Note to Self

Note to Self: On Keeping a Journal and Other Dangerous Pursuits

by Samara O'Shea (Author)
List Price: $19.95

Hardcover: 192 pages
Publisher: Collins Living (July 22, 2008)

"I plan to observe, enjoy, criticize, taste, touch, and smell the world around me and document it all in notes to myself. I highly recommend you do the same." --Samara O'Shea

Product Description: Keeping a journal is easy. Keeping a life-altering, soul-enlightening journal, however, is not. At its best, journaling can be among the most transformative of experiences, but you can only get there by learning how to express yourself fully and openly. Enter Samara O'Shea.

O'Shea charmed readers with her elegant and witty For the Love of Letters. Now, in Note to Self, she's back to guide us through the fun, effective, and revelatory process of journaling. Along the way, selections from O'Shea's own journals demonstrate what a journal should be: a tool to access inner strengths, uncover unknown passions, face uncertain realities, and get to the center of self. To help create an effective journal, O'Shea provides multiple suggestions and exercises, including:

• Write in a stream of consciousness: Forget everything you ever learned about writing and just write. Let it all out: the good, bad, mad, angry, boring, and ugly.
• Ask yourself questions: What do I want to change about myself? What would I never change about myself?
• Copy quotes: Other people's words can help you figure out where you are in life, or where you'd like to be.
• It takes time: Don't lose faith if you don't imme­diately feel better after writing in your journal. Think of each entry as part of a collection that will eventually reveal its meaning to you.
  

O'Shea's own journal entries reveal alternately moving, edgy, and hilarious stories from throughout her life, as she hits the party scene in New York, poses naked as an aspiring model, stands by as her boyfriend discovers an infidelity by (you guessed it) reading her journal, and more. There are also fascinating journal entries of notorious diarists, such as John Wilkes Booth, Anaïs Nin, and Sylvia Plath.

A tribute to the healing and reflective power of the written word, Note to Self demonstrates that sometimes being completely honest with yourself is the most dangerous and rewarding pursuit of all.

When I was a young girl, of an age I've forgotten now, I began writing in a journal. I kept up with the practice through high school, never faithfully, but always attempting (resolving) to do so more regularly. I think I still have these journals tucked away in an attic corner. And if I went to pull them out, I'm sure I'd laugh now at all those days of hormonal angst and cry at all those days of dark depression. I was a completely different person then, one I wouldn't remember at all so I'm grateful I have those journals to look back on (one day, when I gather to courage to find them). These days, I journal with my private blog. At times it is simply a recitation of "a day in the life" of me and of my family. Other days, I waxed philosophically on issues that have great meaning to me and I hope, to my friends who read there. I've never considered myself a "writer" but I think now, after blogging these last few years, that there exists a "writer" in all of us and it is up to us to help her (or him!) emerge.

Samara O'Shea's book is an excellent starting point for anyone thinking of journaling - she has practical advice throughout on the technical ins and outs of writing a journal. But more importantly, for me anyway, she gives us the emotional wherewithal for journaling - and shows us how to be true to ourselves along the way. I highly recommend this book for everyone who reads - if you keep a journal now, in the past or in the future, or even not at all, this book should be required reading for everyone. And? She has a chapter on sex. Explicit sex. Thought that would grab your attention.

Note to Self is available at: Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Book Sense , Borders and Powell's .

See her book "trailer" (very funny!) at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EonRzGojzAo

About the Author
Samara O'Shea is the author of For the Love of Letters: A 21st-Century Guide to the Art of Letter Writing as well as a blogger for The Huffington Post (where you can sign up to get email alerts when she posts...I did!) Samara's website: http://letterlover.net/ ; her Facebook page is http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=824404125

**WIN IT! I have a brand new copy of Notes to Self to give away - generously provided by the publisher. To win, leave me a comment here telling me if you keep a journal or a blog and the main reason why you do so. As usual, I'll pick a winner at random with random.org. LEAVE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS WITH YOUR COMMENT OR YOU WILL BE DISQUALIFIED. Giveaway is open until 11:59, EST, Tuesday, July 29, 2008. Good Luck!**

A Summer Affair

A Summer Affair
By Elin Hildebrand

(link for Amazon.com)

Hardcover: 416 pages
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company (July 1, 2008)

List Price: $24.99

Description from the publisher: "Sheila Crispin Cook, mother of four young children and nationally renowned glassblower, bites off more than she can chew when she agrees to co-chair the Nantucket's Children Summer Gala. Sheila is asked to chair the benefit, in part, because she is the former high school sweetheart of rock star Max West. Max agrees to play the gala and it looks like smooth sailing for Sheila-until she promises a "museum-quality" piece of glass for the auction, offers her best friend the catering job, goes nose-to-nose with her Manhattan socialite co-chair, and begins a "good-hearted" affair with the charity's Executive Director, Lockhart Dixon. Hearts break and emotions are pushed to the limit in this riveting story of one woman's attempt to deal with loves past and present, family, business, and high-powered social pressures. Elin Hilderbrand's unique understanding of the joys and longings that animate women's lives will make this her newest summer bestseller."

The Great Escape. That is the kind of book I'm looking for when I'm looking for a good, summer beach read. And A Summer Affair fits the bill perfectly. Short on plot or character development, reading this book requires little thought to get through. But it does not skimp on emotion! I'll be honest, when I read that the main character was going to have an affair, I was ready to absolutely hate her. I've been cheated on and I've seen other good marriages torn apart by a spouse's infidelity. I've seen their spouses, good people, doubt their own self worth after being cheated on. And that? Makes me absolutely, stone cold furious. So I was astonished to find that I did not hate Sheila like I expected to. Granted, I think she made the absolute WORST choice in trying to find some escape of her own from her own life (where she works hard and is unappreciated for her efforts) but I did find myself emphasizing with her plight. Which given my preconceptions, is nothing short of astonishing. Ms. Hilderbrand has crafted a fine novel for summer escapism. I give it 4 out of 5 binkies.

About the Author: Elin Hilderbrand lives on Nantucket with her husband and their three young children. She grew up in Collegeville, Pennsylvania, and traveled extensively before settling on Nantucket, which has been the setting for her six previous novels. Hilderbrand is a graduate of Johns Hopkins University and the graduate fiction workshop at the University of Iowa. Read an interview with the author by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Mother Talk

The Pregnancy Journal

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED. CONGRATULATIONS MELISSA!

