Library Goddesses Nonfiction for Adults

A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson

2012-01-19T13:38:00.003-05:00

I have loved everything Bill Bryson has published, but A Walk in the Woods is my favorite. Bryson is middle aged and decidedly un-fit when he attempts to hike the Appalachian trail with his friend Steven Katz. Bryson's fears about being eaten by bears, his descriptions of crazy hikers they meet on the trail and many other anecdotes make this one of the funniest books I have read in a very long time. Katz has to be one of the most entertaining, if a bit maddening, characters you will ever come across. You will also learn a great deal about the history of the trail as well as interesting facts about the history and geography of the states the trail goes through. All told in Brysons witty and amusing manner, of course!
Also Try:
Notes From a Small Island by Bill Bryson
Into Thin Air by John Krakaeur

The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom

2012-01-13T16:01:00.006-05:00

The Four Agreements:A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom by don Miquel Ruiz, is based on ancient Toltec wisdom. It is a code of conduct that transforms our lives to a new experience of freedom, true happiness, and love. An excellent investment of your time for the tremendous return!

Also Try:
-The Fifth Agreement: A Practical Guide to Self-Mastery
-The Mastery of Love: A Practical Guide to the Art of Relationship
-The Voice of Knowledge: A Practical Guide to Inner Peace
-Prayers: A Communion with Our Creator

The Favored Daughter: One Woman's Fight to Lead Afghanistan into the Future

2012-01-09T15:57:00.006-05:00

The Favored Daughter: One Woman's Fight to Lead Afghanistan into the Future by Fawzia Koofi, is a moving story capturing the politics and culture in Afghanistan, a country caught between hope for the future and the harsh truth of it's history. The nineteenth daughter of a local village leader in rural Afghanistan, Fawzia Koofi was left to die in the sun after birth by her mother.But she survived, and perseverance in the face of extreme hardship has defined her life ever since. Despite the abuse of her family, the exploitative Russian and Taliban regimes, the murders of her father, brother, and husband, and numerous attempts on her life, she rose to become the first Afghani woman Parliament speaker. Here, she shares her amazing story, punctuated by a series of poignant letters she wrote to her two daughters before each political trip—letters describing the future and freedoms she dreamed of for them and for all the women of Afghanistan.

This is an autobiography that really makes one pause and reflect on what one believes they know about another's cultures, customs & upbringing.

Also Try:
-Letters To My Daughters
-Tears Of The Desert: A Memoir Of Survival In Darfur
-A Thousand Sisters: My Journey into the Worst Place on Earth to Be a Woman

Stuff White People Like

2008-09-09T12:17:00.000-04:00

Based on the blog of the same name, this collection of witty posts pokes gentle(and often achingly true) fun of the quirks of caucasionness. A great gift idea--since we are rapidly approaching that season!--for a college student or any witty trendster you may know.

Skinny Bitch by Kim Barnouin and Rory Freedman

2008-08-13T13:44:00.001-04:00

I read this book intending to give it the benefit of the doubt. It wasn't as vapid as I thought. Barnouin and Freedman spend a good amount of time encouraging health over skinniness--though obviously if you are healthy, you will also be the proper weight and overall the book is too shallow to be of any real benefit.
The authors also pay lip service to everyone making their own choices and doing what's right for them but any actual science is clouded by their own political opinions. (If you do read it, skip the PETA driven Chapter 6). The recipes aren't bad but the science is largely outdated. Buy yourself a subsription to "Cooking Light" magazine instead. Better yet, read In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan!

In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan

2008-08-13T13:44:00.000-04:00

I hope Oprah talks about this book on her show so it reaches the audience it deserves! I honestly believe that this should be required reading for everyone in America. Pollan calls for common sense and advises that we listen to our bodies to find what we need to feel good and healthy. He gives honest statistics, presented with no agenda. He uses enough science to help understand the issues but not so much that the layman is overwhelmed.
We are so inundated with food information it's wonderful to hear a calm and reasoned voice above the din.

Book Smart: Your Essential Reading list for Becoming a Literary Genius in 365 Days by Jane Mallison

2008-07-01T11:06:00.001-04:00

Every few years one of these types of books comes out. This one is interestingly subdivided and includes quite a few modern writers to balance the classics. Mallison's subtitle notwithstanding, the book is worth a glance.
Skip the Preface. Mallison's writing shows quite clearly why she teaches writing rather than writes herself. And, really, do we need to have the concept spelled out for us?

