Forever Young by Hayley Mills


Forever Young by Hayley Mills
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Genre: Historical, Non-Fiction, Memoir, Contemporary
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

Iconic actress Hayley Mills shares personal memories from her storied childhood, growing up in a famous acting family and becoming a Disney child star, trying to grow up in a world that wanted her to stay forever young.

The daughter of acclaimed British actor Sir John Mills was still a preteen when she began her acting career and was quickly thrust into the spotlight. Under the wing of Walt Disney himself, Hayley Mills was transformed into one of the biggest child starlets of the 1960s through her iconic roles in Pollyanna, The Parent Trap, and many more. She became one of only twelve actors in history to be bestowed with the Academy Juvenile Award, presented at the Oscars by its first recipient, Shirley Temple, and went on to win a number of awards including a Golden Globe, multiple BAFTAs, and a Disney Legacy Award.

Now, in her charming and forthright memoir, she provides a unique window into when Hollywood was still ‘Tinseltown’ and the great Walt Disney was at his zenith, ruling over what was (at least in his own head) still a family business. This behind-the-scenes look at the drama of having a sky-rocketing career as a young teen in an esteemed acting family will offer both her childhood impressions of the wild and glamorous world she was swept into, and the wisdom and broader knowledge that time has given her. Hayley will delve intimately into her relationship with Walt Disney, as well as the emotional challenges of being bound to a wholesome, youthful public image as she grew into her later teen years, and how that impacted her and her choices–including marrying a producer over 30 years her senior when she was 20! With her regrets, her joys, her difficulties, and her triumphs, this is a compelling read for any fan of classic Disney films and an inside look at a piece of real Hollywood history.

You may not have heard the name Hayley Mills in a while, but you certainly will know her name after reading this.

I grew up with the films of Hayley Mills. I’d seen The Parent Trap what seems like a few hundred times and knew the songs by heart. I’d seen That Darn Cat a zillion times, too. But I never knew the person who played those iconic roles. Now I do.

Hayley Mills is somewhat stereotypical in that she got roles, got guidance from an older man and had an eating disorder. I can’t imagine being in Hollywood and being told at size 2 you’re still too fat. She also managed to balance the dating/marrying a much older man thing for quite a while, too. I had no idea she was even married, so this was news to me. I had no idea her mother wrote a movie or that her father was an actor. Honestly, I just knew her as the girl in That Darn Cat!

Yes, this book provides a peek behind the curtain. It also lets the reader see what Hayley Mills was thinking when she took on those roles. I liked her stories and bit of name dropping, too. She worked in the film industry and met famous people! Crazy.

If you want to know more about this actress and want an easy read–the writing flows quite well and is like reading a conversation between friends–then this might be the book for you. It was for me.

The Lyrics by Paul McCartney


The Lyrics by Paul McCartney
Publisher: Liveright
Genre: Contemporary, Historical, Non-Fiction, Music
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

A work of unparalleled candor and splendorous beauty, The Lyrics celebrates the creative life and the musical genius of Paul McCartney through 154 of his most meaningful songs.
From his early Liverpool days, through the historic decade of The Beatles, to Wings and his long solo career, The Lyrics pairs the definitive texts of 154 Paul McCartney songs with first-person commentaries on his life and music. Spanning two alphabetically arranged volumes, these commentaries reveal how the songs came to be and the people who inspired them: his devoted parents, Mary and Jim; his songwriting partner, John Lennon; his “Golden Earth Girl,” Linda Eastman; his wife, Nancy McCartney; and even Queen Elizabeth, among many others. Here are the origins of “Let It Be,” “Lovely Rita,” “Yesterday,” and “Mull of Kintyre,” as well as McCartney’s literary influences, including Shakespeare, Lewis Carroll, and Alan Durband, his high-school English teacher.

With images from McCartney’s personal archives—handwritten texts, paintings, and photographs, hundreds previously unseen—The Lyrics, spanning sixty-four years, becomes the definitive literary and visual record of one of the greatest songwriters of all time.

