book review, recipe

The Martian + Garlic-Herb Roasted Potatoes

I’m sure many of you have read Andy Weir’s popular novel The Martian. For me, it was a rare re-read. I figured re-reading a book I loved would be a perfect way to guide me gently back into my regular reading life, and I was right. I knew exactly what to expect from Mark Watney and his time on Mars. It was just what I needed.

The Martian by Andy Weir

For those of you who haven’t read The Martian (or seen the movie, which is basically just as good, though a touch different, particularly at the end), I’ll give you a brief synopsis. A crew of astronauts is hanging out on Mars when an unexpected storm arrives, causing them to evacuate. During the evacuation, a man named Mark Watney is separated from the rest of the crew and left on Mars alone. He has to do what he can to survive until help can arrive… hopefully. 

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May 26, 2020 by
book review, recipe

Nothing to See Here + Red Hot Ice Cream

Wow! Has it been a while since I’ve sat down to write a book review (and recipe!), but here I am, and I’m excited. I hope you are too 🙂 

I actually read Kevin Wilson’s Nothing to See Here last year. It was the first book I read after Henry was born, when I was transitioning into all e-books all the time (much easier one-handed and in the dark, with a sleeping baby), and the last book I read before 2020 showed up. I’ve apparently been a low-key Kevin Wilson fan for a while now — check out my review of Perfect Little World — and though I’ve enjoyed them all, this was by far my favorite.

His style is typically quirky, and this novel was no exception. It follows twenty-something Lillian, who feels like her life is going nowhere until her boarding school roommate Madison reaches out and asks her to move in and be a caretaker for her stepchildren. Knowing nothing about children, she agrees. 

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May 19, 2020 by
book review, of interest

Show Us Your Books – 2020 Reading Recap

Wow, I cannot believe I haven’t done a Show Us Your Books since October of last year! In that time, I’ve had a baby, announced a comeback, and done just a little bit of reading. I’m finally getting back into the swing of things and thought a quick recap of my 2020 reading was the perfect way to re-kick off the blog—for real this time. From here on out, expect a post every Tuesday, and maybe on occasion, a little more often. (If you subscribe to my newsletter, I’ll be popping into your inbox just once a month.)

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May 12, 2020 by
of interest

This Is Not a Mom Blog… But I’m a Mom

Hi again. You may wonder where I’ve been after my big “I’m back” announcement earlier this year. Or, if you’re a mom, you may have guessed that motherhood got the best of me — you’d be right. 

Being a mom is honestly the hardest thing I’ve ever done. I’ve always been good at the things I set out to accomplish. I do a rockstar job everyday when I go to work. I’ve worked really hard to make this blog what it is today, and almost 4 years from when I started it, it’s still going. I like feeling competent and motherhood is somewhere I have almost never felt competent. Despite all the prep I did before our son was born (and believe me, I prepped like I’ve never prepped before!), once we left the safety of the hospital, I felt like I was barely treading water for weeks…and even sometimes to this day. 

Before I continue, I want to just say that I know this is not a mom blog. I don’t intend this to become a mom blog. As always, The Hungry Bookworm will continue to focus on food and books. (Yes, that may mean kids’ books and kid-friendly recipes in the future, but still food and books, I promise.) But I wanted to lay this all out there, just so you know I wasn’t slacking on the blog — I still really love doing it, and have absolutely missed devoting time to my passions these past several months — and also to shed some light on the realities of new motherhood.

It’s not all cuddles and smiles and cuteness. It is definitely that, but it’s also sleepless nights and crippling anxiety and having no idea what’s going on even though you’re trying your best. Sure, no one says having kids is easy, but sometimes they gloss over the truth when talking to first time moms. I wasn’t hidden from the nitty-gritty of everyday parenting, but what was in store for me was nothing I was prepared for. As hard as this is to write, I wanted to share what I’ve been through. If it helps someone, it’s worth it. And then, we’ll be back to our regularly scheduled books-and-food programming (in about a month or so…)

Settle in, this is kind of long. 

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March 4, 2020 by
of interest

Top Ten Tuesday — Most Anticipated Books of Early 2020

My goal for this year is to be less sporadic in my Top Ten Tuesday participation (as was the case last year). But, I’m starting out a little behind and choosing the topic from about a month ago… I was a little preoccupied with the new baby to get it together to blog, but I really want to share my Most Anticipated Releases of the First Half of 2020 with you! I had some trouble narrowing down to 10, so I’ve got an initial list for you, plus 5 honorable mentions. Honestly, though, they all sound amazing. 

Without further adieu…

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February 4, 2020 by
of interest

TBR Mix ‘n’ Mingle — What I’m Reading in February

Well, hello again! It’s been a while. What’s new with me, you ask? I’m a mom now, for one thing. For another, I definitely don’t have as much time to read. It’s a big adjustment all around. But I’m excited to be back, and though I probably won’t be able to post as often (at least for now), I am going to make every effort to post regularly again. 

Before we jump into books, I’m sure you’re curious: our little boy, Henry, was born almost a week early on December 7. It was a whirlwind of a day, and we were so excited to meet him at the end! Here we are at the hospital, the day after he was born:

We’ve been home now for almost 2 months — wow, time is really flying by! — and we’re all still figuring things out. (There’s something new every day!) He recently started smiling though, and that definitely makes all the hard work worth it ☺️

Obviously, my TBR is going to be a bit less ambitious than it was in the past. (In fact, I’ve reduced my annual reading goal by about half, just until I can get back in the groove.) But I’m still hoping to tackle a few books this month, at least. Let’s get to it! 

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February 1, 2020 by
book review, of interest

Show Us Your Books – October 2019 Reading Recap

The library books have kept flowing in, and I’ve got quite a stack I need to get through! That being said… I’m slowly making it through my current read and I may need to break out those quarters for late fees. This past month was a little slower than I expected it to be, and mostly I’m just hoping I can keep reading at a steady pace until the baby comes, at which point I’m sure my available time will lessen dramatically. 

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October 9, 2019 by
of interest

TBR Mix ‘n’ Mingle — What I’m Reading in October

The theme of October’s to-be-read list is going to be library books. I currently have 7 books checked out from the library with 2 more waiting to be picked up, and deadlines are looming! I am very lucky in that I usually don’t have to wait very long for new releases (maybe because I request them so far in advance?), but with all the amazing new books coming out this time of year, they’re piling up on each other fast.

Here’s a look at what I’ll be (hopefully) devouring this month… wish me luck in my race to beat the due dates!

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October 1, 2019 by
book review, recipe

Golden State + California Hot Dogs

I remember when Golden State was offered up as a Book of the Month selection earlier this year. I didn’t choose it, since my friend Deanna did (and we like to share books), but then I sort of forgot about it again until I saw it on my library’s new releases shelf recently. I scooped it up and asked her if she wanted to do a buddy read. Of course, she immediately said yes. It was the first buddy read experience for both of us, and honestly, it couldn’t have gone better! It also helped that the story was pretty much a page-turner from beginning to end.

Golden State by Ben H Winters

Ben H. Winters’s novel takes place in a dystopian future in a California that is now separated from the rest of the country, where residents retreated when lies overtook the world as they knew it. The Golden State is its own nation where truth is valued above all else and the primary functions of society revolve around maintaining the Objectively So. Unlike in the movie The Invention of Lying, lying is definitely possible — it’s just punishable.

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September 29, 2019 by