Tag: nonfiction

Review: Dear Dolly

1 Comment
Click the picture to purchase the book on Amazon

Rating: ★★★★

I received a copy of this book for free from the publisher (Harper Perennial) for promotional purposes. 

I previously read Dolly’s memoir, “Everything I Know About Love,” and loved it, so naturally I also enjoyed this one. 

This book is a collection of selected responses from her Dear Dolly column. I’ve never read her column, so all of these were new to me. The responses are divided into 7 sections: Dating, Friendship, Relationships, Family, Sex, Break-ups & Exes, and Body & Soul. I liked that they were organized in this way; it gave the book structure. 

Like her memoir, Dolly’s responses to her readers are very conversational. Reading them feels like talking to an old friend. Her advice is very practical and real, but she’s never judgmental. She seems to really understand what her readers are asking and gives relatable advice. She also knows how to incorporate pop culture references (like when she mentions listening to a Lana Del Rey album) without seeming like she’s trying too hard. 

This is a great book to pick up if you’re looking for some life advice, especially when it comes to dating or love. As someone still looking for love, I found quite a bit of her advice helpful.

Overall, if you’re a fan of Dolly’s work, you should definitely give this book a read! 

Connect with me!

Goodreads | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | TikTok

Review: Forever Barbie

Leave a comment
Click the picture to purchase the book on Amazon

Rating: ★★★★

I received a copy of this book for free from the publisher (Liveright) for promotional purposes. 

What an insightful look into the world of Barbie! 

This book was originally published in the 90s, but this edition has a new preface which does discuss the Barbie movie. In the preface, the author also discusses that she left the book unchanged so it’s a large reflection of the 90s. 

The title states this book is an “unauthorized biography,” however, only the first few chapters feel like a biography. If you are looking to read a comprehensive history on Barbie, this book isn’t it. This book offers a lot of commentary on Barbie and people’s complicated relationship with her. Some of it feels a little out there (like The White Goddess chapter that discusses how Barbie is similar to ancient fertility idols), but there were a lot of interesting ideas presented (I really liked the discussion on Barbie and class mobility). The book also discussed things I never knew about like the Barbie board games, books, and comics from way back in the day. 

I liked that this book had a concluding chapter. I always hate it when nonfiction books don’t have one. My biggest takeaway from this book came from this chapter. The author writes, “People project fears and prejudices into her; when a person talks at length about Barbie, one usually learns more about the speaker than about the doll” (pg. 264). That is so true. Barbie has never been the enemy, people just project their owns ideas and feelings onto her. 

Overall, I recommend this book if you’re looking to explore Barbie on a deeper level and don’t mind the 90s influence. 

Connect with me!

Goodreads | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | TikTok

Review: Why We Read

Leave a comment
Click the picture to purchase the book on Amazon

Rating: ★★★★½

I received an ARC of this book for free from the publisher for promotional purposes. 

What a wonderful collection of essays on reading! 

This book is a collection of personal essays on the impact of books and reading on the author’s life. As a lifelong reader myself, I found many of the essays relatable. One of my favorites was “To Break The Rules” (pg. 65) which discusses how there is no right way to be a “Good Reader.” We should read how and what we want. I wholeheartedly agree!

The book is well organized. It is organized in rough chronological order of the author’s life, which made the essays flow logically. The earlier essays focused on her childhood, while the later ones focused on her teaching career. There are also short and humorous list-like essays (for example, “Calmed-Down Classics of American Literature for the Anxiety-Ridden” and “Signs You May Be a Female Character in a Work of Historical Fiction”) dispersed throughout which helped break up the monotony of essays. 

The author’s writing style is easy, accessible, and often humorous. Despite talking a lot about teaching, it’s never pretentious or overly academic.

My one critique is that some of the essays started losing steam at the end. I found some of the later essays not as impactful as the earlier ones. 

Overall, I highly recommend this book to all my fellow bookworms! 

Connect with me!

Goodreads | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | TikTok

Review: Reasons Not to Worry

Leave a comment
Click the picture to purchase the book on Amazon

Rating: ★★★★

I received a copy of this book for free from the publisher (Harper Books) for promotional purposes. 

I was a philosophy major in college so naturally I was excited to read this. 

