Thursday, April 28, 2016

The Mistress's Reading List: March-April

The Mistress read nine books during the months of March and April; down from the previous 12 books during January and February.


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On SUNDAY, you Bitches will have your turn to tell us what you've been reading during the months of MARCH and APRIL for The 2016 Infomaniac Book Challenge.

But TODAY, we look at the Mistress's list of books for March and April.

NON-FICTION:

The Geography of Genius: A Search for the World’s Most Creative Places From Ancient Athens to Silicon Valley by Eric Weiner (published 2016)...



An historical travelogue, examining Athens, Silicon Valley, Hangzhou, Florence, Edinburgh, Calcutta and Vienna.

The author attempts to find out why “certain places, at certain times produced a bumper crop of brilliant minds and good ideas.”

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/entertainment/books/article53710280.html#storylink=cpy

Judge This by Chip Kidd (published 2015)...



Book designer Chip Kidd takes a fun, playful look at the importance of first impressions—in design and in life.

"From the design of your morning paper to the subway ticket machine to the books you browse to the smartphone you use to the packaging for the chocolate bar you buy as an afternoon treat, Kidd reveals the hidden secrets behind each of the design choices."

A fun, playful look at the importance of first impressions—in design and in life—from acclaimed book designer Chip Kidd.
- See more at: http://books.simonandschuster.ca/Judge-This/Chip-Kidd/TED-Books/9781476784786#sthash.Ibx48ick.dpuf
A fun, playful look at the importance of first impressions—in design and in life—from acclaimed book designer Chip Kidd.
- See more at: http://books.simonandschuster.ca/Judge-This/Chip-Kidd/TED-Books/9781476784786#sthash.Ibx48ick.dpuf
A fun, playful look at the importance of first impressions—in design and in life—from acclaimed book designer Chip Kidd.
- See more at: http://books.simonandschuster.ca/Judge-This/Chip-Kidd/TED-Books/9781476784786#sthash.Ibx48ick.dpuf

The Cabaret of Plants: Forty Thousand Years of Plant Life and the Human Imagination by Richard Mabey (published 2016)...



Richard Mabey writes engagingly of the secrets of the flora around us as he mixes history, science, and anecdote.

Mabey's enthusiasm is infectious as he recounts the deeply intertwined history of humans and the natural world.



West of Eden: an American Place by Jean Stein (published 2016)...



I read this book following Norma's comment, "I am VERY anxiously awaiting the arrival of Jean Stein's new book, "West of Eden." (Stein wrote a great book about Edie Sedgwick years ago.) Stein is the daughter of Doris & Jules; Jules who with Lew Wasserman founded MCA. This is Hollywood fucking royalty."

This book proves that money and fame can't buy happiness.


American Girls: Social Media and the Secret Lives of Teen­agers by Nancy Jo Sales (published 2016)...


The author talks to girls ages 13 to 19 in ten American states to get their views on social media.

One girls says "if you're not on social media, it's like you don't exist."

Another girl told Sales that “social media is destroying our lives.

So why wouldn’t they just go off social media?

Because then we would have no life,” her friend said.

If you think your teenage years were hell before social media, read this book.


It Ended Badly: Thirteen of the Worst Breakups in History by Jennifer Wright (published 2015)...



"Spanning eras and cultures from ancient Rome to medieval England to 1950s Hollywood, Jennifer Wright's It Ended Badly guides you through the worst of the worst in historically bad breakups."

In Other Words by Jhumpa Lahiri (published 2015)...



Pulitzer Prize winner Jhumpa Lahiri gave up speaking, reading, and writing in English to compose her first novel in Italian; a language she adored although she struggled to learn it.

The Mistress, who also adores the Italian language (as well as Italian footballers,) savored this book as it contains both the Italian version and an English translation, all in one.

Lust & Wonder: A Memoir by Augusten Burroughs (published 2016)...


If you enjoyed Burrough's previous memoirs including, "Running With Scissors," pick up "Lust & Wonder."

Could this be Burroughs' last memoir now that he's found happiness and contentment? He says in an interview, "No, I don't think it is. I think...catastrophe has sort of followed me around my whole life so we'll see."

FICTION:

My Name is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout (published 2016)...



Lucy Barton is in hospital, recovering slowly from what should have been a simple operation. Her estranged mother comes to visit her. Lucy loves her mother, despite the fact that her mother cannot say she loves her daughter in return. This novel explores the nature of their mother-daughter relationship.


So ends Part Two (March-April) of The Mistress's reading list for The 2016 Infomaniac Book Challenge.

On Sunday, May 1st, we'll be asking YOU Bitches what you've been reading. Until that time, we hope you've enjoyed browsing The Mistress's selections.

Sunday, April 24, 2016

Book or Telly?

Do you ever have trouble deciding?



A reminder that on Sunday, May 1st, we invite you Bitches to discuss the books you've been reading during the months of March and April for the 2016 Infomaniac Book Challenge.

The Mistress will post her own personal book list a few days before that.

Friday, April 08, 2016

Time Out, Continued


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The Mistress regrets that she has not visited your blogs and must take yet another "time-out" to finish up a few odds and ends. Mostly odds. But some ends.

Wednesday, April 06, 2016

Couple of the Month - Fondue for Two

It's been over a year since our last "Couple of the Month" so click the pic to enlarge and enjoy...


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