Book Review - 75 Ways to Save Gas

I downloaded this book by Jim Davidson from the library thinking it would have some great insights as to how to save gas. After skimming through the initial chapters about how I should use a bike, take transportation, etc. (things that really aren't applicable to our family situation where we only own one car and one of us is always taking transportation and we travel over 100km per day to get to and from work), there were some good tips. Most of the time, I read the tip but if I didn't find it applicable, I didn't bother to read the description. We're most guilty of leaving our car idling, especially if one of the adults and the kids are still inside. As you got deeper into the book there were some good suggestions, but if I gave them all away you wouldn't read the book, so feel free to check it out for yourself (at the library).

Book Review - One Bird's Choice

This book by Iain Reid was a pretty good read. It's a story outlining a young man's journey back home after moving away for school and to start his career. His parents live on a farm outside of Ottawa and it recounts the tales he faces living there. I laughed pretty hard at numerous aspects of this book, especially because my parents are farmers and certain things he outlined reminded me so much of home. (Love you Ma and Pa!). Anyways, if you're in the mood for some witty humour, this book will definitely keep you captivated. So, get to the library and check it out!

Book Review - The Face on the Milk Carton

I was searching in my online library of books that I've wanted to read and came across this one. This is a book I remember wanting to read back when I was in grade 6, and my BFF read it for a book report. I remember her oral report was awesome, and I always thought I wanted to read the book, but I never did. So, when I saw it in my library I picked it up. There was so much more drama to the story now that I'm a 27 year old mother. I felt the emotions of each mother in the story, to the point I cried (WTF? I cried at a book made for pre-teens), nevertheless, I was hooked and have now proceeded to read the next two books in the series. So, if your in the mood for more easy reading (that seems to be my motto this days, perhaps hanging out with children all day is getting to me more than I imagined?) give it a shot. But, maybe again, don't tell your friends about this one.

Book Review - you don't even want to know....

I don't have any new books to review this week, because I've spent the last week reading five of the eleven books in the Gossip Girl series. Hehe....now I'm embarrassed. However, I am in the process of a couple more books that you may find interesting, I'll fill you in next week, if I get them done before my urge to continue reading crap is filled.

Book Review - Gossip Girl

An embarrassing read? Perhaps, but the entire series was available at my library online so I could read on my phone. A big plus, since that means I can easily read while doing many important tasks, i.e. breastfeeding. If you think you're still in high school, definitely worth a read though. I'm taking it as a sign that I'm getting older, and am pretending high school wasn't all that long ago (ummm...8 years isn't a long time right?!?). Anyways, I'll spare the details about the book, it's about kids in high school, and I'm pretty sure it was made into a TV show. BUT, if you're looking for something easy to read on your phone, go for it! Just, maybe don't tell your friends.

Book Review - End Procrastination Now!

After a week filled with studying I thought it was best to show the book I read to prepare me. End Procrastination Now! outlines the reasons why we procrastinate and how to avoid it. All in all, I thought it was a good book. It made me more aware of the reasons I procrastinate, i.e. in the work setting I procrastinate when I'm not sure of how to finish a project and as opposed to failing at the task and getting a poor performance report, I procrastinate hoping either 1. someone else will help in the end or 2. blame it on some other problem. Surprisingly, I'd never actually thought about why I procrastinate before, so this book really did open my eyes. I also procrastinate on projects which I originally undertook because they were fun, I currently have about three crafts waiting to be complete. Now, unfortunately, I didn't read right until the end of this book, because I had to stop procrastinating and actually study for my exam, but I believe they are sitting idle because 1. It's my belief I won't have anything to do once they are completed, 2. I won't have them to complain about once they are completed, i.e. no I can't do the dishes right now, I just have to finish this painting or perhaps 3. they were fun when they started, but after that, the fun is gone i.e. painting the kitchen.

So, all in all, if you're a big procrastinator like I am, you might learn a few things about yourself if you decide to read this book.

Book Review - Wedding Season

This book by Darcy Cosper was cute. It is a comedy that relates to a women and her boyfriend who are both against marriage being required to attend 17 weddings in six months. To save you some time, the book ends exactly how you would expect it to, but there were a lot of funny and cute moments in it. All in all, a very cute, easy read, so if you're into that sort of thing, give it a shot. But, for being her first novel, it was cute. It looks like she wrote a second novel in 2008, so if I happen to see it in the library, I may pick it up.

