The Slippery Art of Book Reviewing by Mayra Calvani & Anne K. Edwards

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Paperback: 186 pages
Publisher: Twilight Times Books (15 Jun 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1933353228
ISBN-13: 978-1933353227

The Slippery Art of Book Reviewing is a how to guide for reviewing books. This book helps build your skills for writing a good book review. This includes how to read critically, how to rate books, prevent amateurish mistakes, and how to start your own review site.

The main point to this book is the do's and dont's of reviewing books. There are some wonderful examples of good and bad reviews. Useful tips are provided on how to avoid falling into the bad review category. Bad habits you should be preventing include basic things like grammar and spelling. To more complicated issues like avoiding sugar coated or caustic reviews.

The advice in this book is clear and simple to read. Advice is grouped into relevant chapters/sections such as five keys to being a good reviewer, reviewing; practical tips to remember, and reviews and publishers. This makes finding the information you need easy.

From what I could see I fall somewhere in the middle with my reviews, which is comforting, apparently I hadn't been doing a bad job after all. Though there is probably a lot I could do better as well.

There is valuable advice for book reviewers who are looking to be more serious about reviewing, even being a professional. It also delves into the issues such as ethics and legalities of reviewing, book blogger vs reviewer, how to start your own review website, and how to rate books.

Personally I felt some of the examples they gave made the review feel stilted and boring. I would probably be suspicious of the "good" review examples given, I would feel like the reviewer was being paid in some way for it. I apparently like a bit of amateur hour in the reviews I read, to me that makes them more believable, more honest. I like it if a review puts a little emotion in their reviews. For me a book is an emotional thing and just like people sometimes you just don't like, or you love a book for no particular reason. If you can find a happy balance for book blogging purposes I think it would work really well.

There is a good section on how to read critically. If I was more serious about reviewing this would be invaluable. However I do not like to stop reading to make notes, as for me that interrupts the flow of the narrative. Also these days I just do not have the time to do that. But I recognise the ability to read a book critically is an important part of reviewing.

After reading the book, it did make me rethink some of the reviews I am currently writing. What I could include in the review to make it more valuable to the reader of my review. Hopefully the small changes I will be implementing will be of value to those reading my reviews.

All in all I think this is an excellent book for book reviewers starting out, and even reviewers who have been doing it awhile. I found some of the tips very useful and will be working to implement them into my reviews. For anyone who is serious about their book reviews, or wants to write reviews professionally this book is invaluable. As for the rest of us it is a great resource to help hone our skills just a little more.

Mad Cows by Kathy Lette

Rating: 2 out of 5
Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: Picador; New edition edition (1996)
Language English
ISBN-10: 0330334034

"Maddy Wolfe's first day out with her newborn takes a Kafkaesque turn when she's arrested in Harrods for shoplifting. If this is a miscarriage of justice, then detaining her in Holloway Prison's Mother and Baby Unit is the D&C. The only person she can turn to is her hot-to-trot ex-lover Alex, who proves himself as useful as a solar-powered vibrator on a rainy day. When will he realise that a paternity suit is not the latest look in men's leisure wear? How do you brief a lawyer with a heat-seaking penis which doesn't report to mission control? And why the hell is Maddy's friend Gillian searching for a sperm happy to get egg all over its face? There's hard knocks and rude shocks in this devastatingly witty follow-up to Foetal Attraction. " - Amazon.co.uk

To be honest I found the blurb to be the most interesting and funny part of this book. The story was unbelievable, and I don't mean that in a good way. It really was just stupid. The series of events which landed Maddy in Jail just seemed ridiculous. Also everything that followed after just left me thinking "oh come on". I know with fiction you have to suspend some beliefs and realities but this was just so silly I couldn't ignore it.

The characters, ALL of them, really annoyed me. Even Maddy was driving me nuts I just felt like slapping her and saying "snap out of it". They were so self centered and borderline insane. Alex was one step up from pond scum, Maddy I think was insane, and Gillian must have a multiple personality disorder as one minute she was likable and and then horrible in the next minute. I found them all frustrating. Maddy in particular really irked me with her constant "oh woe is me, my life sucks, what am I going to do? everybody is out to get me" attitude.

This story is told from both Gillian and Maddy's perspectives. I found this interesting as the first book Foetal Attraction was told only from Maddy's perspective. There is no real reason I could see as to why the story was told from Gillian's point of view other then to pad the story out and make it novel length.

The few parts about mothers in the mothers group was pretty close. Kathy Lette also nailed the competitiveness in these groups and guilt trips associated with being a mother. There is a wonderful scene written where Maddy goes to a nearby mothers group and sits in shock as the mothers talk about little Jane doing this, and little Bobby learning to read, then grilling Maddy on what courses her baby is enrolled into.

Even though I have pretty much bagged out this book, it wasn't all bad otherwise I wouldn't have continued reading it. There were some funny moments but they were few and far between. I was disappointed with the book as Kathy Lette is normally very funny.

It was an ok book. I probably wouldn't recommend it.

