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hissingpotatoes

hissingpotatoes

Joined March 2018

story seeker. she/her. https://linktr.ee/hissingpotatoes
review
hissingpotatoes
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Bailedbailed

1/5⭐ The author goes off about her degrees and training and research and decades of experience and yet includes not a SINGLE citation. There is little to no distinction between historical uses and whether or not the herbs actually do what they're thought to. It's especially worrisome that the author includes flower essences as if they're a scientifically valid method. At least there are a few appropriate warnings for contraindications.

review
hissingpotatoes
The Fox Wife: A Novel | Yangsze Choo
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Pickpick

3.5/5⭐ I received an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I love the atmosphere of this book. Throughout is the pervading mystery of fox lore, how it morphs and impacts people of varying beliefs, and how it compares to the reality of being a fox in this world. If you like slower, atmospheric magical realism with strong emotions, this one's for you.

Full review: https://hissingpotatoes.com/2024/03/13/review-the-fox-wife-by-yangsze-choo/

27 likes2 comments
review
hissingpotatoes
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Pickpick

3.5/5⭐ Contains woo-woo like flower essences, but the other plant information is useful. The safety precautions are thorough. The book covers identification, wildcrafting methods, herbal medicine preparation methods, and recipes with very easy instructions. Some of the information, like which constituents are extracted best in which mediums, is stuff I've had trouble finding in other herbalism books. Includes further reading and resources.

17 likes1 stack add
review
hissingpotatoes
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Bailedbailed

.5/5⭐ Super pretentious. The author talks about himself in the highest terms and name/location drops all over the place. He says he has “merrily disregarded every distinction between highbrow, middlebrow, and lowbrow taste“ as if he's some benevolent writing god and then proceeds to name specific authors he clearly thinks fall into one of those brows (but he doesn't distinguish, so it's not elitist!). ⬇

hissingpotatoes The first sentence of chapter one is “The only way to begin is to begin, and begin right now,“ and the word “begin“ is repeated even after that in a long-winded paragraph that says very little and sets the stage for how the rest of the book's advice will be presented. Not for me. #roll100 2w
dabbe #hailthebail! 🤩🤩🤩 2w
16 likes2 comments
review
hissingpotatoes
The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency | Anne Collins, Alexander McCall Smith
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Mehso-so

2.5/5⭐ There's very little connective tissue to the story. Often an entire chapter goes onto a tangent into a side character's full history or Botswanan history/culture. The main plot doesn't make its presence known until 2/3 of the way through, and even then there's no sense of urgency or conflict/difficulty and it's distracted from with sideplots. I like the main character but there was never a hook for me. #roll100

Librarybelle I liked this one but wasn‘t in love with it, if that makes sense. I know others who absolutely devoured this series, they loved it that much. 2w
Ruthiella All the books are like this. I love ‘em but I can see where they would not appeal to everyone. 2w
19 likes3 comments
review
hissingpotatoes
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Pickpick

3.5/5⭐ This book is a combination of specific helpful info/advice, generic unhelpful info/advice, simplistic idealism, implementable practicality, personal memoir, and wonderful validation. I loathe the new trend of books putting their citations and resources lists on a website; they should be printed in the book, full stop. #doublespin

20 likes1 comment
blurb
hissingpotatoes
Untitled | Unknown
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Foxes in Love Vol. 1 won February, but The Hero's Closet edges it out by half a star. #readingbracket2024

review
hissingpotatoes
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Pickpick

4/5⭐ As a reference it's wonderfully informative with tons of illustrations and photos. The author uses muslin to demonstrate so many variations of gathering, shirring, ruffles, flounces, godets, pleating, smocking, tucking, cording, quilting, stuffing, and darts. She also shows how combinations of these methods can be used to produce beautiful patterns in creative projects. I can see why this book is recommended in crafting circles so often.

review
hissingpotatoes
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Panpan

0/5⭐ I feel horrible for the ADHDer who is subject to these methods.

