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I’ve been really impressed with Jane Alexander’s books on home and health; they make sense in a very simple, natural way without a lot of hoo hoo and trying. This book is a fabulous gift book or purchase for yourself if you need a weekend break. There’s more than one weekend break idea here. From detox, to relax, to learning, to healing to creating. It’s really impressive all the ideas she comes up with starting on a Friday night and ending on a Sunday. The best part is that it doesn’t cost anything to do these - no equipment, special products, spa escape. It’s a wonderful, beautiful little book.

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One of my all-time favourite stories with a powerful and hopeful message. The movie version is good as a movie but it doesn’t reflect all that’s in the book. I first read this as a very large, hardcover book about 15 years ago and this version seems a bit different (it’s paperback, smaller, and some of the text seems different - perhaps it’s Americanised?) but it’s still worth reading.

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I hesitated buying this book since it first came out, despite being rather charmed by the title. But knowing I’d have a trip soon and 3 hours to spare, and it was on sale at the local book shop, I gave it a go. It’s a sweet, well written little book that’s an easy read (I did it in the 3 hours). Sometimes it seems overly descriptive and states the obvious but I can ignore that for everything else it offers. The frightening part, for me, was that I read this book with a southern
accent the entire way through. This book does that to you.

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This book was recommended to me by my very dear (and wise) friend, Julie Valentine. I’m not one for new age books, doing games geared to make me happy or looking at self-help stuff. It’s boring, contrived and I find for the most part, gimmicky. This is different. This book is different on so many levels. I almost hesitated because the title sounds hokey to me but it’s based on the Kabbalah, common sense and intuition. I love how it explains things, the process it uses to make a wish or goal viable. I like the fact I read just a chapter a week and I don’t have to write stuff down and talk about my feelings.. The scary part about this book is that it doesn’t mess around. If you follow the advice, look for signs, try a little - you get what you’re looking for. If you just want to learn nice language, pretend to have a dream, talk about talk then skip this book. This is real.

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Both of these books have the most stunning food photography and Seriously Simple Eats has a truly beautiful layout. What I love about these cookbooks is that for someone like me who does not cook (I do not even own pots and pans or cookware at the moment. I’ll be picking this up when I’m finished moving) these recipes are a godsend. They’re all fabulously easy and very, very good. I tend to eat a very European diet - I eat bread, pasta, sauces, fat, and all that good stuff and this has it all. There’s not “diet” in these books but the recipes are healthy just the same. They all have easy, fresh ingredients and not only are they all fast, but I think pretty inexpensive. Good gifts for others or
yourself.

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I plugged this CD into my discman for my daily walk; I had never heard the Be Good Tanyas music before but only raves from my best friend and sister. Their first song, “The littlest birds” hooked me in right away and I noticed a spring in my step as I walked. Listening to the music is easy, trying to define the sound these Vancouver women make is hard; part folk, part country, part rock it’s a mix of everything good. Just buy it.

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I’ve never owned a Gospel CD and I had no intention of starting a collection. However when a friend played me the first song from this album, I was hooked. With deep voices that have been singing together for over 60 years, they cover songs from David Bowie to Red Hot Chili Peppers and they do it with style - not preaching.

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Another book on French culture although this is more of an easy girl read than a serious study. Broken up into sections like dressing, shopping, dining, living, entertaining, it gives a very good idea about what it is to be a "French Woman." I have to admit, however, that at times I find the American author’s point of view a little too much; it’s as though she’s looking at the french as if they were mechanical toys at a ride in Disneyland. Being someone who is foreign to America, it gets rather old and irritating to be pointed out as "charming and cute" in an unreal way all the time. However, Ollivier does get a lot of things right, from how a French woman views shopping (not as a sport!) to eating (it’s lovely!). If you’re planning a trip to France or you just want to live a little better, this might be a good little read for you.

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I must admit to this book being the thickest I’ve ever owned and to overwhelming me just slightly. I spent a good portion of yesterday going through it and I’m still a bit confused as to it’s whole purpose. My guess is that it’s to make you see and think of things differently, to looking sideways. There are interesting, creative concepts in this book for those who are into design and construction but prepared for the amount of information and the seemingly random order in which it’s placed.

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A small, beautifully done hardcover book that offers information, tips and lore on all herbs. The photographs and illustrations are incredibly beautiful and colourful, making this book not only an interesting read but a visual treat. If you grow herbs or just adore them (I’m in favour of lavender, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and basil!) this is a book you’ll appreciate as it lets you know interesting bits about the herbs you use, whether for cooking, linen waters, cleaning or health.

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