When I was young (very young), I loved playing with paper dolls. Keep in mind, I grew up in a post-Communism former USSR country where many things were scarce, including toys. Many of my paper dolls were hand made, and the ones that were store bought were immediately glued on to a sturdy cardboard cutout to make them last longer.
I spent hours making up stories for the paper characters and changing their clothes, and then changing them again. I even came up with an ingenious way to keep their clothes on – attach them with pins! That didn’t work too well for the making-dolls-last plan…
When I saw Emily Martin’s The Black Apple’s Paper Doll Primer, I was instantly transported back to my childhood. Emily is a #1 handmade seller on Etsy.com and her shop, The Black Apple, enjoys quite a following. She’s now bringing her creativity to the Paper Doll Primerbook, which is chock full of dolls, clothes, craft projects, scrapbooking tips, and much more!
The Black Apple’s Paper Doll Primerstarts out with 20 characters created by Emily, each complete with a back story to spark one’s imagination. There’s the adorable Cora in a sailor dress who enjoys “looking over the night ocean”, the woodsman Henry who “prefers honey to syrup”, and many more. Following the characters is a section with hundreds of paper outfits that correspond to each doll. Emily notes that all “beautiful things are made to be used” and in the case of her dolls, cut out and played with, but I just couldn’t bring myself to cut into the beautifully illustrated pages!
Emily also provides instructions (and drawings) for building back drops and scenes for the paper dolls, creating an armoire for their clothes and mounting the dolls onto Popsicle sticks or stands for easier use. My favorite part of the Paper Doll Primerare the 16 customizable dolls on card stock that can be made to resemble anyone, including the owner of the book.
The Black Apple’s Paper Doll Primeris too charming for words and will provide endless entertainment for an imaginative youngster…or an adult who wants to play along!
The Basic Book of Digital Photographyis a very detailed book, giving information to the consumer on how to maximize a digital camera to its fullest potential. It starts out with just a basic “why have a digital camera” section, but then leads into more specific areas such as choosing a digital camera, accessories, setting up your photo, exposure, organizing programs, and shooting video clips. Each chapter is so full of information that the reader has to be cautious not to get overwhelmed and take the book a little at a time.
One of the things the authors (Tom and Michele Grimm) do very well is explain all the features that are probably on your digital camera that you most likely were not aware of. Most people, they say, are only using a small percentage of the features available to them on their camera, thus missing out on many good photo opportunities. With the help of this book, a person could easily go from a very amateur photographer who knows next to nothing about taking pictures to a hobbyist who can move on to higher-functioning cameras with ease.
The book is written in very easy-to-understand terminology, but with a mix of the technical as well so that the reader is learning the proper terms. And in case you need a reminder of what a specific term means, there is a helpful glossary in the back. And for the visual learner, there are snapshots of the camera settings throughout the book to provide a point of reference for the reader to compare with their own camera.
The Grimms manual would be useful for those wanting to learn more about their existing digital camera, and also helpful for those trying to figure out which digital camera to purchase (based on features). The Basic Book of Digital Photographywould also be a great book to keep around as reference in case one wants to learn a new feature or refresh on something they’ve forgotten.
Amanda lives in Missouri with her engineering husband, two sons, and one daughter. In between homeschooling and keeping up with church activities she loves to read Christian Fiction, Women’s Fiction, and any Chick-Lit. She never goes anywhere without a book to read!
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Set in an isolated mine shaft in the cold, bleak North German Black Forest during the last winter of the Second World War, fifty-some inhabitants dwell. Their sole assignment is to answer the letters of the dead. This is the secret mission of the Gestapo to appease the spirits seeking responses to their final correspondences. Each person within the compound was pulled from deportation and execution, saved by their knowledge of foreign languages. Like for like. Each letter must be answered using the same language of the now dead writer. It seems an absurd, futile mission to the inhabitants of the compound who pass their time developing word games, fetching water, making love, and imagining Goebbels. The compound is also on the night walker’s trail, where those running from persecution can spend a day to rest before moving on through the night to their next safe haven.