Outstanding in the Field by Jim Denevan

2008-07-01T11:06:00.000-04:00

As the interest in local food continues to grow, Jim Denevans beautiful cookbook is perfectly timed. The photography alone is worth the cover price of the book. But much more than that, the recipes are wonderful (and give the home cook ideas for all those unusual veggies one can find at farm stands!) and he includes lots of references about how to find Community Farms.
Much more than a cookbook, this is an eaters manifesto. Don't miss.

Confessions of an Economic Hit Man

2008-05-29T16:52:00.000-04:00

Confessions of an Economic Hit Man by John Perkins is an exposé of international corruption— and an inspired plan to turn the tide for future generations. Suggested reading from a Peace and Conflict Studies course, this work does take a hard look at the U.S. military in Iraq to infrastructure development in Indonesia, from Peace Corps volunteers in Africa to jackals in Venezuela, Perkins exposes a conspiracy of corruption that has fueled instability and anti-Americanism around the globe, with consequences reflected in our daily headlines. John Perkins passionately addresses how Americans can work to create a more peaceful and stable world for future generations. Today the author serves as a founder and board member of Dream Change and The Pachamama Alliance, two nonprofit organizations dedicated to creating a stable, sustainable, and peaceful world. How inspiring to think each and every one of us has a role in creating a more peaceful and stable world.
Aurora

Everything I Needed to Know About Being a Girl I Learned From Judy Blume

2008-03-11T23:25:00.001-04:00

Growing up, Judy Blume was one of my favorite authors and one who accompanied me, physically and emotionally, as I passed through adolescence: I learned about having a period from Margaret, commiserated with Peter about the problems of spoiled, destructive younger brothers, and cried with Davey after her father's death. So, I was attracted to this collection of essays from authors (they are mainly YA or chick-lit writers) who also grew up with Judy Blume from the time I first saw it reviewed. It didn't disappoint. The essays discuss the impacts of Blume's works on everything from their developing sexuality to their perspectives on intrafamily conflict to how they handled a parental divorce. Though the essays focus on only a few of Blume's books (including Deenie, Are You There God . . . , and Forever), they are sure to touch and evoke flowing memories from anyone who considered themselves a fan. --Inanna

Escape

2008-01-14T23:45:00.000-05:00

by Carolyn Jessop and Laura Palmer

A memoir of Jessop's life with and eventual escape from the breakaway Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS) sect, this book reads more like a thriller. Beginning with the story of how she fled with her eight children in the dead of night (Jessop broke ground not only by being the first woman to escape the FLDS with all her children but also by being awarded custody through a court system that traditionally had closed its eyes to FLDS abuses). From there, the storyline returns to Jessop's childhood and moves forward chronologically, finally returning the reader to her current life. Hers is a fascinating story of indoctrination, dreams and attempts for personal growth in a restrictive life and culture, and accessing reservoirs of strength as danger grows around her. This book would be a strong followup to readers who enjoyed Krakauer's Under the Banner of Heaven, with its perspective of an FLDS insider. -Inanna

A Charmed Life(Growing Up in MacBeth's Castle) by Liza Campbell

2008-01-07T11:28:00.000-05:00

Though I'm a bit over the child-of-an-alcoholic breed of memoir, I found this one truly gripping. Admittedly, I was initially interested because I am of Scottish descent and I was hoping for lots of history and descriptions of Scottish scenery. I was not disappointed. Campbell's own story is so intricately woven into the history of Scotland and her family that it is hard to see sometimes where the Cawdors end and she begins--a truly Scottish quality. Campbell asks for no sympathy; in fact, she barely asks the reader for understanding. She seems to be aware that her coming of age was so wildly different from that of anyone reading her book, there can be little common ground... After all, how many of us came of age in the British Aristocracy in the 60s and 70s?
Don't miss.

Child Free and Loving It!

2008-01-01T23:31:00.000-05:00

by Nicki Defago

Adults who choose not to have children are gaining more attention on a variety of levels, from in the media to within families, and Defago's book provides a strong introduction to the topic. She weaves the story of the childfree using sources including personal narratives, interviews with experts, and statistical information and covers the range of reasons why people might choose this path. Defago is a British writer and the book is written mainly for a British audience, but her materials cover a variety of nations, including the United States. Despite being chock full of information, the writing flows well and is not overly heavy in tone. This will be a useful book for all no matter what their personal decision on procreation. -Inanna

