I love a short story. The format perfectly meets the needs of the time-stretched parent; you can dip in and out of a book when you can snatch a moment or two. Every so often, there comes along a book of short stories that completely captivates me - the images linger long after I've finished each story, the characters are so compelling I just want to know more. This is the kind of short story collection Donoghue has created with Astray. Each story stands alone as a work of word-art and a succinct history lesson. She evokes character through hugely convincing vernacular, with a lot of the stories written in the first person. Most of the stories are deeply moving, the characters caught in… Read more
Meg Cox's excellent book is divided into four chapters. Chapter 1 is about getting started, finding your purpose and making it personal. Chapter 2 is Everyday Rituals, including Problem-solving Rituals, Rituals to Keep the Peace, Pet Rituals, Weekly Family Nights, and Chore Rituals. Chapter 2 is Family Festivities and Ceremonies in which Star Birthdays, Garden Rituals, Coming-of-Age Rituals, House Blessings and Graduations all feature. In Chapter 3 - Holidays - you'll find Snow Day Rituals, First Day of Spring, Christmas Charity Traditions, and Kwanzaa amongst others.
The book is interspersed with words of wisdom from families and a few professionals, including information from a… Read more
I love a good dietary cleanse, and over the years have tried quite a few. I've learnt that a cleanse should suit where we're at in our lives. It's no good embarking on a really strict cleanse when you're insanely busy or feeling deprived and depressed. Nor is it advisable to limit your food when you're caring for children or babies and you need extra reserves of energy. That's why I love the book Super Cleanse by Adina Niemerow. Unlike so many books on cleansing, or `de-toxing' as it's become known, Adina's book takes a truly holistic approach. This is no quick fix to get a bikini body in ten minutes (an exaggeration of some of the titles, but not much); instead it is a well-researched and… Read more
