Newest Lifestyle Reviews
The Sex Diaries Project by Arianne Cohen
It's often said 'there's nowt so queer as folk'. Surely this should be qualified as 'there's nowt so queer as folks' sex lives'. Arianne Cohen has made a major online database of testimony from people about their thoughts regarding sex - having it, not having it, having it with whom they're with, having it with those whom they're not with. And in every sense, the results can be exceedingly queer. Full review...
Kama Sutra by Vatsyayana
Kama Sutra, then... What could I possibly say to introduce it that you don't already know or think you know?
For all that Kama Sutra is, it's no longer a guide to the art of pleasure. It's a fascinating historical document, and undoubtedly influential, but it's very much of its time and of its society. Try to follow all its suggestions and at best you'd never get laid again; at worst, you'll be up on a rape charge within a week. (After sending the nurse's daughter away, he takes the girl's maidenhead while she is alone, asleep and out of her senses...) Full review...
The Stranger in the Mirror: A Memoir of Middle Age by Jane Shilling
Middle-aged women disappear. They are not see on television, their lives do not appear in newspapers, the legions of novels that are written each year rarely feature them. At least, that is what the author Jane Shilling believes as she wakes up aged 47 to find the narrative of her contemporaries and their lives which she has been reading about and living in parallel with since leaving university has vanished. She looks in the mirror and sees a face she does not recognise. Even with a punishing regime of early bed, no alcohol and litres of water, it refuses to regain its youthful bloom. So she decides to take a magnifying glass to this particular moment in time, this journey between youth and old age. Full review...
Phantoms on the Bookshelves by Jacques Bonnet, James Salter and Sian Reynolds
Translated from French this beautifully presented little book takes the reader into homes boasting book collections, large and small. Studded with succinct and appropriate quotations such as 'there is no better reason for not reading a book than having it' by Anthony Burgess. Full review...
The Longest Journey: Nine Keys to Health, Wealth and Happiness by Sandy Donaghy
How many self-help books have you read where the ideas all seem very good, but they've not been tested in the fire, so to speak? The end result seems good, but you suspect that the starting point wasn't all that disadvantageous and more to the point, the cynic inside you wonders if the motivation for writing the book was financial gain. Has it made you shy away from such books? Now, I want you to drop the cynicism, because what we have here is a book that's written from the heart and not the wallet and the only motivation in writing it was to help people. Unusual? Yup; it is. Full review...
Garlands, Conkers and Mother-Die: British and Irish Plant-Lore by Roy Vickery
For many centuries, plants have not only had practical uses as food, remedies, textiles and dyes, but have also symbolic and folkloric meaning in many different cultures. The term plant-lore has been coined to describe the profusion of the customs and beliefs associated with plants, and this book gathers together many of the plant-lore traditions of Britain and Ireland. Full review...
Why Women Have Sex: Understanding Sexual Motivation from Adventure to Revenge (and Everything in Between) by Cindy M Meston and David Buss
Many many years ago, a man who was far too young to be the fusty, dusty RE teacher he was shaping to be, asked my best friend and I why we were each having sex with our girlfriends. Even aged fifteen I thought something along the lines of 'well, if he doesn't know by now, he never will', and listed that it was great fun, a very enjoyable sensation, showed an appetite for the relationship, and that sex proved the ultimate in bonding - how much closer, to be blunt, could you be to someone than actually inside them? I'll come clean now and admit said girlfriend was not real, but several have been since, and I have had heaps of fun finding out how - and perhaps why - women have sex. I was never to know, until now, there are 237 reasons for it. Full review...
Elegant Enigmas: The Art of Edward Gorey by Karen Wilkin
I'm all in favour of Edward Gorey becoming a bigger name, especially here in the UK, where his output is certainly less lauded than in his native USA. It's evident from the bright, glossy pages here that he was an extraordinary talent. Polymath and know-all in real life, in his ink drawings he can show the complexity of someone like Dore, while using his draughtsmanship to pen macabre whimsy, like an old-fashioned love-child of Mervyn Peake and Edward Lear. Full review...
Make, Mend, Bake, Save and Shine! by Barbara Warmsley
A slim, slither of a book with a big title. Green is the mantra on most pages, as well as tips on how to waste less - whether it's food, clothes or water from the tap. This book has a universal message. How to waste less. There is a nice introduction by seventysomething Barbara Walmsley, aka the charity Oxfam's Green Granny. Certainly catchy but will it catch on? When I was delving inside the first couple of pages looking for the writer's name (it's not on the front cover) I discovered the phrase Printed And Bound In China. Defeating the message? Full review...
