Be inspired to make creative changes in your home decor when you browse through this book. Descriptive text accompanies full-color photos to describe how to make simple modifications that don’t need a lot of time or money. Chapters focus on accessorizing, imaginative painting ideas, wallpapering designs, using mirrors, “cozy it up” schemes, “punch it up” ideas to brighten and refresh, and simplifying techniques. The works of various professional decorators are presented visually, along with quotes of designers’ secrets.
Sunday, August 18, 2013
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
Salt Sugar Fat: How the Food Giants Hooked Us
Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative reporter Michael Moss presents this in-depth report on the growth of the American processed food industry in conjunction with the increase of obesity and chronic diseases in the American public. Because of the qualities of convenience and savings in time, our society has increased its reliance on processed and fast foods. And, in line with growing their industry, the conglomerate companies lure their customers by increasing the amounts of sugar, fat and salt that they add to their products. This causes the consumer to reach a “bliss point” and to crave an increased amount of the food or drink. Moss compares this to a virtual addiction.
Basing his information on company documents and interviews with former executives, Moss shows us how the industry is between a rock and a hard place: decrease the amounts of sugar, fat and salt to benefit the American public’s health, while exposing processed food’s off-tastes that will reduce sales. And, this is the dilemma that our nation finds itself in: continue on the path to ill health or change. Some of the answers might be to increase government food regulations, become more educated consumers, and go back to the basics in food preparation, however inconvenient that might be.
Basing his information on company documents and interviews with former executives, Moss shows us how the industry is between a rock and a hard place: decrease the amounts of sugar, fat and salt to benefit the American public’s health, while exposing processed food’s off-tastes that will reduce sales. And, this is the dilemma that our nation finds itself in: continue on the path to ill health or change. Some of the answers might be to increase government food regulations, become more educated consumers, and go back to the basics in food preparation, however inconvenient that might be.
Monday, July 22, 2013
Crafty Ideas
Fill some of your quiet time with crafts; you can make some holiday or birthday gifts for yourself or others. Find your inspiration with these books.
Crochet Cool: Fun Designs for Kids Ages 1 to 6, written by Tanya Bernard, is a collection of twenty designs for young children’s crocheted clothing and accessories. Patterns range from easy to intermediate to advanced; complete instructions for each pattern are accompanied by several color photos.
101 Fabulous Small Quilts, published by the Patchwork Place of Martingale Press, features an assortment of small quilts ranging in size from one that is 14” by 17” to a 48” square. There are pieced quilts, appliquéd ones and a combination of the two; they range from easy-to-make to challenging. A multitude of color photos and drawings assist with the sewing and assembling of the quilts.
Craft Happy: Scrapbooking Your Memories, published by Harper Design, presents thirty scrapbooking projects that will help the crafter enhance their photographs and souvenirs. The book begins with the basic techniques, continuing on to projects highlighting travels and commemorative celebrations. Color photos abound, and sample motifs to copy are provided
Tie-Dye: Dye it, Wear it, Share it, written by Shabd Simon-Alexander, introduces the reader to the tie-dye craft; describing techniques, color mixing and materials. Then it’s on to the over twenty tie-dye projects that include all types of clothing and household items.
The Ultimate Handbook for Paper Crafters, edited by Jennifer Schoerer, shows the reader how to create greeting cards with a personal touch. Each of the more than 300 examples is accompanied by a color photo, list of supplies needed and instructions.
Crochet Cool: Fun Designs for Kids Ages 1 to 6, written by Tanya Bernard, is a collection of twenty designs for young children’s crocheted clothing and accessories. Patterns range from easy to intermediate to advanced; complete instructions for each pattern are accompanied by several color photos.
101 Fabulous Small Quilts, published by the Patchwork Place of Martingale Press, features an assortment of small quilts ranging in size from one that is 14” by 17” to a 48” square. There are pieced quilts, appliquéd ones and a combination of the two; they range from easy-to-make to challenging. A multitude of color photos and drawings assist with the sewing and assembling of the quilts.
Craft Happy: Scrapbooking Your Memories, published by Harper Design, presents thirty scrapbooking projects that will help the crafter enhance their photographs and souvenirs. The book begins with the basic techniques, continuing on to projects highlighting travels and commemorative celebrations. Color photos abound, and sample motifs to copy are provided
Tie-Dye: Dye it, Wear it, Share it, written by Shabd Simon-Alexander, introduces the reader to the tie-dye craft; describing techniques, color mixing and materials. Then it’s on to the over twenty tie-dye projects that include all types of clothing and household items.
