“No one reads books anymore”
That’s what one of my neighbors insists.my neighbor insisted.
But it’s not true!
We are reading, even if we are downloading our latest finds onto E-readers and phones, or as audio books.
Whether they are print, Ebooks, or audio books, they’re books. And these new books are being published every day to inspire and delight us.
I hope you’ll like these whether you choose a print version, download or audio book. *I’ve included links for E-book downloads
Alison Blackman- Editor in Chief, advicesisters.com
What would you do if you were in the middle of nowhere and you work up to find your wife fighting for her life?
Author Rod Jasmer chronicles exactly this horrifying experience in Without an Explanation: A True Story of Love and Loss in the Jungle (Archeon Media 2017)
This true story, as told by geologist, adventurer and Minnesota father of three, begins as his wife Valerie becomes suddenly, inexplicably, gravely ill in a remote hut in Tikal, Guatemala.
When he and his friends try to save his wife’s life they are in a primative place without the benefit of proper medication or doctors, and without the cooperation of the government, or even a familiarity with the language.
While they’re struggling, Rod and Valerie’s three children are unaware of what’s happening, miles away in the United States.
Readers know before they finish the first page what the ending is going to be, even though it’s a trainwreck in the making.,
You can’t help reading about the futile efforts unfold to save Valerie.You wonder how people get into situations like this,
Then, you realize that you can’t really know what will happen that might change your life in an instant. It’s scary and sad. But it’s an object lesson. It’s also a testament to the human spirit and endurance.
The book is awkward in spots (could have used a bit more editing) but it’s so authentic.
If you are looking for something to captivate you, this is it. You won’t want to put it down until you’re done.
To teach a lesson well, tell stories. That’s what Giovanni Frazzetto has done in together closer: The Art and Science of Intimacy in Friendship, Love and Family (Penguin Books July 2017).
It could have been a dry recitation of how the human mind and body work to form attachments in various types of relationships, but the author keeps it fresh with short stories exemplifying who we decide who we’d like to be close to, and why.
More interestingly, he has chosen not just heterosexual romantic couples. The stories are about all sorts of relationships: singles, gay couples, a daughter and her dad, cheating spouses, and people in monogamous heterosexual relationships
While the book is a bit verbose and sometimes a bit clinical, it is really interesting and thought-provoking.
You won’t learn “how-to” tips for attracting a partner, but you certainly will be the one to bring up topics of interest on your next date, or at a dinner party.
Somewhere in these pages, you’re going to see yourself and your own patterns. It is food for thought.
If you’re going to visit Paris, you’ll probably take along a guidebook. But The Streets of PARIS: A Guide To The City of Light Following in the Footsteps of Famous Parisians Throughout History by Susan Cahill Photographs by Marion Ranous (St. Martins Griffin June 2017) isn’t an ordinary guidebook.
This book combines a comprehensive walking tour of Paris today, with some of the haunts of 22 famous Parisians in history, Check out the favorite places of people as diverse as King Henry IV, Madame Curie, Héloïse and Abelard chanteuse Edith Piaf.
What I liked about this book is that the author provides (modern) transportation options and other types of practical information along with your history lessons.
The chapters give you a “where you are and how to get there” view with maps and even the various Paris Metro stops you’ll need.
Some of the history is very involved, but I suggest you read up before you get to Paris and check out what makes each of the figures Cahill has chosen, note-able.
You might know be familiar with all the names, but the author will show you why each person is significant, along with the places still in Paris that were significant to them.
Touring can be exhausting, so check out some of the “take a break” options, too.
The book is fairly (physically) weighty. Best to consult it in your hotel room, or copy the pages you need, or download it onto a kindle.
If you are visiting Paris for the first time, there are plenty of iconic things to see and do, but for those who visit Paris more often, The Streets Of Paris is a good guide to other places you might visit.
Sneak Peek: I really like Hungry Girl’s “Clean & Hungry” Cook Books. The latest one will arrive on September 5th: Hungry Girl Clean & Hungry Obsessed! All Natural Recipes For The Foods You Can’t Live Without by Lisa Lillien (St. Martin’s Griffin).
Every recipe in this paperback book is under 375 calories, and yet it includes traditionally high-calorie foods including macaroni and cheese, French toast, even maple nut blondies.
If you didn’t read the calorie counts you wouldn’t believe any of this is possible. 33 of the recipes have 5 ingredients are less, 63 recipes can be made in half an hour or less. 98 recipes are vegetarian and 95 are gluten-free.
I have an advanced proof, so the photos are black and white, but I’m guessing they are going to be mouth watering color photos in the final version.