This was a very practical guide on stoicism and how to incorporate it into your everyday life. The author does a good job breaking down the philosophy of stoics in an easy to follow way, while also including quotes from the stoics themselves. The chapters are well organized with subsections discussing the key ideas. I found a lot of the advice to be helpful, especially the control test because I often get frustrated over things I cannot control. 

The author also pulls from personal experiences and uses them to illustrate stoic thinking. I know that some reviewers didn’t like the anecdotes, but I didn’t mind them. When discussing philosophy it’s always helpful to ground the ideas into something concrete like real life experiences. 

My one critique is that the book does get repetitive at times. A lot of the same ideas get reiterated in multiple chapters. When I learned about stoicism in my ancient philosophy class it was only briefly discussed because there wasn’t as much substance to it compared to other ancient teachings. 

Overall, if you’re interested or even just curious about stoicism, consider reading this! 

Connect with me!

Goodreads | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | TikTok

Review: Dressing the Part

Leave a comment
Click the picture to purchase the book on Amazon

Rating: ★★★★

I received a copy of this book for free from the publisher (Harper Books) for promotional purposes. 

This was a very fun inside look into the world of TV fashion! 

The book showcases a wide range of television shows, spanning all decades and genres. It is divided into different chapters based on style (ex. period shows, working women, and glamour to name a few). This organizational method worked so well (way better than it would be if it were chronological). I thought the selection of shows was very spot on and I liked that a few reality shows were also included. I even discovered some shows that I never heard of (like Moonlighting starring Bruce Willis and Cybill Shepherd).

The writing style is very entertaining with a lot of clever references weaved throughout. There were also interviews with some of the costume designers. However, I felt that the book could have gone into the fashion a bit more. A lot of it was just background and recapping the show. I wanted more information on the clothes themselves. 

The photos in the book are really large and colorful, making this a great book to display on your coffee table. (Although I would have liked captions describing the clothes in the photos)

Overall, this is a stunning book! I recommend it for fashion and TV lovers. 

Connect with me!

Goodreads | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | TikTok

Review: Herbana Witch

Leave a comment
Click the picture to purchase the book on Amazon

Rating: ★★★★★

I received a copy of this book for free from the publisher (Red Wheel Books) for promotional purposes.

I had previously read the author’s other witchy nonfiction book, Backyard Witchcraft, and enjoyed it, so I was excited to read this one. I was not disappointed.

This book centers on the Herbana Witch, which is a type of witch who is connected to nature. The book is divided up into the 4 seasons and provides witchy information on plants, animals, and activities to do during each season. It was highly informative and I learned a lot of new things, especially regarding the properties of certain plants. I particularly liked the Herbana Witch’s Message at the end of each section. They were all spot on.

I love the author’s writing style. There is something almost lyrical about it. It’s smooth and calming, which you often don’t encounter in nonfiction. Nonfiction can sometimes feel sterile and detached. At one part, the author talks about how the Herbana Witch lives on the edge and she wrote a beautiful quote. She writes,

“The edge is thus a space that stands in opposition to the tenets of the majority, to what is ordinary; it is at times a difficult space, but if it is experienced as a space of resistance and revolution, it is a space that is rich in potential, freedom, and possibility.”

pg. 15

This quote really stuck with me and I kept coming back to it to reread. 

The illustrations were also gorgeous. It captured the witchy nature aesthetic and translated what the author was discussing perfectly. For example, in discussing elderberry, the author mentions Saturn. The picture for elderberry incorporated Saturn in the illustration. I loved that cleverness! 

The last few pages are lined for any notes the reader may wish to add, which I thought was a nice touch.

Overall, this is a stunning witchy reference book that will have you thinking deeper about the seasons. 

Connect with me!

Goodreads | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | TikTok

Review: The Indomitable Florence Finch

Leave a comment
Click the picture to purchase the book on Amazon

Rating: ★★★★★

I received a copy of this book for free for promotional purposes. 

What an incredible story!

I previously read Angels of the Pacific, which is a historical fiction novel set in World War II Philippines, and was so fascinated by it. That book (plus the fact that I’m half Filipino and had grandparents who lived through this) made me want to learn more about WWII Philippines, so I just had to read this nonfiction account. 