The Ultimate Handbook for Paper Crafters, edited by Jennifer Schoerer, shows the reader how to create greeting cards with a personal touch. Each of the more than 300 examples is accompanied by a color photo, list of supplies needed and instructions.
Friday, July 19, 2013
A Thread of Grace: a Novel
A historical novel written by Mary Doria Russell, set in Italy between the years of 1943 and 1945, when Jews were struggling to escape the reach of Nazi Germany by traveling over the Alps into Italy. Italian citizens, intimidated by the occupying Nazi army, act kindly towards the Jews and attempt to hide them from the Nazis. This resulted in more than 43,000 Jews being saved. However, many others still were captured and killed.
Into this setting, the author focuses on several characters, presenting their experiences: Jewish refugees, Italian freedom fighters, priests, rabbis, Nazi officers, and others. We see the hardships of war, the joys of simple everyday life, the horrors endured by prisoners and soldiers. Survival or death is dependent on the luck of the draw.
Well-drawn characters, descriptive language and in-depth research of the culture and history make this an enjoyable albeit poignant book to read.
Into this setting, the author focuses on several characters, presenting their experiences: Jewish refugees, Italian freedom fighters, priests, rabbis, Nazi officers, and others. We see the hardships of war, the joys of simple everyday life, the horrors endured by prisoners and soldiers. Survival or death is dependent on the luck of the draw.
Well-drawn characters, descriptive language and in-depth research of the culture and history make this an enjoyable albeit poignant book to read.
Thursday, July 18, 2013
The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest
Third novel in the Millennium Trilogy written by Swedish author Stieg Larsson; this book continues the story of Lisbeth Salander, genius computer hacker and sexual and psychological abuse victim in her struggle against the government agencies who have conspired against her since childhood. Lisbeth is supported in her fight by Mikael Blomkvist, crusading journalist and editor of a left-wing political journal who fearlessly works against government corruption and for victims’ rights. Together they investigate a special “section” within Sapo, the Swedish secret service.
How have they become involved in this mission? In the second book of the series, the reader discovers that Lisbeth is the daughter of former Soviet agent Alexander Zalachenko, who defected to Sweden during the 1970s. Zalachenko is a prize for the Swedish secret service and all sorts of rules are bent to preserve his cooperation, including sweeping his abuse of Lisbeth’s mother under the rug. And Lisbeth also has a German half-brother through Zalachenko, named Niedermann, a murderous strongman. In her quest to bring them to justice, Lisbeth is shot in the head and buried alive; she manages to escape and wound her father. Blomkvist comes to her rescue and Lisbeth, near death, is brought to the hospital to have a bullet removed from her brain.
Lisbeth’s survival and her efforts to uncover information through computer hacking, Blomkvist’s efforts and those of a whole cast of characters from the police, Sapo, Lisbeth’s friends, and more are detailed in more than 600 pages of nail-biting plot; a worthy ride to justice. And more than that, the reader is able to see Lisbeth’s personality relax and grow into an individual who begins to trust others.
How have they become involved in this mission? In the second book of the series, the reader discovers that Lisbeth is the daughter of former Soviet agent Alexander Zalachenko, who defected to Sweden during the 1970s. Zalachenko is a prize for the Swedish secret service and all sorts of rules are bent to preserve his cooperation, including sweeping his abuse of Lisbeth’s mother under the rug. And Lisbeth also has a German half-brother through Zalachenko, named Niedermann, a murderous strongman. In her quest to bring them to justice, Lisbeth is shot in the head and buried alive; she manages to escape and wound her father. Blomkvist comes to her rescue and Lisbeth, near death, is brought to the hospital to have a bullet removed from her brain.
Lisbeth’s survival and her efforts to uncover information through computer hacking, Blomkvist’s efforts and those of a whole cast of characters from the police, Sapo, Lisbeth’s friends, and more are detailed in more than 600 pages of nail-biting plot; a worthy ride to justice. And more than that, the reader is able to see Lisbeth’s personality relax and grow into an individual who begins to trust others.
Thursday, June 27, 2013
True Crime Adventures
Want some edge-of-your-seat reading selections? And they’re true, not fiction! Here is an assortment of some recently published true crime books.