Free for All by Don Borchert

2007-11-25T18:02:00.000-05:00

Borchert's loosely collected book of anecdotes about his life at a public library in California will be of interest to library workers of all sorts, though there's not much here readers won't have seen multiple times in the blogosphere. Those in public libraries especially will find commiserate with his tales of middle schoolers gone wild, parents who pathologically lie, and coworkers who are all about the politics. Some will play the I-can-do-better game: “Drug dealers?! I had a prostitute giving $10 blowjobs in the bathroom!” Some stories are of the heartwarming variety, though they are outnumbered. -Inanna

1 Dead in Attic, by Chris Rose

2007-10-30T21:58:00.000-04:00

This book is a collection of columns about the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina that originally appeared in the Times-Picayune. They begin just after the hurricane passed through the Gulf Coast, when Rose was holed up in a New Orleans home with a few other reporters from the paper. They continue into 2006 to the one-year anniversary. The columns are especially effective in demonstrating the human toll, including to Rose's own life.But there is an element of hope as well, and the author's love for his city shines through. This book is essential reading for those interested in what happened to the people of New Orleans after the levees broke.

Five Wishes

2007-10-24T16:36:00.000-04:00

Five Wishes: How Answering One Simple Question Can Make Your Dreams Come True

For all of us seeking to live authentically, Gay Hendrick's easy to understand, five questions will lead the way...Inspiring insight that just may change the entire course of your life!
-Aurora

Deer Hunting With Jesus

2007-08-12T17:35:00.000-04:00

by Joe Bageant

Bageant hits the nail on the head with this look at his hometown―Winchester, Virginia―and how it reflects general trends in the United States in which many lower-class folks vote against their own interests so consistently (often based on ignorance and bias whipped up by the political machine) as well as the manner in which the progressive movement continues to be blind to their needs. Subtitled “Dispatches from America's Class War,” Bageant examines the present lives of Winchester's continually down-trodden (through they may not realize their status as such), while taking a historical look at how the current situation has developed, the role of culture (particularly that of the Scots-Irish) and how it lives today, and the slim opportunities for change. His is a perspective that no prep school-educated policy wonk will ever have: This world is completely outside the frame of reference of the people who drive politics in this country. A world where people don't have careers, they have jobs, usually in the same factory or processing plant where their parents worked; where a slot in a low-income apartment complex in a step up in terms of housing; where the local paper might include three stories pulled from the AP wire but features on its front page feel-good pieces about the cronies of the editor, and worse yet, most people don't read it anyway, except for perhaps local high school sports scores. I'd recommend this book to anyone interested in how the invisible people of this country live and what they face. --Inanna

Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom by Christine Northrup

2007-06-24T13:28:00.000-04:00

Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom by Christine Northrup
Dr. Northrup, an OB/GYN, illuminates the tricky connection between mind and body in this superb book on women's health. She opens in a rather new-agey way which nonetheless struck close to home, as she talked about chakras and the diseases connected with them. Chakras are pretty new to me, but her descriptions closely fit my experiences. As a Western medicinal background, she advocates combining emotional therapies with traditional medicine, never saying, "Just get over yourself and the problem with go away."

The next section covers specific areas of women's health – cycle problems, childbirth, menopause, to name just a few. Each section includes potential problems and cures ranging from least to most invasive, nutritional therapy through surgery. Also included are the specific energy issues from the first section. All of them include both personal stories and research from studies, both of which I find very helpful.

After the health problems, she turns to how to create “vibrant health”, including diet, sex and exercise. Mindfulness is key. I found her coverage of exercise particularly nice, since she acknowledged that she herself did not exercise when her children were small, and discussed how she made time for it and got her children to accept her exercising. I am now recommending this book to every woman I know, especially to those suffering from health problems that are difficult to identify or cure. It’s a tome, but you can easily skim the introduction and then flip to your specific problem. Unless you get sucked into it, as I did.

-Idun

American Fascists

2007-06-01T23:53:00.000-04:00

by Chris Hedges

In 1935, American novelist Sinclair Lewis wrote in his book It Can't Happen Here: "When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross." And more than 20 years ago, Harvard Divinity School student Hedges was warned by a professor – who worked with dissidents like Dietrich Bonhoeffer in Germany's Confessing Church during the mid-1930s -- that someday he and his classmates would be battling “Christian fascists” like the legion of televangelists then gaining prominence over the airwaves. In this new book, Hedges demonstrates how far the United States has moved in that direction courtesy of “Dominionists” who straddle the line between politics and religion in their efforts to transform the country into their vision of a "Christian nation." To that end, Hedges reports from the front lines (he has been a journalist for many years), attending proselytization training sessions, programs dedicated to the Apocalypse, conferences about “conversion therapy” for gays, the recently opened Creation Museum, and political-religious rallies that combine symbols of war and patriotism with faith. The words of the leaders of the theocratic movement provide the most damning evidence in support of his thesis. --Inanna

