I have read many Amish fiction books, and I enjoy escaping to a place where life seems calmer, more family-centered, and people are honest and hard-working. In April, my husband and I visited Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and spent the day touring and learning more about the Amish lifestyle. Although I know I would never be able to adhere to the Amish way of life, I do believe that all of us would benefit from incorporating some of their attitudes into our busy schedules. In her new gift book, Amish Proverbs: Words of Wisdom from the Simple Life, Suzanne Woods Fisher provides a collection of wise Amish sayings that all of us can heed and treasure. Suzanne Woods Fisher's interest in the Amish community stems from her own family heritage. Her ...
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The Reluctant Entertainer
Hello. My name is Lisa and I entertain, when I entertain, reluctantly. In other words, hospitality does not come easily to me. I lack motivation, not to mention organization. Is there help for someone like me? Oh yes, indeed there is. It is to hesitant hostesses like myself that Sandy Coughlin writes her new book, aptly named The Reluctant Entertainer: Every Woman's Guide to Simple and Gracious Hospitality. From the get go, Sandy offers gentle encouragement and inspiration to those of us who struggle with inadequacy and unrealistic expectations in the entertaining department. It’s Real Entertaining for Real People (coincidentally the title of the first chapter). Other topics included are: Overcoming the Pitfalls of Perfectionism, Simplifying Entertaining, Discovering Your Inner Martha, and The Heart of Hospitality: Conversation (all chapter titles). Sandy shares some of her favorite recipes as well as gorgeous photography from her ...
Buy Ketchup in May and Fly at Noon
If there was an award for a unique and catchy book title, I'm pretty certain that Mark Di Vincenzo's Buy Ketchup in May and Fly at Noon: A Guide to the Best Time to Buy This, Do That, and Go There would be among the finalists. Eye-catching and perfectly summarizing what a reader should expect, most definitely! Based on extensive research conducted by Di Vincenzo, a journalist by trade, this book includes information and answers from experts through interviews or readings. The topics covered range from when to make purchases of everything from eggs to homes, when to travel, and when to get some items on your to-do list crossed off. Issues revolving around personal health care, education, and employment are also included, as well. With such a wide range of information included in this small book, ...
The Bucolic Plague
When a book causes me to laugh out loud twice -- before I even get to page one -- I'm pretty sure that I'm going to like it. From the page after the dedication page: "This is a memoir of a certain time in my life. The names of some characters have been changed, and some are composites of various people, experiences, and conversations I had then. If you think that's unfair, you've obviously never lived in a small town and written a memoir about your neighbors." Author's caution (from the page after that): "This book is not about living your dream. It will not inspire you. You will not be emboldened to attempt anything more than making a fresh pot of coffee." Josh Kilmer-Purcell goes on with that quote to compare The Bucolic Plague: How Two Manhattanites Became Gentleman ...
Radical Homemakers
Awesome! Awesome! Awesome! Awesome! What didn't I love and enjoy about Radical Homemakers: Reclaiming Domesticity from a Consumer Culture!?! This book was penned from my heart and I didn't even know it! I was pulled into this book on reclaiming the art of homemaking from the get-go: "Ordinarily a calm public speaker, my hands shook when I stood in September of 2007 before an audeince of 600 professional registered dieticians, many of whom were women. I had a painful message to deliver, one that I considered leaving out every time I rehearsed my speech. Eating local, organic, sustainably raised, nutrient-dense food was possible for every American, not just for wealthy gourmets or self-reliant organic farmers. But to do it, we needed to bring back the homemaker." (Introduction, page 12-13) Author ...
Thrifty: Living the Frugal Life with Style
A couple of years ago, I woke up to the fact that my family was living a life of too much. Too much stuff and too much debt. My husband and I decided it was time to make a change. We started purging our home of unimportant clutter and began working toward paying off the debt. We didn't realize it, but we were preparing for his unemployment. Since we learned my husband would be losing his job, we've worked even harder to be frugal. I've read many books and blogs on that subject. The most recent being Thrifty: Living the Frugal Life with Style by Marjorie Harris. To be honest, most books on frugality are the same. The bottom line is to spend less than you make (something our culture has been slow to learn). Thrifty is different ...
Slob Proof: Real-Life Design Solutions
One of the lovely byproducts of being a bookworm is that you can find out anything that you need to know. You can get help in the kitchen, help with disciplining your children, strengthening your marriage, growing a garden, or planning a trip. Anything -- there for you to discover within the pages of a book! Unfortunately, for me, another not-so-lovely effect is letting some things go because of all that time spent reading. You know, some things like housekeeping, laundry and basic hygiene. I jest -- sort of. But seriously, I want my home to be nice and inviting, but I've never gone for the stuff high-class look that some designers seem so fond of. It just doesn't seem practical. Did I mention that I have two kids and a dog and lots of stuff, and I don't ...
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Jennifer Donovan
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