The Annals of Unsolved Crime, written by Edward Jay Epstein, expands on over thirty mysterious deaths from the nineteenth century through the present, most of which the average reader thought were resolved. Chapters range from Abraham Lincoln to John F. Kennedy’s assassinations, the purported suicide of Marilyn Monroe to the murder of JonBenet Ramsey, the murder of O.J. Simpson’s ex-wife to that of Amanda Knox’s roommate, and more. The author examines each case thoroughly, presenting what is known and unknown, considering alternate theories where they exist, and identifying when the case is not yet resolved.
Murder on Long Island: a Nineteenth-Century Tale of Tragedy & Revenge, written by local historians Geoffrey K. Fleming and Amy K. Folk, is the story of a revenge murder set in 1854 Cutchogue. James Wickham, a wealthy farmer and his wife Frances, were murdered by Nicholas Behan a disgruntled employee, who killed them with an axe while they slept. The book follows Behan’s capture, trial, conviction and hanging.
Fatal Friends, Deadly Neighbors and Other True Cases, written by Ann Rule, is volume 16 of Ann Rule’s Crime Files. Rule is a prolific crime reporter with many books to her name; this collection of cases focus on recently committed murders where the attacker is a loved one.
Echoes of my Soul is the story of the murder of two young New York City career girls in 1963, and how a young black man with an IQ of less than 70 was wrongly accused of the crime by police. Author Robert K. Tanenbaum presents this story of how assistant D.A. Mel Glass assiduously searched for the real killer, and exhibits crime scene photos and trial transcripts to complete the story.
Waiting to be Heard: a Memoir is written by Amanda Knox, the American college student studying abroad in Italy, who was accused of the murder of her British roommate. We hear Amanda’s version of events leading up to the crime, the investigation, police interrogation of her, trial and conviction, her four years in an Italian prison, appeals process and the overturn of the conviction in 2011. Of course, there will be more to follow as Knox’s acquittal recently was overturned by Italy’s highest criminal court; there will be a retrial.
The Annals of Unsolved Crime, written by Edward Jay Epstein, expands on over thirty mysterious deaths from the nineteenth century through the present, most of which the average reader thought were resolved. Chapters range from Abraham Lincoln to John F. Kennedy’s assassinations, the purported suicide of Marilyn Monroe to the murder of JonBenet Ramsey, the murder of O.J. Simpson’s ex-wife to that of Amanda Knox’s roommate, and more. The author examines each case thoroughly, presenting what is known and unknown, considering alternate theories where they exist, and identifying when the case is not yet resolved.
Murder on Long Island: a Nineteenth-Century Tale of Tragedy & Revenge, written by local historians Geoffrey K. Fleming and Amy K. Folk, is the story of a revenge murder set in 1854 Cutchogue. James Wickham, a wealthy farmer and his wife Frances, were murdered by Nicholas Behan a disgruntled employee, who killed them with an axe while they slept. The book follows Behan’s capture, trial, conviction and hanging.
Fatal Friends, Deadly Neighbors and Other True Cases, written by Ann Rule, is volume 16 of Ann Rule’s Crime Files. Rule is a prolific crime reporter with many books to her name; this collection of cases focus on recently committed murders where the attacker is a loved one.
Echoes of my Soul is the story of the murder of two young New York City career girls in 1963, and how a young black man with an IQ of less than 70 was wrongly accused of the crime by police. Author Robert K. Tanenbaum presents this story of how assistant D.A. Mel Glass assiduously searched for the real killer, and exhibits crime scene photos and trial transcripts to complete the story.
Waiting to be Heard: a Memoir is written by Amanda Knox, the American college student studying abroad in Italy, who was accused of the murder of her British roommate. We hear Amanda’s version of events leading up to the crime, the investigation, police interrogation of her, trial and conviction, her four years in an Italian prison, appeals process and the overturn of the conviction in 2011. Of course, there will be more to follow as Knox’s acquittal recently was overturned by Italy’s highest criminal court; there will be a retrial.
Monday, June 24, 2013
Gulp: Adventures on the Alimentary Canal
Mary Roach is an intrepid reporter and author of several popular science books on such topics as cadavers, the afterlife, sex, and space travel. With Gulp, the reader is given a tour of the entire alimentary canal, focusing on its functions of eating (enhanced by the senses of taste and smell), digestion and elimination. Ever the investigator, Roach interviews the scientists who research the assorted subdivisions of these functions; and is able to present the facts in a comprehensible style and with a humorous touch. Find out the answers to such questions as: “why doesn’t the stomach digest itself?”, “can constipation kill you? did it kill Elvis?”, “does saliva have curative properties?” and more.
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