Thaisa Frank’s novel Heidegger’s Glassesis a suspenseful, philosophic rumination with historic details. This is a unique look into the final days of a horrific time period. The story is saturated with chaos, fear and survival, yet possibilities exist. Even if those possibilities only lead to the acknowledgment of one’s own mortality. Through the eyes and actions of each character, the reader sees a glimpse of the world this novel inhabits. A world in turmoil with people starving. This is a world on the verge of collapse, and the leaders know it.
Elie Schacten is the novel’s mysterious heroine and it is through her experiences that the reader sees into this secret world. Elie is a woman split between countries, loyalties and her very identity. She often refers to herself as two women. Her public self known to those at the compound is an agent of the Gestapo. She oversees the scribes in their duties of writing letters. She also scavenges for food and other necessities for the inhabitants of the compound through her services of favors; she delivers children to the safety of Switzerland for the payment of extra loaves of bread. Gerhardt Lodenstein is a Nazi party member and military overseer of the compound. He also loves Elie and shares Elie’s desire to help those who no longer live with hope.
Their world of tolerable safety begins to unravel with a delivery of a letter from Martin Heidegger to his former associate and friend Asher Englehardt. Asher is a prisoner in Auschwitz. The compound scribes are to answer the letter and Elie is to deliver it with strict instructions that Heidegger cannot know where the response came from. Every turn of the page leads the reader deeper into the mysteries that hold the compound together, yet the seams are beginning to fray.
Intrigue, compassion, suspense and love all prevail in Thaisa Frank’s debut novel. Heidegger’s Glassesis a story from WWII told from a fresh perspective reawakening us to both the horrors and the humanity of a tragic episode in our collective past. Frank masters the suspension of belief well as she introduces infamous secondary characters such as Martin Heidegger and Joseph Goebbels into her tale. Her writing is beautiful, uncomplicated, and at times almost brutal in its directness. Frank’s novel is imbued with the philosophy of Heidegger causing one to ponder the purpose of being and experience when hope and life itself are precious commodities. Heidegger’s Glassesis a resonate story that just may stay with the reader long after the final page has turned.
Nina Longfield is a writer living in Oregon’s fertile wine country. When she is not reading or writing in her spare time, Nina enjoys hiking in the hills surrounding her cabin.
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Every holiday season, we run around buying gifts for our family members and friends. Some of those gifts are afterthoughts, something to give just because gifts are expected. In fact, John Waldfogel, author of Scroogenomics: Why You Shouldn’t Buy Presents for the Holidays, estimated that in 2007, Americans spent $12 billion on gifts that were not wanted or valued by the recipients.
When I came across the World Vision Gift Catalog, I instantly loved the idea of giving poverty-fighting gifts in the name of someone rather than giving them a gift that would simply collect dust in the closet. The catalog features gifts ranging from $16 to $39,000 and is full of beautiful photos and inspiring stories. For example, instead of giving your child’s teacher a stale gift set, you can buy art and music instruction for a child in a third world country for $20. A mere $75 buys a goat for a family in need, and $30 buys five ducks. There is a myriad of gifts to choose from, and each will make a difference in someone’s life.
Devin Hermanson, the national director of the World Vision Gift Catalog, took the time to answer some of my questions about the catalog and its unique gifts.
Where did the idea for the World Vision Gift Catalog come from? Devin: The World Vision Gift Catalog was created in 1996 as a way for parents to teach their children about charitable giving. A married couple worked with World Vision to come up with specific items that would illustrate the needs of the poor, their children were given an amount to donate, and they were then allowed to choose where their donations would go. Since then, the World Vision Gift Catalog has grown to help hundreds of thousands of people. Since 1996, World Vision’s Gift Catalog has raised over $130 million.
How can people verify that their gifts are in fact making a difference for someone? Devin: We’ve heard very clearly from donors over the years that they want as much of every donation as possible to benefit children. We honor that by focusing our efforts on keeping our overhead very low (only 11% in 2009).
