and with unique features accurately pointed out so identification can be confidently made.  I liked the inclusion of specific Information about where each type of mushroom commonly grows (for example some grow near birch, while others may grow near oak.)  A positive id checklist along with a color bar is provided for each tasty edible mushroom. 

The table  of common trees and which mushrooms most frequently grow near each tree makes it easier to search for mushrooms in your local area and make success more likely.

The guide also includes a section on safely cleaning, preparing and storing mushrooms by drying or freezing.    An index makes it easy to find a particular topic or mushroom.  The list of the top 25 best to eat and most common mushrooms is colorful and useful.

Using this guide, I was able to identify mushrooms, such as hen of the woods, which grow in my area.   I liked everything about this colorful and precise guide including its glossy format, the close-up photos, the easy to use layout for the tables and identification steps, the tips on cleaning and use of the various mushrooms and the confidence building details included throughout.  I can see that I will have to be careful about loaning this book out because it is such a treasure that I might not get it back!  

 Reviewer for Bookpleasures.com

City of Exiles review

 

CITY OF EXILES (Signet Mass Market Paperback Original; December 4^th, 2012; $9.99)

By Alec Nevala-Lee

ISBN: 978-0-451-23878-8

City of Exiles is a thrilling read with its multi-faceted characters and fast action.    From the moment the story begins with Manuel, an assassin, waiting to close in on his target, suspense builds and the plot twists in unique and thrilling ways.  Ilya, a Russian Jew and a former Russian agent was betrayed by his government so he left their service and has established a cover for himself as a translator.  He narrowly escapes the assassination attempt.  Ilya begins to investigate who wants him killed and why now.

Rachel Wolfe, a special agent with the FBI was sent to work as a liaison officer to the Serious Organized Crime Agency in London.  Rachel is assisting in an international investigation and dealing with her feelings of disenchantment with the Mormon Church and dissatisfaction with her life in total. Rachel is working with Alan Powell.  Powell had specifically asked for Rachel as liaison and respects her abilities but Rachel is feeling barely tolerated by other members of the team.

 Lasse Karvonnen is a current Russian agent who prides himself on never killing a fellow Finn but has no hesitation when killing others.  There is a contrast between Ilya, who is suspected in the torture and killing of several people, and Lasse Karvonnen, the Finnish assassin who delights in killing.  Karvonnen does not hesitate to kill Renata, a drug addicted photographer he has been working with as a cover.

Rachel and Powell are on Ilya’s trail as they suspect him in some recent murders.  Rachel becomes intrigued when Vasylenko calls Ilya a righteous man and states that he wouldn’t kill anyone unless he were deeply confused.  Rachel feels a strange connection with Ilya in her quest to decipher the deadly plot which may threaten thousands if not millions of people.  Ilya is alienated from the Russian spy network because he was betrayed by them.  Rachel feels alienated from her church, family and from the local authorities whom she feels don’t recognize her value.

Rachel has to balance her need for support in the foreign environment with caution because there is a traitor leaking information from somewhere in the organization.  Critical information leaks have allowed the enemy to be one jump ahead of her at crucial moments.  Key witnesses and pieces of evidence have been removed or destroyed.   The quick action, combined with the interesting characters meld together to make an excellent spy thriller.

Although part of a series, City of Exiles stands alone on its merits.  This was a thoroughly enjoyable read and I look forward to more from Alec Nevala-Lee. 

Reviewer for Bookpleasures.com

Ilustrated Guide to Home Forensic Science Experiments by Robert Bruce Thompson & Barbara Fritchman Thompson

 

O'Reilly Media Inc
ISBN: 9781449334512
July 2012
Softcover $34.99 US, $36.99 CAN

A detailed lab workbook introducing forensic techniques for collecting, safeguarding and processing potential evidence. This excellent book covers soil, hair and fiber analysis, forensic examination of glass and plastic specimens, how to develop latent fingerprints and reveal blood traces, how to detect drug and toxic materials/chemicals, gunshot analysis and detecting explosive residues, toolmark impressions, matching pollen and diatom samples, extracting, isolating and visualizing dna samples and many other forensic processes.  Complete materials lists precede each lab. Steps are given in a smooth easily followed order. Processes are designed to preserve the evidence and prevent contamination.

As soon as I opened the package, this colorful attractive book drew my interest.  This is my new favorite non-fiction book.

I highly recommend this book to science teachers looking for an interesting subject matter, to those who home-school, and to anyone who is an avid amateur scientist, a writer of crime/mystery fiction, or a reporter who writes about crime and forensics. Since the book is set up in topical sections and is all lab no lecture, it can easily be used for a 4-H project in science or forensics or a science camp topic stream.