Book Review - Have a Little Faith

So yes, I'm about two years behind in getting around to this book by Mitch Albom. I had read Tuesdays with Morrie right when it was released and found it to be a good book, and again I enjoyed Have a Little Faith although if I remember correctly it seemed to be quite similar in nature. It was an easy read, and you can get yourself lost in the book. Did it restore my faith? Not so much. Did it open my eyes to new points of view? Perhaps. So, all in all, if you are looking for a feel good book to read that MAY get you motivated to do good in the world, go for the read.

Book Review - Pleasures of the Home

Now as opposed to a novel, this book is a collection by Susannah Seton of "comforts and crafts for living well." You may be asking yourself, why did you pick up such a book? To which my reply would be, I had five minutes, I grabbed what was in sight, and I like being at home.

I hadn't actually read the "collected by" part of the title and was thoroughly confused why some sections had a man talking and others it was a women, but I soon clicked in. The book is small sections relating to simple things around that you can do around the house to make you feel at home. Simple enough.

Since the book was published in 1999, there are a lot of ideas that I would NEVER do (i.e. hang flowered wreaths on my picture frames), but, there were a few good things in the book, one of which was the Homemade Pretzels that we made. It also has a recipe for homemade crackers that I might just break out one of these days.

There was one other post that had inspired me to do. It suggested that every year at your child's birthday you put up the same white table cloth with a few fabric markers and have everyone in attendance write or draw something on the table cloth, then over the years it would be a cute keepsake. I enjoyed this idea so much, I called my mom right away and told her to store it in her memory bank as it would make a cute Christmas activity with the six grandkids that are 3 years apart in age. When I was a child my grandparents had this same paper banner up every year at Christmas that we all measured our heights against. It was probably the ugliest banner I've ever seen, but it was so much fun to bring it out every year and see who had grown the most or the least (I usually won that category, including shrinking in my 14th to 15th years.)

Do I suggest reading this book, probably not. But, it was cute, and did give me a little motivation to do the things I dread around the house because someone wrote about how much fun they have doing it (i.e. laundry and dishes).

Book Review - Marrying Mom

Okay, I admit it, my method of picking books may have in fact failed me this time around.

I read "Marrying Mom" by Olivia Goldsmith the other day, and although a well written easy read of a book, I found it a little bit hard to get into. It probably had something to do with the fact that the main characters we in their forties and they were marrying off their 79 year old mother, not a whole lot I could relate to there. Anyways, all in all, it was a cute story, but I had some trouble getting into it, and staying into it.

The version I had was light blue, perhaps I should take light blue out of my colour world. OR maybe I should read a little more about the book before I pick it up. But, that might entail being at the library earlier than 8:40 on a weekday night.

Book Review - You Made Me Love You

What do I like to do to wind down after a LONG day with the kids. Sit down with a delicious snack and enjoy some easy reading. I know lots of people that enjoy reading literary texts, but I enjoy reading anything that I don't have to think about; a book I can loose myself in. After months and months of reading strictly accounting textbooks, there's nothing better than a little mind numbing read.

I've decided to put down some quick book reviews so you know whether or not to pick up some of the things I have been reading.

Last night I finished "You Made me Love You" by Joanna Goodman. I get 90% of my books from the library and have a very thorough method of picking out what I like to read. It goes something like this, enter the library 20 minutes before closing. Go towards the non-fiction section. Find a book with a binding that is a bright colour, read title and immediately pick up or discard all based on colour and title. Now, this is highly scientific. If the book is by a Canadian Author, if the title is crappy it still wins points and may stay in my arms for the remainder of my browsing experience. I usually pick up 8-10 books while at the library and renew them three times before actually opening a single one. Then I sit down and for a period of two weeks read my heart out until my next library adventure.

Which leads me to my review of the above mentioned book. One point for being a Canadian Author. One point lost for making me confused on who the main characters are until about 70 pages into the book. Minus one point for not having chapter numbers for when my toddler knocks the book out of my hand and I can't remember where I was. Plus two points for having Toronto as a background and making me reminisce of my days living downtown. The book itself, was a good, mindless read, which I appreciate. All in all, if you like Canadian authors, I'd read another book by Joanna Goodman (if she has any more books out).