An interesting follow-up to The Omnivore's Dilemma - shorter and more practical in nature, so it made for an easy read. As someone who works with people with eating disorders I am all too aware of the dangers of fad diets and how confusing nutrition has become, and this type of approach is about the only "diet" advice I would endorse - eat food, not too much, mostly plants. It doesn't prescribe cutting out particular foods, and the 'not too much' part does not encourage restriction but rather mindful, ideally social eating where inner hunger cues guide portions, reminiscent of the intuitive eating movement that counteracts diet culture. It allows for veganism, vegetarianism, and omnivorous diets, but advocates that what meat you do eat, should you choose to, be raised with the health of the animal and the planet in mind, and limited in quantity. The most prescriptive part is the wholesale rejection of highly processed foods, and I personally would advocate flexibility here too - as a treat, there's nothing wrong with a slice of cake or some chips, even if they contain high fructose corn syrup or other "food-like" ingredients - just don't eat them all the time. However, overall, I love Michael Pollen's approach to food journalism, and this book should appeal both to those interested in healthy eating choices and those wanting to eat more in accordance with environmental sustainability.

Read for Life's Library. I originally rated this four stars, but I can't stop thinking about this book and I thought that suggested it deserved an upgrade to five stars. A multi-generational magical realism story intertwined with a fictionalized version of Chilean history. I loved the female characters, especially Clara and Alba. The story is surprisingly fast-paced, and although an uncomfortable read at times with some deeply unlikeable characters, really sticks with you.

This book is REALLY LONG. Fortunately, I enjoyed it, and once I was into it I found it surprisingly gripping, leading me down the path of the central mystery absolutely dying to know more. The New Zealand cultural aspects were delightful, and the blatant colonial racism jarring. The cast of characters is large, but interesting for the most part, and generally have complete and satisfying arcs. It reads quite like you'd expect a Man Booker historical fiction winner to, but I probably didn't need to put it off for five years - it's not that difficult to get through! Worth the time it admittedly takes.
2020 Read Harder Challenge: Read a door stopper (over 500 pages) published after 1950, written by a woman

Read it for exactly what it says on the tin - ridiculous stories of stupidly rich people that are walking caricatures with unbelievable, yet amusing, problems. Plenty of fun if you don't expect more than that.