The Advice Sisters Beauty and Style has already featured a fabulous holiday book review, but we received so many great books for review, we simply couldn’t wait until 2018 to share them with you!
So I am offering you another selection of new and wonderful books to give, get, entertain you, and inspire you as 2017 comes to a close and 2018 begins.
-Alison Blackman – Editor in Chief, advicesisters.com
Dig Into the Dakota!
The Address: A Novel by Fiona Davis (Dutton) 2017 has the iconic New York City apartment building, The Dakota, as the backdrop. This fictional tale cleverly ties two women’s lives together in a clever way.
The “historical” story is about Sara Smythe who in 1884 travels from England to America to become the female “Managerette” of The Dakota. It hasn’t even been occupied when she arrives.
Due to luck and Sarah’s smarts, she becomes the building Manager but also becomes involved with one of the building’s wealthy, married architects, Theodore Camden. He leads her to a fate she never anticipated.
A century later in the 1980’s the readers meets interior designer and recovering addict Bailey Camden.
When Bailey gets the chance to oversee the renovation of an apartment in the Dakota, she discovers some trunks in the basement and learns about a lot of the sordid intrigue surrounding the people in the building, What she learns will change her life forever.
This fast-paced book keeps your attention from beginning to end.
Booze Recipes You’ll Really Use:
Cooking With Booze by George Bone (Skyhorse Publishing 2017) is such a fun read! I loved the creatively curated list of 101 recipes all of which include spirits and wine.
Nicely organized by category, now you’ll finally have something to do with that bottle of Pisco or Ouzo stuck in the back of your liquor cabinet. But there are lots of easy recipes for just about every “spirit” you can think of…as the title says, from Beer Batter to Vodka Jelly!
If you’re still looking for a little hostess gift, at a price of under $15 it’s a great one!
Born to READ
Even before “Born in the USA” became a theme song for many in the USA, Bruce Springsteen was making his way into music history. Bruce Springsteen Like a Killer in the Sun by Leonardo Columbati (Backbeat Books 2017) was, curiously, originally published in Italian, but if you are a Springsteen fan, it’s a must-have in the English version.
This large book with 593 pages could be considered this a definitive book on the work of Bruce Springsteen.
When he sings, Springsteen often slurs his words so you can’t always catch the lyrics. It’s so clear when you read his lyrics that he is a genuine, if somewhat disillusioned, poet.
The book has 117 featured. While I’m not sure that I agree with the author that Springsteen in of the ilk of Whitman to Steinbeck, from Flannery O’Connor etc. I did find the lyrics moving and the Springsteen’s biography and discography help you make sense of place and time.
There’s also an exclusive interview with Bruce Springsteen. This is a must-read for any music fan and every Springsteen fan.
Try The Thrifting Trend
$300 for a plain tee with a “designer” label? $2,000 for a simple designer handbag? No way! You’ll stop throwing your money away when you learn how to negotiate the ins and outs of thrift shopping by reading. ThriftStyle: The Ultimate Bargain Shopper’s Guide to Smart Fashion by
If you believe that consignment, second-hand and thrift shops are only for the poor and the quality of the clothes are just “rags” no one wants, this book will change your thinking.
What I really liked, besides a detailed guide to the basics of shopping, is the information the authors provide about how to navigate the racks and spot couture designers and how to distinguish the real thing from outlet labels or outright fakes.
The authors tell you how to deal safely and wisely with every item you find. This is a treasure trove of information which is useful even if you are just an outlet mall shopper.
ThrifStyle has 5-star reviews on Amazon. I’m adding my 5 stars for it on advicesisters.com!
Laughter Good for the Soul
Unlightenment A Guide to Higher Consciousness For Everyday People by Cathy Thorne (Adams Media, November 2017) is a humorous book that blends new age practices with a tongue-in-cheek way of looking at them.
Whether you’re a devotee or a doubter, the 96-page book with cartoons and sayings gets to the heart of what many people think and feel, but don’t say. It’s snarky, but terribly funny.
Love or loathe those #LiveInTheMoment type affirmations everyone posts on social media or the super-positive people who won’t let you be negative, even for a moment? Well, this is the book to release your inner um…irritation, lighten up and laugh.
I think this relaly makes a cute last minute gift or a way to get through the beginning of the year with your chi in balance…or just a way to snicker when the dark days get to you.
Love This Latin Cookbook!
A Taste of Latin America: Culinary Traditions and Classic Recipes from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Mexico, Peru, Puerto Rico & Venezuela by Patricia Cartin (Imagine (October 3, 2017) is a simply dazzling cookbook that is organized by Latin American Countries.
What I love so much about this cookbook is that the recipes seem actually do-able, with few weird or difficult to attain ingredients. The recipes also give the difficulty level.
Some may take a bit of prep time but if you love really tempting, tasty and beloved dishes that you enjoy in restaurants don’t know how to make at home, this book, with glorious four-color photographs, will add spice to your life!
Portrait of a Star and His Manager
We had to add this book! The Little Book of Self Care 200 ways to Refresh, Restore and Rejuvenate (Adams Media October, 2017) is a pocket-sized hard-covered compendium of ways to make your life healthier, less stressful, and more joyful. A lot of the quick fix tips are obvious E.g. let go of anger, spend a day with your pet…) but sometimes, we forget that the easiest things are effective. This would make a great gift idea for anyone but it’s also a nice little treat for yourself to help start the new year in a “better way.” Put it on your desk or at the bedside to help you when life gets a bit “cray cray!”
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