The Pregnancy Journal: A Day-to-Day Guide to a Healthy and Happy Pregnancy

by A. Christine Harris

List Price: $19.95

Spiral-bound: 206 pages
Publisher: Chronicle Books; Spi Rev edition (January 20, 2005)
Language: English

Product Description: "Since its publication in 1996, this definitive journal for expectant families has sold over a million copies. Author A. Christine Harris brings a revised and thoroughly updated edition to today s parents-to-be. Still featuring daily entries, a personalized timeline, and pregnancy glossary, the revised edition provides a clearer picture of the baby's in-utero development and the latest advice about giving a growing baby every advantage prior to birth."

When I was pregnant with my first child, I did a lot of research. I wanted to know exactly what was going on with my body and my baby. I remember finding a website that showed how the baby was developing week by week and I printed those pages out and put them in a 3-ring binder so I could read it as the pregnancy developed (I really did!). I read as many books as I could get my hands on and quizzed my doctor endlessly. I wish I this Pregnancy Journal had been around because truly, it looks to be the best book I've ever seen for the type of information I had been craving.

The journal is organized into chapters:

Chapter 1: Personalizing the Pregnancy Journal
Chapters 2 through 10: Lunar Month 1 - 9*
Chapter 11: Full Term Plus
Chapter 12: Labor and Delivery Details (including a few pages to fill in about your new baby and the world around him)
Glossary/Index

*"development is measured in lunar months, not calendar months, which consist of 28 days organized into four weeks of seven days each"

At the beginning of each Lunar Month chapter, there is a page that has "things to do this month" and each day of the journal has some detail about your baby and a separate fact about you and your pregnancy, and sections called "For Your Health", "Did You Know" and "Parenting Tips." At the bottom of each page is a quote from a literary or historical figure - two of my favorites are: "People who say they sleep like a baby usually don't have one" by Leo J. Burke and "The most important thing a father can do for his children is love their mother" by Theodore Hesburgh (which happens to be on a framed print in my son's room). And I love that the book is spiral bound - seems like that would make it a lot easier to write in. This journal is a must-have for anyone you know who is contemplating pregnancy or just got pregnant (you'll want to have this from the very beginning!)

About the author: A. Christine Harris, Ph.D. is a professor of Psychology at Cosumnes River College, chair of the college's Behavioral Sciences Department, coordinator of the Women's Studies Program, and author of the book Child Development.

Two companion books also sold by Chronicle Books, and written by A. Christine Harris are: Baby's First Year Journal : A Day-To-Day Guide to Your Baby's Development During the First Twelve Months (Spiral-bound) and The Toddler Journal : A Week-By-Week Guide to Your Toddler's Development from Ages 1 to 3 (Spiral-bound).

This amazing journal is available for purchase on the Publisher's Website or at Amazon.com and you can find other reviews of The Pregnancy Journal in Storknet and The New York Times.

**WIN IT!! I'm giving away my brand new copy of this journal because I will not be having any more babies and have no need for it. If you want to win it, leave a comment here telling me who the book will be for if you win it. YOU MUST LEAVE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS WITH YOUR COMMENT OR YOU WILL BE DISQUALIFIED. Giveaway is open until midnight, EST, Thursday July 3, 2008. Good luck!**

Mother Talk

Mama Rock's Rules

Mama Rock's Rules
Ten Lessons for Raising a Houseful of Successful Children

By Rose Rock (with Valerie Graham)
Hardcover: 256 pages
Publisher: Collins (April 8, 2008)

List Price: $22.95

"Being a parent is not about being right, it's about doing right."

Product Description from Publisher: "As a mother who does not shy away from the hard conversations, Rose isn't afraid to present strong ideas about boundaries, discipline, choices, and consequences—and she tells it like it is. In Mama Rock's Rules, Rose shares the funny and highly practical lessons she learned both as a parent and an educator, while offering strategies for teaching a child to be self-reliant in this world. Written with a kicky blend of maternal spirituality and a "don't mess with me or you won't get old" sense of authority, the book spotlights 10 vital rules, each tackling a specific parenting issue. From "I Am Your Mama, Not Your Friend," which helps parents regain their authority and establish respectful relationships with their children, to "Don't Lie Down with Anything You Don't Want to Live with Forever," which takes a different approach to the often tricky conversation about sex, each topic is lovingly explained and bolstered by stories from Rose Rock's own childhood and parenting experiences. We will also hear from her own kids, as they share memories and anecdotes about what it was like to grow up in the Rock household. Rose's heartfelt and no-nonsense advice—delivered with a dose of wit and homespun humor—will resonate with thousands of parents and will inspire them to teach their kids right, whether their brood is one child or ten."

I wanted to read this book as soon as I heard about it. Why? Because my mama is a LOT like Mama Rose. While I thought she was the meanest mother ever when I was growing up, now I see how wise she really was. Just like Mama Rose Rock (yes, she is the mom of comedian Chris Rock). And if you are tired of all the usual discipline books or simply bewildered by all of them, be sure to pick up this one. It may be the only one you need.

Mama Rock gets back to the basics - back to the time when children were children and parents actually parented them. Her ten chapters cover the range of necessary rules that enabled her to raise such successful children:

1. I Am your Mama, Not Your Friend
2. No Child Really Wants to be Left Alone
3. Wipe Your Mouth Out Before You Come Into the House
4. Feed Them and They Will Tell You Everything
5. You Are Whatever You Answer To
6. Reading is Righteous
7. Push "Unable" off the Table
8. Don't Lie Down with Anything You Don't Want to Live with Forever
9. Good Memories Are the Best Things You Can Give Your Children (Besides Good Manners)
10. Spirituality Is Not Just for Sundays
    
    

Every chapter has stories and examples on the side of the pages (from Rose's family and friends) that relate to what is on the page - and she wraps up each chapter with a nice summary called "Remember Mama Rock's Rules and Strategies." Another cool extra is "Mama's Mojo" sprinkled throughout - her "best secret weapons" (specific strategies).

