Mini Reviews

I've recently read a few nonfiction books, but just didn't have enough to say about them for full reviews.  So here's my mini reviews:

Title: A History of Egypt: From Earliest Times to the Present

Author: Jason Thompson

Publisher: Anchor Books 2008

Genre: Nonfiction -- History

Pages: 382

Rating:  4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Dewey -- 960s; Fall into Reading

How I Got It: Library Loan

This is the type of history books that I should be reading.  This volume is a much more comprehensive history of a culture, people and country.  I enjoyed the depth and readability.  Good read.  And I learned much about the rise of Islam in the area (definitely a lacking area of my historical knowledge).

Title: Blue: 350 Inspiring Ways to Decorate with Blue

Author: Lisa Cregan

Publisher: Hearst Communications 2011

Genre: Nonfiction -- Home decor

Pages: 272

Rating:  4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Dewey -- 740s; Fall into Reading; Color Coded -- Blue

How I Got It: Library Loan

Such pretty pictures.  I would love to add more blue into our decor, but it seems the boys' room is the only place I can get away with it.

Title: The Green Book

Publisher: Three Rivers Press 2007

Genre: Nonfiction -- Enviroment

Pages: 204

Rating:  4 / 5 stars

Reading Challenges: Dewey -- 330s; Fall into Reading; Color Coded -- Green

How I Got It: Library Loan

Tips to live a greener lifestyle.  Okay introduction book, but some of the ways to green your lifestyle area bit hard to do without owning a business or at least your own house.  The testimonies from celebrities seemed a bit wonky to me.

Title: Active Liberty

Author: Stephen Breyer

Publisher: Alfred Knopf 2005

Genre: Nonfiction -- Law

Pages: 164

Rating:  4 / 5 stars

Reading Challenges: Dewey -- 340s; Fall into Reading

How I Got It: Library Loan

A great slim but dense volume on the differences between active and modern liberty and their applications.  I am a huge Constitutional Law geek.  I love reading about interpretations and applications of the various sections of the Constitution.  And Breyer definitely knows his Constitution.  I've never quite looked at it his way, but it was a nice analysis.

Title: Minigami

Author: Gay Merrill Gross

Publisher: Firefly Books 2005

Genre: Nonfiction -- Paper Craft

Pages: 144

Rating: 3 / 5 stars

Reading Challenges: Dewey -- 730s; Fall into Reading

How I Got It: Library Loan

I loved looking at all the pretty pictures, but origami is harder than I thought it would be.  I tried to do some of the designs and they weren't that clean looking.  I imagine that practice would make cleaner designs.

Purple Power

I love purple!  It's my favorite color of all time.

What is it about colors?  Every one of us has a favorite.  Every one of us as a most hated color.  We gravitate towards certain shades.  Psychologists have looked into the power of colors.  There are studies and Women's Magazine articles about how color affects our attitudes and thought patterns.

As a little girl, I hated pink.  I only wore dresses on Easter and Christmas and am sure hated every minute of it.  I was not and am not a "girly-girl."  I don't like doing my makeup and hair.  I wear dresses and skirts every once in a while, but usually dress in jeans or khakis and a sweater or t-shirt.  I am a low maintenance type of girl.

But I love purple.  I love all shades.  Lavender for spring time. A deep royal purple for the middle of winter.  A bright purple for summer.  A bordering-on-red purple for fall.  I have a closet full of clothes, but what color do I keep buying?  Purple of course.  And I don't even do it consciously.  I just gravitate towards the color. I shy away from reds and pinks in favor of the blue-green side.

I wore a lot of purple clothing.  I love writing in purple pen.  I want to paint my house purple.  My cabin on FrontierVille is purple.  My Mii character is wearing purple.  I choose purple when playing Trivial Pursuit (extra bonus the purple category in the new betting version of Trivial Pursuit is Arts and Literature!).  I would drive a purple car if they made more of them.  I want a pair of purple Chucks for my next pair.  If I have a big wedding with bridesmaids, my colors definitely will include some shade of purple.  I wish I was born in February (I almost was) so I could have amethyst for my birthstone.

So what does all this purple say about me?  I did a simple Google search for color and personality and here's what I found:

• According to Annie Bond at Care2.com "purples are highly individual, fastidious, witty and sensitive, with a  strong desire to be unique and different.  Temperamental, expansive, and artistic, a Purple person may become aloof and sarcastic when misunderstood.  If you chose Purple, you tend to be unconventional, tolerant and dignified, likely to achieve positions of authority."
• According to Kate Smith from Squiddo, "Purple embodies the balance of red simulation and blue calm. This dichotomy can cause unrest or uneasiness unless the undertone is clearly defined at which point the purple takes on the characteristics of its undertone. A sense of mystic and royal qualities, purple is a color often well liked by very creative or eccentric types and is the favorite color of adolescent girls. How the color purple affects us mentally and physically: Uplifting, Calming to mind and nerves, Offers a sense of spirituality, and Encourages creativity."
• According to Emily Gems "Purple is the color of good judgment. It is the color of people seeking spiritual fulfillment. It is said if you surround yourself with purple you will have peace of mind. Purple is a good color to use in meditation. Purple has been used to symbolize magic and mystery, as well as royalty. Being the combination of red and blue, the warmest and coolest colors, purple is believed to be the ideal color. Most children love the color purple. Purple is the color most favored by artists. Thursday's color is purple."

Does this sound like me?  Parts of it are definitely me, but I think some of the rest is like horoscopes--so general that everyone can find something.  Oh well!  I'll still love purple.

Interesting blog about colors: Sensational Color

All About Purple and other colors too.