Japanese Women Don’t Get Old or Fat
Naomi Moriyama
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I enjoyed the recipes available in this book. I believe changing to food from these recipes twice a week would help overweight Americans. When menopause hits, even Japanese women can get broad of the beam. With that said, Westerners reading the recipes with an interest toward cutting back can find menu ideas. Note: Breakfast is the biggest meal.
Several reviewers who have lived in Japan agree with my foreign student experience. They were not exposed to as much sugar as I ate during childhood. Consequently, in private it was not uncommon to see petite females inhale sweets at lightning speeds. We fixed homemade candy. They stuffed it in faster than we could make it.
Before making a major lifestyle change, do some more reading. It is a well written book.
The Boy Next Door
Amy Knupp
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An up and coming Kansas writer, Amy Knupp ratchets up tension just having Zach Rundle, a young neighbor, climb a tree to reach the second story where Lindsay Salinger is sleeping as she cares for her ailing father. The descriptive made words more than just words.
These longtime neighbors have ignored each other since Zach’s drunken brother killed Mrs. Salinger on impact in a neighborhood car crash while Lindsay drove. Lindsay has survivor’s guilt.
These two have long been attracted. Zach left the taint of being a Rundle behind and has made a good career in Wichita construction. Lindsay’s work makes her notice Zach’s young nephew in the sole care of the elderly great grandma. Lindsay works for something like Child Welfare for the state. She tries to get the boy’s irresponsible father to bond with his son. She fails. Then she goes to work on Zach to step up while he still believes his grandmother is up to caring for the little boy.
Watching the emotional growth of all the characters throughout the book evolve in subtle and more obvious ways made this an interesting character study.
Meant to be Married
Ruth Wind
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A multigenerational feud between two once wealthy families re-ignites every generation or so. The most recent start-crossed lovers, Elias Santiagos and Sarah Greenwood, lose their first chance at love. It costs both of them more than the other knows. Their families are both proud. His family is not pleased with Sarah’s return to Taos, New Mexico over a decade later.
Her father’s illness draws her home to try and make amends for their over decade long breach.
Elias and Sarah have an interesting book which pulls the reader into their angst. Yet the reader feels that special once in a lifetime deep love some are lucky enough to find in their youth.
Sarah has survived by removing all long buried anguish and numbing her mind (dissociative disorder for the severe trauma which overwhelms people). Her coping methods don’t work once she is pulled between two proud men–her true love and her father. One thing which helps her is herbal tea provided by Elias’ grandmother. The woman gives her both the chance to rest and sleep well despite the stress. Her guidance sparks Sarah find her own healing. Elias finds he can grieve his losses to heal.
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Reviewed by Robyn Daniels
Smart Women 
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