Craftfulness by Rosemary Davidson

Title: Craftfulness: Mend Yourself by Making Things

Author: Rosemary Davidson, Arzu Tahsin

Publisher: Harper Wave 2019

Genre: Nonfiction Creativity

Pages: 198

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Library Love; Creativity

Integrating mindfulness, neuroscience, positive psychology, and creativity research, Craftfulness offers a thought-provoking and surprising reconsideration of craft, and how making things with your hands can connect us to our deepest selves and improve our well-being and overall happiness.

We should get this out of the way: Craftfulness is not a “crafting book.” Rather, it is an investigation of the wisdom generations of men and women know to be true: that making things is a vital means of self-expression, self-realization, and self-help that sparks the mind, touches the soul, and rejuvenates the spirit.

I was intrigued by this book sitting on my library New Releases shelf. Unfortunately I found the delivery to be super dry. I just wasn’t super excited reading the passages. So not the best book I’ve picked up lately.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Whiskey in a Teacup by Reese Witherspoon

Title: Whiskey in a Teacup: What Growing Up in the South Taught Me about Life, Love, and Baking Biscuits

Author: Reese Witherspoon

Publisher: Touchstone 2018

Genre: Memoir

Pages: 304

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Library Love; Nonfiction Bingo - Celebrity Memoir; Creativity

Reese’s southern heritage informs her whole life, and she loves sharing the joys of southern living with practically everyone she meets. She takes the South wherever she goes with bluegrass, big holiday parties, and plenty of Dorothea’s fried chicken. It’s reflected in how she entertains, decorates her home, and makes holidays special for her kids—not to mention how she talks, dances, and does her hair (in these pages, you will learn Reese’s fail-proof, only slightly insane hot-roller technique). Reese loves sharing Dorothea’s most delicious recipes as well as her favorite southern traditions, from midnight barn parties to backyard bridal showers, magical Christmas mornings to rollicking honky-tonks.

A random library pick. This volume is a mix of recipes, how-tos, and memoir essays. I enjoyed reading about Reese’s background and family life growing up. The recipes were fun (must make a few of them) and the how-tos were interesting. Plus, the photographs were gorgeous! My favorite sections were the one about dinner parties and the one about book clubs. Loved these two! The one negative piece that I kept coming back to was the emphasis on life in the South. Unfortunately the Southern lifestyle described really only belongs to middle class (and above) whites. Overall, a decent collection of topics and essays.

Next up on the TBR pile:

RC 2019: Creativity

From Whatever I Think Of:

This challenge is about reading books on creativity, art, crafts, writing, film making, photography, cosmetology, DIY, cooking, music and any other topic that helps you live a more creative life. 

Challenge Guidelines

• Begins January 1, 2019 and ends Dec 31, 2019. 

• I won't be creating different levels. Read as little or as many books as you want.

• Books may be nonfiction, memoir, how to, self help, coffee table books, instructional, picture books, and even fictional if they are about people who are creative.

• You may include books of any format including traditional books, ebooks or audiobooks

• You may reread books. 

• Books may count towards other reading challenges in which you are participating

I’m pretty excited about this one. I going to sign up to read 10 books that adhere to this challenge.