Category: Non-Fiction

Comedy, LGBTQ, Non-Fiction

Can Everyone Please Calm Down by Mae Martin – A Review

by HelenLeave a Comment on Can Everyone Please Calm Down by Mae Martin – A Review
Can Everyone Please Calm Down by Mae Martin – A Review

Can Everyone Please Calm Down by Mae Martin is a comedy book about sexuality in the 21st century.

“Comedian Mae Martin investigates in this hilarious and intelligent guide to 21st century sexuality. Covering everything from the pros and cons of labels, to coming out and the joys of sexual fluidity, Mae ponders all the stuff we get hung up about – and then a bit more.

Mae’s mission is to ensure that in a world that’s full of things to worry about, who we choose to kiss should not be one of them. And when it comes to sexuality, they ask:

CAN EVERYONE PLEASE CALM DOWN?”

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Banned Books, LGBTQ, Non-Fiction, Social Issues

Here and Queer by Rowan Ellis – A Review

by HelenLeave a Comment on Here and Queer by Rowan Ellis – A Review
Here and Queer by Rowan Ellis – A Review

Here and Queer, by Rowan Ellis, is described as the guide that the author wishes she’d had as a girl. This guide book for queer girls is a sweet, neutral, educational resource for LGBTQ girls, with cute illustrations by Jacky Sheridan. I think this book would be helpful for parents of LGBTQ kids as well.

Many of the reviews by adults note that they wish this had existed when they were children.

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Class, Feminist, LGBTQ, Life, Non-Fiction, On Reading

Some Kids I Taught and What They Taught Me – Review

by Helen2 Comments on Some Kids I Taught and What They Taught Me – Review
Some Kids I Taught and What They Taught Me – Review

I’m sure most people have heard of Some Kids I Taught and What They Taught Me by Kate Clanchy, and the controversy about it. I thought of reviewing the book at the time (which I borrowed via my local Borrowbox library app). However I rarely write negative reviews. And from the language I read she had used, I was fairly sure a review would have to be negative.

I was correct.

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Make do and Mend, Non-Fiction, Thrift

Make do and Mend, with Jill Norman

by HelenLeave a Comment on Make do and Mend, with Jill Norman
Make do and Mend, with Jill Norman

This review is of Make do and Mend (Keeping Family and Home Afloat on War Rations). It is a collection of delightfully reproduced WW2 leaflets, with a foreword by Jill Norman. It’s a beautiful snapshot of the past. It can be easy to romanticise the wartime era, and think that everyone knew how to sew, cook and fix their homes. In reality, the much lauded ‘Blitz Spirit’ was formed and reinforced with a lot of propaganda and hand holding. This included classes, radio shows and detailed leaflets. The leaflets covered home maintenance, fuel conservation, and tips on how to wash, store, and mend clothing.

They could even help you learn how to make do and mend today!

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Cook Book, Make do and Mend, Non-Fiction, Thrift

Thrifty Ways for Modern Days by Martin Lewis

by HelenLeave a Comment on Thrifty Ways for Modern Days by Martin Lewis
Thrifty Ways for Modern Days by Martin Lewis

Money saving expert Martin Lewis begins Thrifty Ways for Modern Days by explaining that this is a crowd sourced book. He gives all credit to his resourceful forumites, on the Old Style Board.

He explains he himself is not an old-styler, as it is a lifestyle, not just an adjustment. He recommends it for people who *need* to do it, due to debt or unemployment, and for people who want to live a greener, thriftier lifestyle. The book is divided into cleaning, shopping, fashion, DIY, special occasions, presents, growing your own and recipes.

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Cook Book, Make do and Mend, Non-Fiction, Thrift

Tin Can Cook by Jack Monroe

by HelenLeave a Comment on Tin Can Cook by Jack Monroe
Tin Can Cook by Jack Monroe

Unusually, I got the Kindle version of Tin Can Cook. I tend to have my phone handy when cooking so I figured it would be appropriate. So far, it’s introduced me to the joys of tinned potatoes (9/10 most of a fresh bag will end up in the compost before we use it).

FYI, if you want to start composting, this site does cheap, subsidised bins – https://getcomposting.com

I have a real soft spot for Jack Monroe, for a very practical reason. The recipes on the Cooking on a Bootstrap website helped me when I was seriously struggling financially. Put it this way; I wasn’t visiting a food bank, but maybe I should have been.

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