Because of our ongoing interest in all things Agatha Christie, we’ve begun watching movies based on her books. There are a lot of them so we’ve got plenty of filmed murder in our future. The adaptations will vary wildly in quality and fidelity to the source material as I’m sure you can imagine. I’m going […]
Paul Among the People: The Apostle Reinterpreted and Reimagined in His Own Time by Sarah Ruden This is an astonishing book that changed my views of Saint Paul. We all think we know who Saint Paul is. He was touched by God on the road to Damascus, changing him into the great missionary, founding Christian […]
The Natural History of the Rich: A Field Guide by Richard Conniff If you’ve ever wondered about the habits and mores of the rich, look no further than “The Natural History of the Rich: A Field Guide” by Richard Conniff. This is a gossipy, amusing investigation by a long-time science writer who specializes in human […]
Mind Your Manors: Tried-and-True British Household Cleaning Tips by Lucy Lethbridge I’ve always been interested in how people actually live; not just the ones who make the history books. Most people never make the history books. Most people are support staff for history-makers. After all, do you really think that Queen Victoria washed her own […]
A People’s Guide to Publishing: Build a Successful, Sustainable, Meaningful, Book Business From the Ground Up by Joe Biel Buy the book from Microcosm Publishing (they make more money this way): Direct Link To learn more about Joe Biel and Microcosm Publishing (they have a very esoteric line of books you won’t find elsewhere): Official […]
Bill here, while Teresa wrote a wonderful book on frugality called “Fed, Safe and Sheltered,” that doesn’t mean it’s the only book on the subject worth reading. While (spoiler alert!) she had some problems with “Meet the Frugalwoods,” she recommends two books at the end of her review that she feels are better. I’ve done […]
Inside Charlie’s Chocolate Factory: The Complete Story of Willy Wonka, the Golden Ticket, and Roald Dahl’s Most Famous Creation by Lucy Mangan I’ve always liked Roald Dahl’s children’s books. Like Doctor Seuss, he had a wonderful sense of the absurd along with more than a touch of the macabre. Nonetheless, I hadn’t given him much […]
Wow. Just wow. “The Alluring Art of Margaret Brundage” is a gorgeous, lavishly illustrated history of one of the great, forgotten cover artists of the 1930’s pulp magazines. Artist Margaret Brundage lived an interesting, challenging life but what she is remembered for today are her pulp magazine covers, mainly for Weird Tales. This history reproduces […]
97 Orchard: The Edible History of Five Immigrant Families in One New York Tenement by Jane Ziegelman is a valuable addition to your library if you’re interested in how normal people lived in the past. Not the aristocracy. Real people. Ms. Ziegelman is the director of the Tenement Museum’s culinary center. Her well-researched book covers […]
I spent several years working on the manuscript for “Sew Cloth Grocery Bags: Make Your Own in Quantity for Yourself, for Gifts, or for Sale.” The book gradually got bigger and more complete, particularly when Bill asked “Is there only one way to sew a cloth grocery bag?” As it turns out, there are two […]