The lyrics and then some…this book is truly packed.

I picked up this pair of books because I wanted to know more about the stories behind the songs of Paul McCartney. Now, I have to add the caveat that there are Lennon-McCartney songs as well, which is a nice bonus. Anything anyone wants to know about those songs, at least from Paul McCartney’s point of view is there. Stories, tales and even some tidbits. It’s quite nice because there’s no glazing over. He tells the stories. There are wonderful photographs as well and many illustrate the song through what he was doing at the time. I rather liked it. He has many of his own solo songs there as well. A few of the ones I would’ve liked to have known about were missing, but that’s okay. Can’t please everyone and there is enough here to please a lot!

This is a big set of books and will take some time to go through, but if you’re a Beatles fan, a McCartney fan or just want to know the stories behind some great songs, then this is the set of books for you.

Live Alone and Like It by Marjorie Hillis


Live Alone and Like It by Marjorie Hillis
Publisher: Virago Modern Classics
Genre: Self-Help, Non-Fiction, Contemporary, Historical
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

In this witty, engaging guide, a renowned Vogue editor takes readers through the fundamentals of living alone by showing them how to create a welcoming environment and cultivate home-friendly hobbies, “for no woman can accept an invitation every night without coming to grief.”

“Whether you view your one-woman ménage as Doom or Adventure, you need a plan, if you are going to make the best of it.”

However, purchasing cialis properien appalachianmagazine.com online has certain pros and cons. Utilizing the precious appalachianmagazine.com cheapest cialis properties of the herbs, there is no way the supplements can affect your body in negative way. This drug can be tadalafil 5mg tablets taken when needed or on a daily basis. This will sent to you via shipping across the world. prices generic cialis Thus begins Marjorie Hillis’ archly funny, gently prescriptive manifesto for single women. Though it was 1936 when the Vogue editor first shared her wisdom with her fellow singletons, the tome has been passed lovingly through the generations, and is even more apt today than when it was first published. Hillis, a true bon vivant, was sick and tired of hearing single women carping about their living arrangements and lonely lives; this book is her invaluable wake-up call for single women to take control and enjoy their circumstances.

With engaging chapter titles like “A Lady and Her Liquor” and “The Pleasures of a Single Bed,” along with a new preface by author Laurie Graff (You Have to Kiss A Lot of Frogs), Live Alone and Like It is sure to appeal to live-aloners—and those considering taking the plunge.

Tips for living even in a modern world.

I have to preface this review by noting this book is a reprint of the version that was a bestseller in 1936. It is dated. Yes, I know that. But that’s a lot of the charm of this book.

The tips are geared toward the 1936 woman and some if it won’t fly in modern times. That’s where going into this book by looking at is as a slice of the past helps. Take it for the time it was written. Not many people are running around in mink coats any longer, but the stories are cute. There are practical tips about knowing you are enough and can achieve what you want if you put the work in.

Go into this book with an open mind and expect a dated read that has funny moments and those to make you think. You’ll be glad you did.

Get Back by John Harris


Get Back by John Harris
Publisher: Callaway Arts & Entertainment
Genre: Historical, Recent Historical, Music, Non-Fiction
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

The most anticipated book in more than a decade by the legendary band, The Beatles: Get Back is the official account of the creation of their final album, Let It Be, told in The Beatles’ own words, illustrated with hundreds of previously unpublished images, including photos by Ethan A. Russell and Linda McCartney. Half a century after the 1970 Let It Be album and film, this milestone book coincides with the global release of Peter Jackson’s documentary feature film, The Beatles: Get Back.

The book opens in January 1969, the beginning of The Beatles’ last year as a band. The BEATLES (The White Album) is at number one in the charts and the foursome gather in London for a new project. Over 21 days, first at Twickenham Film Studios and then at their own brand-new Apple Studios, with cameras and tape recorders documenting every day’s work and conversations, the band rehearse a huge number of songs, culminating in their final concert, which famously takes place on the rooftop of their own office building, bringing central London to a halt.