So, while we can’t afford to report on the impact of every chicken, goat, or malaria bed net, we do provide excellent reports on the overall work that World Vision does. For details, visit our website at http://www.worldvision.org/content.nsf/about/why-donate.
Another way to understand the impact of donations on the lives of those we serve is to hear their stories in their own words. You’ll find several videos on the Gift Catalog’s Facebook page that feature brave people from several countries who have seen their lives transformed with the help of generous donors.
What is your most popular gift? Devin: Goats continue to be the most popular gift selection. Last year, more than 50,000 goats were purchased by donors. Other popular gifts include: sheep, chickens, soccer balls, ducks, and an education for a child. You can give a goat for $75. Many items are priced under $30.
How many gifts do you sell throughout the year? Devin: Last year 100,000 donors purchased more than 600,000 items that raised over $28 million.
Some gifts offer matching contributions from corporations, but note that amounts may vary throughout the year. Do donors know how much of a matching contribution was made on their particular gift? Devin: The value of some donation items is multiplied through the combined impact of grant funds and donated goods. Through these items, we are raising money to help implement and supplement programs that are funded primarily by grant or corporate donors. Over the course of a year, some grant projects may be completed, and others may be awarded. In the same way, the corporate donations we receive can fluctuate throughout the year. These variations can result in a change in the overall leveraged value of a donor’s gift, and at times the change can occur between the time of publication of the catalog and the time of donation. However, our hope is that most donors are interested simply in knowing that we partner with others to help as many kids as possible, and that they want to be a part of that.
Do you disclose which country a particular gift is going to? Devin: Most often, many countries will receive a particular type of donation, such as a goat. It simply isn’t cost effective to track an individual donation to a specific country. It’s all part of our focus on making sure that as much money as possible is spent on helping children and families.
I hope that readers will realize that it takes very little to change a life with a donation. I know that people are feeling strapped, but for as little as $25 someone can donate a pair of chickens to a family. Those chickens can change generations of lives in a community! There are plenty of other choices in the World Vision Gift Catalog that are both inexpensive and tremendously powerful in impact.
The Legacy of Pemberley, the latest novel from Rebecca Ann Collins, begins fifty years after Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth were married within the pages of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice.
This novel is the tenth in Collins’ The Legacy of Pemberleyseries, in which a number of new characters and tales of intrigue have emerged. The first part of the book begins with the last days of Elizabeth’s beloved cousin, Emily Courtney. For the remainder of the first portion of the novel, Emily’s children and extended family are discussed in great detail. Her son, Jude Courtney, is given her entire estate, which proves to enrage the rest of the family. But when Jude’s financial well-being is threatened, an unsuspected savior steps in to protect him.
In the second part, we are re-introduced to Georgiana, whose husband, Dr. Grantley, recently passed away. Georgiana and her self-absorbed daughter Virginia, move in to Pemberley until they can recover from their loss. Virginia visits Caroline Fitzwilliam, who has recently lost her husband, Colonel Fitzwilliam, as well. During this trip, Virginia and Caroline’s daughter Rachel encounter Daniel Faulkner and Adam Fraser, two men who lived in the colony of Victoria, Australia. Though Rachel suddenly finds herself developing feelings for the older Mr. Faulkner, Virginia throws herself into a romance with Mr. Fraser, who is soon revealed to me a man of duplicitous nature. Will Caroline and Rachel be able to prevent a disastrous union between the two?
[amazonify]1402224524[/amazonify]And in part three of the novel, Mr. and Mrs. Darcy accompany Mr. and Mrs. Bingley to Italy for the winter when it is announced that it would be best for Bingley’s health. In this portion, we are introduced to Laura Ann, the Darcys’ beautiful granddaughter. When she becomes captivated by the handsome, but not at all wealthy Thomas O’Connor, will she marry for love or submit instead to the expectation that she should marry a man of wealth?
