Jenn’s Books

Title:The New Professional Image Author: Susan Bixler Format: Trade Paperbound

This book struck me as a good present for someone who may be reentering the work force or going into it for the first time. For those of us that have been in the business world for a while, this is a great book to check out at your local library. I found that I had to have the salt shaker nearby simply to have enough grains to take with this book. The author seems to have her fashion sense stuck in the late fifties. Sorry to say that we are not all June Cleaver anymore. She seems endlessly attached to pearls. I personally don’t like wearing pearls. The things I think that Bixler has done right is dividing the book into levels of professional dress and then again into women and men. She does also address some of the most common mistakes make by both sexes, like wearing too much fragrance, tailoring, and grooming. I do love the whole section on grooming that she has as it does go from your eyes to your lips to your hair. This book is good for those that want just a few pointers on how to look a bit more professional but want to keep their individuality.
If you would like more reviews on this title, please visit the Amazon website.

We should read to give our souls a chance to luxuriate.

~Henry Miller

Posted on July 19th, 2006.

Title: Thunder Cake Author: Patricia Polacco Format: Trade Paperbound

Patricia Polacco’s Thunder Cake has always been a favorite of mine. It starts off with this little girl hiding under her grandmother’s bed because she is afraid of the thunder. Well, Babushka will have none of that. “Let’s make a thunder cake,” she declares. This brings our frightened young one out from under the bed to find out what that is. In order to have this special cake, she must venture out of the house where the big Midwestern thunder storm is, not to mention the goats and the geese and the big pig. Her babushka helps her along with plenty of patience and a lot of hugs. By the time this wonderful chocolate cake comes out of the oven, our little heroine is no longer afraid of the big thunder storm. And for those that are salivating over that cake, the author is kind enough to include the recipe. I would recommend this to anyone who has a child that is afraid of things that can be explained and worked away.
If you would like more reviews of this title, please visit the Amazon website.

Title: Superstitious Author: R.L. Stine Format: Mass Market

I found Stine’s one adult novel an interesting premise. What if your family is cursed? The curse only goes from father to son. Once a son is born, the father is released from it. And you must watch your every step to make sure that you don’t break it. For if you do, the people you love will die, with you watching. Your life will be reduced to watching for black cats and avoiding ladders. For if you break a superstition, a demon will be born into this world; little ones at first, just killing insects and small critters. Yet as time goes on, they become bigger, meaner, and more dangerous. And the only way to rid yourself of the curse is to give it to another of your own blood. Personally, I thought the book was well written but could have done without the graphic sex carelessly thrown into the book. I would recommend this title to anyone who doesn’t mind the unnecessary sex and is looking for a unique plot line.
If you would like more reviews of this title, please visit the Amazon website.

Title:Soprano Sorceress Author: L.E.Modesitt Jr. Format: Mass Market

Very few fantasy stories try to do something new with the main character. Most of them tend to be busty, young females or brawny, young males. In this first of five book series, Modesitt changes all that. The book starts with a 42 year old woman, divorced mother of three. Anna has just lost one of her children, and is trying to hold herself together. She is a community college chorus teacher, and has a decent voice. Just as she has gotten herself fixed up to go sing for a charity event at her school, her bra and dress decide not to cooperate with each other and her, and she says the fateful words “I wish I was anywhere but here.” She goes from a impending rainstorm to dry heat. She finds that indeed she is somewhere else. Where she is now loved and feared for her voice, a voice like fire, the voice of a sorceress. Her new world looks to her to save them from not only each other but the never ending drought. But Anna can not let go of her old world, the world her children are still in. This is much more of a political and emotional story then it is a fantasy. For those that don’t like all of the dragons and fire casting mages, this is a wonderful series. Also if you are a big fan of the Song of Fire and Ice series by George R. R. Martin, then you will like this series.
If you would like more reviews on this title, please visit the Amazon website.

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TitleThe Espresso Bartenders Guide to Espresso Bartending Author: Sally Slankard Format: Trade Paperbound

Several years ago, I was training to be a barista, the person that makes your morning latte or cappuccino. I had no idea what any of the jargon meant; I was a simple brewed coffee, cream and sugar, thank you, kind of girl. But as the new job in the bookstore cafe would bring a much needed pay increase, I went over and picked up a book. This one happened to be it. It is a slightly playful introduction to all the lingo and recipes for coffee and espresso. It covers everything from the basic espresso shot, the building block for all drinks, to the mysterious macchiato, a shot with a little bit of foam on top, to the little known Con Panna, a shot of espresso with a touch of whipped cream. I am constantly battling customers who have just come from Starbucks and want their macchiato the Starbucks way. Well, the rest of the world calls that a caramel latte. This is a must-have training guide for any coffee shop and for anyone who wants to wow their guests. I was most amused to find that a non-fat, no foam, sugar free, decaf is called a No Fun up in Coffee Country, a.k.a. Seattle, Washington.
If you would like more reviews on this title, please visit the Amazon website.