The Beatles: Get Back tells the story of those sessions through transcripts of the band’s candid conversations. Drawing on over 120 hours of sound recordings, leading music writer John Harris edits the richly captivating text to give us a fly-on-the-wall experience of being there in the studios. These sessions come vividly to life through hundreds of unpublished, extraordinary images by two photographers who had special access to their sessions—Ethan A. Russell and Linda Eastman (who married Paul McCartney two months later). Also included are many unseen high-resolution film-frames, selected from the 55 hours of restored footage from which Peter Jackson’s documentary is also drawn.

Legend has it that these sessions were a grim time for a band falling apart. However, as acclaimed novelist Hanif Kureishi writes in his introduction, “In fact this was a productive time for them, when they created some of their best work. And it is here that we have the privilege of witnessing their early drafts, the mistakes, the drift and digressions, the boredom, the excitement, joyous jamming and sudden breakthroughs that led to the work we now know and admire.” Half a century after their final performance, this book completes the story of the creative genius, timeless music, and inspiring legacy of The Beatles.

Have you ever wanted to know how the recording of Get Back really went? Want to be an insider at the sessions? Then this book takes you there.

I’m a huge Beatles fan. Have been my whole life. I live for the next tome about their work and love the unreleased weird sidetracks, plus the tracks that show how far the song ends up going during the creation process. This book is a lot like that. There are pieces of undiscovered treasure in the conversations and interesting things to learn about the band.

It’s also a bit sad. I thought I knew a lot about the band, but I didn’t realize how much the band was breaking apart during the recording of this album. This book touches on that tension. There are entire pieces of conversation written as dialogue and the exact words from each member are there. It’s sad because there were definite cracks in the foundation of the band and like many groups, no one wanted to deal with said cracks.

If you don’t have time to sit through the entire Get Back tv special, then this might be a good alternative. There are a lot of photos. Since this was a documentary, there is a lot of insider info and little held back. It’s worth a read.

If you’re looking for a Beatles fix, then this might be the book for you. Check it out.

Naturalized: A Memoir and An Exposé by Racheal Selma


Naturalized: A Memoir and An Exposé by Racheal Selma
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Non-Fiction, Contemporary
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Naturalized: An Immigrant’s Story takes readers along Racheal Selma’s path from arriving in Mesa, Arizona in 2008 to authoring a book. From marriage to Mugshot of the Day Recipient to homeless to All-State Academic Scholar, Naturalized: An Immigrant’s Story is a bizarre, yet fascinating read.

Racheal Selma migrated to Mesa, Arizona on February 3, 2008, from Trinidad, an island in the Caribbean. On July 4, 2018, Racheal received the right of citizenship through the naturalization process.

Naturalized: An Immigrant’s Story includes Racheal Selma’s views on religion, government, racism, bearing arms, voting, and much more. The book includes an account of Racheal Selma’s 2012 arrest and the night spent naked in a Maricopa County Jail in Phoenix.

Racheal adds intrigue to drama, claiming a former president of these United States is one of the two witnesses written of in the Book of Revelation.
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Racheal Selma wrote Naturalized: An Immigrant’s Story to open eyes, hearts, and minds, increase awareness, understanding, and enlightenment, and reduce fear, depression, and sickness.

Knowing the truth makes you free…

It takes courage to move to another part of the world and start a new life.

My favorite passages were the ones that explained the cultural and geographic differences between Trinidad and the United States. For example, the author had a bit of a shock when she first flew into Atlanta due to the cold weather. She was so used to the tropical climate of her home country that it never occurred to her to pack warm clothing and a coat for when she arrived in the United States. I smiled at her descriptions of trying to stay warm in the Hartsford-Jackson Atlanta International Airport until a kind stewardess noticed and gave her a blanket. It’s easy to assume that one’s experiences are universal, especially for people who have spent so much of their lives in one place. There’s something special about gently peeling back these assumptions and discovering the truth. This is something the author did well!