Love Is a Mix Tape

2007-05-10T21:34:00.000-04:00

by Rob Sheffield

This memoir portrays simultaneously the author's love of music, a woman who shared that love, and the life they had together for a brief time. But it is also about a young man's grief and his attempts to rebuild his world after loss. Music, in particular the mix tapes that flourished in the late 70s into the 90s (though the concept continues in the iPods of today) and that Sheffield has made throughout his life, is the thread that weaves these pieces together. Sheffield, a writer for Rolling Stone, literally provides the soundtrack to his life. Sheffield's informal language (and his tone, in the audiobook edition) is that of a friend chatting over a couple of beers; it which works here, even during the more tragic portions of the book and makes them even more poignant. --Inanna

Hope and Lessons for Living

2007-03-27T14:31:00.000-04:00

The Heart Has Reasons: Holocaust Rescuers and Their Stories of Courage

The dark cloud of disaster can't hide the brilliant light of joy and altruism in the human spirit. Somedays I don't turn on the news; it's too depressing to bear. But in this book, author Mark Klempner gazes unflinchingly at one of the blackest episodes in human history . . . and finds there hope and lessons for living.

Klempner interviewed ten of the "Righteous Gentiles": people who risked all to save Jewish children from the Nazis. A folklorist and oral historian, Klempner lets his subjects take center stage and tell their stories in their own words. This is precious documentation of the experiences of a generation that is passing on.

As counterpoint, Klempner relates the autobiographical saga of his own search for an ethical compass. This journey led him from the amoral canyons of the Los Angeles music scene to explore his Jewish immigrant roots in Europe. Klempner also includes historical and political essays that place the individual stories in the context of world events. The narratives are not homogenized into a smooth package. Think of these gems as displayed in their natural state, not cut and mounted so as to preserve the authenticity of the historical record.

To sum up, this book contains:

Fascinating true stories, very accessible to the casual reader.
Primary source historical material, lovingly preserved.
Troubling questions about ethics, psychology and the meaning of life; pat answers not included.
Inspiration, and proof that in the face of the most horrifying threats imaginable, some people will step forth and risk all to do the right thing.

Wine, Food and Friends by Karen MacNeil

2007-03-10T13:15:00.000-05:00

I've recently come into that phase of my life where everyone I know is buying a house and I therefore spend many saturday afternoons and evenings at housewarming parties. This book is my new go-to gift (because no one needs another vase). Even if you're not much of an entertainer, this book has something for you. The recipes are from Cooking Light magazine and are therefore delicious and guilt-free. MacNeil (author of The Wine Bible) makes wine suggestions for a variety of budgets and her capsule descriptions of each type of wine are really all the average person needs to know before inviting friends for dinner. All the wines are easily found at any decent-sized liquor store. The illustrations are beautiful and inspirational and don't make the reader feel like they have to be Martha Stewart to pull off a dinner party.

Knit Fix

2007-03-04T23:25:00.000-05:00

by Lisa Kartus

Having purchased this one for our library after reading a review, I never got a chance to do more than flip through it once it went out on the shelves because it circulated so frequently. So, I bought a copy for myself, and I am glad because this book is a strong reference for knitters of all levels. Though much of the book is aimed at more advanced knitters who have gotten past simple knit-and-purl scarves, Kartus provides a strong foundation in the basics, such as how to count rows vertically as well as horizontally in both knit and purl. She builds on this information to get to the meat of the book and topic of the title: techniques for repairing various mistakes in a knit work, from simple dropped stitches to trimming a too-large sweater. The text is well-depicted with color photos, and in many, contrasting colors of yarn are used to better illustrate what the reader should be seeing. Additionally, the spiral binding makes it easy to set the book on a table or a stand in front of you. --Inanna

Home Team Advantage: The Critical Role of Mothers in Youth Sports

2007-02-27T14:38:00.000-05:00

This book is an absolute "must-have" for your family's bookshelves. It covers everything from what to pack for games to how to balance athletics with your child's schoolwork and social obligations. Drawing from an extensive bibliograpy, Brooke de Lench has written an essential resource for mothers of athletes. De Lench also co-edits the on-line publication, MomsTeam.com--which also provides constructive and practical advice to moms.