The Self-Sufficiency Bible: Window Boxes to Smallholdings - Hundreds of Ways to Become Self-Sufficient by Simon Dawson
The recent financial crises have taken people by surprise and instead of trying to ride the problem out and then get back to our old, profligate ways we've looked at how we can live more sustainably and less expensively. Thrift is the new black and many people are taking pride in not spending money. I might take issue with whether or not Simon Dawson's book should be called a bible which suggests a completeness which is doesn't seem to exhibit, but it's an excellent starting point for those wanting to become more self-sufficient. It also has the recipe for a chocolate sponge which takes just five minutes to make – and that takes a lot of beating. Full review...
The Secret Language of Sleep: A Couple's Guide to the Thirty-nine Positions by Evany Thomas
This volume takes the premise that the positions in which couples sleep together are an insight into their private mind. Therefore, with the help of the line drawings of 39 (apparently all of THE 39) positions, one might see where one is going wrong. It’s a chicken and egg situation where you might learn you’re with the wrong bed partner, and change either them or your nocturnal habits, or in order to change yourself alter things having reflected on the contents here – with the help as they suggest of a ceiling-mounted camcorder. Full review...
Voluntary Madness: My Year Lost and Found in the Loony Bin by Norah Vincent
Voluntary Madness is journalist Norah Vincent's account of her visits to three mental health facilities in America. The first is an urban, public hospital that houses mainly homeless, psychotic patients, many of whom are addicted to drugs. In this hospital, the doctors are overworked and jaded and medication is always the answer. Soon, the author finds that her latent depression (which led her to do the book in the first place) is returning. The process of being institutionalised breaks her sense of self-worth down astonishingly fast. Indeed, she suggests that it is the lack of autonomy in institutional life, even for those patients who voluntarily commit themselves, that makes it so hard for them to rebuild independent lives when they finally leave the institution. Full review...
Himglish and Femalese: Why Women Don't Get Why Men Don't Get Them by Jean Hannah Edelstein
Men aren't Martian and women don't hail from Venus. We're all Earthlings apparently; which seems like progress of a sort. Even so we still have trouble understanding each other because we speak different languages – Himglish and Femalese. Luckily Jean Hannah Edelstein is fluent in both and has written this light hearted volume to define the problem and translate. Full review...
Fifty and Fabulous: The Best Years of a Woman's Life by Jaki Scarcello
When you open a package and find a bright pink book which proudly proclaims 'Fifty and Fabulous: the best years of a woman's life' you can be forgiven for wondering if this is going to be another of those books which recommends strenuous exercise regimes, strict diets and just a little nip and tuck under the chin. Personally, my heart sank because, er, well, I'm no longer fifty. Were my fabulous years behind me? Full review...
Bangers and Mash by Keith Hern
Keith Hern found a small lump in his neck and when the results of the tests came through he tried to put the appointment off as he had something more pressing to do, but the doctor was insistent. He knew then that he had cancer. The lump in his neck was, in fact, a secondary tumour with the primary being in the back of his tongue. But for the secondary tumour the discovery of the primary might have been too late for successful treatment. Keith takes us through the discovery of his cancer, his reactions to the diagnosis, his treatment and the titular meal of bangers and mash – the first solid food which he had attempted for some time. Full review...
Flirt Diva - For Women Who Want to be Bold and Sassy and have a Fabulous Life! by Susan Ostler
There are lots of timetabled books on the market, that promise to transform everything from your employability to the size of your thighs in a certain number of weeks, if you commit to their programme, and this book is really just another one to add to the 'scheduled self-improvement' pile. Except we're not talking here about dropping a dress size in time for Christmas, or sailing through that oh-so-important interview to land the job of your dreams...for this book is a 6 week guide to Getting Loved Up that promises to put its participants (and as you'll learn, you're more than a mere reader with this title) on the fast track to romance. Gosh. Full review...
It's A Don's Life by Mary Beard
Professor Mary Beard, feisty Cambridge classics don, keeps an eye open for architectural detail wherever she goes. Even on holiday, she notices the changing urban landscape and records interesting parallels with ancient cities in her sparky blog. She is engaged in writing a detailed history of Pompeii and suddenly realises, whilst perambulating the backstreets of the Mexican city of Oaxacan, that this is exactly what Pompeii must have been like. She observes the low rise shops, dirt tracks across dusty streets and the close juxtaposition of rich and poor. Impressive portals of grand residential properties tower above humble workshops, and this prompts her into imaginative reconstruction. In her blog, from which this intriguing book is culled, she tells us about just how Oaxacan encourages her to ponder again the curious cart ruts of Pompeii. She even finds walls splashed with political slogans that are just like Roman dipinti. Indeed, here in Mexico, the local library displays an edifying message in Spanish which originates in Cicero's speech in his Pro Archia, Science and letters are the nourishment of youth and the diversion of old age. Full review...