5 out of 5 binkies. An excellent and practical parenting manual.

"To be a parent is and should be a calling. There is absolutely nothing as great, challenging, or rewarding as raising a child. In all things, remember the main truth: You are the parent!"

Rose Rock
Rose Rock, mother to 10 children and 17 foster children, is an educator specializing in preschool and special education. For 17 years she taught and operated a preschool and day care center first in New York and then in South Carolina. A sought-after speaker, Rock founded Rock This 619, a nonprofit youth empowerment organization. She is also the host of the weekly radio program "The Mom Show," broadcast from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

Valerie Graham
Valerie Graham, a graduate of Harvard University, is a writer, magazine editor, and society columnist. She is part of the on-air and production team of "The Mom Show" with Rose Rock. The mother of three children and the grandmother of four, she lives in South Carolina.

Baby Gizmo Buying Guide

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED. CONGRATULATIONS JENN!

The Baby Gizmo Buying Guide: From Pacifiers to Potties . . . Why, When, and What to Buy for Pregnancy Through Preschool

by Heather Maclean with Hollie Schultz

(the Mom Editors and Founders of BabyGizmo.com and Creators of the Award-Winning Little Laureate Series - see my review of that awesome product here)

List Price: $16.99

Paperback: 480 pages
Publisher: Thomas Nelson (February 12, 2008)

Product Description from Amazon.com: "The Baby Gizmo Buying Guide is the first comprehensive baby product reference book designed to go to the store with you. Instead of what to buy, Heather Maclean, a mom and founder of the Little Laureate and Baby Gizmo websites, will teach you how to buy more than 400 different types of baby products. Featuring definitions, product history, and key features, this is a real-life, everything-you-need-to-know resource. It includes advice on whether you really need a product, when to buy it, and how long your baby will use it. This guide will help you make the right purchase the first time to match your unique lifestyle and needs. It is designed to help you be a smarter, more efficient baby product shopper-to keep your thoughts and research organized and to get you in and out of the store in record time. The great writing and fun "been there, really do understand what you are going through" tone will make this guide every expectant parent's favorite book."

From the back cover: "You've waited your whole life to get your hands on that magic baby product scanning gun. And it's brilliant fun. For the first three hours. And then it gets downright overwhelming...You're a smart chick-why is this so hard?" [AMEN, sister! I have two degrees and a professional license - and still had a hard time figuring out what my baby really needed!] This buying guide tells you:

• What you really need versus what's just nice to have
• Which products to include (and not!) on your baby registry
• The best time of year to buy certain items
• Which products to store in the perfectly packed diaper bag
• How to avoid the "bad baby product buying cycle"
• Even which products can make you pretty (hint: see page 163)"

This must have buying guide for all new moms is easy to follow; it is divided into chapters like Baby Carriers, Car Seats, Layette (or Bitty Baby Clothes), Safety Gates and Toys, all of which are organized alphabetically for ease of use. Other chapters include "contents of the perfectly packed diaper bag," "ten things we wish we knew when we were first-time moms", and a complete glossary "every baby product on the planet." Amazing. I only wish this book had been around the first time I had a baby!

**WIN IT! I have a brand new copy of the Baby Gizmo Buying Guide to give to one lucky winner! To win, simply leave a comment here telling me why you want it AND LEAVE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS WITH YOUR COMMENT. Giveaway is open until midnight, EST, Saturday, June 28, 2008. Good luck!**

Meet the Hippos

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED. CONGRATULATIONS SUNNY LITTLE BLOG!!

Hip Hippos
Price $7.95
Board book
Pub. Date Apr. 30, 2008
Pages 18
Publisher Key Porter Books Limited



Sad, Mad, Glad Hippos
Price $7.95
Board book
Pub. Date Apr. 30, 2008
Pages 18
Publisher Key Porter Books Limited



One Hippo Hops
Price $7.95
Board book
Pub. Date Apr. 30, 2008
Pages 18 Publisher
Key Porter Books Limited


Hippos sad,
Hippos blue,
Having nothing
Else to do.
No books to read,
No games to play,
Hippos sad,
A real gray day.

From the publisher: "Meet the hippos—a lovable, zany crew ready to escort children and parents through the all-too-often boring concepts of counting, colours, and moods. But not this time! These hippos wear purple flip-flops and blue dungarees; they pull hair when they are angry (and end up in the time-out chair!) and sulk when they are sad; they jump out of planes with parachutes, and slide down snow-covered hills on sleds. And they even play in one awesome marching band!

Written by beloved children’s author Jane Yolen specifically for the youngest reader, and brought to life with Vlasta van Kampen’s rollicking, colourful art, this playful series features sturdy board-book construction (complete with rounded edges) that will stand the test of time. And that’s a good thing, since these three gems are bound to become “read it again” classics!"

Truly, these are "must have" board books to your children's library, no matter their age. Both my 5 and 3 year old loved these books. The cadence from the rhyming keeps their attention, as does the beautiful drawn illustrations of those droll hippos; even I look forward to reading these over and over again (and that's a true miracle as you mom and dads know after reading the same book, night after night after night). These amazing books from Key Porter Books are available at bookstores and specialty shops nationwide (for instance, Amazon.com). And be sure to check out The KP Wire, where you can find the latest book news for young readers: "If you're in the market for cool books, give-aways and generally fun stuff this is the place for you."

About the Contributor(s)
JANE YOLEN is one of North America’s most successful and respected authors for children. Among her best-loved titles are Owl Moon, Devil’s Arithmetic, How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight? and Briar Rose. Her list of awards includes the Caldecott Award, the World Fantasy Award, and two Christopher Medals.

VLASTA VAN KAMPEN’s award-winning children’s titles include: Beetle Bedlam, The Last Straw, ABC/123: The Canadian Alphabet and Counting Book, Orchestranimals, and Marigold’s Wings. Vlasta has earned numerous honours, including the Governor General’s Award, theGraphic Arts Illustrator Award, the 2001 IODE Award, and the Blue Spruce Award.