The Legacy of Pemberleyis an enjoyable narrative that explores the possibilities for characters that we’ve known and loved since Austen created them over 200 years ago. Collins expands upon this by adding delightful characters to the mix, along with the occasional devious man or woman we’ve all come expect in an Austen tale. And though I wish I would have read the rest of Collins’ Pemberley Chronicles series before reading this novel, after acquainting myself with the new characters, I very much enjoyed this book, which stays true to the witty and romantic attributes of Austen’s original.
Meg lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, Ryan. Marketing professional by day, freelance writer by night, Meg writes about life, entertainment and everything in between on her blog, Morning Cup With Meg.
This book was provided free of any obligation by Sourcebooks Landmark. No monetary or any other form of compensation was received.
Jack Blank and the Imagine Nationis the debut novel for Matt Myklusch. The book is marketed for young adults with Jack Blank as the 12-year-old main character. He has spent his whole life in St. Barnaby’s Home for the Hopeless, Abandoned, Forgotten, and Lost, an orphanage for those so described, and has wished everyday to be someone else.
Jack Blank was left on the doorstep of St. Barnaby’s as a babe with a note pinned to his blanket calling him Jack. He grew up at the orphanage, much against his preferences. Like all boys, Jack had daydreams about getting super powers and becoming a superhero.
One day while bailing out the basement as punishment for reading comic books, he’s attacked by a large cyborg that resembles the robots in his comics and he barely escapes. While trying to explain the damage caused by the robot (which blew up leaving no trace and Jack as the culprit), a stranger, Jazon Knight, arrives and whisks Jack away. Jazon tells him about the Imagine Nation where all the impossible is possible and that is Jack’s homeland. This is the beginning of Jacks adventures and the old adage ‘be careful what you wish for, you just might get it’ holds true.
The book is similar to the Harry Potter and Alcatraz Smedry (Alcatraz Versus The Evil Librarians) books and in many ways really reminded me of Alcatraz. Both Alcatraz and Blank are raised as orphans, knowing/wishing they had a different life, then finding out they were sent from their secret country to live among the unenlightened. While Alcatraz is very tongue-in-cheek, Blank is a bit more serious, though still a lot of fun. A great young adult novel.
Caleb is a software engineer and amature woodworker living in southern Minnesota. He has more hobbies than he has time or money for, and enjoys his quiet time reading.
Review and giveaway copies were provided free of any obligation by Aladdin. No monetary or any other form of compensation was received.
I first heard of the Clinton Street Baking Company when owners Neil Kleinberg and DeDe Lahman were challenged to a blueberry pancake making contest on Throwdown! with Bobby Flay. Before the contest began, Bobby mentioned that their restaurant had the distinction of having been voted best pancakes in New York City. Based on that and seeing the heavenly pancakes they were turning out, I knew that would be the first recipe I would try when the cookbook arrived.
Not so fast. When I started leafing through the Clinton St. Baking Company Cookbook, it was a much tougher decision. Neil started off with Buttermilk Biscuits, so that’s the very first recipe in the book, as well as the first two photos. I never before have described biscuit photos as breathtaking, but I swear that’s exactly what they are. They are so good that Martha Stewart once remarked “I think Neil can be called the King of Biscuits.”
In the end, it was the Blueberry Crumb Muffins that I settled on. Again, it was definitely the photo that influenced me, accompanied with the comment that this muffin is both a top seller and one of their personal favorites. The muffins are nestled in simple brown and gold printed paper cups, with blueberries peeking through a crumbly topping. Neil’s Crumb Mix is simple, but versatile enough to use on muffins, cakes, pies or as a streusel topping.
The muffins were very simple to put together and I like that the instructions were rather specific. One such directive was when alternating adding the dry ingredients and the sour cream, you should “be sure to end with the dry ingredients.” There is also a side column of tips and techniques to get the best muffins possible, and while I’m sure the suggestion of giving them ten minutes to breathe before removing them from the pan is a valid one, the aroma demanded we remove them immediately. The muffins were moist inside, with a slight crunch from the sweet topping and full of blueberries. Perfect!
