Kristen's Picks

DIY Bitters: Reviving the Forgotten Flavor - A Guide to Making Your Own Bitters for Bartenders, Cocktail Enthusiasts, Herbalists, a (Hardcover)

By Jovial King, Guido Mase

$26.99

ISBN: 9781592337040

Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 Days

Published: Fair Winds Press (MA) - September 1st, 2016

Trust me, bitters taste great, especially when they're mixed up by by Burlington's own Jovial King and Guido Mase.  This new book by the founders of Urban Moonshine is packed full of delicious, unusual recipes and specific, nuanced information about blending bitters, the health benefits of bitters, and a range of bitter herbs.  A brilliant choice for herbalists, foodies, and anyone interested in this fun, tasty way to support health and increase vitality.  It's also a gorgeous book, so makes a lovely gift!
—Kristen

Never Look an American in the Eye: A Memoir of Flying Turtles, Colonial Ghosts, and the Making of a Nigerian Amiercan (Hardcover)

By Okey Ndibe

$29.00

ISBN: 9781616957605

Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 Days

Published: Soho Press - October 11th, 2016

Okey Ndibe, originally from Nigeria, has written a generously good-humored memoir about his move to and adjustment to living in the US.  A wonderful read, this book also offers an eye-opening perspective on many aspects of American culture.

Heartless (Hardcover)

By Marissa Meyer

$19.99

ISBN: 9781250044655

Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 Days

Published: Feiwel & Friends - November 8th, 2016

Heartless - the origin story of the Queen of Hearts from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland - is a brilliant adventure.  Despite the fact that we know the unhappy fate of the Queen of Hearts, readers will be swept away by the vibrancy of the world and its populace, the protagonist's sheer joy in her calling as a baker, the plentiful wordplay, and the mischievous and mysterious court joker, Jest.  While remaining true to her source material, Meyer has created a more cohesive world than Carroll's own, and it's one this reader didn't want to leave:  I tore through this book in less than two days, and then, that same night, started over again, this time only allowing myself the ration of one chapter a night.  It was still over too soon, and this book has left me hungry for tarts and mad tea parties.  I highly recommend it to devotees of wit and whimsy, and of course to those who have enjoyed previous incarnations of Wonderland stories, as well as readers of the author's Lunar Chronicles series.

Tribe: On Homecoming and Belonging (Hardcover)

By Sebastian Junger

$22.00

ISBN: 9781455566389

Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 Days

Published: Twelve - May 24th, 2016

The Guardian has said, "Rather than asking how we can save our returning servicemen and women, Junger challenges us to take a hard look in the mirror and ask whether we can save ourselves."  While we're often told we live in the greatest country in the world, it is a country that is dangerously polarized, a culture that suffers from a profound sense of alienation, and an economy in which the gap between the haves and the have-nots continues to grow.  What's wrong with our society?  Junger has distilled this complex subject into a compelling, slim yet nuanced volume.  This book asks intriguing questions and starts the journey toward solutions.  Recommended reading for anyone with the nagging suspicion that the "civilized" world doesn't have all the answers after all.

LaRose: A Novel (Paperback)

By Louise Erdrich

$15.99

ISBN: 9780062277039

Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 Days

Published: Harper Perennial - April 11th, 2017

A powerful, beautifully crafted book about characters who possess such will and vibrancy that they wrestle this novel - which could have been purely a tragedy - into a story of resilience, determination, connection, and even generosity in the face of loss.

The Aromatherapy Garden: Growing Fragrant Plants for Happiness and Well-Being (Paperback)

By Kathi Keville

$24.95

ISBN: 9781604695496

Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 Days

Published: Timber Press (OR) - April 27th, 2016

This fascinating book is a celebration of fragrant plants.  Essential oils are a hot topic these days, but why not go back to the source and enjoy the benefits of aromatherapy thanks to gardening with beautifully scented plants?  While the focus of the book is gardening - and once you start this book, you'll find yourself planning your own aromatherapy garden - I also recommend this title for herbalists, nature lovers, and anyone fascinated by the science and history of fragrance and perfume.  Filled with gorgeous photographs - many of which were taken in the author's garden - this book really is a delight.

The Food Activist Handbook: Big & Small Things You Can Do to Help Provide Fresh, Healthy Food for Your Community (Paperback)

By Ali Berlow, Alice Randall (Foreword by)

$20.82

ISBN: 9781612121802

Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 Days

Published: Storey Publishing - May 5th, 2015

This book is packed full of practical ways you can make a difference in your community. Approachable and inspiring, I highly recommend this title.

Darjeeling: The Colorful History and Precarious Fate of the World's Greatest Tea (Paperback)

By Jeff Koehler

$18.00

ISBN: 9781620405130

Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 Days

Published: Bloomsbury USA - July 12th, 2016

A fascinating exploration of the "Champagne of teas," Darjeeling.  Tea lovers, armchair travelers, and foodies will drink up this lush look into Darjeeling's history, its current challenges, and the beautiful tea produced there.

Natural Hair Coloring: How to Use Henna and Other Pure Herbal Pigments for Chemical-Free Beauty (Paperback)

By Christine Shahin, Rosemary Gladstar (Foreword by)

$18.95

ISBN: 9781612125985

Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 Days

Published: Storey Publishing - May 17th, 2016

I'm head over heels in love with this book. If you color your hair with conventional dyes but would welcome a healthy alternative, you must read this - but also read this book if you already henna your hair but would enjoy creative ways to play with herbal pigments, if you've never colored your hair but think it might be a lot of fun, or even if you just love plants and the nifty things they can do.  The author's warmth and enthusiasm make this book a pleasure to read, and it's absolutely wonderful the things that Christine Shahin can do with the natural plant dyes henna, indigo, amla, and cassia.  The whole book is gorgeously photographed and the models are real, vibrant, beautiful, "normal" women and men (not supermodels). Natural Hair Coloring is a down-to-earth, practical guide that will make coloring your hair with natural pigments fun and accessible even if you're a beginner.  It's also a generous and joyous celebration of beauty.

The Complete Herbs Sourcebook: An A-To-Z Guide of Herbs to Cure Your Everyday Ailments (Paperback)

By David Hoffmann

$19.99

ISBN: 9781510709164

Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 Days

Published: Skyhorse Publishing - June 14th, 2016

This wonderful book is packed full of insight on how to work with plant medicines to cure everyday ailments.  Highly recommended for anyone who studies or practices herbalism, as well as those who are more generally interested in greater health with fewer pharmaceuticals.  The book is also beautiful (making it a great gift) and well-organized - first by the systems of the body and relevant ailments, and then by plant, so this is a wonderful reference whether you're seeking advice on dealing with a physical challenge or to get to know a specific plant better.