Daily Archives: May 5, 2015

Lovely, Romantic, Sweet tale

Posted on May 5, 2015 by Iiiireader

Sweet Girl

By: Rachel Hollis

Rating: 5 of 5

sweetgirlInstead of the simple romance that I expected, reading “Sweet Girl” by Rachel Hollis was more of a real life adventure with romance thrown in. I didn’t realize that it was part of a series (“Party Girl” was the first book and one that I will be reading very soon.) You don’t need to have read the first book, but based on how well written “Sweet Girl” is done, I highly recommend reading both of the books – that way you will know more about the characters.

First of all, the book is very funny. It is told a little tongue-in-cheek and I found myself smiling and laughing my way through it. However, it also deals with very serious issues and it does so in a very responsible way. There is nothing glib about the way these characters feel about things that matter. But just like I find in my life, laughing about little things helps one cope with the hard to imagine and live with serious things.

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Lyrical and beautifully written love story

Posted on May 5, 2015 by Iiiireader

The House of Hawthorne: A Novel

By: Erika Robuck

Rating: 5 of 5

thehouseofhawthorne“The House of Hawthorne” is the first book I have read by Erika Robuck though it will certainly not be the last. While I am not generally a read of historical fiction, this one simply grabbed my heart.

The story is told is such beautiful and lyrical fashion, it reads as prose which is completely appropriate for a book written about the love story of two artists – Nathaniel Hawthorne(a renowned writer) and Sophia Peabody Hawthorne(painter and illustrator.)

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Delicious and gorgeous cupcakes and more

Posted on May 5, 2015 by Iiiireader

Buttercream Dreams: Small Cakes, Big Scoops, and Sweet Treats

By: Jeff Martin

Rating: 5 of 5

buttercreamdreamsI have never had a cupcake from Smallcakes – the cupcake business founded by Jeff Martin but am eagerly awaiting the opening of one of their shops in my city in Texas. In the meantime, I have this wonderful book “Buttercream Dreams” with which I can make my own version of some of their tried and true recipes.

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Outstanding Book of Lessons on Realistic Drawing/Painting

Posted on May 5, 2015 by Iiiireader

The Realism Challenge: Drawing and Painting Secrets from a Modern Master of Hyperrealism

By: Mark Crilley

Rating: 5 of 5

realismchallengeWhat a wonderful tool this book is for anyone who wants to learn to draw in a realistic way. “The Realism Challenge: Drawing and Painting Secrets from a Modern Master of Hyperrealism” is the first book I have by Mark Crilley.

I have recently read a book about the advent of Modernist movement of the early twentieth century – when artists were moving away from realistic art because of, in part, the invention of affordable photography. At that time, artists were less concerned about realistically capturing an image in their art. It is really interesting that about one hundred years later, this attitude has made a 180 degree change. Perhaps this is due in part to digital art being able to manipulate items into total abstract. It seems time for artists to once again capture the world around us in a realistic (or hyperrealistic) manner.

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Posted in Needlework/Arts/Crafts | Leave a comment