Review: The Complete Illustrated Book Of Herbs

Title: The Complete Illustrated Book of Herbs
Hardcover: 400 pages
Publisher: Readers Digest
ISBN-10:0762107960

I love beautiful book covers. It is often the cover of a book that piques my curiosity about what is inside and makes me want to investigate the actual pages of the publication. Sometimes the content doesn't live up to the expectaion of the image on the jacket and I'm left disappointed. In the case of this book, The Complete Illustrated Book of Herbs, I was delighted both by its beauty and its subject matter.

The book contains informative, interesting, and useful information on over 100 different herbs. It begins with an A-Z directory of herbs which includes how to "cultivate, use, and store" them. Other chapters include: Gardening, Herbal Medicine, Natural Beauty, Around the Home, Craft, and Cooking. Each chapter contains lovely, colorful illustrations and instructions on how to use herbs in practical ways...from treating colds to making your own facial scrubs and laundry detergent to creating a table centerpiece and preparing soup with herb dumplings and much, much more! This book is packed full of everything you to need to know about herbs and how to use them.

Recommended for anyone with an interest in herbs, cooking, crafts, and natural beauty and cleaning products. (FL)

Review: The One Hundred by Nina Garcia

Title: The One Hundred: A Guide to the Pieces Every Stylish Woman Must Own
Author: Nina Garcia
Hardcover: 304 pages
Publisher: Collins Living
ISBN-10: 0061664618

In The One Hundred, fashion expert, Nina Garcia outlines 100 accessories that she deems timeless and classic assets to any woman's wardrobe. The pieces are listed and described in alphabetical order; beginning with A for the A-line dress and ending with Z for the zippered hoodie. Along with explanations as to why the pieces are included in her 100 list, Garcia gives fun trivia and historical facts regarding some of the items. Did you know, for example, that Ray-Ban Aviator sunglasses were first designed in 1936 or that the cardigan was named after the seventh Earl of Cardigan in 1874? Garcia also gives helpful advice on selecting items, where to find them, and how to wear them (not all 100 include this information). Another enjoyable addition to the book are quotes, interspersed throughout, such as this one by Helena Rubinstein: There are no ugly women, just lazy ones (for some reason, I find that comforting). For those who fancy "seeing" what the author is describing, The One Hundred includes illustrations of the various fashions mentioned. Personally, I would have preferred photographs. While I did not agree with all of the choices on Garcia's top 100 list, I did find useful information regarding classic pieces as well as practical fashion tips. Recommended for anyone interested in fashion and/or fashion trivia.