[amazonify]0316083372[/amazonify]Opening the Clinton St. Baking Company Cookbookmakes me feel as though I have won a prize – the closely guarded secrets of a wildly successful restaurant. Neil undoubtedly spent so much time developing and tweaking the recipes to make them the very best, and then shared them with all of us. Having access to all his hard work feels too good to be true. The success of the blueberry muffins only made me want to go on and try my hand at more. DeDe does all the writing in between the chapters and that’s the other reason this book is so fascinating. There’s a fabulous introduction to each chapter that gives a bit of background of how the dishes became a part of the restaurant. Don’t think this will just be limited to breakfast foods, as there are also fabulous chapters on soups, sandwiches, sides, desserts and drinks.
I have a tip of my own: If you enjoy cookbooks, add this one to your Christmas list. Interesting stories, great recipes and amazing photos. My copy is already quite beat up from being dragged about the house.
Enter to win a copy of the Clinton St. Baking Company Cookbookhere.
Jen lives in Michigan with her husband and six year old son. She writes reviews of children’s books on her blog, FIRR-Kids and loves filling her shelves with cookbooks.
This book was provided free of any obligation by Little, Brown and Company. No monetary or any other form of compensation was received.
Charlotte Gleason is a privileged British society girl who wishes for little else than a husband she can love and all the luxury that her fortune can buy her. On her 19th birthday, Charlotte is shunned by the man she was practically engaged to and the girls she considered her friends. Her father has been named in a divorce suit, and their family name is now tainted. To get back into Society’s good graces, Charlotte is forced into a betrothal with a wealthy American whom she has never met. Their union will save Charlotte’s family from complete ruin.
Dora, Charlotte’s personal maid, will travel to America in the place of Charlotte’s mother, who has taken to her bed with illness. The journey to America brings all sorts of new possibilities for not only Charlotte, but Dora as well. Charlotte convinces Dora to take her place and marry Conrad Tremaine while Charlotte pursues other endeavors. As they each masquerade as something they are not, both find love and faith in God through mysterious ways.
Masqueradeby Nancy Moser is historical fiction at its finest. Her descriptions of the fashions, New York, and even the desolate slums in which Charlotte finds herself are vivid and will make you feel as if you are really [amazonify]0764207512[/amazonify]there with Charlotte and Dora. Though I was able to predict most of what would happen to these characters, I was still deeply engrossed in the story and invested in what would happen to all of the characters. I would have liked more depth, however, in the Tremaine family, especially with Conrad and his sister Beatrice. If you enjoyed the movie Titanic or any Prince and the Pauper type retelling, you will absolutely fall in love with Masquerade.
I have really come to look forward to books published by Bethany House, a Christian publisher. The stories and character romances are really clean, and mentions of the Christian faith are often subtle and not at all offensive to non-believers. They can easily be enjoyed for their historical content by readers who don’t subscribe to any given faith, and may inspire those without one to consider one.
Jennifer graduated from the University of Utah with a BA in English. She occasionally dabbles with her own fiction writing, particularly with the Young Adult and Paranormal genres. She currently resides in Utah with her husband and daughter.
Review copy was provided free of any obligation by Bethany House. No monetary or any other form of compensation was received.
Welcome! The ultimate luxury for me is curling up with a good book and a warm blanket. The next best thing is reviewing books and sharing them with others.
My new luxury: Apothica. Beauty indulgences from Too Faced to Oscar Blandi!
SheKnows Book Club
American Heiress' plot jumps off the pages as you follow Cora Cash on her journey to finding what she thinks will be her happy ending -- ultimately determining that money can't buy happiness.
When I was young (very young), I loved playing with paper dolls. Keep in mind, I grew up in a post-Communism former USSR country where many things were scarce, including toys. Many of my paper dolls were hand made, and the ones that were store bought were immediately glued on to a sturdy cardboard cutout to make them last longer.
