Books in Review

Amazon has been making frequent deliveries to my house. Besides magazines and bath products, books would be next in line to absorb my earnings. Why don't I share my humble reviews with you?

Crafting a Business- A great inspirational read for anyone wanting to start their own business. It's very similar to the Business of Bliss published by Victoria magazine a few years back. There are feature chapters of well known women entrepreneurs and a few I'd never heard of, all with insight on how they did it.

Eat Pray Love- Hmmmm, I have to say first, the only reason I ordered this was because of all the "hype" about how fantastic it was. Can't say that I thoroughly enjoyed it. I felt myself trying to hurry up and finish it. There is a lot of self dialog, reflection and soul searching by way of food and yoga. In fact, I think that about sums it up.

Shrines- A gorgeous picture book for grown ups. It's full of fantastic old buildings and images from Italian shrines, cathedrals and the surrounding countryside. It's a perfect little book for the armchair traveler.

Vintage Vavoom- From the editors of Romantic Homes magazine comes this delightful eye candy book filled to the brim with beautiful photographs of bedrooms, baths, kitchens, charming vignettes and entertaining ideas. A delightful addition to my bookshelf and I'm sure will be loved by all who embrace the vintage style.

How Not To Look Old- Don't laugh! You know that secretly we don't want to grow old, let alone look old! Not as many pictures as I would like for a book of style but I did come away with a few new ideas and encouraged by some I already practice. In a nutshell, no fake nails, wear pink lip gloss, buy a pair of the latest jeans, color your hair and combat your wrinkles! How's that?

French Country Living- Oh how I would love to live in France. But since it's not possible, devouring every book on the subject will have to suffice. How is it that the French make such humble, old buildings look so effortlessly chic and stylish? Is it their fantastic brocante markets? Is it their attention to quality fabrics and linens that age beautifully? Or could it be their herb gardens with gravel lined paths? I'm trying so hard not to be jealous of the French! Which is why I continue to purchase any and all French style books I can get my hands on.

Well, that's it for today girls. What books are you reading? What books would you recommend? I prefer to read non-fiction, memoirs or style and design books. I can't seem to enjoy fiction, I'm always thinking.......this would never happen in real life! What about you, what are you favorites?

Comments

[Elaine L.]

Thanks for summing up "How Not to Grow Old", that saves me a few bucks on a book. LOL

I'd ask Corey about how the French manage to make decorating seem so effortless. I think she's got the look down pat. However, I think it has to be all those wonderful "hundreds" of years old things that are abundant in those flea markets.

~elaine~

[Michelle M White]

You and I are reading a lot of the same books! I have really learned a lot from "How Not to Look Old"! (I need to buy new jeans!!!)

[Jo]

maybe i can change your mind about at least one fiction book! "sufficient grace" by darnell arnoult (a female author). it was a bit of an effort getting through the beginning but overall it is the most beautifully written fiction book i've ever read! (yes, ever!) when i was done with it, i actually felt blessed to have read it!

i just finished eat pray love yesterday ~ first my disclaimer: i heard about it way back in 2006 by the way of barbara abercrombie's post about it on her blog www.writingtime.net, before all the oprah hype! i only bought a copy for myself because the 'hold' list at both the local library's is over a year long! though it's not my usual type of read, i think it's one of the most honestly written memoirs i've read to date (which is why i gave it to my girfriends for christmas) and emotionally i could relate to a lot.

however! i did tend to get a bit bored during what i call her history lessons (background info on places & religious practices) and rolled my eyes through parts that felt too frou-frou to me! (i'm not saying people can't have spiritual experiences like that! i haven't to that degree & don't expect to because that's just not me!) still it was an interesting read!

[maire602@aol.com]

I used to read when i was younger- mostly bios, but once i grew older and began to have children, most of what i read consisted of "good night moon", and such (repeatedly, i might add).
Now that i no longer have wee ones, i've challenged myself to read the classics, and also "buzz" stuff. Just to exercise the brain, improve my vocab.
I too read Eat,Pray and Love, but only enjoyed the "eat" part not because of the food ,it just was... entertaining. I plodded thru the other two parts.
To Kill a Mockingbird is my absolute favorite, bar none. And i just love saying the author's name, "Harper Lee"- (use a southern drawl when you do). I think i was the only person on earth not to have read it by now. Poisonwood Bible is also interesting because of the locale and such. The ending didn't seem to fall into place. But, still is worthy of reading.

[Raised In Cotton]

Love your stack of books, I coming over to read now:)
Hugs,
Carol

[Stacey Newton]

Hi-
I love your blog... We must have similar tastes b/c I've read all but 1 of the books you reviewed:) Here are some recommendations of my own: Modern eclectic, French Home, The New Eighteenth Century Style, Modern Midwest, Tricia ? Patterns... I'm currently reading a fabulous book called The Queen of Fashion: What Marie Antoinette Wore to the Revolution. It's a non-fiction book exploring who Marie was by viewing what she wore... So far, I'm only on Chapter 2 but it's great!

[Maria Kelly]

I LOVE anything by Adriana Trigiani!
Maria

[Rosemary]

Thanks for the reviews Heather. Amazon is a favorite of mine as well.
Rosemary

[Tracy Martinez]

I love design books and magazines. I order from Amazon a lot too. One fiction book that was a really fun read was The Devil Wears Prada. I highly recommend it. Love your Blog, always interesting.
Tracy M.

[Amy]

Thank you so much for sharing your book selections with us. I always love a good book but am more of a magazine person (they are quicker to read, and I love the decorating ones). I also like the inspirational books like the Julia Cameron books such as the Artist Way and Simple Abundance by Sarah Ban Breathnach. Enjoy your reading! Amy

[Renee kyweriga]

That is so funny I too have been ordering like crazy from Amazon, there is nothing better than arriving home and finding a pile of books there for you! Thanks for sharing your reads they sound delightful. I may have to pick some of these up!

