Brittany's Reviews

Written by a painting professor, this little gem promises to be a necessity for both artist and art enthusiast alike. To make her ideas more accessible and applicable, White pairs each of her 101 tips for discarding the constraints often associated with art with a small piece of her own art. Throughout this tiny, succinct book, she strives to support her first and most important lesson, “Art can be anything.”

This book is perfect fuel for the fire of any crafter ready to take DIY to the next level. Joan Tapper is all about fostering a crafting community, be it yarn bombing or putting together a kick-butt craft faire. This collection of pointers and projects from Tapper and several other well-known designers is sure to inspire the artist within, and encourage crafters to come together, share, and create

This beautiful book highlights some of the most amazing makeovers that O’Connor and his team have given to houses, barns, and mansions across the nation. O’Connor’s award-winning TV series, This Old House, has documented all of the gutting and rebuilding, and in this book he expounds on the choicest properties. The very best parts are the before and after pictures, and the daydreams that ensue.

I love this book because Franzen paints such a shockingly accurate portrait of American society today; the kind of accuracy that is often difficult to put into words. To say that he tells the story of the trajectory of a dysfunctional (a.k.a. average) family would only be skimming the surface of the depth and life he gives to his characters. Their flaws and shortcomings allow them to maintain that humanness that is both raw and beautiful.