**WIN IT! The publisher is generously offering a full set of these wonderful books to one lucky reader! To win, head on over to Jane Yolen's website and find out the name of one of the many awards her books have won and email it to me at cpamomva {at} hotmail {dot} com. The giveaway is open until midnight, EST, Tuesday, June 24, 2008. Good Luck!**

The Maternal is Political

The Maternal Is Political: Women Writers at the Intersection of Motherhood and Social Change

Edited by Shari MacDonald Strong

with foreword by Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner

List Price: $15.95

Paperback: 280 pages
Publisher: Seal Press (June 1, 2008)
Language: English

Product Description : "Exploring the vital connection between motherhood and social change, The Maternal Is Political features more than 40 powerful, hard-hitting literary essays by women who are striving to make the world a better place for children and families — both their own and other women’s — in this country and globally. From the mom deconstructing playground "power games" with her first-grade child, to the mother who speaks out against misogyny during an awkward road trip with her college-age daughter and friends, to the mother of sons worrying about the threat of a future military draft, The Maternal Is Political brings together the voices of women who are transforming the political and social: one child, one babysitter, one peace march at a time."

43 essays. 44 writers. 43 different subjects grouped in three categories (Believe, Teach and Act). Beginning with the quote "The hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rules the world" (William Ross Wallace) and ending with essayist Valerie Weaver-Zercher's "And when we do rejoin the (social) movement, it is possible that we will agitate and march and advocate from a deeper place...we will act from that cavity our children have hollowed out of us, that place where breath begins," this book will grab you and not let you go.

Essays ranged from Cindy Sheehan’s “Good Riddance, Attention Whore,” written when she "quit" the peace movement, short essays by two well known politicians (Nancy Pelosi and the late Benazir Bhutto); and stories from well known authors Anna Quindlen (I may be her biggest fan - if you've not read Black and Blue, get yourself to the library stat), Tracy Thompson (author of The Ghost in the House - a book I've had on my amazon wish list for a while) and Anne Lamott (Traveling Mercies); work by the cofounders of my favorite magazine Brain, Child (Jennifer Niesslein and Stephanie Wilkinson - must remember to mail in my renewal already!); and other equally talented writers.

I wanted to read this book ever since I heard about it, in its infancy on editor Sharon Macdonald Strong's blog; heck, I wanted to contribute but never did get the courage up to submit anything. Much like many of the writers in this book, I was never particularly "political" until I had children. Then I came into my own as a woman and as a mother. Now the world around me - security, health care (and lack there of), guns, education - became more important to me. Why? To make a better world for my children. For your children. So I started with one important tool in my arsenal - my writing. On The Soccer Mom Vote, I am not silent (though I have been inactive lately - reading this book has underscored for me how important it is for me to get back to writing over there). There I can raise my voice to join with mothers around the world. Mothers like in this book.

On a personal note, I have to say that the essay that resonated the most with me was "The Mean Moms" by Helaine Olen. When she said, "For years I thought it was just me. I'd never done well in cliques before, and motherhood, it appeared, was one vast network of former teenage girls," I literally yelled out loud, "RIGHT ON SISTER." Obviously that struck a chord as I've been dealing with some vicious moms myself lately. Helaine, thank you for giving voice to my angst. Thank you for recognizing how terrible other moms can be to each other and letting me know I am not alone.

So, The Maternal is Political. What's it about? Social change. Making the world safer. Ensuring a brighter future. As author Tracy Thompson wrote in her essay entitled "Rebel Mom:" "Sisterhood is powerful, but baby, motherhood is nuclear." Join in the motherhood and raise your voices high.

About the editor:
Shari MacDonald Strong is a freelance writer who lives in Portland, Oregon. Her essay “On Wanting a Girl” appeared in the Seal Press anthology It's a Girl: Women Writers on Raising Daughters (edited by Andrea J. Buchanan). She writes the “Zen and the Art of Child Maintenance” column about motherhood and spirituality for Literary Mama (http://www.literarymama.com/) and soon will be writing a political column there (also titled “The Maternal Is Political”). She serves as editor of the creative nonfiction department at Literary Mama, writes an ongoing column for Mamazine (http://www.mamazine.com/), and is the organizer for Mother Talk™ events (http://www.mothertalk.org/) in Portland, Oregon. Shari worked as an editor and copywriter in the publishing industry for fifteen years (most recently as a freelance contractor for a division of Random House), and her writing has appeared in a number of publications including Geez magazine (http://www.geezmagazine.org/). She has appeared as a guest blogger at Leslie Morgan Steiner's "On Balance" blog at http://www.washingtonpost.com/, and has blogged at Austin Mama. Shari MacDonald Strong's Website

Mother Talk : this review is excerpted here.

The Blood of Flowers

The Blood of Flowers: A Novel

by Anita Amirrezvani

List Price: $23.99
Hardcover: 384 pages
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company; 1 edition (June 5, 2007)
Language: English

"Let THE BLOOD OF FLOWERS, nominated for the 2008 Orange Prize for fiction, a San Francisco Chronicle bestseller and a #1 Book Sense historical fiction pick take you away to 17th-century Isfahan, Persia, the fabled land where Anita Amirrezvani spins this lush, mesmerizing tale about a carpet-weaving girl, her fate and her misfortunes."

Product Description: "In 17th-century Persia, a 14-year-old woman believes she will be married within the year. But when her beloved father dies, she and her mother find themselves alone and without a dowry. With nowhere else to go, they are forced to sell the brilliant turquoise rug the young woman has woven to pay for their journey to Isfahan, where they will work as servants for her uncle, a rich rug designer in the court of the legendary Shah Abbas the Great. Despite her lowly station, the young woman blossoms as a brilliant designer of carpets, a rarity in a craft dominated by men. But while her talent flourishes, her prospects for a happy marriage grow dim. Forced into a secret marriage to a wealthy man, the young woman finds herself faced with a daunting decision: forsake her own dignity, or risk everything she has in an effort to create a new life."