Ms. Selma spent a lot of time jumping around from one idea to the next without explaining how they were connected. She’d share vivid memories of her emigration from Trinidad to the United States in one paragraph only to switch topics and discuss her thoughts on the Apollo 11 mission, the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the true identity of Barack Obama, or how she thinks one should avoid becoming infected with Covid-19 in the next paragraph. It was confusing for me as a reader to follow her train of thought, especially since many of these topics were so far removed from each other as well as from her experiences as an immigrant.

I enjoyed the author’s descriptions of how she became an American citizen after being a permanent resident of that country for several years. Many countries have lengthy processes that applicants must go through and reams of paperwork they must fill out in order to become a citizen. Her descriptions of how this process worked were as interesting as they were a confirmation that government bureaucracy knows no bounds. Anyplace that has a government is almost certain to have countless forms to fill out and hoops to jump through as well. It was lovely, and sometimes also a little amusing, to see just how similar we all are in this respect no matter who we are or where we live in the world.

Naturalized: A Memoir and An Exposé was a thought-provoking read I’d recommend to anyone who is curious about the immigration and naturalization process in the United States.

Kaleidomorphia by Kerby Rosanes


Kaleidomorphia by Kerby Rosanes
Publisher: Plume
Genre: Non-Fiction
Rated: 5 stars
Reviewed by Snapdragon

The astonishing second compilation of striking images taken from the Morphia series, with colored-in examples Kaleidomorphia is a stunning second compilation of Kerby Rosanes’s most remarkable artwork from his beloved mega-bestselling Morphia series. This collection, just like the first, Colormorphia, features a full-color sixteen-page section that showcases some of the most accomplished completed artworks produced by Kerby’s fans. These pages demonstrate the range of approaches colorists can experiment with when coloring.

The artworks displayed in the color section are included in the black-and-white section of the book, too, giving the reader the opportunity to duplicate the approach should they wish. In addition, there are a variety of images to color featuring the very best from Kerby’s Morphia portfolio.

Kaleidomorphia, offered as a ‘coloring challenge’ is a large coloring book that combines some opening text with many different and diverse images.

The author’s innovative approach to coloring offers the reader/artists (called ‘Colorists’ in the text) samples and discusses how colors and techniques allow for different effects. The opening offers us hints and ideas; from the use of different mediums like acrylics, or the careful selection of a limited palette, to create a certain effect.

This informative opening leads into the most amazing line drawings. The subject matter ranges from animal and scenics to fantasy and the fantastic. The level of detail in each page is astonishing.

To sit and page through slowly, even without coloring, allows one to escape into a quiet dream world, where lines become designs then somehow transform back into the initial subject. Many of the pictures come from a realist’s perspective although some do also have a simpler, or more cartoon-like quality.

I found Kerby Rosanes’s Kaleidomorphia a wonderfully enjoyable diversion and recommend it to all fans of coloring books.

Happiness Is Listening to Your Dog Snore – Humorous and Inspirational Dog Quotes to Celebrate Our Canine Friends by Sandra Murphy


Happiness Is Listening to Your Dog Snore – Humorous and Inspirational Dog Quotes to Celebrate Our Canine Friends by Sandra Murphy
Publisher: Untreed Reads
Genre: Non-Fiction, Inspirational, Contemporary, Historical
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

From Afghans and Akitas to Yakutians and Yorkies, and everything in between, there’s a very special connection between dogs and their owners. Our four-legged friends put smiles on our faces, comfort us when we’re down and make us laugh with their antics. They aren’t just “man’s best friend” but a terrific companion to women, children and anyone in need of the perfect companion.

Bestselling author and editor Sandra Murphy (Peace, Love, and Crime: Crime Fiction Inspired by the Songs of the 60s, From Hay to Eternity) has compiled a collection of quotes celebrating canines; our furry friends who bring so much joy to our lives. Some quotes will be familiar, many will be new, but all remind us how wonderful it is to have dogs in our lives.