The part that broke me: “Better [your college kid] should run out of clothes once a week and then stand staring at the dryer in their bathrobe, totally focused, because they are hungry and need clothes to enter the dining hall.“

Full context and rage review at https://hissingpotatoes.com/2024/02/27/review-organizing-solutions-for-people-wi....

triplem80 Thanks for the full review...I will stay far away from this book! 3w
11 likes1 comment
review
hissingpotatoes
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Mehso-so

3/5⭐ The design of the book pages is cute and pleasant. There are tons of recipes for every part of the body in a variety of applications. I would have liked more information about what the individual ingredients do so that I could make informed substitutions and customizations if I couldn't get a particular component, especially since many of them are not common. There are some warnings but they're not complete.

review
hissingpotatoes
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Mehso-so

3/5⭐ Claims that you can use essential oils in place of extracts, which is false and dangerous. Doesn't need to repeat that the foods are sugar and carb free every single page. Helpfully provides vegetarian/vegan/dairy-free/nut-free options in the recipes. The majority and strength of this book lie in the sweet fat bombs, though the savory recipes are good templates for making your own combinations.

review
hissingpotatoes
Homunculus | James P Blaylock
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Bailedbailed

2/5⭐ I'm giving up 80 pages in. The description would be lush and beautiful if the characters and plot counterbalanced it. Without that balance, the description is just slow distraction. I'm still not sure what the plot or hook are that I'm supposed to care about. The characters are flat, the women caricatures of actual people. There's decent humor, but not nearly enough to justify me continuing to slog through the book. #bookspin

dabbe #hailthebail! 🤩🤩🤩 4w
15 likes1 comment
review
hissingpotatoes
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Pickpick

3.5/5⭐ If I see the words “low carb“ or “healthy“ one more time I'll scream.

When you read enough of Slajerova's cookbooks, you start to see near repetition in the recipes.

That said, there's a good variety of cuisines represented, the recipes look yummy, and the keto information covers many considerations. In conjunction with other resources, the book is a good starting point for those considering keto or looking for more recipes.

review
hissingpotatoes
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Pickpick

4/5⭐ A good variety of keto recipes that sound delicious. The instructions and keto information are easy to understand. The design of the book is very pleasing.

review
hissingpotatoes
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Pickpick

4/5⭐ The time estimates for each recipe must be for super chefs, because it takes me a lot longer to prep. That said, the recipes in this book are relatively simple and look delicious. The skillet berry crumble was a big hit at a family gathering.

review
hissingpotatoes
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Pickpick

4/5⭐ Lots of yummy-looking recipes and useful information for eating a keto diet. I like the section for homemade basics to have on hand instead of sugar-laden store-bought versions. Most of the nutrition information is roughly accurate when I calculated it for myself, but for some reason recipes with bone-in meat are way different.

review
hissingpotatoes
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Pickpick

3.5/5⭐ Uses the g-slur. Claims to provide identification info, but the author directs readers to other resources. The author explains how she uses these herbs in daily life for maximum practicality. The warnings are mostly sufficient. The instructions are very clear, and the recipes are useful, varied, and easy. This book is a good starting point for beginning herbalists and a compendium of more ideas for experienced herbalists.

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hissingpotatoes
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Mehso-so

3/5⭐ I lost interest about halfway through. The mystery of Abe's history and Jacob's exploration were more engaging than the typical bad-guy-does-bad-things of the second half. The age discrepancy in the romance put me off. #roll100 #52BookClub24 apostrophe in title

21 likes2 comments
review
hissingpotatoes
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Mehso-so

3/5⭐ I received an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

If we're supposed to root for the protagonist's final actions, the author's sense of justice is very different from mine. Eveen is a colorful character whose unorthodox methods & foul mouth drive this story. The worldbuilding is complex, the action smart, dark, & brutal.

Full review: https://hissingpotatoes.com/2024/02/15/review-the-dead-cat-tail-assassins-by-p-d... #doublespin

15 likes1 comment
blurb
hissingpotatoes
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I made a (slightly bigger) bread bag from the pattern in this book. #litsycrafters

Hooked_on_books What cute fabric! It looks great! 1mo
25 likes2 comments
review
hissingpotatoes
Foxes in Love: Volume 1 | Toivo Kaartinen
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Pickpick

4/5⭐ Really fun, cute, relatable, and heartfelt. Perfect for fans of Catana Comics and Sarah Andersen. #Buzzwordathon

blurb
hissingpotatoes
Foxes in Love: Volume 1 | Toivo Kaartinen
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Excuse me I came here for silly comics, not to be hit in the gut with a freight train.

review
hissingpotatoes
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Pickpick

4/5⭐ Even though there are only 12 projects, it's the ideas for mixing and matching techniques that really make this book so useful. The steps and images are clear, and the projects range from beginner to advanced.

review
hissingpotatoes
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Panpan

2/5⭐ A weird combo of proper contraindication/safety warnings, false info, & bizarre/unrealistic foods to avoid (e.g. oranges, black pepper). The sources are just a list of notes in the back with no access dates or in-text indications that they exist. The supplements/herbs sections include info on what they supposedly do but not quantities/frequencies. I feel overwhelmed & like I don't have an action plan for actually implementing anything.

blurb
hissingpotatoes
Untitled | Unknown
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Admittedly many of the books I read last month were short sewing ones, but I'm still happy I got a #BookSpinBingo blackout!

blurb
hissingpotatoes
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I created my own #readingbracket2024, and my January pick is The Hero's Closet!

review
hissingpotatoes
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Mehso-so

2.5/5⭐ Almost every other project is just a pillow variation, so I'm not impressed. The instructions are clear and easy to follow, though.

review
hissingpotatoes
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Pickpick

4/5⭐ I'll be thinking about this book for a while. It's not perfect, but it has a lot of things to say about life. I enjoyed the ride.