Brilliant, simply brilliant! Exquisitely written, it is hard to believe this is the author's debut novel. The story opens in a remote 17th-century Persian village where the 14 year old narrator (who remains nameless throughout the book) lives with her parents. Their lives are simple but happy. Then tragedy strikes with the untimely death of her father and the girl and her mother are forced to live with a rich uncle and his family in the city of Isfahan. As poor relatives, they are treated as servants but the uncle, a master rug maker for the shah, does consent to teach the girl his trade after noticing her obvious skill and love of the art. Unfortunately, his wife convinces him to accept a three-month "marriage" contract for the girl with a rich horse trader (called a sigheh, these "marriages" allow a man and a woman to marry each other for a temporary period of time, and any children born from such unions are considered legitimate. Men pay women for this privilege, and the participants determine how long the arrangement will last. Such marriages can be made for as little as an hour or can go on forever. This struck me as prostitution so I wasn't thrilled with this plot twist but I really admired how the girl made this situation work for her in the end).

I don't want to give away any more of the plot but suffice to say that the girl (and her mother's) "fortunes" depend on her ingenuity and strength of will. From abject poverty to relative success, the girl has to make her way in the world and determine where her destiny lies (not an easy task for any of us, let alone a teenager in 17th century Persia with few options). The book also contains several mystical Iranian folktales as told by the girl's mother, a master storyteller and complete details (the research is obvious - I read in the back of the book that it took the author 9 years and three research trips to Iran to write this book) on the art of rug making.

I was not able to put this book down - staying up all hours to finish it and even reading at stoplights in the car! And I doubt you will either. 5 out of 5 binkies.

Other reviews here.

About the Author: Anita Amirrezvani was born in Tehran, Iran, and raised in San Francisco. For ten years, she was a dance critic for newspapers in the Bay Area. She has received fellowships from the National Arts Journalism Program, the NEA's Arts Journalism Institute for Dance, and the Hedgebrook Foundation for Women Writers. Amirrezvani is a student in the MFA program in fiction at San Francisco State University. More about Anita Amirrezvani (click on the link) - also click here for an Author Interview and Visit Bloodofflowers.com where you can read or listen to an excerpt.

The Crimson Portrait

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED. CONGRATULATIONS MEG!

The Crimson Portrait: A Novel

by Jody Shields

List Price: $23.99
Hardcover: 304 pages
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company

From the publisher: "THE CRIMSON PORTRAIT, written by Jody Shields, was inspired by the little-known but extraordinary real-life collaboration between artists and surgeons in the treatment of injured men in World War I. THE CRIMSON PORTRAIT is a suspenseful tale of desire, deceit, and the metamorphosis of identity, as spellbinding and provocative as the author’s bestselling first novel, The Fig Eaters."

Product Description from Amazon.com: "This haunting love story--the magnificent new historical novel by the author of the national bestseller The Fig Eater--makes unforgettably real the ravages of love and war. Spring 1915. On a sprawling country estate not far from London, a young woman mourns her husband, fallen on a distant battlefield. The eerie stillness in which she grieves is abruptly shattered as her home is transformed into a bustling military hospital. Recoiling from the chaos, unhinged by grief, the young widow finds unexpected refuge in a tender young soldier whose face, concealed by bandages, she cannot see. Their affair takes a fateful turn when she confronts--and seizes upon--the opportunity to remake her lover in the image of her lost husband. THE CRIMSON PORTRAIT is a novel of glittering surfaces that belie dark truths. Its rich cast comes into focus as the novel peels back layers of suspense and intrigue to illuminate the abiding mysteries of affinity and desire."

Sounds intriguing, no? Except it wasn't. To be honest, reading this book was, for me, like watching paint dry. That's not to say it was a poorly written book at all; indeed, I think the book was well written in the poetic style. However, I was expecting a novel, not a poem. A keep-me-on-the-edge-of-my-seat novel and this just did not deliver. I kept on reading it though, not only because I needed to review it, but because I really wanted to know the ending - what happened with Catherine and Julian? Did Anna finally admit her love for Dr. Kazanjian? Unfortunately, the ended left me just as confused as I was at the beginning. I'm still wondering on those answers!

If you read the reviews on Amazon.com, you'll see that this is really a

"love it"{‘As full of emotional detail as The English Patient’ Los Angeles Times ‘Dark and atmospheric…wonderfully descriptive and poetic’ USA Today; ‘Compelling…exquisitely written…without a false line’ Washington Post}

or "hate it" {"Unbelievably dull. Reading this book was like sitting in a doctor's office waiting room book, nothing in between"} book.

Unfortunately, I'm in the latter camp. One out of Five Binkies.

About the Author: Jody Shields made her debut as a novelist with The Fig Eater, which was hailed as "an atmospheric thriller" (Los Angeles Times), "stylish and compelling" (Chicago Tribune), "a bewitching visit to late-imperial Vienna . . . enjoyable and intelligent" (Times Literary Supplement). She lives in New York. More about Jody Shields (click on the link).

You can go here to Read an Excerpt or **WIN IT - If you think you'd like to try this book on for size (do you like poetry? serious introspection? You may be in the "love this book" category), leave me a comment here and I'll draw one name at random to receive my gently used copy. Giveaway ends Thursday, midnight EST, June 12, 2008. Good Luck!**

Sex and the City: The Movie Companion Book

Sex and the City
by Amy Sohn

List Price: $29.95
Hardcover: 176 pages
Publisher: Collins (May 30, 2008)
Language: English

Product Description from Amazon.com:
"From the team who brought you Sex and the City: Kiss and Tell comes this must-have companion to the movie millions have been waiting for. This sleek hardcover volume gives reader exclusive entree into the world of Sex and the City: The Movie.

In addition to a storybook-style telling of the film, the book includes mouth-watering bonus features not available anywhere else: behind-the-scenes stories from Kim Cattrall, Kristin Davis, Cynthia Nixon, star and producer Sarah Jessica Parker, writer and director Michael Patrick King, as well as producers and other key cast and crew members; a guide to the movie's multi-million—dollar fashion closet, including insight from costume designer Patricia Field; and an insider's tour of the movie's many locations, some of which have never before appeared on film.

All of this behind-the-scenes information is accompanied by more than three hundred stunning, luscious, full-color images. This beautiful keepsake is sure to bring some big-screen glitz and glamour to every reader's bookshelf."

