Book Review: Cozy Classics: Les Miserables

Katie May 30, 2013 0 Comments

I absolutely love these Cozy Classics. Especially when they are books that I haven’t read yet.  The book is only 13 pages long and is made up of felt characters that are relevant to the classic story that is being re-told.  Les Mis I have seen on Broadway, but it ranks as my least favorite show I’ve seen ever.  This book was a lot quicker and more fun for me than the broadway show.

The book contains 12 key words from the story as well as a felt figure to go along with it.  As a crafter, I love seeing these because they are SO well done.  I wish I was this talented!  The actual books are board books so they are great for getting your little reader introduced to some classics at an early age.

I received a free e-copy of this book from the publisher in order to write this review. I was not otherwise compensated.

About the Book

Give a kid a classic! Cozy Classics is the popular board book series that presents well-loved stories to children aged 0+ through twelve child-friendly words and twelve needle-felted illustrations. Les Misérables is Victor Hugo’s sweeping French saga about one man’s search for redemption in a world of hardship and misery, and is one of the world’s most beloved classics. Now you can share this classic with children of any age.

Book Review: Cozy Classics: War and Peace

Katie May 29, 2013 0 Comments

I absolutely love these Cozy Classics. Especially when they are books that I haven’t read yet.  The book is only 13 pages long and is made up of felt characters that are relevant to the classic story that is being re-told.

War and Peace is not a book I’ve read and it’s not one I would probably think about reading (it’s really long, isn’t it?) but now I’ve got the jist of it in 12 words and 12 pages.  Love these cozy classics! They are so creative and clever.

I received a free e-copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley I was not otherwise compensated.

About the Book

Give a kid a classic! Cozy Classics is the popular board book series that presents well-loved stories to children aged 0+ through twelve child-friendly words and twelve needle-felted illustrations. War and Peace is Leo Tolstoy’s epic masterpiece about love and friendship in aristocratic Russia during the country’s struggle against Napoleon, and is often considered the greatest novel of all time. Now you can share this classic with children of any age.

Book Review: How to Talk Minnesotan

Katie May 28, 2013 0 Comments

I’m not sure why I picked out this book to read – I’ve never been to Minnesota nor do I have any plans of visiting Minnesota, but I was aware that they had their own type of accent or dialect or whatever you want to call it, so I guess that is what ultimately ended up interesting me.  But then I just couldn’t get into the book.  I got about halfway through skimming most of it.  While interesting, it just seemed to be a lot of information I didn’t find myself needing.  (Watch, now I’ll end up needing to go to Minnesota and be totally embarrassed by not understanding the local lingo)

If you are from Minnesota, frequent Minnesota or may be planning to go to Minnesota, then I think that this book may be interesting to you.  Or it should at least give you a few laughs. (You bet.)  It just seemed to go over my head.

I received a free e-copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in order to write this review. I was not otherwise compensated.

About the Book

For the past few decades, Howard Mohr’s HOW TO TALK MINNESOTAN (Penguin; On Sale: May 28, 2013; ISBN: 978-0-143-12269-2; $15.00; 288 pages) has helped visitors to Minnesota avoid embarrassing “uffda situations” (as you might say if you speak the local dialect) by sharing the social nuances, linguistic oddities, eating habits, and customs unique to the Land of 10,000 Lakes. Now, in time for its 26th anniversary, Mohr has revised and updated the long-time favorite to allow for the many technological and cultural changes that have occurred since its original publication.
Addressing the savvy, twenty-first century traveler, Mohr advises Minnesota visitors on such modern practices as tweeting, Facebook, cell phones, and the myriad of developments in Minnesota behavior and culture since the book’s first publication in 1987. Mohr’s hilarious guide is brimming with useful advice, including deciphering Minnesota body language; where to find love in Minnesota (at the Laundromat, garden center, and the parking lot of the local mall); and, of course, “how to talk Minnesotan” by using local phrases like, “you bet,” “heckuva deal,” and “yeahbut.” There’s also a great chapter on eating in Minnesota, enabling you to understand a system that consists of 6 actual meals throughout the day (three large meals plus three “little” lunches); and the vast array of hotdishes available, including such winners as the “ketchup surprise hotdish” and the “garbanzo bango hotdish.” He also teaches you the art of saying “no” to food in Minnesota, which can be tricky since it is frequently used to get more food without appearing greedy, so the uninitiated may be served with more rhubarb-strawberry pie than they could ever eat if not careful.

Known for his dry humor and distinctive voice, Howard Mohr won over millions of fans on Garrison Keillor’s hugely popular radio show “A Prairie Home Companion.” Between 1974 and 1987, over 200 of Mohr’s scripts, “commercials,” and spots aired on the program, including “Raw Bits,” “One Minute Romance,” and “Pentagon Overstocks.”