Safe Area Gorazde

2007-02-25T19:07:00.000-05:00

by Joe Sacco.

Note: I'm putting this in adult nonfiction rather than graphic novel because this is “graphic nonfiction,” so to speak, and graphic novel on LG is associated with younger readers, which would not be appropriate in this case.

In this work, Sacco brings to readers the story of the town of Gorazde, one of the so-called “safe areas” established by the United Nations during the war in Bosnia during the 1990s, in illustrations that are both gorgeous and grotesque. A war correspondent, Sacco made friends with and interviewed locals as well as the Muslim refugees who fled to the town from other “ethnically cleansed” communities. This work is a combination of the results of those interviews, his experience of daily life in Gorazde, and representations of other scenes based on external research. His drawings convey the harsh realities of a land destroyed and a people slaughtered, as well as hope as peace approached and arrived. The text lays out in clear language the history of the conflict, going back to World War II. Sacco brings home the impact of war on human beings in a format that entertains as it educates. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll rage, but you won't regret picking up this one. -- Inanna

"The Dance of the Dissident Daughter" by Sue Monk Kidd

2007-02-01T21:52:00.000-05:00

When I came across this book sitting at the tech services workstation, the subtitle, “A Woman's Journey from Christian Tradition to the Sacred Feminine,” intrigued me. After all, I'd been there, done that. Reading the book, I tried to be wowed, I really did. Then I tried to just like it. That didn't happen either. Though Kidd's story is certainly interesting and heartfelt, I didn't get any sense of passion from her. For instance, occasionally she talks about her anger in certain situations, but the emotion just doesn't convey to the reader. The writing, to me, was insipid; Kidd got her publishing start in writing “Christian motivation” books, and it shows. I don't mean that in a good way. There are memoirs out there covering this same ground that are so much more well written and more captivating. (Phyllis Curott's first book comes to mind.) I'd recommend that readers find one of those. -- Inanna

Jesus Land:A Memoir

2007-01-31T16:55:00.000-05:00

In this riveting memoir, the author, Julia Scheeres, takes us with her as she grows up; a white girl with two adopted black brothers in 1970's rural Indiana, and then as the teens are sent to a fundamentalist Dominican Republic reform school. These children endure brutal abuse and cruel racism but the work is successful due to the author's distanced and uncritical tone and the lack of malice and vindictiveness. This is an earnest examination of the meaning of family and Christian values. A strong story tinged with sadness yet pervaded by a sense of triumph and courage. -Aurora

Born in the USA

2007-01-31T10:49:00.000-05:00

Born in the USA: How a Broken Maternity System Must Be Fixed to Put Women and Children First by Marsden Wagner, M.D., M.S. It’s a little-known fact that the maternal mortality rate in the United States has been rising for the past 25 years, and both our maternal mortality and infant mortality rates are among the worst in the industrialized world. Wagner uses both hard scientific evidence* and lots of personal experience to wade through the tangles of modern obstetrical care. Doctors and scientists are in conflict, he says, because while a scientist must assume that everything is known, a doctor must assume that he or she knows what the problem is and how to treat it in order to get anywhere. A lack of oversight, love of technology, lack of knowledge of normal birth, and a fear of litigation combine to make hospital births downright dangerous for mother and child. ** After documenting these grim facts, Wagner goes on to paint a picture of an ideal maternity system run primarily by midwives, similar to those already existing in other countries, which have been established even without the approval of the obstetrical community. It seems like a long haul, but this book is a good start.

* For those interested in doing their own medical research, Wagner frequently cites the Cochrane Library, http://www.cochrane.org . This is a medical nonprofit working towards evidence-based medical practice. They synthesize and analyze medical studies, providing both their reports and the original studies in their on-line library.

Wikinomics

2007-01-22T19:29:00.000-05:00

Wikinomics: How Mass Collaboration Changes Everything is a great book for those who are interested in the rise of new media applications and collaborative online communities. Even if you are not interested... Pick it up, Read it. You might be very interested by the time you reach the end.
-Morrigan