I'll confess that I have not seen all of the episodes from all six seasons of SATC. Gasp! I know! I missed a lot after my kids arrived. But no worries, I'll catch up with Netflix one day and in the meantime I can get my fix with the new SATC movie!! This companion book for the movie is a must-have for any fan as well. And it has a summary in it of each of the six HBO seasons which is a great bonus for catching up before going to see the movie. The book also includes an introduction by Sarah Jessica Parker and writer/director Michael Patrick King, key movie plots and funny bonus information from the movie I might have never noticed (be sure to check out Samantha's paddle number at the auction!). And it's easy reading; full of gorgeous photographs, I finished this book in about an hour and with a new found love of the series. If you love SATC, you need this book!

Bonus: Sex and the City: The Movie Sweepstakes: Sign up now for a chance to win!
Subscribe to the Collins Wellness* newsletter by filling out the form and you will be simultaneously entered to win one copy of Sex and the City: The Movie autographed by Sarah Jessica Parker. If you are already subscribed to Collins Wellness, still fill out the form and you'll be automatically entered for a chance to win.


*Collins Wellness is the e-newsletter of the best books about health and wellness

The Working Woman’s Pregnancy Book

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED! CONGRATULATIONS CATWOMAN!

The Working Woman's Pregnancy Book

by Marjorie Greenfield
Paperback: 584 pages
Publisher: Yale University Press; 1 edition (May 8, 2008)
List Price: $18.00

When I was pregnant with my first child back in 2002, I was working for a small non-profit company. We did not have enough employees to be covered by FMLA leave law but I was not concerned. Another woman had just had a baby and she saved up her sick and annual leave days and cobbled them together with STD to take 12 weeks off without a problem.

Then, half way through my pregnancy, my wonderful boss left the company, and her replacement (who happened to be a 40-something woman with no children and no plans for children, ever) told me to forget my plans. If I didn't come back to work 6 weeks post-partum, I was fired. It didn't matter I offered to work at home for those last 6 weeks of my 12 weeks off. I had to be physically in the office after 6 weeks. So I had no choice but to resign. And none of the pregnancy books available to me had helped me prepare for this reality. I would have loved to have had The Working Woman's Pregnancy Book at my side.

I'm not saying this book would have magically solved this crisis. But at least I would have been better prepared to face pregnancy, birth and the working mom/mother balancing act. It would have helped me again when I had my second child and ended up working at home the day after I gave birth and struggled to get work done while dealing with a baby with colic! Again, it wouldn't have solved that problem but I would have had some practical advice from a book that actually acknowledges that some women do (and must!) work outside the home.

The Working Woman's Pregnancy Book takes you all the way from pre-conception to post-birth in parts that read like a corporate strategic change manual:

Part 1: Strategic Planning (Before Conception)
Part 2: Mergers and Acquisitions (Getting Pregnant)
Part 3: Adapting to Change (Through Week 13)
Part 4: Going Public (Weeks 14-26)
Part 5: Double-Digit Growth (Week 27 until Birth)
Part 6: Exit Strategy (The Day of Birth)
Part 7: A Sea Change (Parenthood)

From the back cover: This up-to-date guide addresses all the subjects you would expect to find in an authoritative book on pregnancy plus issues of special concern to the 60 to 80 percent of women who hold jobs during their pregnancies:

· Is my workplace safe for my developing baby?
· When should I tell my employer that I am expecting?
· How can I handle the discomforts of pregnancy when I need to work?
· What laws will protect me when I take medical leave?

The answers to these questions—and myriad others—can be found in the pages of this practical and reassuring book. Dr. Marjorie Greenfield draws from her experiences as an obstetrician and working mom, and from more than a hundred interviews with mothers ranging from factory workers to high-powered attorneys, to create a unique resource for working women. Dr. Greenfield includes checklists for multitasking working moms-to-be, helpful illustrations, stories and advice from experienced mothers, and information on everything from planning a pregnancy to balancing life after the baby is born. The Working Woman’s Pregnancy Book is an invaluable expert resource that will inform, reassure, and empower any working woman throughout the miraculous journey of her pregnancy.

Other opinions:

"The Working Woman''s Pregnancy Book reads like both a visit to the doctor and lunch with a sympathetic friend all at the same time. For any working woman who''s thinking about starting a family or already pregnant, this book is the all-inclusive pregnancy guide you''ve been looking for."-Stacy Debroff, founder of MomCentral

"This accurate, easy to read book includes answers to every question I have been asked during 25 years as an obstetrician, as well as answers to questions I had while working and pregnant! "-Katharine Wenstrom, MD, President, Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine

I highly recommend this book to any woman who is pregnant or planning on having a family and plans on keeping her job outside the home. The Working Woman's Pregnancy Book really is just like having a wonderful OBGYN on call 24/7, a knowledgeable big sister, and best friend, all rolled into one. 5 out of 5 binkies.

About the Author
Marjorie Greenfield, M.D., is a practicing, board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist, a fellow of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and associate professor of reproductive biology at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. Dr. Greenfield has written hundreds of articles for the Web and currently blogs about pregnancy for Yahoo.com. She lives in Cleveland, OH. Visit her website for more information. Also by Marjorie Greenfield: Dr. Spock’s Pregnancy Guide.

**WIN IT - I'm giving away my gently used copy of The Working Woman’s Pregnancy Book since I am DONE having children! To win, just leave a comment here telling me why you need this book (are you pregnant? planning on having a baby soon? Do you work outside the home?). That's it! LEAVE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS with your comment so I can contact you if you win. The give-a-way is open until midnight, EST, Tuesday, May 27, 2008. Good Luck!**

(my review excerpted here)

Mother Talk

The Minivan Years - Celebrating the Hectic Joys of Motherhood

The Minivan Years: Celebrating the Hectic Joys of Motherhood

by Olivia Bruner

Paperback: 208 pages
Publisher: Center Street (January 10, 2008)
List Price: $12.99

"Welcome to the Minivan Zone...Not long ago I crossed a line that shoved me into a whole new dimension of motherhood: Kurt and I brought home baby number four....it also meant saying good-bye to my standard automobile...And so, no matter how young, glamorous or hip I may want to appear, I am fated to dwell in a place known as the Minivan Zone."

And so begins Olivia Bruner's journey through the highs and lows of parenting four children. She says "it is the season when your needs go unmet and dreams seem unfulfilled." With that sentence, she had me hooked. Here was a woman who understood. But she goes on to say she is trying to make it a point to celebrate these hectic days "today rather than wait until they are mere memories." And with chapters like: Mini-Mishaps: Enduring Embarrassing Times, Mrs. Bruner has good advice for all of us moms in the "minivan zone."