Foetal Attraction by Kathy Lette

Rating: 3 out of 5

ISBN-10: 0330335278
ISBN-13: 978-0330335270

Maddy is an Aussie who falls in love with an Englishman, and gives up everything she knows for her happy ending. By the time she realises Alex is not her happy ending she has also discovered that she is pregnant. Will Alex step up to his responsibilities or will he run screaming in the other direction?

There is a strong pregnancy theme to this book which could be off putting to some. The narrative alternates between the birth of Maddy's child and the story of how she got there. It works well and is not difficult to read.

It is a funny book, with a few laugh out loud moments. The birth scenes are well written and extremely funny. If you have been through pregnancy and having a baby you will be able to relate to many of the scenes and characters Maddy encounters. Kathy Lette though can be quite rude and crass which may be a turn off to some readers.

There is a very Australian feel to the narrative. This is probably mostly in part to the main character being Australian and in part the author being Australian. I can see how though this may make it difficult for non-Aussies. It is also very cliched with the Australian sayings and imaging.

The character Gillian was a hoot being self centred, shallow, and obnoxious. I do find it interesting that in books characters like Gillian are considered funny, even likable, however in real life you would probably shove her face into the nearest cake. Other characters in the book who act in a snobby fashion are not treated as kindly or as fondly. I found this interesting that a lot of the British characters are portrayed in an unfavorable fashion and the behaviour is tolerated in some characters but not in others.

The book is set in the 1990's and feels a little dated with its references to celebrities, royalty and pop culture. This does not make the book unbearable to read, in fact it provides an interesting snapshot of the time. This I feel is one problem with Chick Lit as a genre, it is usually written in the present tense set in the time it is written. So ten or twenty years down the track it feels outdated and may even be completely irrelevant in it's views.

I enjoyed the book. Probably more now that I have had a baby then if I had read it before.

That's Not My......Series by Fiona Watts

Rating 5 out of 5

Age Group: Under 5
Book Type: Board & Picture Book

The Usborne touchy feely book series That's Not My.... is designed for babies and toddlers. I purchased three books from the series; That's Not My Puppy, That's Not My Airplane, and That's Not My Monster. I decided to combine all three books into one review as they are all very similar format wise.

The books follow the same basic story formula. Each sentence starts with the words "That's not my.....". It is then followed by the reason (for example "That's not my puppy, his ears are too fluffy"). On the page, the item the line talks about is then a relevant material for your child to touch. For instance the fluffy ears would be a fluffy fur material.

The stories are very easy to read aloud and the large letters will make it easy for the child to read themselves when they are learning to read later on. Being Board books they are also borderline indestructible. Certainly they will last a lot longer then a paper book with a baby who is exploring it's world.

Each page contains bright and vibrant images that capture a baby's/toddlers eye. There is a wide variety of textures in each book from soft, to squishy, and rough. Already my 6 month old enjoys touching the pages as I read the stories to him, and has his favorite pages.

The series is award winning and sold world wide. That's Not My Puppy has been in publication for ten years now. An excellent series that is worth having in your child's library. I am not sure exactly how many titles are in the series but there are a lot. I will definitely, eventually be purchasing more.

Baby-Led Weaning by Gill Rapley

Rating: 4 out of 5

Paperback: 256 pages
Publisher: Random House UK (December 16, 2008)
ISBN-10: 0091923808
ISBN-13: 978-0091923808

Baby-Led Weaning in a nutshell is about letting the baby decide what to eat, and how much to eat. This book is a practical guide to getting started, what to expect, and how to deal with issues.

Gill Rapley asserts that babies should be formula/breastfed exclusively till 6 months of age (in accordance with World Health Organisations recommendations). When a baby is 6 months old they are generally able to sit, hold their head up, and grab. They therefor have the basic skills required to (messily) self feed. Even if you start your baby on puree foods many professionals recommended giving your six month old baby finger food.

Rapley states that babies should be given a choice of food and be able to decide for themselves what they want to eat. This is done simply by placing the food in front of the baby and letting them pick it up themselves (no assisting!).

The best starter foods are Finger foods. However you should also include mashed foods and even liquid food (such as soups). This is so your baby is exposed to different textures and flavours from an early age. This way of eating also teaches them hand/eye coordination, fine and gross motor skills, chewing skills, and appetite control.

At 6 months a babies digestive and immune system has developed enough to handle any foods so unless there is a history of allergies in the family, you are not limited in the food you can start your baby on.

In the edition I had, no real studies had been performed looking into this. Rapley had performed a basic study while studying her masters in University which indicated her theory was sound. Rapley also points to other studies that also indicate self feeding is a viable option. I saw on Amazon.com there is a new edition due for release perhaps further study has been completed by Rapley. I certainly hope so, as to me, the method makes a lot of sense.

This is an interesting read. A chunk of the book is the typical baby book mumbo jumbo of why this method is the best method under the face of the sun. But there is a lot of interesting points and testimonials that are worth the read.