Beautiful, colourful, inspiring photographs, but I found the text a bit flat and vague and so kept skimming through it to look at the next set of photos. It’s less a book of advice than Stanton’s portfolio, which is fine, but anyone looking for practical tips and advice will probably be disappointed.
Jane Brocket’s idea of domesticity is a lot like my own: making, baking, reading, gardening and looking for the beauty in everyday objects and happenings.
I first read this book not long after it was published in 2007 and was both thrilled and depressed to discover there was someone out there living the kind of life I wanted to lead while I was still so bogged down with child care. The idea of having time to pursue my own interests seemed a long way off – and it was – but the kids are grown now and it’s my time to fool around with yarn and experiment with recipes and take a ridiculous number of photos and read as many books as possible.
This is not a how-to book, although it does contain a few recipes. I’d call it inspirational or aspirational, perhaps, because Brocket has a great eye for colour and composition and, it seems, the budget for very high quality materials. Highly recommended for anyone interested in pursuing a creative life.
Audiobook, perfectly narrated by Richard E Grant.
I checked this out after watching the Joan Hickson version on VisionTV one night and not only was it better than the tv adaptation (this should go without saying), but it was even better than I’d remembered from my first read however many years ago. Ideal treadmill listening.
I don’t have a chronic disease – as far as I know, dun dun DUNNN – and hopefully I never will since I already follow most of the advice in UnDo It!
For anyone living the standard North American lifestyle (heavy on the animal products, light on the exercise), however, this might be able to convince them to change their ways.
The early chapters on the science were good, but after that, there was a little too much advertisement of their workshops and weird insistence that group therapy would be helpful for everyone. Frankly, I’d rather have the chronic disease.
Audiobook, narrated by Anna Wilson-Jones
A fictional account of the brief period between Victoria’s ascension to the throne and her engagement to Albert. It’s a light, easy, inoffensive story (except for Albert and Victoria being cousins, gross, but that isn’t the author’s fault) with a couple very mild social scandals, a doomed crush on an older man, and lots of talk about fancy hairstyles, dresses and balls. For an audience who craves this kind of thing, I bet it’s amazing. Personally, I found it a little underwhelming.
Becoming Duchess Goldblatt by Anonymous
Part memoir and part exploration of what happens when you portray a fictional character on Twitter. Like with @DuchessGoldblatt, I really wanted to enjoy the book, but her style doesn’t land with me. Also, for someone who claims to have no friends and low self-confidence, the author spends a lot of time detailing conversations with famous friends and boasting about her productivity and growing popularity.
The Big Book of 30-Day Challenges by Rosanna Casper
I borrowed this because OverDrive suggested it when another book I wanted was not available. It’s essentially a list of good habits (go to bed at a regular time, exercise, meditate, etc) with the recommendation to do it for 30 days. How this magazine article justified a book is beyond me.
Cauliflower Power by Lindsay Grimes Freedman
Some good recipes to try, but I’ll pass on the cauliflower-as-dessert ones, thanks.
Didn’t See That Coming: Putting Life Back Together When Your World Falls Apart by Rachel Hollis
The book equivalent of getting advice from that over-confident, know-it-all acquaintance who somehow thinks you want to emulate her. The advice about always putting on a smiley face for your kids, no matter what is going on in your life, is garbage.
Disloyal: The True Story of the Former Personal Attorney to President Donald J Trump by Michael Cohen
Yet another memoir by a former member of Trump’s inner circle trying to come to grips with the fact that he is a greedy, lying, sleazy thug. To Cohen’s credit, he owns it. There are no lame excuses, just a straight-up list of all the shady things he did in the service of a sociopath. How does Trump find these people?
Draw Your Day: An Inspiring Guide to Keeping a Sketch Journal by Samantha Dion Baker
I love the idea of adding drawing to my journalling repertoire, but Baker’s illustrations are SO good, I think I’d only be disappointed in my lack of skill. A nice book, but only if you’re more confident in your artistic abilities than me.
Finding Freedom: Harry and Meghan and the Making of a Modern Royal Family by Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand
Absolutely nauseating. It’s hundreds of pages of non-stop bragging about how perfect Megan is in every conceivable way. I went into the book fairly sympathetic to Meghan for the rough treatment she received for daring to marry into the royal family while Black and American, but came out of it disliking her intensely. Talk about a monster ego. And the idea that the book was written without Meghan’s cooperation is laughable. Could your anonymous friends speak at length about what you were thinking in situations where you were alone? Would your anonymous friends find it impossible to find any hint of a fault in your character? And if these anonymous people really were your friends (and not, say, you) why wouldn’t they speak on the record?
Happy Hour: A Novel by Marlowe Granados
I wasn’t sure about this one since the story of two party girls living it up in NYC one summer is not really my thing, but the writing was great. For instance: “I realize now, the older you get, the harder it is to be impressed because people make you feel ashamed of ever being impressed by anything at all. I keep many glowing remarks to myself because of this.”
How to Pronounce Knife by Souvankham Thammavongsa
Really, really good short stories. Definitely recommend.
Rage by Bob Woodward
Yet another list of all the reasons Trump shouldn’t be President. Why do I keep reading these? And why does Bob Woodward keep writing them when he doesn’t have anything new to add?
Skinnytaste Meal Prep by Gina Homolka
I checked it out because it was available, but considering I have no recollection of it, I’m thinking I wasn’t terribly impressed.
