Book Review on The Devil Wears Prada

The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger

I picked this up at the Goodwill. I liked the movie and thought why not read it? It was very similar to the movie and went in deeper to the horribleness of Miranda and her antics. I know nothing of fashion but I do know something about horrible bosses. I've had a couple through the years. It was obvious this was written for a city, mostly New York City, person and also someone who is into high fashion. I knew none of the streets or landmarks that were mentioned or the designers. What was really funny was the fact everyone at the office thought Andrea dressed so terribly because she was wearing Banana Republic and Abercrombie. I'll tell you I have been in these stores before and was in such sticker shock that I just walked back out.

Anyway, it was a good, well written book. Not one I am keeping or planning to read again, but if you liked the movie, fashion, or bad bosses and you need a quick read pick it up. 

Book Review-The Gentle Art of Domesticity

By Jane Brocket. This book review is really overdue. I read it several months ago when I spied it at the local library. I enjoyed reading this although I did not find it valuable enough to buy afterwards. Jane has a great voice that comes through very clearly and beautiful pictures. I didn't try any of her recipes or projects but it did give me some inspiration for my own. I also had to read it with a dictionary and I have a degree in English! Maybe it's because she's English. The quote I will take with me from this book is "It took me many years to realize that I was thoroughly domestic and only grudgingly domesticated." pg 8. Like Jane I enjoy the domestic arts of cooking, baking, sewing, and crafting. I do NOT enjoy cleaning and the general upkeep of a home and only do it to keep us from living in complete squalor. Many times I questioned myself on how some domestic arts I love and how others I loath. Am I a traditional fifties housewife or a feminist who believes my husband should do his share? How do I put both parts of myself together for a whole? Now I have the answer, I can be domestic without being domesticated. I can do the parts of keeping a home that I enjoy without sacrificing my personality. I can be a wild woman and a domestic diva without apologizing. So to Jane Brocket I say thanks! And if you ever write another book I'll certainly read that one too!

Book Review A Family of Poems: My Favorite Poetry for Children

By Caroline Kennedy illurtated by Jon Muth.

I'm reading poetry to Hannah this semester. I had picked up Where the Sidewalk Ends at a used bookstore but also wanted to read some "real" poetry to her as well. I was thinking Frost would be apropriate but had nothing definite in mind when I came across A Family of Poems at the bookstore. Usually I steer clear of books with celebrity names on them but this one had wonderful poems for kids that I would never have thought of. For example Ariel's Song by Shakespeare, Who Has Seen the Wind by Christina Rossetti, The Iroquois Prayer, Psalm 23:1-6, The Tyger by Blake (Princess already knows this one) and lots, lots, more! It also has wonderful pictures. They are really captivating especially for Princess. So check this collection out!

Book Reviews

I read a lot. About a lot of things. I go crazy in bookstores. There's so much to discover! I go to the sci/fi fantasy for some distant lands love, then to romance for vampire smut, then religious fiction for some Amish smut (gotta love smut)! Next stop home reference because I love housekeeping books, while I'm there lets check out the craft/hobby's to see what's a going on, stop at cookbooks for a browse. Then to standard fiction to see who's written what about Jane Austin this week, next up self help cause the book that will solve all my problems could be sitting there waiting for me. Oh and don't forget the nature section because for some reason I think I should learn to identify birds and trees and learn to field sketch. Anything else? Why yes! Magazines and the bargain books of course!

Needless to say this takes several hours and is rare that I can indulge because Princess' can only take so much "Quiet we're in a bookstore, k!" But all is not lost because I have amazon and a library connection. So it's all good right!

Any way back to the point, over the years I have often wished I could remember a title or author of something I read in the past. Sometimes I even find myself reading the same book over again, oops. So I decided to start a reading journal. My blog seemed to be a good place to put it so you all could marvel at my crazy tastes. I also decided wouldn't it be cool to keep track of all the books I read to Princes and eventually she reads to her self? When she's grown she will be able to look back over everything she has ever read. How cool is that? I'm putting hers in a little pink journal.

I just picked up the book Refuse To Choose by Barbara Sher per Tonia over at trytocatchthewind.blogspot.com recommendation. And hey! I'm not crazy!!! Book review to be posted in the future.

Book Review-The Clothesline

Book- The Clothesline by Rawlings & Vansteenhouse 2002

I picked this book up at the library. It's a cute book that is quite charming. A quick read, I read it in two days. It is dedicated to the pleasures of hanging laundry out to dry. It gives a few hints at the history of laundry and pictures of days gone by. It also gives a few recepis for ironing water and stain remover. I am not overly into laundry. Growing up in a modern home where my Father did more of the laundry than my Mother it was a hurry-up-and-get-it-done type thing. My mother-in-law loves doing laundry and this has always baffled me just as my lack of care has always baffled her. Reading this book gave me a small incite into why it's so important to her identity. Laundry will never be a love of mine but this book was fun to read. I don't suggest it as a retail buy but do rent it or pick it up second hand.