Book Review: If I’d Known Then

Posted by: gretchen on June 24, 2008 | Leave a Comment

Ya know, I have the greatest job in the world. Seriously. I get to work at home with iTunes blaring through my speakers, windows open, no shoes and I get to sit and draw cartoons, write and build web sites all day long. EVERY DAY! And if that is not awesome enough, I get 2-3 deliveries a week from UPS and FedEx with the best gifts ever - books! People send me books to review non-stop and I love it. Especially when I receive real treasures like this one:

If I'd Known ThenIf I’d Known Then: Women in Their 20s and 30s Write Letters to Their Younger Selves (edited by Ellyn Spragins) is a fantastic collection of letters from some astonishing women who describe themselves as they were in their youth and offer advice and encouragement. I wasn’t sure at first if I would like this type of book or not. I don’t like novels and personal stuff, I much prefer self-help and psychology as my standard reading material. As fate would have it, I flipped it open to page 49 where I find fellow geek Catarina Fake (cofounder of Flickr) recounting her kindergarten troubles and I could immediately relate!

Catarina goes on to tell her rebellious child:

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Turtle Feet, Surfer’s Beat

Posted by: gretchen on December 19, 2007 | Leave a Comment

Turtle Feet, Surfer's BeatIf you’re looking for a good digital stocking stuffer (did I just invent a new Christmas phrase?), there’s a great book called Turtle Feet, Surfer’s Beat by Marina Kuperman. It’s available in e-book format for those “youngin’s with them new-fangled gadgets”.

Turtle Feet, Surfer’s Beat is a great read! Marina sent me a copy several weeks ago and although I am not much of a novel reader, this was an enjoyable story designed for the young adult crowd. The story revolves around Penelope who is uprooted form her home in the USA to Costa Rica as a result of her father’s job transfer. Through a series of events, Penelope and her little brother end up spending a couple weeks at a biological station, where she becomes intensely interested in saving the Leatherback turtles. Vowing to do all she can to preserve their habitat, she begins patrolling the beaches late at night in an attempt to catch poachers. There’s so much more, but I don’t want to post spoilers. ;) Read more

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Meet Glenda Watson Hyatt

Posted by: gretchen on September 17, 2007 | Leave a Comment

Glenda Watson HyattI found a great inspirational interview for this lovely Monday morning over on Successful-Blog.com. Blogger Liz Strauss has a four-part interview with a remarkable author, Glenda Watson Hyatt. Glenda has cerebral palsey, but that has not stopped her from accomplishing some fantastic goals in her life, including writing a new book called “I’ll Do It Myself”. Liz does a wonderful job of interviewing Glenda. Her outlook on life is truly inspirational. Don’t skip this one. Read it now!

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She’s Such a Geek: Women Write about Science, Technology, and Other Nerdy Stuff

Posted by: gretchen on September 6, 2007 | 1 Comment

I ran across this book recently and although I haven’t picked up a copy yet, I thought it looked good enough to mention. She’s Such a Geek: Women Write about Science, Technology, and Other Nerdy Stuff
by Annalee Newitz and Charlie Anders is a set of 24 essays from female geeks discussing their experiences in their male-dominated fields. Discrimination appears to be a recurring theme, with one programmer recalling her professor’s compliment of “you’re really, really good, for a girl.”

The book also seems to have a bit of a following, with other women stepping forward and posting their stories on the She’s Such a Geek web site and youtube.

I can’t wait to dive into this one…

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Princess Bubble is No Ordinary Fairy Tale

Posted by: gretchen on September 4, 2007 | 1 Comment

Here’s an interesting new series of books that break the “Princess” mold of having to find Prince Charming in order to feel fulfilled. Created by Susan Johnston and Kimberly Webb with some fantastic illustrations by artist Maria Tonelli, Princess Bubble is a refreshing re-write of the traditional fairy tale. I was going to do a complete write-up about the series, but the “Our Message” page explains it so well:

What is Princess Bubble?
Princess Bubble is a 35-page, modern-day fairy tale starring a well-employed, globe-trotting, good-friend, good-date, helpful-neighbor princess who is confused by the traditional fairy tale message that implies she must find her “prince” before she can live “happily ever after.”

Princess Bubble is the first in a series of books specifically designed to encourage gals ages 6 to 60 to pursue their own dream”the foundation for a uniquely enriched and fulfilled life. In the series of books, Princess Bubble”like her flight attendant creators”will travel to distant lands learning about new cultures and how our unique differences make each of us special.

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