A few book reviews

Can you tell I'm trying to catch up a bit? Here are a few book reviews I've wanted to do for weeks now!

The Comfort Table by Katie Lee Joel

This is a library book that is going on my wish list! I'd seen the author on Paula Deen's show so I was a little interested in the book when I saw it at a bookstore. However, cookbooks are not in my immediate budget right now (food... yes, cookbooks... no). So, I was quite happy to see it at the library in the "New Nonfiction" section.

I don't usually care for cookbooks written by 1) celebrities or 2) wives of celebrities. However, I adore this cookbook! Although the author is now married to Billy Joel, she grew up in West Virginia and as she wrote, "surrounded by post depression era family members". So, this cookbook has a rare combination of home style recipes such as I have inherited from my family and "up town" new dishes that would be lots of fun to try when one wants to spread their culinary wings and fly a bit.

Surprisingly, most of the recipes are also on the inexpensive side. That must be the West Virginia influence. At least check this one out of the library like I did!

A Life That Says Welcome: Simple Ways to Open Your Heart and Home to Others
by Karen Ehman

I love to read nonfiction books about homemaking and hospitality and this one will go down as one of my favorites. I had a feeling I'd like it since it had been given great reviews from bloggers I trust.

The book contains lots of personal stories, very practical information, and recipes... how bad can any of that be? It's also much more than a book about "hospitality and entertaining". Instead it reflects a love of home and hearth along with the practical advice. Great book!

Keeping House; The Litany of Everyday Life by Margaret Kim Peterson

This book is completely different than the one written about above. It has very few (if any) practical ideas. Instead, it is more a sociological and theological treatise on homemaking from a Christian perspective. If you want something with actual advice, it isn't what you are looking for. You would be very disappointed.

However, having said that... if you are in need of a great book on the subject of homemaking for a book club... this is your book! As I read it, I kept thinking how much fun it would be to have someone to discuss this book with. I agreed with just about everything in it and I'm pretty conservative about such things.

The author gives value to homemaking in a world that very often does not.