Tshania Sedai

This novel details the adventures of Antoine as he searches for happiness, which, he has decided, will be best achieved by finding a way to reduce his intelligence. His attempts to live as an “ordinary man” border on the ridiculous, and he tries everything from alcohol to stock brokering in search of a cure. Surrounded by a cast of wacky characters, Antoine's world is both crazily odd and yet strangely relatable.

Although I thought this book started off as an amusing read, by the end I was a bit conflicted on my overall impression. On one hand, I actually think the concept is sort of brilliant, and many of Antoine's attempts at slowing his mind are hilarious. On the other hand, I feel like this book didn't strike the right balance between ridiculous satire and social commentary. While the book did point out a lot of flaws in today's society, the ending felt muddled and rushed, and didn't seem to flow naturally with the rest of the story. I don't know if I would say that I am confused about the overall message of the book, I would say that the message felt like it was forced on the reader by the abrupt ending, rather than growing more organically out of the story. It really felt like the author had a good idea, but was never able to fully flush it out, and then rushed an ending to meet a publication deadline. While I enjoyed the majority of the book, the abrupt ending sort of killed all of my warm fuzzy feelings.

I don't think I would recommend this book as a must read, but I do think the beginning of the book is humorous and does have some merit. I am glad I read it, but I don't think this book necessarily has broad appeal. If you want a quick read that proposes some interesting thoughts, it is worth the time, but if you want a great novel that will shower you with insights to the meaning of life then you would probably be best off looking elsewhere.

Successful Serging is actually a wire bound book, which is great because it easily lays flat when you want to use it as reference, but it also has a soft cover over the wires, so they stay neat and tidy without mangling any other books on the shelf. The book starts by discussing what a serger is, what it does, how it forms stitches, and why it is good to have one in addition to a regular sewing machine. It goes on to discuss thread and threading, tension, and the best uses for the various types of serger thread. The book then discusses the types of stitches a serger can make, and their best applications. It gives practical advice for dealing with corners and curves and how best to operate the machine. The book also discusses cleaver ways to use the serger in garment construction (various types of hems, etc.), as well as how to do some decorative trims and “heirloom serging.” Finally, it discusses problem fabrics and how to deal with them, as well as potential troubleshooting in the back.

The images in this book are in color, although most of the useful images are drawn diagrams, with the photographs being mostly for decoration. I actually like this, as I find the diagrams easy to see and understand. Also, the writing in this book is fairly basic and simplified, while still having enough detail to be useful. I would say that this book is an excellent resource, especially for a new serger owner. While it can't replace the necessity of having the serger's manual at hand, this book can provide ideas and advice about how to best use the serger to full advantage. I feel that it is rather comprehensive without being too full of information as to be overwhelming. All in all it is an excellent book and I highly recommend it.

Since this is, you know, a murder mystery I won't go spoiling any of the important plot related stuff. I will however, extol the virtues of the rather fun cast of characters and give my overall opinion of the book.

The story is about Rebecca Robbins, a small town girl trying to make her way in the big city of Chicago. When her mother passes she inherits The Toe Stop, her mother's rink located in her small home town. After spending her childhood dreaming of getting out of small-town-Illinois, Rebecca's goal is to sell the rink and get back to Chicago as quickly as possible. However, when the town's handy man, Mack, winds up dead in a rink toilet, her dreams of a quick sale die with him. When it becomes apparent that the town's sheriff is essentially useless in solving the case, Rebecca takes things into her own hands. In her quest to find the killer, Rebecca shakes up the small town and makes a few enemies and a few friends. Of course, clues are found, people are questioned, and in general, hilarity ensues.

One of the great things about this book is the fun cast of characters. Written from Rebecca's first person point of view, there is snarky commentary throughout about the crazy people would would want to live in rural Illinois. Although they are all slightly stereotypical (small town girl escapes to the big city, hunky small town veterinarian, crazy old cat lady, the ladies-man grandfather, etc.) most of the time they are just plain fun. A few of the stand-out characters are George, the rink's skating instructor who would have been better suited to live in the days of the Skating Vanities and Gloria Nord, and Elwood, the hat wearing camel. Although they may not have quite the page time as some of the other characters, they are fun for the skating crowd, or just plain fun. Also, much love for Bryan and Reginald, but really, you have to read it to see why. I can't spoil the awesome on that one.

I would highly recommend this book for ages 12 and up (maybe 14 and up, depending on maturity of the kid/family values/etc). Being as how it is, you know, a murder mystery, there is some violence (gasp the horror!), and while, mercifully, most of the sexual content is keep off-screen, it is very very (very) heavily implied. While the plot is rather predictable, the characters rather stereotypical, and the story very straightforward, there are some exciting bits and some great laugh out loud moments. It doesn't take itself seriously and so everything just works. To sum it up in a sentence: This is Nancy Drew for the adult crowd. For grown up Nancy Drew lovers, roller skating fans, or anyone looking for a fun, fast, easy read, this is a great book.