Don't Swallow Your Gum by Dr Aaron Carroll and Dr Rachel Vreeman
BANG. That's the sound of copious urban myths being shot down. BANG. That's the sound of the old wives slamming the door, as their tales get revealed as baseless. CLICK. That's the noise lots of ill-informed websites make as they get closed down. All noises come due to this brilliant book. Full review...
Perfumes: The A - Z Guide by Luca Turin and Tania Sanchez
Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful. The only thing that could be conceivably better than reading Perfumes would be to read it while sampling the scents it reviews, but even without the olfactory component, Perfumes is a delight: Turin (a lyrical scientist) and Sanchez (an analytically enthusiastic collector) not only treat perfume creation as high art, but turn perfume criticism into an art form (or at least a sophisticated genre of writing) too. Full review...
Driven to Distraction by Jeremy Clarkson
Jeremy Clarkson's middle name ought to be Marmite. You really do either love him or hate him. I am in the first camp. I think he is brilliantly funny. He is. He makes me laugh. Out loud. And like many women who watch Top Gear, (well, those that don't watch it because they are strangely – bizarrely - attracted to James May – I am not - or because they want to mother The Hamster – I do not) I find Jeremy Clarkson hilarious. And I don't think you have to like cars to see the appeal either! I mean, the columns within Driven To Distraction occasionally start off talking about cars, but not always and they quickly move on to the things that get his dander up before tailing neatly back to the cars again. Or not. And what is in between is pure gold dust. Full review...
Rockers and Rollers: An Automotive Autobiography by Brian Johnson
Brian Johnson will probably go down as one of the luckiest men in showbiz. He had a brief moment of glory in the early 70s as vocalist with Geordie, a Tyneside version of Slade, who had three Top 40 hits and then fell on hard times. After going back to the day job, a chance call invited him to go and audition for AC/DC, whose vocalist Bon Scott had suddenly died. Three decades later, not only have the group held on to their loyal fanbase, but one of their albums, according to an online source, is second only to Michael Jackson's Thriller in terms of global sales. Full review...
Car Fever: Dispatches From Behind The Wheel by James May
Now, way back when I was younger, and watched TV a lot, I am sure I remember Top Gear as being a consumer programme. How times change. These days I am sure they destroy more cars than they review, and the three main people from the show are approaching superstar status, with their amenable personalities, awkward wardrobe choices and trenchant laddish charms. They've sprung their media entities from out of the studio, into other TV programmes, and the world of journalism, with chatty columns in the broadsheets allowing them free rein to witter to their heart's desire. And here, in one grandiloquent volume, and in time for Christmas, are many of James May's desires. Full review...
Wild Cooking by Richard Mabey
It's become fashionable now to make do, to cut back - even for those who have no need to do so. Conspicuous consumption is frowned upon and thriftiness is the new black, so Wild Cooking, previously published in hardback as The New English Cassoulet is going to appeal to the mood of the moment with its approach of 'busking in the kitchen' and making do. Some of it might seem a little extreme – I really can't imagine that I will ever slow cook a Peking Duck in front of a fan heater simply because it might as well cook the food whilst it's heating the room – but I love the idea of using a glut to make broad bean hummus, or even of gathering up vegetables which have been left when the field has been harvested. Full review...
Fulfilled: A Personal Revolution in Seven Steps by Deirdre Bounds
Dierdre Bounds' life was at rock bottom when she was introduced to the Twelve Step Plan used by Alcoholics Anonymous and within a matter of years she had built an internet business into an award-winning organisation and sold it to a FTSE 100 company. She's adapted the twelve steps to produce her personal revolution in seven steps. Full review...
Smart Girls Marry Money by Elizabeth Ford and Daniela Drake
If your friend told you that she'd fallen for a gorgeous man – they were deeply in love and getting married as soon as possible – the probability is that you'd be delighted for her. On the other hand if she said that she'd met a man whom she thought was the best she was likely to meet and on the basis that he was wealthy she was planning to marry him, what would you think? Does the word gold-digger spring to mind? Are you horrified? Well, think again as it just might be that the second solution could be the one that leaves your friend in the best position. Full review...
How to Write an Impressive CV and Cover Letter: A Comprehensive Guide for the UK Job Seeker by Tracey Whitmore
Back home in the UK after a stint abroad, and job hunting for the first time in years, this book is a rather timely addition to my shelves. Having spent the last year and a bit teaching English, I also like to think I know a little about grammar and general language use. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for the author of this book, and while it's all very well advising readers that first impressions really do count, this carries less weight than it should when you notice the dubious grammar in the first line of the introduction, and in virtually every chapter which follows. Full review...
Who Is It That Can Tell Me Who I Am? by Jane Haynes
This is a remarkable book. It gives an insight into the process of psychotherapy, both from the theoretical point of view and, more significantly, from actual conversations and sessions in the consulting room. Jane Haynes takes us through her own development as a client (although she doesn't like that word) in her own self-discovery and therapy sessions, and then into some of her consulting sessions after she qualifies as a therapist. I've always thought of this kind of thing as very American, but this book is entirely British. Full review...