[Renee kyweriga]

That si so funny I too have been ordering like crazy from Amazon, there is nothing better than arriving home and finding a pile of books there for you! Thanks for sharing your reads they sound delightful. I may have to pick some of these up!

[LiLi M.]

Hi, I love reading your reviews. Especially about 'how not to look old'. I'm 46 now, that's defenitely not 20 anymore, so I skipped the jeans part. Fake nails are so uncomfortable while crafting and I'm the kind of person who sits somewhere, drinking tea and only noticing afterwards that I have been somewhere with a fake nail as a brooch upon my chest. So that leaves coloring my hair, and that is just what I have been doing! Hahaha.

[Kimberly]

Heather, I bought Vintage Vavoom over the week-end at Barnes and Noble after seeing it in Romantic Homes. It is one of the best "eye-candy" books I've seen in a while. Thanks for sharing your list. I am looking for "Crafting a Business" now. I have Victoria's "Business of Bliss". Love reading your blog and how inspirational you are to so many women.

[accessoryalamode]

I adore the design style books and have to get the VINTAGE VAVOOM book. That is my idea of relaxation, sitting down and getting engulfed in a good french design book! Also, I should get my hands on the not looking old book, that could come in handy. :O)

[Ann]

Hi Heather...Your Blog is simply the best out there...you update it at a wonderful pace with the best offerings! I am so grateful to have found your blog and website, it is such a treat to read! Happy Monday!

[Rachel]

Thanks for sharing. Can't wait to get Vintage Vavoom. And I've got to find How Not to Look Old! I love your blog and creativity.

[missy j]

Thanks for sharing!

[jackie von tobel]

I love the How Not to Look Old book. Where did you find that and is there anything really mind shattering inside? I'm always looking for a cheap road to the fountain of youth.

[Cerri]

I just received Vintage Vavoom, looks wonderful!
Hmmm, no fake nails? Well, I guess I will have to look old with that one as I have been wearing them since I was about 18 years old. Don't see myself giving them up any time soon. :0)
Do color my hair (again, since my teens), love pink lip gloss (and lots of other lip glosses), just bought new jeans, and am always taking care of my skin. Whew. So at least I'm good with the rest of the list! ;0)
~Cerri xo

[Jeanette]

I just ordered Paint & Paper as I am in desperate need of some wall color inspiration. Whether its in the form of wallpaper or paint, I simply need to try to figure out what direction to go in with our walls.

I'm now off to check out French Country Living. Thanks for the inspiration.

[Karla]

Some good choices here. I have to respectfully disagree on Eat Pray Love. I think it has a fantastic message and is one of the best books I've read.
Karla

[Erin]

I'm reading Eat, Pray, Love right now and I like it - she's still in Italy - I hope it keeps my interest. I just finished a few mindless novels; Shopaholic and Shopaholic Takes Manhatten - fun/easy reads.

I attended the launch party yesterday for Vintage Vavoom - it was an amazing event and the book is wonderful.

Of course I always have a pile of mags to pick pick up when I don't have time to read a book :)

[Suzanne Duda]

I have Eat, Pray. Love on my nightstand right now, haven't started it...just ordered Vintage Vavoom, but now must go order French Country...and if pink lip gloss can keep you young, then honey I'm NEVER gonna die!

[Teresa ~ French Poppy]

I think I would prefer looking at style books most of the time, I too jumped on the Love, Eat, Pray hype, felt about the same as you. But I have been on the Oprah bookclub band wagon this winter. I have read:

The Pilars of the Earth - 973 pages!
Love in the Time of Cholera

and not on the Oprah list, I have enjoyed:
Julia Cameron's - The Sound of Paper
and
Words in a French Life -Kristin Espinasse

Love your list of books!

Teresa
xo

[sharron]

I also read eat pray love... got it for Christmas and I too was not super
impressed.BUT..I have been anxiously waiting for someone to review Vavoom!! I really want to get it now. Also love French Country... just watched a movie based in Paris with all French subtitles... everything is so elegant and Old World... lovin' it...... Thanks for the 411 on all of the books!!!

[Lynda]

I'm reading ... and loving ... Vintage Vavoom! French Country Living is one I'll have to check out and I *should* take a look at How Not to Look Old before it's too late!!

[jemima bean]

ooh, thanks for the Vintage Vavoom tip, I must have that one right away! :)

And no fake nails? I don't have em, but I always look at them with envy. They seem so...polished. LOL.

[Missy Sue]

I mostly stick to the magazines, as I get bored easily with big books if there aren't many pictures and ideas in them. I do have a wonderful vintage jewelry book I just purchased and I love it!

[Sherri]

I must get a copy of Vintage Vavoom! I enjoy reading Historicals - Old Books on Architecture and French, Irish & Italian Landscape are a must. I am really into Old World. Lots of "new" books I don't read.
Since I write, I adore Historical Romance novels as well. I also collect Antique books - there are some fabulous stories of old in those! Lately I've been collecting Old German Books. Thanks for sharing Heather - I enjoyed this post very much!
xo Sherri

[jerusalem]

I saw Vintage Varoom at the store yesterday and fell IN LOVE with it! Delightful, can't wait to own a copy! Great eye candy is right!

[teresa]

I loved Eat Pray Love....I read it on the back deck mostly during early summer...definitely a summer book read I think!
And big YAY To pink lip gloss!! :) 3 shades of it in my purse right now. Powerful stuff I tell you! :)

[Jill]

I love all the French Style books, too. Can't get enough of them!