Serger Secrets is broken into four main sections: (1) information about the mechanics of sergers, proper needles, thread, how to deal with thread tension, and stitch variations, (2) garment gallery showing how various serger techniques can be used in practice, (3) technique guide with step-by-step instructions, and (4) troubleshooting tips. All of the images in this book are color photographs, which can be helpful for seeing visual comparisons between different types of serger thread or seeing how a technique looks in a finished design. While I may have to point out that some of their example garments may not be the most inspiring to look at, they do do an excellent job of highlighting the desired techniques.

With this book I think what comes through most clearly is the enthusiasm that the authors have for the creative use of a serger. I think the reader of the book will definitely feel encouraged to find new and interesting uses for their serger. To me the first section of the book felt a bit cluttered - too much information laid out in a less than logical manner. The writing itself was quite comprehensible and informative, but the page layout did feel a bit crowded at times. However, I do very much appreciate the photographic comparisons of various stitches and various threads. This section of the book is quite helpful in deciding which threads and stitch functions are most appropriate for various sewing and designs. The second section of the book (garment gallery) is fine, but I did not find the designs particularly inspiring myself. I actually thought the third section (step-by-step techniques) were more inspiring in terms of ideas for incorporating the serger into my own designs. I thought the techniques section (which covers everything from simple overcasting and serging a seam to using the serger to install zippers and creating new fabric with heirloom techniques) was quite exhaustive and I think it will be an excellent resource. It did, however, leave me wishing I had a coverstitch machine, which wasn't in the original serger budget, but definitely something I must consider for the future. Overall this book is an excellent resource, and I would highly recommend it as well.

I must admit - I have been a fan of CSI:Crime Scene Investigation since about its third season. The first episode I really remember watching was the one with the kids, the old lady, the cats, and the floaty pen. After that I was hooked. I have every season on DVD, and despite losing many of my favorite actors and characters from the show, I still watch the show today. I haven't been as interested in the spin off series in Miami or New York, but I will probably watch the original Vegas show until it is off the air.

So, I expected reading the story of the man who created one of my favorite television shows would be interesting. What I didn't expect was for the story to be one of the most engrossing reads I have encountered in a long time. It isn't so much the story - man examines his relationship with his father and realizes how this has driven him to greatness - but how it is told. One of the ideas that is constantly repeated is that Anthony Zuiker received encouragement from many people to develop his unique voice. Reading this book you can definitely feel it - this man knows how to craft a story. I have to admit that I picked this book up around 2pm, and though I took a nap, ate dinner, watched some TV, and surfed the internet, I was still finished by 1am the next morning. This is possibly the first time I have read an entire book in a 12 hour period. And though there were other things I should have been doing with my time, once I picked this book up I almost literally couldn't put it down.

For fans of the show this book is an absolute must-read, however I would also recommend this book to fans of autobiographies, creative types, and just in general. I think this book is especially great for creative types struggling to make it in their respective fields. Although this is Anthony's story, and although he is dealing with weighty issues throughout the book, somehow the overall tone comes off as being funny, happy, and supportive. You can tell that he is appreciative of his fans, and enjoys what he does. Despite his struggles and hardships his tone was never bitter or angry. And you can also tell that he supports others who are searching to find their place in this world. Despite the fact that his work deals with serious issues like crime, murder, and violent deaths, the humor and joy is never lost from his voice. It is a captivating look at a man who has created captivating television, and I highly recommend this book to all.

I actually got this book quite recently, so I haven't used it as a reference for my other sewing projects. I was quite excited to get a new sewing book and as I was inspired by my in-progress jacket projects I read through it quite quickly. Tailoring focuses completely on sewing a tailored jacket, so it isn't a great general sewing book, but it does do a nice job of considering the many options available for creating a tailored jacket. It covers custom (aka hand sewing), machine, and fusible techniques for structuring the interior of the jacket. It also covers basic fit alterations, tailoring tools, fabric choices, and procedures for sewing common jacket details such as welt pockets, bound button holes, and vents.

I got this book because I had heard many good reviews and recommendations on several other blogs and on pattern review. However, after reading through it I have to say I was a bit disappointed. I think that while this book does do well in covering all of the topics one would consider when embarking on a detailed tailoring project, it doesn't quite have the depth that I would expect from a book discussing an aspect of sewing where attention to detail and fit is key. The overview of tools and fabrics was nice, but I would have liked to have a few more details on exactly how to use all of those fancy tools (especially the ones that I don't yet own - how else will I know what to ask for as a birthday present?). Also, the section on correcting fit issues seems cursory at best. Obviously this isn't a book dedicated to fit alterations, but I still felt that many of the more common problems weren't covered in enough detail. Also, while I felt that many of the sewing instructions were quite good, I did feel like some of the more complicated procedures (like bound buttonholes, welts, and vents) could have used more detailed explanations and more photographs.