All of her chapters begin with the word Mini, which assured me that anything challenging could be faced a little bit at a time:

Mini Morsels : Consuming Mealtimes
Mini-Prayers: Requesting Miraculous Times
Mini-Stress: Relieving Anxious Times
Mini-Joys: Creating Happy Times
Mini-Budgets: Teaching Financial Times
Mini-Hurts: Redeeming Painful Times
Mini-Sleeps: Revitalizing Bedtimes
Mini-Faith: Influencing Spiritual Times
Mini-Choices: Deciphering Uncertain Times
Mini-Charms: Celebrating Feminine Times
Mini-Sins: Correcting Errant Times
Mini-Enemies: Discussing Devilish Times
Mini-Jurisdictions: Being Responsible Times
Mini-Scholars: Choosing a School Times
Mini-Heroics: Living Sacrificial Times
Mini-Saints: Admiring Courageous Times
Mini-Perfections: Accepting Thankful Times
Mini-Losses: Grieving-Dying Times

(and each chapter ends with a "Mini-Tip" to summarize and apply the chapter's message.)

Throughout the book, Mrs. Bruner threads her and her husband's deep faith and "passion for helping families become intentional about creating a happy marriage and giving the next generation a strong heritage." Through the use of scripture and real life examples from their marriage and family life, Mrs. Bruner gives us inspiration and practical advice for every day life. I really enjoyed this book and give it 4 out of 4 binkies.

You can read more about Olivia and her husband Kurt at their blog Pointing Home or online at Bruner World.

(review cross posted here)

The Mothering Heights Manual for Motherhood, Volume 1

THIS GIVE-A-WAY IS NOW CLOSED. CONGRATULATIONS DANIELLE!

Mothering Heights Manual for Motherhood, Volume 1: What we wish we knew before we became a short order cook, shuttle driver, laundress Mother

"This achingly funny collection celebrates the modern mom with wit, wisdom and a whole lot of love."
-Jane Porter Mrs. Perfect, Odd Mom Out

"If motherhood did come with a manual, this would be it. The Manual for Motherhood is a must-read, must-share book for all moms."
-Carrie Williams Coast Kids Magazine

Real Moms Write about Motherhood in Debut Collection

LAGUNA BEACH, CA, APR. 26 – Mothering Heights Manual for Motherhood, Volume 1: What we wish we knew before we became a short order cook, shuttle driver, laundress Mother, a hilarious and poignant collection of essays on motherhood, debuts next month in time for Mother’s Day and summer reading. The book is a culmination of the 2nd Annual Mother’s Day Essay Contest held by Christine Fugate, the popular writer of the Mothering Heights column and blog. Twenty-nine essays and four poems were chosen from over one hundred entries from Israel, Germany, Australia, and thirty U.S. states.

“I wanted this to be a celebration of motherhood – and for readers to laugh,” says Fugate, editor of Manual for Motherhood. “But some of the essays were so powerful, they had to be included. While we moms need to laugh, we can also use a good cry.” The essays and poems offer stories, contemplations and advice about what it means to be a mother. Highlights include the mommy drive-by, not making meatloaf, and parenting with a coffee can. Serious topics such as finding an adoptive child’s birth mother, raising a Down syndrome child and recovering from post-partum depression are also featured.

Among the contributors are Us Weekly’s film critic Thelma Adams and novelists Patti Callahan Henry and Patty Friedmann. Fugate, a film and television Producer, is excited to also include writers who have never been published. “I started writing my column in an attempt to understand motherhood. I wanted to publish women who are not professional writers –they write because they want to make sense of motherhood.” Additional essays submitted to the essay contest are featured online in a Mother’s Day Anthology at MotheringHeights.net.

PERFECT GIFT FOR MOTHER'S DAY!!

AVAILABLE NOW FOR PURCHASE: Mothering Heights Manual for Motherhood, Volume 1: What we wish we knew before we became a short order cook, shuttle driver, laundress Mother, edited by Christine Fugate (trade paperback, $12.95 Mothering Heights Press, 2008) is for sale at MotheringHeights.net and Amazon.com

**WIN IT!! Because I love this book so much (seriously, I love it, and I'd say that even if I wasn't one of the contributors - but I am!!) I'm offering up one of my copies of the book for one lucky reader!! To win, head on over to MotheringHeights.net, read the wonderful entries in the 2nd Annual Mother's Day Online Anthology and email me the title of the essay you liked the best! Email me at cpamomva at hotmail dot com by midnight, EST, Friday, May 16, 2008. GET FIVE EXTRA ENTRIES for posting about the book or this contest on YOUR website (if you want these entries, include the website address of your blog in your email to me). Good Luck! And HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

The Amazing Adventures of Dietgirl!

The Amazing Adventures of Dietgirl (Paperback)

by Shauna Reid

Paperback: 400 pages
Publisher: Corgi (January 29, 2008)
Language: English

When I attended BlogHer in July 2007, I was lucky enough to meet some amazing women. One of those women was Shauna Reid. I was immediately drawn to her warmth, humor and grace - she was gracious enough to let me take her picture for the scavenger hunt. It was only later I found out she had lost an amazing 175 lbs.

The book description on the back cover: "In January 2001, Shauna Reid was twenty-three years old and twenty-five stone (and 1 pound) [note - that is 351 lbs.]. Determined to turn her life around, she created the hugely successful weblog The Amazing Adventures of Dietgirl and, hiding behind her Lyra-clad roly-poly alter ego, her transformation from couch potato to svelte goddess began. Today, 8,000 miles, seven years and twelve and a half stone later (12 st, 7.5 lb = 175.5 lbs.), the gloriously gorgeous Shauna is literally half the woman she used to be. Entertaining and action packed, this is the uplifting true story of a young woman who defeated her demons and conquered her cravings to become a weight loss superhero to inspire us all."

And truly, Shauna has inspired me. And not just for her weight loss. This book is a journey through 7 years of her life. Seven years of her adventures, from Body Pump classes at the gym, Weight Watchers, sneaking food (goodness, that one hit home), "Fat Girl Freak Outs," a move across the world, running!, spinning!, published author!, falling in love, a wedding on three continents!...all adventures that women of ANY SIZE need courage to undertake. And Shauna conquered them all.

