Forest Bathing Retreat by Hannah Fries
Full of achingly gorgeous photos, Forest Bathing Retreat by Hannah Fries is a beautiful introduction to the concept of shinrin-ryoku, or forest bathing. Scattered throughout are quotes and poems by nature-oriented people, and each section contains meditative suggestions to help you with your own exploration of the rejuvenating effects of forest bathing. There’s plenty for the linguistic and science minded as well. Words and phrases to help you better appreciate the experience of nature are also scattered throughout. Words such as ‘petrichor’- the smell of earth after rain, or ‘psithurism’- sound of wind through trees. Many, like shinrin-ryoku itself, are from other languages, English have no comparable word for the concept. It was fascinating to learn how trees communicate with one another. I already knew plants were cognizant of sounds, and of emotional energy. I found it rather synchronistic that mention was made of fungi mycelia as conduits of communication. I’m currently reading Mycelium Running by Paul Stamets, pretty much a primer on that subject alone! Highly recommended for dendrophiles, and nature lovers, as well as those wishing to learn more about this unique form of stress relief.
***Many thanks to Netgalley and Storey Publications for providing an egalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Subversive Spirits by Robin Roberts
Subversive Spirits by Robin Roberts charts a course through modern spheres of entertainment, tracking the elusive figure of the female ghost/spirit in literature, theatre, and film, and what she reflects back to us about the perceived roles of women and the feminine in our culture. This book only looks at US and UK entertainment. The first chapter looks at comedic ghosts. The next two chapters look at terrifying maternal ghosts, each specifically focusing on a geographic region. I particularly enjoyed these two selections. Then a chapter on female spirits and feminist history, followed by one looking at the mediated female ghost in the US and UK, and finally, a chapter on how female ghosts are treated currently via storytelling media. As this book only covers the UK and US, it barely scratches the surface of it’s true value and potential. Of course, that would take a massive volume, or more likely several volumes. The role of female spirits in Asian entertainment and those cultural reflections, for example, are quite different! Several suggestions for books looking at female spirits from other cultural contexts are provided in the introduction though. I really enjoyed reading through it, and think it’d make a great addition to media history classes. I once took a class called ‘Frankenstein in Film and Literature.’ You could certainly make a class around female ghosts, or ghosts more generally, in film and lit.
***Many thanks to Netgalley and the University Press of Mississippi for providing an egalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Unicorn Food by Kat Odell
Unicorn Food by Kat Odell is a recipe book full of healthy vegan food. The title is quite fitting since all the recipes are plant based, and are bright and colourful. As magical as unicorns! The title and bright colours reminded me a lot of the Lisa Frank stickers of my childhood. I checked this book out since I’ve had to radically adjust my diet thanks to a liver condition. While I don’t have to be strictly vegan/vegetarian, the bulk of my foods are supposed to be. Why not find a way to make it fun? I’m not likely to try all of the recipes, but I did find several to add to my repertoire. And my cubs & niece loved the bright colours, and the idea of making ‘unicorn food’. Certainly makes healthy foods more attractive for them!
***Many thanks to Netgalley and Workman Publishing for providing an egalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Donald & the Golden Crayon by P Shauers
Donald & the Golden Crayon by P Shauers is an adult parody of the popular children’s book Harold and the Purple Crayon. Through it we follow the cough illustrious US president as he muddles his childish way through various ‘adventures’. From a walled off golf course to a multiroom mansion, Donald uses his magical golden crayon to create whatever he wants. When he tries to make a TV that tells him only what he wants to hear, the Golden Crayon meets it’s match. In a tantrum, Donald breaks his magic crayon, then proceeds to tweet about how pathetic crayons are for breaking.
The whole story is a perfect illustration of just how pathetic and childish this man really is. For the majority, these are things he has actually said and done, complete with authentic speech. I was cracking up as I read this. Ya have to, ya know? Or else you’d be crying. It’s all so absurd, yet it’s true. Blech. Hahahaha. I don’t know if the author’s name is a play on the ‘golden shower’ tape, but if it is, that’s priceless. If not, great coincidence! I also loved the Citizen Kane reference.
***Many thanks to Netgalley and Schiffer Publishing for providing an egalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
