I'm dreaming of a green Christmas

Gifts, Decorations, and Recipes that Use Less and Mean More

by Anna Getty

A lovely book filled with lots of environmentally-friendly ways to celebrate.

Eco-Chic Home

Rethink, reuse & remake your way to sustainable style

by Emily Anderson

Ways to reduce and reuse with instructions for many projects to use in various rooms.

I liked this book; it has some really nice ideas. But a lot of the instructions are very unclear, and twice (pp. 29, 175) the word "harkening" or "harkens" is used when the author meant "harking" or "harks." On page 97, I can't make heads or tails of the instructions for making a reusable snack carrier. On page 128, there are instructions for making a ladder clothes rack which call for "two identical wooden ladders" and later it says "the ladders should be open, with the steps facing out to the left and right." Oh, step-ladders. But the rest of the instructions are very confusing too. On page 172, "long-distance" should not be hyphenated. And on page 100, there's a picture with a plastic water bottle on a table; that is not environmentally-friendly.

I don't mean to be so picky, but I read a lot of books that have no errors at all. I have no formal experience or university education on proofreading, so if I can pick up on these things, a professional surely should. And if someone is writing a book with project instructions, they really ought to get someone to try making the project from those instructions before publishing the book.

Shark On Line

by Carla Allen

This book tells the history of the Yarmouth Shark Scramble, the story of it's biggest shark catch and the urban legend that resulted from one of the author's photos of that shark, other shark catch and fishing stories and anecdotes, shark research findings, and shark attack stories from all over the world. There is information about conservation efforts as well as about the practice of finning and attempts and achievements toward ending it.

This book intrigued me from the first page and kept my interest right to the end. It's definitely a good choice for anyone interested in sharks or fishing (and I am not particularly), and I have a sneaking suspicion that a lot of teenage boys would enjoy it. I found several errors in grammar/proofreading and continuity, but the author's writing style is clear and easy to follow.

Visit the book website at www.sharkonline.ca



Disclaimer: I received this book free from the author in exchange for an honest review.

The Ultimate Guide to Homesteading

An Encyclopedia of Independent Living

by Nicole Faires

Instructions for how to do almost everything yourself; building houses and animal shelters, digging a well, growing and preserving food, raising and slaughtering animals, health care, waste disposal and even homeschooling.

This is a really nice book; lots of pictures and diagrams and very thorough information. Although very few people would use all of this knowledge, almost everyone would find some of it useful.

homegrown & handmade

a practical guide to more self-reliant living

by Deborah Niemann

Do you know where your food is coming from? Do you know how it was grown or produced, what drugs or pesticides were used? In this book, Deborah Niemann talks about things like ethics and sustainability and why she chose to produce many of the things her family uses every day. She explains the basics of gardening and raising your own poultry and dairy products as well as fiber for knitting or weaving. A number of recipes for foods and soaps are included.

I liked her writing style and found it interesting as well as easy to read and understand. A great resource for anyone interested in starting to produce their own food. I borrowed this book from the library, but would definitely consider buying my own copy.

Home Dairy

All you need to know to make cheese, yogurt, butter and more


with Ashley English

History, methods and recipes for making all kinds of dairy products including cheese, kefir, buttermilk and ice cream as well as a few recipes that incorporate the finished products. This book seems very thorough and I noted several recipes that I want to try.

Visit the author's blog at Small Measure.
Also read my reviews of Ashley's books, Keeping Chickens and Canning & Preserving.

Do it gorgeously

by Sophie Uliano 

How to make and do everything yourself from beauty products, home cleaners and pet products to fitness and massage. Very neat book.

organic housekeeping

in which the Nontoxic Avenger shows you how to improve your health and that of your family while you save time, money, and, perhaps, your sanity

by Ellen Sandbeck

How to look after your home and property in less time without resorting to toxic substances. This book is worth reading, but it's quite long.

Easy Green Living

The ultimate guide to simple, eco-friendly choices for you and your home

By Renee Loux

This very informative book tells about the dangers of chemicals that are found in things we use every day. It describes specific chemicals and the specific problems (such as cancer, birth defects or pollution) they cause. It also lists green alternatives and where to find them.

I liked this book but it's quite long.

Plastic

A toxic love story

by Susan Freinkel

This well-researched book tells what plastic is made of, how it affects us and the environment, and suggests possible solutions for the problems of plastic. Eye-opening.