The Amazing Adventures of Dietgirl is a must read for anyone looking for inspiration - if you are looking for courage to lose those pounds, courage to change your life, courage to put down that chocolate bar and pick up those weights. I highly recommend this book - 5 out of 5 pounds!

And really, how can you NOT like a book that begins "I've got the biggest knickers in Australia."



p.s. I'd give my copy away but this is one I'm going to read over and over. And hopefully, one day, persuade Shauna to autograph it for me.

Carpool Diem

THIS GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED.

CONGRATULATIONS LINDSIE!

Carpool Diem

by Nancy Star (Author)
Publisher: 5 Spot (March 13, 2008)
List Price: $13.99/U.S. $16.25/CAN

Paperback: 336 pages

Description from the publisher: Annie Fleming's family has always adjusted well to her hard driving career. How could they not? Annie keeps them in line at home with typed, edited, and proofed to-do and not-to-do lists for her husband, her babysitter, and her daughter. (No TV on a school night, please!) But when an obnoxious co-worker conspires to force Annie out of her job, she finds herself out of work and face-to-face with her family, who, it turns out, isn't quite as well-adjusted as Annie thought. Husband Tim doesn't have near the follow-through that Annie does (ordered to downsize his employees, he can't fire anybody!) And daughter Charlotte doesn't even try to make the local soccer team - a cut-throat, take-no-prisoners system run by Winslow West, a man who dreams of the Olympic gold his young charges will someday win for him. Here Annie is unemployed and Charlotte's the one with the quitting attitude? Annie doesn't think so. She's determined to get Charlotte on the A team, but finds that the soccer sidelines are more cutthroat than a boardroom ever was. Is it possible Annie's "Plan Hard/Work Hard" credo isn't the key to success after all?



A spot-on satire of the soccer mom set, Carpool Diem is a great read. It's a lighthearted look at the world of "cut-throat" youth soccer but it also teaches us a lesson about the importance of family (over work). I could really relate to Annie as she struggled to figure out what she and her family really needed from her. And the soccer coach, Winslow West, was an amusing caricature of every coach who ever took youth sports too seriously. Great book! It deserves to be passed on - so I'm giving away my gently used copy. So - WIN IT! Just leave a comment on why you'd like to read the book and I'll choose a comment at random. The giveaway is open until midnight, EST, Friday April 4, 2008.

Bonus: You can find a Reading Group Guide here, as well as Nancy Star's personal website here.

From Nancy's site, a telling quote:

“Truth is stranger than fiction, but it is because Fiction is obliged to stick to possibilities. Truth isn't.” — Mark Twain

Gymboree Books

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED.

CONGRATULATIONS JEANNIE AND JEN!

Who hasn't heard of Gymboree? I mean, it seems their gyms are everywhere and their clothing stores are in every mall. But are you familiar with the Gymboree philosophy? On their website, I found they believe in this:

"It all began in 1976 with an idea: stretch a child's rapidly developing mind and body and you begin to prepare him or her for life. At Gymboree, we understand the relationships and experiences children have in the first three years of life have a profound impact on their future. In fact, the brain is most active in the first three years, in which time it will grow to 80 percent of its adult size. It's essential for parents and caregivers to nurture a child's development during this time...Our child-development experts have been building and growing our program for more than 30 years. We continue to focus on the whole child in order to help children acquire the key ingredients--motor skills, social skills and self-esteem--they need to grow up to be confident, happy and successful adults."

Confident, happy and successful adults. I like the sound of that for my two little ones. And now Gymboree shares their "play-tested activities" with five new books. I was sent the Play & Learn, Numbers and Shapes books to review.

The first book is: Play and Learn: 1001 Fun Activities for Your Baby and Child. Fairly self explanatory title but it only begins to cover the range of activities included in this book. It's divided into sections by age: From Birth and up, 3 months and up, 6 months and up, 9 months and up, 12 months and up, 18 months and up, 24 months and up, 30 months and up, 3 years and up, 4 years and up, and 5 years and up. Each chapter "highlights developmental milestones for each age group and the activities enhance development in key areas, such as language, problem solving, imagination, coordination, and motor skills." I'm thinking this would be a great baby shower gift idea and it almost makes me wish for a rainy Saturday so my kids and I can look through this book together to find some fun things to do.

Play and Learn: 1001 Fun Activities for Your Baby and Child

Paperback: 240 pages

Publisher: Key Porter Books (April 28, 2008)]

Next up, the four board books. I loved these books and so did my kids. In both the Shapes and Numbers books I received, the Shapes (and Numbers) were written in five different languages (French, German, Italian and Spanish)! The shapes book showed the shape itself on the left, with a real world example on the right (for instance, a fire truck for rectangle). The numbers book showed animals and nature (for instance, one frog, three bunnies, etc.). The books themselves are sturdy and so colorful your kids will love them! Below are pictures of the book covers and descriptions from Amazon.com:

Gymboree Shapes

Board book: 24 pages

Publisher: Key Porter Books

Brdbk edition (March 28, 2008)

Reading level: Ages 4-8

"This essential learning tool will encourage your child to look for shapes in the world around her. Pointing out the gentle oval shape of balloons, the rectangles on a fire truck, and the classic diamond-shaped kite, these vibrantly coloured illustrations will get your child excited about learning to recognize and label different shapes. In addition to listing the English word, Shapes includes a Spanish, Italian, French, and German translation and pronunciation guide for ten shapes."

Gymboree Numbers

Reading level: Baby-Preschool

Board book: 24 pages

Publisher: Key Porter Books

Brdbk edition (February 28, 2008)

"One friendly frog, two chirping birds, three fuzzy bunnies - your child will love learning to count with these delightful illustrations and large, easy-to read words as his or her reference. Numbers teaches him or her the ins and outs of 1 through 10, and features a Spanish, Italian, French, and German translation and pronunciation guide for each number."

Gymboree Colors

Reading level: Ages 4-8

Board book: 24 pages

Publisher: Key Porter Books

Brdbk edition (March 28, 2008)