Errant Dreams Reviews
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Posts Tagged ‘books’

Last-Minute Mother’s Day Recommendations

Tuesday, May 5th, 2009

I wanted to chime in with a couple of last-minute recommendations for Mother’s Day. Thanks to quick shipping, it isn’t too late if these look good to you!

For cat lover moms: Purry Logic by Jane Seabrook.

It’s a little gift-book filled with charming cat art, each piece accompanied by the perfect cat-spirational saying. What struck me the most as I read through this book was the utter perfection of the expressions on these cats faces and their poses, and how hilariously true to life they were.

For witty moms: Give the Bitch Her Chocolate by Polish & Wotz.

Polish and Wotz pair together vulgar, offensive, sarcastic witticisms (yes, pretty much everyone can find something to be offended by in here) with darling vintage illustrations of housewives, families, and husbands. Those illustrations take on delightful new meaning when paired with such sayings as “should I be expected to stay sober all morning?”

For vegetarian moms with a sweet tooth: Mollie Katzen’s Recipes: Desserts.

…from date-nut cake to iced carob brownies, lemon mousse to chocolate crepes, baked custard to whole wheat poppy seed cookies. Notes often guide the reader as to acceptable substitution of soy milk and similar ingredients. These aren’t low-fat low-sugar recipes, but they do make good use of plenty of fruits, nuts, and fresh ingredients of all kinds.

For baking moms: the Calphalon 2 qt ceramic baker.

My favorite features of the ceramic baker are its versatility and the ease of cleaning. A two quart volume is just about perfect for most uses, and it’s nice to have another piece of cookware that’s safe for both the oven and the microwave, and can be used to put leftovers straight into the fridge or freezer.

For moms who are Nora Roberts fans: Vision in White.

I’m not a “perfect wedding” daydreamer. I had a very small and simple wedding and loved it that way. But Nora Roberts makes the business of weddings so funny, poignant, and engaging that I absolutely loved reading about it.

I won’t say what I’m getting for my mother, since her package might not have reached her yet. But I will say it can be found on this list!

Upcoming, 7/8/08

Tuesday, July 8th, 2008

B&b ex libris is having a giveaway for a copy of Did I Expect Angels? You have until Sunday the 13th to enter!

It isn’t a book, but it’s still utterly cool… enter to win a gorgeous quilt at the Old Red Barn Co.! (Thanks, Caribousmom!) You have until July 23d. (Note: ORBC blog plays music on arrival.)

Dovegreyreader scribbles has a giveaway of Ekaterinburg, The Last Days of the Romanovs, signed by the author!

“The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Getting Published, Fourth Edition,” by Sheree Bykofsky and Jennifer Basye Sander

Tuesday, February 13th, 2007

Pros: Incredibly thorough; will help you understand every aspect of the publishing business
Cons: May be demoralizing to those who think they understand what publishing is about
Rating: 5 out of 5
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“The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Self-Publishing,” Jennifer Basye Sander

Thursday, November 9th, 2006

Pros: Breadth of scope; insider’s view of the publishing industry; widely applicable to different self-publishing needs
Cons: Lack of depth and specificity in some areas
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
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