In addition to being a writer and performer on “A Prairie Home Companion,” Howard Mohr has also created two long-running musicals based on HOW TO TALK MINNESOTAN. Twin Cities Public Television filmed a popular award-winning version of Mohr’s book in 1991. He lives on five acres of southwestern Minnesota prairie in the town of Cottonwood.

Book Review: No Kidding

Katie May 27, 2013 0 Comments

No Kidding is a group of essays from women who don’t want children.  There are some names you might recognize – like Margaret Cho – and all share their experiences and why they ultimately decided that having kids was not for them.  This is a topic that has been coming up amongst my friends a lot recently, so I figured I would check it out.  All of the women have different reasons as to why they don’t want to be a parent.  Some had several miscarriages and decided that being a mom was not for them, others have a significant other with children and that keeps them content and others have known since a very young age that having kids and being a mom was just not something that they were in to.

For anyone who judges friends because they don’t want kids, you should check out this book and maybe seeing things from a few other perspectives will help you to understand where your friend is coming from.  For anyone who doesn’t want kids – check out this book and you will find out quickly that you are not alone – and in fact, you’re in some pretty good company.

I received a free e-copy of this book to write this review I was not otherwise compensated.

About the Book

In  No Kidding, comedy writer Henriette Mantel tackles the topic of actually not having kids. This fascinating collection features a star-studded group of contributors—including Margaret Cho, Wendy Liebman, Laurie Graff, and other accomplished, funny women—writing about why they opted out of motherhood. Whether their reasons have to do with courage, apathy, monetary considerations, health issues, or something else entirely, the essays featured in the pages of No Kidding honestly (and humorously) delve into the minds of women who have chosen what they would call a more sane path.

Hilarious, compelling, and inspiring, No Kidding reveals a perspective that has too long been hidden, shamed, and silenced—and celebrates an entire population of women who have decided that kids are just not right for them.

Book Review: Bucket List Bars

Katie May 26, 2013 0 Comments

Bucket List Bars is a great compilation that features a bunch of bars that the authors think you should add to your bucket list.   They aren’t chains, they are exclusive to the cities they are in and that is it. They vary from saloons, pubs, speak easys, etc and the beginning of the book explains the difference between each of these terms.  The books covers everywhere from the east coast to San Francisco.  In addition to just telling you about the bar and what you should order to drink, the book features history on the bar, what kind of food they have to offer and my personal favorite – other things to check out nearby.  New York City for example has bars near the Brooklyn Bridge, Empire State Building and Statue of Liberty so you can mix drinking and being a tourist. (Or finish of your night of site seeing with a nice drink)

Also important – each area also has the numbers for cabs listed so that if you have had too much, you can get back home or to your hotel safely!  There are also a lot of QR codes if you are tech savvy that link to websites, youtube videos, etc.  The end of each location also has some “other” notable bars – they didn’t quite make the cut for a larger feature in the book but are still worth noting.

Even if you are not a drinker – some of these locations are very interesting and have a lot of history and would be worth checking out.  Also – most have great food (from what I’ve read, I haven’t actually been to any of the locations in this book – yet!) so that is probably worth it if you find yourself nearby!  (Each location starts with a check list that includes if it has food, what drink you should probably order, if there is live music, when it is open,  the type of bar it is, why you should go, etc so you can easily skim each of the bars if you are looking to plan a trip to one of the cities and are trying to find something for everyone in your group.)

The thought of having a bucket list for just bars is really interesting. I can’t say before reading this book that I had any bars on my bucket list (though fast food locations are plentiful) but after reading this book there are a couple that I will be hoping to check out some day!

I received a free copy of this book in order to write this review. By posting this review on my site and other review sites I will receive a stipend.  All thoughts and opinions are mine.

About the Book

Forty Bars, Twelve Cities, One Book

Find your way to the most historic saloons, pubs, and dives of America. These are the watering holes that shaped our nation and created our country. Find the favorite spots of our Founding Fathers, the places where the most well-known celebrities could relax, and the joints that most wouldn t walk into without a bodyguard.

For each bar, you will get a complete history taken directly from the owners and bartenders. You’ll find out what to expect when you go today. You’ll get advice on what drinks and food to order. And we’ll even share insider’s tips so you won’t stand out like a tourist.

You’ll also get instant access to brief online documentaries made for each bar so you’ll know before going exactly what to expect, what to order, and who to talk to.

Bucket List Bars is the definitive guide to the historic saloons, pubs, and dives of America. Also Included:
– QR Code-Linked Documentary Video of Each Bar–A First of its Kind for Guidebooks
– QR Code-Linked Videos of Their Signature Drinks So You Know What to Order
– Nearby Distractions in the Area To Make Each Visit Complete
– Other Notable Bars Nearby To Visit If You Have the Time

Featuring:
Austin
Boston Area
Chicago
Denver
El Paso area
Las Vegas
Los Angeles
New York City
Philadelphia
San Antonio
San Francisco
Tucson Area