Dogs make the world a better place.

One of the things I liked the most about this collection was the way the author separated all of the quotes out in various sections. The first portion was dedicated to humorous quotes, while later ones included themes that ranged from inspirational to what the author’s peers at Untreed Reads thought about dogs. It was nice to know what to expect from each section before I read it, and it also made it easy to flip ahead or back to a specific theme if needed.

As much as I enjoyed reading these quotes, there were times when I found them repetitive. The same themes and ideas were repeated over and over again in the various sections. It would have been nice to have a wider range of thoughts on the topic as dogs are creatures almost everyone loves. Had this been the case, I would have happily gone with a much higher rating as the concept itself was well worth checking out.

Some of my favorite sections were the ones that pondered what the world might look like through canine eyes. For example, one quote discussed whether the writer’s dog might have given them a name and, if so, what that name might be. That was exactly the sort of content I was hoping to read about! It’s fascinating to gaze into the eyes of a dog and try to figure out what they’re thinking about.

I smiled as I read Happiness Is Listening to Your Dog Snore.

Once ‘a Pun’ a Time – a Guide to Reading and Telling Jokes for Kids by Wolf Cub Chlo


Once ‘a Pun’ a Time – a Guide to Reading and Telling Jokes for Kids by Wolf Cub Chlo
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Children’s (0 – 6 y.o.), Middle Grade (8 – 12 y.o.), Non-Fiction, Contemporary
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

What do you get when you mix a 6 year old with a global crisis? If you twirl around, click your heels three times while chanting “there’s no place like home,” you get a jokes for kids book! Tired of reading the same boring books?

Want to read something funny and learn a secret at the same time? Then you’ve come to the right place! Read silly jokes for kids in part I and learn the secret joke formula in part II.

Funny joke books for kids help:
* increase reading comprehension
* decrease depression and anxiety
* spark creativity
* create endless hours of fun and so much more

“Once ‘a pun’ a Time – a guide to reading and telling jokes for kids:
contains colorful illustrations on every page
short read to keep the attention span of young and reluctant readers
introduces readers to homophones and common puns
teaches readers how to tell their own silly jokes also known as dad jokes
is small in size and can be carried in: backpacks, gift bags, totes perfect for subway rides, airplane travels, long road trips and bored days at home.

If you need something lighthearted and cheerful, look no further!

I couldn’t stop chuckling at the puns the author shared in the beginning of this book. She had a playful sense of humor that I think would appeal to adults who like dad jokes just as much as it does for the kids that it was originally written for. Honestly, who doesn’t enjoy some silly wordplay every now and again?

My favorite section was the one that showed kids how to come up with their own jokes. It clearly explained how homophones could be used to make people laugh. I also appreciated the pictures it shared and the space it gave the audience to make up their own jokes about what was happening in those scenes. Everything was presented so logically and simply that it could be understood by younger kids just as much as it could the older ones.

Occasionally, the author clarified what she meant in parentheses after finishing a sentence or section. I liked the fact that she put so much effort in making sure her audience understood what she was truly trying to say. While I did interpret nearly all of them in the way she was hoping I would, it’s definitely a good idea to clarify. That’s a sign of a good writer, and I look forward to seeing what else she writes in the future as she grows older.

Once ‘a Pun’ a Time – a Guide to Reading and Telling Jokes for Kids was a delightful read.

Coloring the Zodiac by Christina Haberkern


Coloring the Zodiac by Christina Haberkern
Publisher: Plume
Genre: Non-Fiction, Young Adult (14 – 18 y.o.)
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Cholla

There are twelve signs in the zodiac and twelve ways to celebrate the radiance of the stars, as well as the incredible history and symbolism behind each sign. Illustrator Christina Haberkern shares beautiful, intricate, fun-to-color pages influenced by the latest trends in fonts, design, and pop culture, with more than forty pages to color. The symbol, character, and constellation of each sign will be featured, along with pages of pure celestial, decorative, and pattern designs.

