Tag Archives: book

Make The Bread, Buy the Butter by Jennifer Reese

I think the full title says it all:

The Tipsy Baker

What it doesn’t say is that the stories of the efforts that went into this book are entertaining enough to be a book by themselves!

Make it or buy it? Do you know how to make a book? Me neither. Buy it.

Hassle: Minimal. In fact here is a to link help you out: http://www.amazon.com/Make-Bread-Buy-Butter-Shouldnt/dp/1451605889/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1353794791&sr=8-1&keywords=make+the+bread+buy+the+butter

Cost Comparison: The cost of the ingredients required to replicate these recipes alone would certainly make buying the book cheaper. Once you factor in goats and chickens it’s a no brainer.

Would I recommend it? Yes, we’ve happily made a handful of the recipes and it’s been the only cookbook we’ve read out loud together!

Let’s Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson

I tried to read this while putting Jane to sleep.

Big mistake.

I started snorting and giggling and then laughed so hard I cried which not only had the opposite affect that I was looking for with Jane but brought the other two girls over to see what was the matter with me.

Foolishly the next day I figured that that was no doubt a one time event and so it would be safe to read the book while putting Jane to sleep because it wouldn’t be that funny AGAIN.

I was wrong.

Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

Would I recommend it? Yes.

Mostly.

I think so.

As John said “It’s a bit over the top>” and it is in a cursing, ridiculous, hilarious way. If you aren’t sure how you feel about that check out her blog, (http://thebloggess.com/) first.

The Kane Chronicles by Rick Riordan

The Red Pyramid
The Throne of Fire
The Serpents Shadow

Young Adult Fantasy – what can I say I have a weakness for it.

At first I thought these would just be fun, fast reads – and they were. But I feel I should also mention that I’ve understood at least two references to ancient Egypt I would have missed since reading them. Fun, fast, informative…

Would I recommend them? You betcha! I also have read about Percy Jackson and the Olympians – and  I liked them… but I loved theses!

The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz

Yes, the book won a Pulitzer prize.

Yes, I think the author was deserving of it.

No, I did not enjoy it.

Would I recommend it? There is a lot of Spanish in this book, and not your average high school Spanish either. This is Dominican Republic slang Spanish, enough of it that you can sort of pick up the meaning in context, but only sort of. This means that if your Spanish isn’t up to snuff you might find it all freakishly irritating. But, as a plus there are lots of footnotes- and I do like footnotes.

The Dirty Streets of Heaven by Tad Williams

The otherness of this book totally caught me.

In all of my reading I have never, ever, come across a foul mouthed, gun toting, angel who acts as an advocate for new souls in their trail between heaven and hell.

Never.

Would I recommend it? I doubt it’s for everyone but I was certainly caught up in it! I read it too late into the night, got a nightmare… the whole nine yards. Now, as it is first in a trilogy, I just need the next one to come out!

The Sister Queens by Sophie Perinot

I’m not sure if it’s the elaborate feasts and celebrations, the crazy dresses, the scandalous going-ons, the hands off approach of raising children or the treasonous intrigue but whatever it is I love a good historical fiction full of kings and queens.

Would I recommend it? Even with it’s alternating view points between the two sisters I don’t think it’s quite as good as say something by Phillipa Gregory. But, if you have run out of Gregory’s works this one fits the bill!

The Cow That Laid An Egg by Andy Cutbill and Russell Ayto

I have admitted before that I always judge a book by it’s cover, and it’s even more true with children’s books. I mean really, the illustrations are at least half the package right? These books are practically begging you to judge by their covers, you woudn’t want to ignore an illistators best efforts now would you?

But sometimes those old sayings turn out to be true.

If you were like me a judged by the cover you would have left passed this book over and sighed when your kids dragged it home from the library the first time.

Then after  having brought it home from the library multiple times and read it 5,789 times you would also have to admit to being completely and totally wrong.

The illustrations may not be exactly what I’m drawn to but there are bicycle riding cows, not to mention an egg laying one…

…the phrase “…an almighty commotion in the barnyard…” which is a good phrase if I’ve ever heard it.

And there are “crafty chickens” I personally have never met a crafty chicken but I like the idea of them anyway.

A super fun book and clearly one of Clara’s favorites!

The Time Travelers Wife by Audrey Niffenegger

Once upon a time things were much different around here. I had one dog who liked to sleep all day, no job, a new husband who worked first shift and on this particular day a good book.  I woke up early to kiss my hard working husband goodbye, layed down on the couch ( we don’t have one of those anymore either) and started reading The Time Travelers Wife. Many hours later he got home from work and I was still laying on the couch saying “shhh don’t talk I only have a few pages left!” Ever since when ever this book comes up John tells about how he went to work with my reading it on the couch and how I was still there when he came home.  Which is clearly ridiculous, I’m sure I got up to eat and pee at least once while he was gone.

I just re-read this book and while circumstances have changed (two crazy dogs, three kids, husband on second shift and no couch) it took me two days to read this time and I still loved it.

Clara is sleeping on the chair downstairs tonight because the thunder keeps getting in her ears.

Would I recommend it? For certain. I know there is a movie out there. I’m never watching it. The book is perfect. Don’t see the movie, read the book.

I Am Too Absolutely Small For School by Lauren Child

Ivy has made a very slow transition to crying at the thought of going to school to hesitant excitement about her first day next week. I can’t give this book all the credit for the turn around but it certainly didn’t hurt.

The voice of Lola the little sister who is too small to go to school is so absolutely perfect nothing I say will do her justice. Unfortunately that means that Charlie, her older brother who is the brains of the outfit, gets second billing which is quite unfair, as he’s pretty fantastic too.

Lola has also helped start a few good conversations between Ivy and I about school. For instance tonight after we read about Lola’s invisible friend Soren Lorensen I found out that Ivy’s invisible friend Belle is also going to school next week.  Apparently Belle has been there lots before and knows lots of things already like reading and chemistry. Ivy thinks Belle will be good company on the bus on the way to school but when I asked if Belle could help her remember where her classroom was since she’s been in school before I got the look. The look that says “Uh Mom. Belle is pretend, why would I ask her things?” Which I find to be quite convenient because Belle has a tenancy to encourage Ivy to do all sorts of naughty things.  Ivy’s defense of “But Belle TOLD me to.” never crumbles to the “Uh Ivy. Belle is pretend why are you listening to her” look I give Ivy. Apparently I’ve got to work on my “looks.”

Would I recommend this? Absolutely! It makes it into the catagory of books I make my adult friends read even if there are no kids around because I think it is so great!