Real Food by Nina Planck

2007-01-15T13:48:00.000-05:00

This book is an excellent resource for anyone who has ever looked at the list of ingredients on a box of low-fat cookies and thought “Hell, butter and bacon have got to be healthier than something straight from a chemistry lab.” In this well-researched (complete with footnotes, a glossary, a lengthy bibliography, and pages of Web resources for finding such treasures as stone-ground corn) book, Planck lays out scientific research showing exactly that. But the book isn't a dry tome. Planck combines her experience as a journalist with her background as a farmer's daughter and as the creator and manager of farmer's markets in the United States and abroad to write an informative, interesting, and honest book about how the “industrial diet” is affecting Americans' health and to advocate a return to foods that are not six degrees of separation from the field. Real Food is an excellent companion to other recent books on the food chain, such as The Omnivore's Dilemma and What to Eat. --Inanna

Gift from the Sea

2007-01-10T13:02:00.000-05:00

Anne Morrow Lindbergh's, "Gift from the Sea", was published in 1955, after spending a solitary visit on Captiva Island in Florida. I had never read this work and only picked it up after recently spending time in Captiva myself. The books message is a remarkably enduring one offering an extraordinary kind of freedom. The kind of freedom that comes when one chooses to remain open to life itself and whatever it may bring. The book makes it possible to quiet down and rest in the present. Anne Morrow Lindbergh's respect for the natural beauty surrounding her and her talent as a writer is truly a gift to all women, helping them to embrace the life they have.

If you are a lover of the sea, have ever stepped foot on Sanibel or Captiva Islands or reached for a seashell because it "spoke" to you......you will have to own a copy of "Gift from the Sea"! -Aurora

Gracefully Insane:The Rise and Fall of America's Premier Mental Hospital

2007-01-10T12:03:00.000-05:00

"Gracefully Insane" by Alex Beam is a knowledgeable, historical portrait of New England's McLean Hospital... the mental hospital equivalent of a 5 star hotel. There have been no guards, no fences, room service, golf, bowling, tennis and a riding stable over time but today this institution faces an uncertain future. One former director was quoted as saying, "If you don't know where you are , then you're in the right place".
This is a lively honest work derived from patient records, journals and interviews of both patients and employees. An unsettling review of mental health treatments from the early days of ice water therapies through the introduction of modern psychopharmacology. Recognizable patients include; Anne Sexton, James Taylor, Robert Lowell and Ray Charles while the hospital experience is clearly evident in Sylvia Plath's, "Bell Jar" and Susanna Kaysen's, "Girl, Interrupted".
"The insane asylum seems to be the goal of every good and conscious Bostonian," Clover Adams wrote in 1879. This book offers a look at the, "Boston arsitocracy that produced, for nearly two centuries, an endless stream of brilliant, troubled eccentrics and the equally brilliant and eccentric doctors who lined up to treat them". I won't say I enjoyed reading this but definately did find it fascinating. - Aurora

Not everything you read needs to enrich your mind...

2007-01-09T13:46:00.000-05:00

I've never read Moby Dick. I've been meaning to, and I even want to but I just can't seem to get there. But recently I had a complete weekend free (including most of Friday afternoon!) and the weather report said three days of rain---the perfect opporutunity, right? Well, not so much. Turns out that when you're totally burnt out from the holidays, Moby Dick just isn't gonna do it. Some books that will? Instyle: Instant Fashion is a great book for the sartorially challenged or for those who want a refresher and don't know where to start. The book has a layout very similar to the magazine(to which I am addicted) and an easy reading style. It includes checklists of seasonal "basics" and a workbook for those who really need help.
Also during my weekend of mindless reading I turned to Allure: Confessions of a Beauty Editor by Linda Wells and the editorial staff at Allure magazine. It is fabulous. I'm not ashamed to say that I photocopied a page about eyeliner. Maybe with clearly written instructions I will stop poking myself in the eye. Lastly, (why break a streak?) I read What would Jackie Do? by Shelly Branch and Sue Callaway. The authors extrapolate the lessons learned from the most stylish woman ever into everyday situations. It's a cute read; the sort of book you buy your girlfriend as a semi-joke. I emerged from my weekend of fluff refreshed and ready to take on more serious reading..though maybe not Moby Dick just yet. -Rhiannon

RealSimple Celebrations

2006-12-13T13:34:00.000-05:00

If you are someone who wishes to entertain but lacks the know-how to do so, this is a wonderful book. The good people at Real Simple magazine have laid out step-by-step instructions on how to throw great, low-key parties. Unlike some other Entertaining gurus, no one in this book makes you feel any pressure. The menus are elegant and easy, the decorations are doable and the tone is friendly. The focus here is about how entertaing is about friends and family. The book reads like having a talented girlfriend give you advice. I love this type of book but rarely purchase them (because how often do you reference them really?). This one, however, is high on my Christmas wish list. There are beautiful, inspirational photos and the templates for invitations and such are all available at Realsimple.com. Best of all, there is a wonderful wheel at the back to help you plan your shopping! -Rhiannon