If there is a downside, it’s that the author uses a lot of cauliflower and plain fat-free Greek Yogurt as a substitute for many things in her recipes (I am not a big fan of either).
I also take some umbrage with calling shreds of vegetables “noodles” when they aren’t remotely, pasta.
But a carmelized onion dip (even if you can only eat 3 tablespoons) at 75 calories is a joy, indeed. There is so much more to literally salivate over in this book, from Mexican, to Chinese, breakfast bowls to soups and sweets., and you will feel a lot less guilty eating the Clean & Hungry Peanut Butte French Toast, than a Peanut Butter Cup!
You will feel a lot less guilty eating the Clean & Hungry Peanut Butte French Toast, than a Peanut Butter Cup!
The minute this book arrives, get it in paperback or for your Kindle!
Not everyone cares about health foods and counting calories. For absolute indulgence there is the spectacular cookbook Fair Foods: The Most Popular And Offbeat Recipes From America’s State and County Fairs by chef George Geary (Santa Monica Press/August 2017).
If you’ve ever attended a State or County Fair, you already know that the main attraction might not be the livestock exhibits, the blue ribbon pies and jams, or even the midway it’s the food stalls!
People love the often bizarre food offered up at these events even though they might not dream of eating them anywhere else.
This new cookbook doesn’t just offer up classics such as apple pie, popcorn balls, and corn dogs, or even the deep fried Twinkie (invited by my brother in law, Christopher Sell of the ChipShop in Brooklyn). Nuh-uh!
Organized from drinks to snacks to fried everything to mains and desserts, you’ll find things you never knew existed.
Some of these things are seriously unhealthy (Triple Cheeseburger Doughnuts anyone?). Some are way beyond silly (e.g grilled pork chops on a stick or deep-fried bacon) . But all sure are fun!
The recipe for roasted sugar pecans will wow at your next cocktail party (and they’re easy).Chocolate marshmallows will delight the entire family.
The book with 120 recipes with mouth-watering photos is a perfect gift book for foodies that have everything aand a great gift idea for the holidays.
HONEY by Jenna Jameson with Hope Tarr (Skyhorse Publishing 2014) was reviewed by The Advice Sisters Beauty and Style when it was first published in 2014.
But now another copy of this book by Jenna (most people know her best as a porn star) landed on my desk.
It is easy to categorize people unfairly. She was a porn star, but Jenna Jameson is also mom and entrepreneuir. Her book How to Make Love Like a Porn Star: A Cautionary Tale is a best Seller, Her first collaboration with co-author Hope Tarr was SUGAR (about a former porn star fleeing her past and finding romance).
I reconsidered this book after reading it again. There is a message under the story. Honey isn’t really a like-able character. She knows she can use her beauty to tempt men (her muse is ” Holly Golightly”).
Honey is a woman who knows how to use her looks to get what she wants from men, first as an escort and then as a mistress, But although she looks to the outside to have a luxurious life, her “keeper” is an abusive man.
On the suface, Honey has a charmed life, but her benefactor is a violent, abusive man. After beating her once too often and too badly, Honey ends up in an Emergency Room where she is attended to by a young doctor.
It’s here that the love story begins. The doctor is obsessed with Honey and tries to protect her. Their relationship would be unprofessional bordering on unethical in real life and the level of involvement becomes somewhat ridiculous.
But the thing is…. there is an object lesson for any girl who thinks being an escort of a “trophy” is a glamorous and good life. It is just too bad that Ms. Jameson didn’t move the story more in that direction with that message much further instead of focusing on an impossible love story.
it’s not a bad book or even a bad story. There is still a lesson here if you look past some of the silliness.
A Little Sammy Music by Suzanne Lane is a woman’s love story for the dog she rescued from a “kill” shelter. He who was running out of time to be saved. Little did she know what she signed up for.
” “Sammy,” a pit bull dalmation mix, was a wild creature who was a lot more of a challenge than she bargained for.
He marked his territory all over her house and needed to be walked many times a day. He ate poop. He was untrained. He ate out of the garbage can. He couldn’t be left alone.
Suzanne soon finds out that Sammy is in constant need of veterinary care (oh those bills)!
So she endures, figures things out, learns what Sammy needs and by doing so, what she needs, too.
The book is beautifully written flows like silk, It’s simply charming.
Even though I am personally a cat lover, the author made me fall in love with Sammy,
I know Suzanne Lane personally. She is an intelligent, warm, outgoing person. I never knew Sammy but after reading this book, I realize that she has a truly generous heart.
Anyone who loves animals will warm to this charming book.
The proceeds help to fund 11th hour rescue, a non profit charity in Randoph NJ. *to see a photo of Sammy and read more about Sammy visit the A Little Sammy Music Website