Are you a fan of astrology? Do you sit down and check your horoscope daily? If so, then this is a great coloring book for you. Even if you’re only a casual student of astrology or simply randomly curious, you can still enjoy this fabulous book celebrating all twelve sun signs. There’s something for everyone inside these pages, no matter your artistic abilities.

Coloring the Zodiac gives you a lot of options when deciding what to choose first. For each sign you get several pages with different aspects of the signs. Symbols, images, affirmations, and even quotes from some famous reps for your sign abound in this book. The illustrations are easy enough to color but detailed enough to make your artwork really stand out when it’s complete. The artist does an excellent job of capturing what is truly representative of each sign with her drawings.

I wasn’t quite sure what to expect when I picked up this book. Adult coloring books can be very hit or miss at times. However, I was very pleasantly surprised by what I found in this one. All the drawings called to me, not just those for my sign. I could relate to the pages dedicated to my sign and see my family and friends in the others. Another bonus is that it’d be suitable for younger audiences as well, teens and tweens would have fun coloring in the designs as well as adults. The next time you’re feeling a bit stressed or restless, grab your colored pencils and this book and have fun. I know that’s how I plan to spend some time in the very near future – it’s written in the stars.

Lady and the Tribe by Brenda Billings Ridgley


Lady and the Tribe by Brenda Billings Ridgley
Publisher: Whole You Media
Genre: Non-Fiction (self-help)
Rated: 4 stars
Review by Poppy

Wives, mothers and career women – we have all fallen victim to the silent epidemic that is, literally . . . letting ourselves go. Not the weight-gain, makeup-free, yoga-pants routine. Little by little, we have allowed our preferences, interests, and individuality to slip away until we no longer recognize ourselves outside of our role as wives, mothers, or professionals. Who we are has become what we do.

In the process, our friendships have become the casualty of a “busy life” and lack consistency and depth. We have a gaping hole inside us that longs to be filled. How do we reclaim who we really are and fill this empty space that seemed to appear from nowhere?

The answer lies in our Tribe. Our best friends see us more clearly than we see ourselves and are representations and extensions of our individuality. They are our companions, cheerleaders, and counselors—always in our corner. They are the branches of our tree of life that lift and support us, so we can flourish. Our Tribe is the family with whom we choose to live our life . . . with no strings attached.
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Lady and the Tribe is a blueprint for building deep connections. As you read, you’ll be swept away on a journey of friendship as the author shares her own personal stories and those of other women. In the process, you’ll discover how to find, nurture, and deepen friendships and create a Tribe culture that is unique to you.

I’ve just moved to the other side of the country and left all my friends and family behind. So when I saw this book pop up for review, I grabbed it since I’d love to have a new “tribe” of women friends here where I live now.

I honestly wasn’t sure exactly what to expect from this book, but I really did enjoy it. It started out a little slowly, with quite a bit of citing of studies that showed how much women need friendship and support, etc., but stick it out because it’s worth it. The author shares about her own journey and how she came to know who was in “her” tribe and whose tribes she was part of. It was interesting to see the different descriptions of the types of people you are friends with and it all made sense as I read. It made me realize that there are, in fact, friends for a season (or a reason) and we shouldn’t feel badly if we lose touch with those. And it made me recognize the few women I’ve become such good friends with that years and distance don’t matter.

My only actual criticism of this book was that, well… I’m a “doer” and a maker of lists and very type A, and I wanted more instructions on HOW to build my tribe. LOL! I was so excited at the one time she actually made a list of questions that I could write down and answer, which I did diligently and thoroughly. And when that was done, I had my journal ready for more. And it didn’t happen. (Aside to the author: maybe a workbook would be in order for people like me?)

Those of you who live a little less rigidly than I and maybe don’t love routine and to-do lists in the same passion as I do, who prefer reading others’ experiences as an illustration of how to do something should absolutely enjoy this book. And I can whole-heartedly recommend it.