Breaking Up Blues by Denise Cullington
Whether you're married or single, the dumpeé or the dumper, at one time or another, we've all had to deal with the trials and tribulations of the dreaded break up. Whether you're thinking of leaving, have just ended a relationship, or are still trying to recover from the one that got away, Denise Cullington's Breaking Up Blues is a self-help guide to coping with the bitterness and rage, emotional emptiness and endless depression that can come along with it. Full review...
Juggle! Rethink Work, Reclaim your Life by Ian Sanders
Juggle! - says the title - Rethink work, reclaim your life. Wonderful - it seems like just the right book for someone like me: having a decent 9-to-5 job, but still wondering whether it is the best possible place to be. Aren't we all told in school we have hidden talents and one could achieve brilliance if only one used them? Full review...
How to Drink by Victoria Moore
A friend who saw me reading this book was moved to ask if I really needed the advice and was quite surprised when I explained that it was about the whole range of liquid intake from the humble glass of warm water (try it – it's wonderful first thing in the morning) to rare spirits costing hundreds of pounds a bottle. It's completely unpreachy with not a word about how much liquid you should be taking in each day to how few units you should be consuming each week. It's about getting the best (which isn't always the most expensive) and enjoying it – and most importantly, enjoying a drink when that's the drink you want. Full review...
Work From Home by Judy Heminsley
Judy Heminsley has worked from home both as en employee and running her own businesses. She is now a professional advisor to homeworkers and Work From Home distils her experience into a practical guide for all who are considering work from home. Full review...
The Allotment Experience by Ruth Binney
There have been allotment gardens in the UK and other European countries since the late 18th century, with numbers in the UK reaching a peak of 1.5 million plots around the time of World War I and nearly the same number during World War II. Numbers then fell, reaching 600,000 by the late 1960s. Increased interest in green issues from the 1970s only slowed the decline, and by 1997 the number of plots in use was around 265,000. More recently, there has been a resurgence of interest as the notion of food miles and "slow food" has come to the fore, let alone the rising costs of food. In 2008, The Guardian reported that 330,000 people held an allotment, whilst 100,000 were on waiting lists. My interest in this book stems from the fact that we are already keen back (and front) garden vegetable growers and are shortly to join an allotment waiting list ourselves. Full review...
Patio Produce by Paul Peacock
It's surprising how many people dismiss the idea of growing at least some of their own fruit and vegetables in the mistaken belief that they'll need to have an allotment or at the very least a sizeable vegetable patch of the type which is simply not possible in many modern gardens or because they're living in a city rather than a village. Paul Peacock sets out to prove that this needn't be the case – with the proof of this particular pudding being the fact that he lives in Manchester. Full review...
Glow: How You Can Radiate Energy, Innovation and Success by Lynda Gratton
Have you ever read a self-help book and found that simply reading the first chapter tells you all you need to know about any wisdom contained therein? Well, fortunately with Glow by Lynda Gratton – that's not the case. While its essential principles are neatly summarised in the first chapter, the remaining chapters, packed with pleasantly jargon-free examples, are well worth reading for anyone interested in improving their working life, forming empowering networks and thinking creatively. Full review...
The Complete Guide to IVF by Kate Brian
Each year some forty thousand cycles of IVF – in vitro fertilisation – are carried out in the UK and something like a million worldwide. About two hundred thousand IVF babies are born annually with some twelve thousand of those in the UK according to a recent article I read on a BBC site. Fertility expert Kate Brian has followed her Complete Guide to Female Fertility, which we loved, with another indispensable guide – this time to IVF. Full review...
Weighing It Up by Ali Valenzuela
Although never having had an eating disorder myself, I have been interested in them since I was young. I was a competitive gymnast and that is a world where eating disorders do creep in. Now I'm a mother of three teenage daughters, I worry about the subject from a whole new angle, especially as one of them is a size 6-8 and idolises those super-skinny celebrities. Full review...
Anorexic by Anna Paterson
It might seem strange and somewhat ironic that an obese woman is reviewing a book on anorexia. But it is a topic I have always found interesting. Despite my being at the opposite end of the weight scale to Anna Paterson, I could empathise with some of the things she felt. Full review...
Laugh Your Way to a Better Marriage by Mark Gungor
This book is based upon Mark Gungor's highly successful seminar, Laugh Your Way To A Better Marriage. However, it is best to get one thing straight to begin with: Mark is a very funny guy, but, as he admits, this book is not at all about laughing your way to a better marriage. It encourages laughter, and he has a good time laughing about various issues, but if you thought this was going to be a philosophy based upon laughter, then you've been a little misled by the title. Full review...