It isn't that this is a bad book, but I think that I have read or used too many other sewing books that this one just feels a bit light on the content. Actually, I also recently acquired a used copy of the Reader's Digest Complete Guide to Sewing, and I find I am turning to that book quite a bit more for technical advice. I mean, it has at least four different methods for creating bound buttonholes. Also, I am a bit spoiled as my mother had found Tailoring: Traditional and Contemporary Techniques at a used bookstore, and that volume is quite a bit more detailed and complete, especially as far as fit is concerned. The one upside to The Classic Guide over Traditional and Contemporary Techniques is the color photographs are quite nice, but when it comes to actual content Contemporary Techniques wins out across the board.

In the end I would say that Tailoring: The Classic Guide to Sewing the Perfect Jacket is a good sewing book, but not a great sewing book. I think this book would be a good first tailoring book because it covers a nice range of topics without being overwhelming in depth. I did very much like how it presented the information about the interior structure of jackets (such as backstays, sleeve heads, and interfacing options). However, if you have another good reference book (or several that cover various topics in depth), then you can probably skip having this book in your collection. If you are worried about sewing a jacket or afraid of tailoring because of all the details then I think this book would be a good starting point. If you are a bit more advanced in your sewing skills then you would probably do better choosing a more technical or advanced text.

This book is a wonderful analysis about why none of the various aspects of roller skating have been included in the Olympic Games. The writing itself is quite good, and the details are very interesting. In essence, it really is a history of roller skating, but the slant of viewing that history with the goal of Olympic glory make it a bit more compelling than many of the other general histories I have read. While the history does seem a bit focused on artistic, the book does touch on artistic, speed, hockey, and derby, not to mention comparisons and information about the divergent paths of roller and ice. There is also discussion about more modern forms of skating - street skating, rexxing, etc. The book was published in 1997, so there is a chapter dedicated to speculation over how the “new” in-line skating craze will affect the sport (those of us still here know the outcome - inline skates have been widely adopted by speed, there are now inline and regular roller hockey leagues, and one event for inline freeskating at the artistic world championships).

The book follows the rise of the various organizations leading the sport, and the arguments between them. It discusses conflicts between skating organizations and the IOC, promises that were not kept, and betrayals that were endured. While the writing style prevents all of this from being overly-dramatic, were I a writer I would have several potential screen-plays dancing about in the back of my brain. The author cites letters passed between the organizations, and quotes from skating's leaders to lend credence to his account.

While relaying the events and telling the tale of skating's quest for Olympic glory, the author offers his own critiques and criticisms over what the leaders of the sport should have done to help their chances. Among his complaints are that in all their petitioning to the IOC, the skating experts have portrayed roller skating as being exactly like ice - which it is not. The forces of friction act differently on a thin blade cutting through ice than they do on four wheel attempting to spin and turn on plastic coated wood, and this allows roller skaters to do some things differently (and dare I agree with the author?) better than ice skaters. You don't see 9-jump combinations on ice (well, you don't see them much in roller anymore either, but my goodness they were brillant) and ice skaters can't perform the amazing heel camels or broken ankle spins that take advantage of the quad skate's unique design. The author notes that the capability of running speed races on outdoor courses could be of interest to the same viewers who enjoy watching televised marathons or bike races, whereas the capabilities of the television to do close-up shots could actually render figures interesting (well, maybe not, but for some reason I think they could appeal to the golf crowd). Not to mention that we don't have to re-surface the skating floor after every 12 contestants, though we often sweep before a pairs event for safety reasons. Another area of difference is the major players in the sport - in ice traditionally contestants from the US, Canada, and Russia dominated, with skaters from Japan and China more recently emerging as front runners. In roller skating, the Italians dominate artistically, with other great skaters coming from Argentina, Brazil, Australia, Germany, and the US, though there have been brilliant skaters from many other countries as well. With roller skating trying to present itself as being close to ice, not having the expected rivalries made the sport feel like a let-down to the casual observer. In addition, the author criticizes the scheduling decisions at major events, where the organizers often held the best skaters and events for the end of the evening. When you are an established sport like ice skating, you can put the stars at the end to force people to stay. For a relatively unknown sport like roller skating, if you put a splatfest as the first event of the night, no one in the media is going to stick around to watch the artistic and technical brilliance yet to come. The author laments that many of the most stunning performances of all time (whose technical and artistic merits rival the great performances on ice) were most often held after midnight to a nearly empty arena, with little more than a few personal hand-held recording devices saving the moment for posterity.