The Truth Will Set You Free, But First It Will Piss You Off!: Thoughts on Life, Love, and Rebellion by Gloria Steinem
A short book of quotes interspersed with some brief essays. Enjoyable and thought-provoking, but my god the formatting. No professionally published book should be a font sampler.
Bad Ideas by Missy Marston (DNF)
(Audiobook) I gave it an hour, but just couldn’t get into it. It wasn’t bad, just a bit boring.
The Bullet Journal Method: Track the Past, Order the Present, Design the Future by Ryder Carroll
Part organizational technique and part self-help book. Made me re-consider my planning/note-taking/record-keeping/journalling process.
The Body: A Guide for Occupants by Bill Bryson
(Audiobook) Fascinating. I noticed a couple of factual mistakes while I was listening (although I can’t remember what they are now), but this is an extensively researched and entertainingly written tour from human head to toe. Bryson is also a great narrator.
Buy Yourself the F*cking Lilies by Tara Schuster
I’m usually pretty skeptical about life advice doled out by single, childless, affluent thirty-year-olds, but Schuster’s voice won me over. I agree with her that learning to re-parent yourself if you didn’t get what you needed throughout childhood is essential for becoming a happy, healthy human.
Eco-Chic Bags by Alicia Steele
My biggest takeaway from this book is the existence of sewing clips. What a revelation! I probably will not make any of her bags, but I have asked for sewing clips for Christmas.
How to Be an Anti-Racist by Ibram X Kendi
(Audiobook) A thought-provoking and deservedly successful book. I do think I would have preferred the regular book version, though, because I found Kendi’s style of narration a bit choppy to listen to.
The Joy Diet: 10 Daily Practices for a Happier Life by Martha Beck
(Audiobook) Lots of good advice (meditate, be creative, take time to play, etc), but bad narration that flattened the humour right out of it.
Knits From Nature by Dee Hardwicke
Not my kind of thing at all.
Little Blue Encyclopedia (for Vivian) by Hazel Jane Plante
One of the most creative novels I’ve ever read. The narrator deals with the grief of her best friend’s death by creating an encyclopedia about a television show they loved. It’s written by a trans author about trans characters and should be more widely known.
Melania and Me: The Rise and Fall of My Friendship with The First Lady by Stephanie Winston Wolkoff
Reaffirms every terrible thing you’ve ever heard or thought about all of the Trumps and their entire circle. It must have been painful for Wolkoff to painstakingly explain every single way in which she is a terrible judge of character.
Ruffage: A Practical Guide to Vegetables by Abra Berens
I didn’t expect a book about vegetables to feature meat and eggs and dairy quite so prominently. Very few recipes I’d be interested in trying.
What It’s Like to Be a Bird: From Flying to Nesting, Eating to Singing–What Birds Are Doing, and Why by David Allen Sibley
Lots of interesting facts about birds, but they’re all kind of jumbled up and scattered throughout the book, which is definitely not suited to an ebook format. The artwork is good, but the text reads like the research notes one might jot down while preparing to write a book about birds.
Wildflowers of Nova Scotia by the Blomidon Naturalists Society
A handy little book identifying a lot of very familiar plants.
The Art Detective: Fakes, Frauds and Finds and the Search for Lost Treasures by Philip Mould
(Audiobook) Another fine book almost ruined by a terrible narrator. Why why why do publishers allow audiobook narrators of non-fiction to put on funny voices and/or ridiculous accents for each person? The stories behind the fakes, frauds and finds Mould discusses were fascinating; his extended riffs on the family issues, behavioural oddities and drinking problems of various collectors, experts and other gallerists were not.
Cool, Calm and Contentious by Merrill Markoe
I had high hopes based on the title, but it was less funny than I expected and a lot more sad.
Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman
(Audiobook) I was curious to read this after watching the television adaptation and I have to say I have never seen a book-to-screen adaptation as faithful as this one. I enjoyed them both.
Keep It Moving: Lessons for the Rest of Your Life by Twyla Tharp
A short book about the importance of staying physically and mentally flexible as one ages. It was okay.
Mobituaries:Great Lives Worth Reliving by Mo Rocca
(Audiobook) Rocca delivers well-written obituaries for a wide variety of people and things, both real and imaginary. He is particularly interested in US presidents, which I am not (current lunatic excluded), but his delivery is so entertaining I happily listened anyway. Recommended.
More Information Than You Require by John Hodgman
(Audiobook) Uneven. The first half, comprised of “fake trivia and made-up facts,” was often very funny. The second half’s daily almanac was a bit dull and the list of 700 molemen names and occupations was brutal.
Plant-Based Meal Prep by Jackie Sobon
I haven’t gotten into meal prepping, but there are some good recipes here to try.
The Pull of the Stars by Emma Donoghue
(Audiobook) In the middle of a pandemic seems as good a time as any to read/listen to a story set in 1918, during the Spanish Flu pandemic. It’s well-written and obviously thoroughly researched, but just didn’t quite grab me. I wanted to know more about the characters and less about the medical details. By times, it seemed almost like a nurses’ manual: check this, measure that, do this, repeat.
Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the World’s Most Dangerous Man by Mary L Trump PhD
(Audiobook) Wow. Wow wow wow, what a horrible group of people. I know Trump defenders are saying she only wrote the book because she and her brother were written out of their grandfather’s will, and that may be true, but she wouldn’t have had anything to write about if they hadn’t all been so awful. A whole multi-generational family of sociopaths. Read this and feel much better about your own relations.