Read up

I've been meaning to give you all a fun ittle round-up of some solid, smart books out there right now, but have put it off as things like sleeping and eating got in the way. But now, I'm ready to give a few recs. The question is, are you? Can you handle this? Let's see.

1) BODY DRAMA: Real Girls, Real Bodies, Real Answers (Gotham, 2008) is the kind of book I think so many of us wish we'd had when going through our angsty, pimply, smelly teenage years. It's kind of a Straight Dope, updated version of Deal with It! A Whole New Approach to Your Body, Brain, and Life as a gURL (a longtime fave of mine.)

The author, Nancy Amanda Redd, is a Harvard alum and recent Miss Virginia, named by Glamour Magazine as one of America’s top-ten college women “most likely to succeed—at anything." Not. Too Shabby.

The book tackles many issues close to my heart: body image, breasts, photos of real women and much more. This would be a perfs gift for a daughter in junior high - it answers all the questions so many young girls are afraid to ask, like "Why is one boob bigger than the other? or "What can I do about zits on my back?" or "What’s up with that smell?" Here's a excerpt that does a good job of setting the tone and style of the tome:

“You’d think a Miss America swimsuit winner would feel completely confident about her body, right? Not always! So I decided to write the book I wish I’d had as a teen and in college—an honest, funny, practical, medically accurate, totally reassuring guide to how women’s bodies actually look, smell, feel, behave, and change. Alongside real-deal photographs of women just like you and me (no airbrushing, no supermodels, no kidding) you’ll find medical pictures of things you need to be able to recognize, true confessions by yours truly, and the encouragement you need to appreciate the uniqueness, strength, and beauty of your body. What are you waiting for?”" –Nancy Redd

PS Kudos to the book for becoming a New York Times Best-Seller and to Redd for being nominated for a 2008 NAACP Image Award nominee!

2) 101 Foods That Could Save Your Life (Bantam, 2007) is not exactly the kind of light reading you crave while riding the train to work, but this book by David Grotto is a phat compendium of knowledge, painstakingly put together (I know - he's a colleague of mine :-) in an accessible way. Grotto examines practically every food under the sun - well, 101 of the best, actually - and gives you the low-down on each one. Not only textbook stuff like key nutrients and antioxidants, but each entry includes a history of the food’s origin, therapeutic benefits along with scientific research, tips for use and preparation, and a yummy recipe from a leading chef or nutritionist. I just picked up my copy, randomly opened it and I arrived at p249, Pineapple (Ananas comosus). Fun fact: Canned pineapple was not widely available until 1911 when an engineer invented a machine that could removed the outer shell, inner core and both ends of 100 tangy suckers in less than 60 seconds. Even funner fact: Pineapple peel may be effective in removing corns...from your feet. Now I know what to do with leftovers from the Grilled Pineapple and Chili Porrk Tenderloin I'm whipping up tonight!

3) For anyone out there who suffers from celiac disease, intestinal issues or is on a gluten-free diet, have I got the book for you! Everyday Grain-Free Gourmet: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner (Whitecap Books 2008) has just launched. It's written by two women (co-author Jodi Bager was diagnosed with life-threatening ulcerative colitis in 2000 after the birth of her second; co-author Jenny Lass was diagnosed with celiac disease in 2001), both of whom have adopted something called the Specific Carbohydrate Diet to deal with their own ailments and want to spread the word on eating healthy, delish foods...something that needn't stop because you have celiac disease, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's or any other tummy trouble.

Have a fabulous weekend everyone! Good luck on your Pilates certification, Alyssa - you'll do wonderfully! And don't forget, Spring Ahead at 2am Sunday. Losing an hour: Blech. Having something really exciting to look forward to in October: Yay! It's all about how you see the glass, peeps.

Shout-out to one of my all-time fave books, Bridge to Terabithia...and I'm not just saying that because the awesome girl character was named Leslie.

Comments

I adore Nancy Redd (DISCLAIMER: way before she agreed to do a Friday Freebie :)) & need to check out the other books.

except B.T.T. already adore that one.

a book every single woman/girls MUST read? Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli.

M.

Thanks for the recommendations, Leslie. I love hearing about books that other people like and find helpful, and I can't wait to check out Nancy Redd's book.

I love Bridge to Terabithia as well (though A Wrinkle in Time is my all-time fave from my childhood). And my daughter is reading Stargirl right now!

I LOVED Body Drama. It's embarrassing how much stuff I learned from it. How did I make it through adolescence without knowing this stuff?? Thanks for the other recommendations!

My fave books growing up were the Anne of Green Gables series, Wrinkle in Time Series (yay Dara!!) & The Chronicles of Narnia.

MizFit - Stargirl was a really cute and positive coming-of-age story:) My middle schoolers really love it too. I can't figure out why no one has made it into a movie yet!

Looks like I need to read me some Stargirl! I just finished a book called "Then We Came to the End: A Novel" by Joshua Ferris which was so well-written...all about cubicle life.
And need I mention the favorite goodie from childhood, Shel Silverstein's "The Giving Tree"? I get weepy just thinking about it.

leslie, the giving tree is one of my favorite childhood books! i was crazy about it as a kid, i couldn't even read it when i was three, i memorized it! I even have one autographed by shel silverstien (is he jewish, his last name sounds more jewish than mine!?). Nutritious Junk is starting a book club so check my site to join in on the fun!

aw, I loved "Bridge" and also "The Giving Tree"!!!! I really wish I had time now to read something other than Bob the Builder and Thomas books!

The 101 foods book looks very interesting!

Thanks, Leslie!!!!!!! That's so sweet!!!!!

I just finished day 2, and after 90 minutes of reformer, immediately followed by 60 minutes of mat, then 4 hours of going through every exercise in the manual, I CAN'T FEEL MY EXTREMITIES!

As for books, "Conversations With the Fat Girl" by Liza Palmer is awesome. The "Undead" series by Maryjanice Davidson is hilarious, and "The Velveteen Rabbit" always makes me cry. "Knuffle Bunny" and "Knuffle Bunny, Too" are destined to be classics,imho.

OK, off to do my (urgh) homework.

Thanks for the shoutout, Leslie!! The other books look fab, too! xoxo

the giving tree?

ADORE.

aspiring to be MizFit SeussSilversteinPrelutsky,

M.

Just saying the reading the title Bridge to Terabithia brings tears to my eyes. My mother read it out loud on a all gal family road trip we took with another family. At the end of the book, the other mom was driving and had to pull over she was crying so hard.

Can't wait to check out the other titles!

Ooo, I wanna check out 101 Foods that could save your life. sounds cool!