It is so evident how well researched this book was. The book features one of the most comprehensive bibliographies I’ve ever seen (it even includes unpublished works). Not only does the book follow Florence Finch, but it also touches upon other prominent figures such as General Douglas MacArthur, Carl Engelhart, and Kiyoshi Osawa, which added context and an overview of the world Florence was living in. 

Florence was such a remarkable woman. I’m in awe of all things she did and how she persevered through so much pain and suffering. I’m so glad her story has finally been told. 

As a warning, the second half of the book is a bit brutal to read. It does not hold back when describing the harsh conditions of the Japanese occupation, including descriptions of torture. 

Overall, I highly recommend this book if you’re looking to learn more about this amazing woman or WWII Philippines.

Connect with me!

Goodreads | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | TikTok

Review: Dressing Barbie

Leave a comment
Click the picture to purchase the book on Amazon

Rating: ★★★★★

I received a copy of this book for free for promotional purposes. 

I loved everything about this book!

This book is written by Carol Spencer, who was one of the Barbie fashion designers, and chronicles her tenure at Mattel. Prior to reading this book, I had no idea who she was. I enjoyed learning about her career and the behind the scenes look at how Barbie fashions were created and the process it took to make them. 

The best part of this book were the pictures. This is a big book (height-wise), so there was plenty of space for the photos. Pretty much every single design that Carol talks about is photographed so you know exactly what she is referring to. The photos allow you to see all the little details that make Barbie’s clothes (and her friends’ clothes) so special. 

The writing is easy and accessible, making it suitable for kids and adults. Even if your child cannot read, they will at least enjoy the photos. (Barbie is for everyone!) 

Overall, I recommend this to Barbie fans of course! Even if you’re just a casual fan, you’ll still enjoy this and it will likely make you love Barbie even more. Also, if you’re into fashion, this is also a great read for you! 

Connect with me!

Goodreads | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | TikTok

Review: The Little Dictionary of Fashion

Leave a comment
Click the picture to purchase the book on Amazon

Rating: ★★★★★

I absolutely adored this little book!

This book was written by Christian Dior in 1954 so naturally a lot of it is outdated. For example, there is a lot of discussion on frocks and how to wear them. 

That being said, there is still relevant advice. The overall theme of the book is elegance and accentuating what makes you look good, which is still useful in today’s world. One of my favorite lines comes from the Lingerie definition, “Real elegance is everywhere, especially in things that don’t show…Even if you had on the most beautiful frock, you could never feel your best if you knew that your lingerie was not equally beautiful ” (pg. 73). I 100% agree! 

I also enjoyed learning new fashion terminology like Princess Line (I never knew that style was called that) and Persian Lamb (a fur I have never heard about). 

The whole book has a vintage vibe that I loved. From the cover to the wording to the black and white photos, this book was such a throwback. 

Overall, if you love vintage fashion, the history of fashion, or Dior, you have to get this book! Plus, it’s a cute book to display around the house. 

Connect with me!

Goodreads | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | TikTok

Review: Powers of a Girl

Leave a comment
Click the picture to purchase the book on Amazon

Rating: ★★★★★

This was such a fun guide featuring the ladies of the Marvel Universe! 

I am a huge Marvel fan so I knew I had to read this book. My all time favorite superhero is Squirrel Girl and she is included in this book. 

Each hero gets about 4 pages dedicated to her; complete with a biography and fun facts. I loved that everyone got an equal amount of attention. This book is aimed at a young adult/middle grade audience, so at times the writing and messages can feel slightly juvenile. It’s also more a primer so it’s not going to go in depth into every little detail about these ladies.

Additionally, I enjoyed the selection of women featured. There was a good balance of well known characters (e.g. Black Widow, Captain Marvel, Scarlet Witch) and lesser known ones (e.g. Silk, Moon Girl, Hellcat). 

The best part of the book was the artwork. The artwork is absolutely stunning. The artist did a phenomenal job with each portrait. It was refreshing seeing them redrawn in a different style. Every woman looked fierce! 

Overall, I enjoyed learning about all these heroic ladies! I recommend this book for fans of Marvel’s female superheroes or to anyone who wants to learn more about them. It also would make a great gift. 

Connect with me!

Goodreads | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | TikTok