I like Addie's stubbornness & love for new experiences, the central complicated relationship between her & the darkness.

It feels like Henry's origin of “feeling too much“ & his throwaway statement that he “used to be“ Jewish implies things about emotions & Jewishness that I don't think the author intended.

Librarybelle On my to read list! 2mo
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 2mo
See All 7 Comments
Hooked_on_books I really liked this one, too. I didn‘t along with one of her other books, though, so I‘m not ready to dive head first into her backlist. 2mo
Deblovestoread I liked this one as well. 💜 2mo
BarbaraBB I haven‘t read her but your review makes me want to 2mo
hissingpotatoes @Hooked_on_books Yeah, the other books I've read from her were the Shades of Magic and Monsters of Verity series, which I didn't love the way everyone else seems to. I'm glad this one worked out better for both of us than her other stuff. 2mo
29 likes7 comments
review
hissingpotatoes
Digging Leviathan | James P Blaylock
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Mehso-so

2.5/5⭐ The plot follows two competing groups of scientists trying to build a contraption to get them to the center of the earth, not the journey to or within the center of the earth. The story was slow at times. I got through because of the fantastical ideas and imagery, Blaylock's prose, and the hook of seeing from the perspective of a mentally unstable character. The treatment of an Asian character was racist. #roll100

Librarybelle At least it fulfilled a prompt! 2mo
julesG Sounds (and looks) dated. Some of the older Sci-fi books are great, but then there are some that just make you shake your head. 2mo
hissingpotatoes @julesG I've heard that the subsequent books in the series change setting/focus and are much better. I'll find out soon! 2mo
TheAromaofBooks Great progress!! 2mo
23 likes5 comments
review
hissingpotatoes
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Mehso-so

3/5⭐ While the projects, primarily folios and pouches, are useful, there are few illustrations compared to steps involved. Considering how complex some of the projects are, it just gets confusing.

review
hissingpotatoes
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Pickpick

3.5/5⭐ A nice variety of projects for many storage needs, creatively utilizing available spaces in a sewing area. Sometimes a step doesn't have a corresponding picture despite the written instructions being confusing without one, but overall everything seems manageable.

review
hissingpotatoes
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Pickpick

4/5⭐ I love anything to do with organizing, and this book hit the spot. These projects offer lots of variety for storage, containers, and organizers for the home. Some are more complex than others, but the photographs make the instructions easier to follow. Most of the projects are likely for sewists who have some experience already.

review
hissingpotatoes
Sew Advent Calendars | Debbie Shore
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Pickpick

3.5/5⭐ A nice variety of advent calendar formats and ideas, not just single sheets with pockets to hang on a wall. There's even one for dog treats!

review
hissingpotatoes
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Mehso-so

3/5⭐ The projects are divided into various Christmas styles (rustic, Scandinavian, traditional, monochrome, kids, and contemporary). There's some repetition of project ideas, like stockings and wreaths, but if you're really into Christmas decorations this book will be great for you.

review
hissingpotatoes
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Pickpick

4/5⭐ These projects are simple, practical, pretty, and cute. I like how the author coordinated and themed them according to various rooms of the house. They work well together as sets either for yourself or as gifts.

review
hissingpotatoes
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Panpan

2/5⭐ Specific styles aside (1997 was A Time), the projects in this book are good if you're looking for various types of caddies especially. Unfortunately there are almost no step-by-step images and the instructions are hard to follow. The book also doesn't explain important sewing terms/processes.

review
hissingpotatoes
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Mehso-so

3/5⭐ I like the idea of recycling used fabrics more than the executions in this book, but the instructions are clear, accompanied by images, and thorough (especially regarding how to work with different fabric types).