*****.

Guardian by Heather Burch

An interesting YA paranormal action romance.  The main character, Nikki Youngblood, is struggling with a roller-coaster of intense feelings about the loss of her parents, two intensely attractive male halflings, Mace and Raven who compete for her affections and attention at every turn, and the danger she finds herself and others in due to evil forces from hell.

Meanwhile, Damon Vessler pleads with Nikki to return to him and help wreak vengeance on her parents killer. Nikki must choose her path with not only lives but souls at stake.

This is definitely a good read but I do feel I missed crucial information by not having read the first book in this trilogy.  After reading 'Halflings', I will revisit this review.

I am adding this book to the YA section of my lending library.

*****

Guardian
Reading level: Ages 15 and up
Price: $14.99 (USD)
Hardcover: 320 pages
Publisher: Zondervan (October 9, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN 13: 9780310728214
UPC: 025986728212

One Deadly Sin by Annie Solomon

One Deadly Sin
Annie Solomon
Romantic Suspense
Grand Central Publishing
ISBN# 0-446-17844-6
ISBN13#: 978-0-446-17844-0
Paperback – Available now

The heroine, Edie Swan Has returned to her childhood town yearning for revenge for the miscarriage of justice against her father. She takes a job at a local bar and starts working her way through her list of the people involved in the frame up. She delivers a small plastic black angel to each one, hoping to unsettle them. Unfortunately for her and the recipients they start dying under mysterious or suspicious circumstances.

The hero, Sheriff Holt Drennen is trying to solve the mysterious deaths of several people in the small town. When he discovers that each has received a black angel, similar to the angel on Edie’s fathers grave, and finally that she is the source of the black angels, many of the towns members think that Edie is the perpetrator of the crimes. Sheriff Holt isn’t so sure and keeps investigating to find the ‘real’ murderer.

After several people have died, Edie begins to feel afraid for herself, sorry for the survivors and worried about how to tell Holt that she is the one who delivered the black angels but not the killer. She is also developing an interest in Holt and hopes that it is mutual.


Altogether it is an exciting suspenseful book. The characters are interesting even when they are unlikeable, for example Dennis Runkle the real estate agent. I like Edie and Holt.

Its very interesting that this book was inspired by the legend of the black angel in Oakland Cemetery in Iowa City.

DeKok and the Mask of Death by A.C. Baantjer

Available July 2009
Mystery
Hardcover $24.00 US
ISBN-13: 978-1-933108-30-8
Speck Press

Inspector DeKoK is still at work investigating mysterious disappearances and murder. A missing girl, reported by a young man who claims to be her boyfriend starts this newest case off. Women are checking into Slotervaart Hospital and then disappearing, according to a couple of somewhat questionable witnesses. Hospital staff denies it completely. Despite his impetuous partner, DeKok makes enough progress to be sternly warned off the case. Well worth reading. I don't want to spoil the ending for you. The case twists through both the medical and antiquities fields.

Nourishing Hope for Autism, by Julie Matthews

Nourishing Hope for Autism: Nutrition Intervention for Healing Our Children
Author: Julie Matthews
Genre: Nonfiction: Autism Biomedical Intervention/Medical/Wellness/Nutrition/Diet
ISBN: 978-0981655802
Publication Date: 2008
Softcover
Pages: 236
Publisher: Healthful Living Media

Packed with Nutrition information for parents of children with Autism. It is written for more literate/scientifically aware parents. While it does define many terms, the heavy use of technical terms could be intimidating for some parents. The information is valuable and is presented in clear sections making it easier for parents to locate areas of interest, such as supplements, ASD diet, and toxicity information.

The Other Side of Silence by Bill Pronzini

Suspense, mystery, tension. A very enjoyable read. Some interesting and not very likeable people in this. The main character, Rick Fallon is likeable and kind. The sort of person it is nice to meet in life and in books.

The Crime Scene by W. Mark Dale, MBA & Wendy S. Becker, Ph.D.

Kaplan Publishing, December 2007
Paperback, $19.95
7 X 10, 256 pages, Index
B&W photos throughout, color insert 4 pages
ISBN- 13:978-1-4277-9632-5

A detailed view into the various specialists and tasks involved in getting, examining, and preparing presentation material from crime scenes. Some of the techniques have been glamorized by the popular forensic television shows. In this book, the actual processes are presented based on information from experts in the field.

The many examples from cases, photographs showing evidence protection, development and collection along with the informative charts create an in-depth picture of what is would be like to work in the forensics field. Some of the duties require skills such as photography, while others require advanced education or training in areas such as biology, math or chemistry. This book is an excellent resource for anyone thinking of entering the forensics field. For those who write about crime, or whose work will involve them with crime scenes (such as emergency response personnel) this is an excellent easy to read resource. I found it entertaining, enjoyable and informative. *****