Hillbilly Gothic

2006-12-04T13:21:00.000-05:00

In Hillbilly Gothic: A Memoir of Madness and Motherhood, Adrienne Martini takes us down the dark path of postpartum psychosis and through to the other side. This is not exactly a cheerful place to go, and it took me a little bit to warm to Martini and her story. But Martini is a smart and likeable woman with a wicked sense of humor, even as we meet her bawling her eyes out as she’s driving herself to the mental hospital. Martini had started out with the best of intentions, quitting her meds when she got pregnant, hiring a doula, and buying a supply of nursing bras. But the birth is bloody and traumatic, her milk doesn’t come in, and she finds herself unable to sleep or to stop crying. Interwoven through the story of her own nightmare experience is the secret family history that she dug up afterwards in a quest for understanding. It takes a lot of courage to be this honest in the face of family disapproval and society’s discomfort with craziness. I left this book with a deep respect for Martini, and the many mothers who keep on going even when their heads are telling them that they’ve already failed.

Idun

Want to change the world...?

2006-11-28T14:33:00.000-05:00

When John Wood took time off from his stressful job at Microsoft to go trekking in Nepal, he had no way of knowing what an impact that vacation would utlimately have for 1000s of children across Asia. Following his time in Nepal, John launched the nonprofit organization Room to Read (www.roomtoread.org) which has created more than 2,000 schools and libraries for children across Asia. Leaving Microsoft to Change the World is a captivating memoir, an inspiring read, and offers practical insight into managing a global nonprofit. Don't miss it. -Morrigan

2006-11-27T14:18:00.000-05:00

Chosen by a Horse by Susan Richards is a beautiful memoir that will touch your heart even if you are not a horsewoman. Richards makes the reader really understand how an animal's love and trust can help us find the deeper and better parts of ourselves. Like that old adage,"I'd like to be the peson my dog thinks I am", so does Richards learn through the simple grace of helping a deeply (emotionally) wounded animal back to health that she is ultimately helping herself. Don't miss this book! -Rhiannon

2006-11-26T17:36:00.000-05:00

Her Hidden Children: The Rise of Wicca and Paganism in America

by Chas S. Clifton

One of the newest entries to the world of scholarship about the history of Wicca in the United States, Her Hidden Children covers a great deal of territory, with a focus on the development of Wicca in Britain in the late 19^th and early 20^th centuries, its movement across the Atlantic to the United States, and the early days of American paganism. The Gardners are spotlighted in great detail, as are a variety of others, including Tim Zell and the Church of All Worlds, Aiden Kelly and the New Reformed Orthodox Order of the Golden Dawn, Gleb Botkin and the Church of Aphrodite, and Z Budapest and the Susan B. Anthony Coven No. 1.

One of the book's strengths, and most interesting threads, is the manner in which it details how the people involved were influenced by particular literary works, which are quoted chapter and verse. Also, he discusses at length some of the issues that have long plagued neopaganism regarding the idea of an unbroken line of witches since the Middle Ages, how the words pagan and wicca were derived linguistically, “hereditary” witches, and so on. At the same time, in-depth coverage of certain people, groups, and topics leaves out many of influence in the development of American paganism (e.g., the Alexandrian tradition). Also, despite Clifton's mention of the importance of feminism in the spread of Wicca, I sensed some disdain on his part regarding that camp, which has no place in such a work as this. Regarding end matter: Though the book is well-footnoted and includes a lengthy bibliography, I found the index lacking. All in all, this book was a mixed bag but probably worth a read as a starting point for someone with little knowledge in this area. -Inanna

2006-11-25T12:21:00.000-05:00

Misquoting Jesus: The Story Behind Who Changed the Bible and Why

by Bart D. Ehrman

For those who, say, grew up in a faith where the Bible was the “unerring Word of God” delivered from His lips to men's pens but who now know differently, Misquoting Jesus will serve as a solid starting point in learning more about how the Bible as we know it today developed. More accessible to the lay reader than some of Ehrman's more scholarly works (e.g., Lost Christianities, still sitting half-read on my nightstand after more than 8 months), this work covers two topics at once. One is the Bible itself, but the other is the scholarly activity of textual criticism, or how researchers can determine how the texts have been altered or even added or deleted altogether over the years. I found the discussion of the criteria scholars use to trace back the lineage, so to speak, of ancient texts just as interesting as that of the specific text in question. Good stuff all around. --Inanna