Crazeedi I have tubs and drawers of fabric.... 2mo
15 likes2 comments
review
hissingpotatoes
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Mehso-so

3/5⭐ A very concise introduction to growing and using herbs in a variety of applications. The instructions are sparse but easy to follow. The author acknowledges that “natural“ doesn't mean “safe“ and includes warnings. The crafts don't impress me much, but this book is good for a beginner working with herbs.

review
hissingpotatoes
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Panpan

2/5⭐ Aside from a handful of charts, any useful information in this book is buried in bloated paragraphs of repetition and padding. Even just skimming the majority of pages was a frustrating experience. Though images were often the same set from different angles, they were cute.

review
hissingpotatoes
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Pickpick

4/5⭐ Interestingly, I grew to appreciate this book more after finishing it by reading (and disagreeing with) many of the reviews written about it.

Full review: https://hissingpotatoes.com/2024/01/24/review-the-vegetarian-by-han-kang/

DocBrown This was a pick for me as well. 2mo
Librarybelle It‘s probably not a book for me, but someone else I know read it and just could not stop thinking about it. 2mo
See All 7 Comments
Hooked_on_books I actually love it when that happens. It suggests this would be a good book club or buddy read book. I haven‘t read it but have considered doing so. 2mo
TheAromaofBooks Sometimes I don't really like a book. Then I read the reviews and get annoyed because other people don't like it for the wrong reasons 😂 2mo
hissingpotatoes @Hooked_on_books Yes exactly, this is definitely a book club book (as long as everyone is okay with the content warnings). 2mo
40 likes7 comments
review
hissingpotatoes
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Pickpick

4.5/5⭐ I'm impressed by how thorough this book is on how to make costumes; the instructions can also be used for making clothing in general. I'll probably still need to watch videos on some of the techniques, but overall the descriptions and images are clear. The book provides patterns and instructions for basic pieces that can be combined and altered to create the most common costumes/cosplays, along with details for making those alterations.

review
hissingpotatoes
The Shtetl | Joachim Neugroschel
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Mehso-so

2.5/5⭐ This anthology of Yiddish stories translated into English is important from a cultural/religious standpoint. I can see it being used with great effect in a Jewish studies course. The editor did an excellent job organizing the stories and introducing each section with contextual information. However, the storytelling styles are very different from what I'm used to, often going on tangents and tedious to get through. #roll100

27 likes4 comments
review
hissingpotatoes
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Panpan

1.5/5⭐ Just a giant ad for Spoonflower's products and services. Nearly every single project has at least one jaunty note saying “This step is easiest with X service from Spoonflower!“ or “Y pattern from Spoonflower is perfect for this project!“ There are spotlight interviews with designers that exist just to drive people to their businesses. The book lacks explanations for basic terminology and images for many of the steps.

review
hissingpotatoes
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Pickpick

4/5⭐ I can't think of sewing outside of quilting/embroidery that wouldn't be straight lines, but the projects in this book are great. They cover clothing, bags, and household items (including a few really cute organizers). The instructions make even more complicated projects seem doable and allow for the reader to customize the projects to their personal preferences.

20 likes1 stack add
review
hissingpotatoes
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Pickpick

3.5/5⭐ All these projects hit the vintage look very strongly. They lean more to the decorative side than the practical and range in level from beginner to experienced.

review
hissingpotatoes
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Pickpick

3.5/5⭐ These projects use a variety of techniques to make interesting items, some practical, some decorative. The basic instructions at the beginning are concise and mostly clear. Overall these projects are best for people who have a bit of sewing experience already.

review
hissingpotatoes
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Pickpick

3.5/5⭐ A nice variety of cute, useful projects in which most steps have a corresponding picture. I don't like that the author assumes the reader is a woman. Despite the statement that the projects are very easy for beginners, I can see some of the instructions being confusing.

review
hissingpotatoes
Tenderness | Xan West
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Mehso-so

3/5⭐ A comforting couple of scenes set over the course of a single afternoon/evening focusing on the support of found family during a time of physical and emotional pain. #doublespin #52bookclub24 title matches song lyrics

27 likes6 comments
review
hissingpotatoes
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Pickpick

3.5/5⭐ As a romance story, it felt over before it even began, as did the plotline of the birthday party. The text needed a proofreader.

However, the daily realities of the characters living in the intersection of their identities felt very real, genuine, and down-to-earth with nuance and experiences I, at least, haven't seen much in fiction.

#buzzwordathon #52bookclub24 chapter headings have dates

22 likes2 comments
review
hissingpotatoes
The Scarlet Pimpernel | Emmuska Orczy
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Mehso-so

2.5/5⭐ It was fun to read the precursor to masked heroes like Zorro, at least until the end. Any agency Marguerite had disappeared as she dissolved into a useless mess. The narrative slowed down w/ constant repetition of the stakes & thought processes of the various characters. The “twist“ plot device relied on the antisemitic stereotypes of Jews being dirty & inferior, which even the characters we're supposed to root for subscribed to. #roll100

27 likes4 comments