2006-11-22T14:58:00.000-05:00

One Small Boat; The Story of a Little Girl, Lost then Found by Kathy Harrison

A memoir written by a Massachusetts foster parent since 1988. This is an intimate portrait of one of the hundreds of children who have been nurtured by Harrison and her husband as they struggle to provide short term, emergency foster care. Five year old Daisy is from a well to do family placed into foster care suffering with a speech impediment and eating disorder who gradually reveals a background of neglect and sexual abuse. Harrison shares her honest assessment of the foster care system as well as her emotions and limitations as a foster parent. She and her husband are good caring people who believe in the healing power of love. A riveting and personal account of foster parenting and the children whose lives are forever shaped by it. A story that leaves you wanting to go out and make a difference! -Aurora

2006-11-13T14:45:00.000-05:00

If you're a sucker for beautifully laid out and photographed books about entertaining (as I am) then you will love Kimberly Kennedy's book, The Art and Craft of Entertaining. Kennedy offers lots of hard information which is actually useful. The book includes upscale craft projects, recipes and lots of lists. Her style is very elegant and refined yet quite relaxed. Take some notes from someone who truly enjoys entertaining for the sake of creating a beautiful environment and give this book a read-through. Also an excellent choice for your Martha-loving friends!! -Rhiannon

2006-11-09T21:44:00.000-05:00

Strange Piece of Paradise: A Return to the American West to Investigate my Attempted Murder--and Solve the Mystery of Myself by Terri Jentz.

Terri Jentz and her Yale roommate began a cross-country bike trip in 1977. While camping in an Oregon state park a stranger ran over their tent and brutally attacted them with an axe. Jentz was able to drag herself to the nearby road and flag down a passing truck, saving herself and her roommate. Jentz suffered a multiple injuries including a gashed arm and collapsed lung while her friends skull was crushed and she was blinded and suffered amnesia of the attack.

In 1992 Terri Jentz returns to the scene of the attack to investigate the facts of the case and to answer some nagging questions of her own psyche. This is an account of a true crime that is not written in the true crime genre. It questions why our society is so fascinated with blood and gore. Why we crave the "dangerous stranger". It deals with the larger issues of justice. And it offers no easy answers. As Jentz deals (or as those around her don't deal) with her psychic and psychological wounds the reader questions how individuals and society can deal with their wounds. This is a contemplative book for a contemplative reader. ~Damara

2006-11-04T10:56:00.000-05:00

The Jesus Mysteries: Was the "Original Jesus" a Pagan God?
Timothy Freke & Peter Gandy

An academic treatise on the origins of the Jesus myth, both Freke and Gandy capture the "all religions are aspects of the same Divinity" with clarity and vision. As a Pagan married to an Agnostic, we read this book together and found more common ground than we had initially suspected. This book tends to have two responses: either (from a Christian perspective) my religion isn't the only one/isn't real so now I am lost -or- (from any perspective) religion is in the eye of the beholder and we are all on a journey.

Grounded in the premise that Jesus never existed in human form and was a creation by Jewish mystics based on the resurrecting Godmen from other faiths (namely Osiris, Dionysus, Attis, Mithra, and others), this book follows the beginning of the Christian movement and gives the reader two, conflicting paths: that of the Literalists, who seemingly "won" the battle and now leave their legacy of Christianity, and that of the Gnostics, who initially created the Jesus myth for their people to have a "Mystery" religion and were wiped out by the Literalists in a bloody war for religious supremacy.

In addition to a well thought and well documented argument, the writers give detailed endnotes and citations, allowing the reader to verify information or just to delve deeper into the philosophical and religious circle they open. I have used this book in my discussions with other Pagans, especially those "hurt" by Christians or Christianity as a way to heal and also as a way to explain that, truly, we are all the same. It is a must have for any religious library and for anyone looking to understand their neighbor, regardless of religious background.

2006-11-02T13:53:00.000-05:00

Goddesses in Everywoman;Powerful Archetypes in Women's Lives by Jean Shinoda Bolen

"Everywoman has the leading role in her own unfolding life story" begins this classic volume for those exploring their inner goddess. Women often seek help in order to learn how to be better protagonists or heroines in their own life stories, to do so, women need to make conscious choices that will shape their lives. This volume helps us learn the powerful insights of the enduring archetypes represented-which are responsible for major differences among women. An informative read for those of us who communicate with the Universal Goddesses! Aurora