And, while there is a general sadness over the continually failing struggle for Olympic inclusion, part of me has to wonder if it is perhaps better for the sport that it has not been in the Olympic spotlight? The author notes how changes to ice and gymnastics (which have been even more drastic since the book's publication) have forever changed those sports, and perhaps not for the better. Roller skaters still perform compulsory figures and dances at all levels, whereas these portions have been essentially removed from the highest levels of ice. The author discusses how the greatest innovations for the sport were not made when roller skaters were seeking to emulate ice and impress the IOC, but instead happend during the 1940s, when the Olympics weren't an option for anyone in any sport. The leaders and innovators at the time were making changes and improvements simply for the sake of making skating more interesting, entertaining, and elegant. Looking through videos of the past, I have to agree with the author - that the continual push to emulate the ice events have led to the loss of events like Fours (two pairs teams skating together), which were some of the most exciting roller skating events, while including things like original set patterns (now original dance), which seemed like little more than filler in the program. Now that ice has gone to the short dance format, it will be interesting to see what the roller skating community decides to do. Personally, I favor dropping the original dance and having more emphasis on the two compulsory dances. The compulsory dance events draw far more viewers at the regional and national meets than do any of the free skating events, so it would be crazy to change that aspect of the event, but even still I have fears that it will happen.

Despite his criticisms and complaints, you can feel the author's love for the sport on every page. You can tell that he is as frustrated with the situation as many of the sports leaders, though I appreciate that his critiques were honest and thoughtful, and that this book was well researched and not just a rant or rambling propaganda. Personally, I found it a bit of a shock that I knew so many of the people who provided quotes or information for the book. And by “knew” I mean have talked to or interacted with or see on a semi-regular basis. But it was interesting to see their opinions written down, and compare it with what I know of them from my personal experiences.

Overall this was a marvelous book. Thought provoking, informative, and interesting. For anyone who has roller skated in a competitive format, it is an absolute must-read. I think that ice skaters could find this book informative and interesting as well, as it does have some discussion about the early days of their own sport. However, whether a skating fan or not, I think this book could be of great interest to the general reader - especially one interested in sports or Olympic history. If you can manage to find a copy, this book comes highly recommended.

This is an interesting little book. It is very short - only 64 pages - and paperback, which is highly unusual for a sewing book of any era. There is a short introduction by Amy Vanderbilt, before Margolis takes over with the sewing instruction. At first I was a bit taken aback by the organization of this book - we jump from discussing “A Certain Style” to bound buttonholes. What? But then I realized, oh, this is the “ABC's” of sewing. A-B-C. Topics are covered alphabetically. Duh. Wow I feel dumb for taking so long to figure that out.

Because of the structure and size of this book, I feel as though it covers fewer topics than her other, more massive tomes. Despite the fact that I think it still has a good amount of information, and, actually, a few better illustrations than many of her other books (though others have been re-used from other volumes). Topics covered include: bound buttonholes, cutting fabric, gussets, hand stitches, zippers, and more. Some of the letters cover specific skills in depth, while others feel like a bit of fluff. However, for what it is, I feel that this book does an nice job of dispersing the maximum amount of information in the minimum amount of pages, even if it is a bit odd structurally. Though, now that I've read through it, it should be terribly easy to look something up, so perhaps that structure really isn't too horrible after all? I don't know that I would recommend this book to the more advanced home sewer - you can get more detailed information about construction from one of Margolis' other works - but it is an interesting little book to have as part of the collection.

A few months ago I reviewed the BurdaStyle Modern Sewing: Wardrobe Essentials book, and came to the conclusion that I probably didn't really need the dress book, since I am a magazine subscriber, but I somehow ended up getting a copy of BurdaStyle Modern Sewing: Dresses for Every Occasion anyway.

The layout of this book is essentially the same as the Wardrobe Essentials volume, with a few of the technique discussions changed to be more appropriate for the included patterns (no discussion of fly front zippers, as there are no trousers in this volume, but they do discuss working with jersey fabrics in detail). In general my assessment of this book is pretty much the same as the previous volume: that this book is aimed at an intermediate home sewer who is new to Burda patterns. My complaints are also similar: NO NEW PATTERNS and I think they could have made a more varied and interesting collection. Long-time Burda users know the ubiquity of the infamous “Burda sack dress,” so I wasn't surprised that they picked a few for the book, but I sort of felt it was a bit too much. I think they tended towards easier designs and simpler silhouettes, and I wish they had chosen a few more complex designs, and at least one ball gown - Burda has so many good ones in their catalog! I will say I did appreciate, however, that for their vintage re-print patterns, they included both the modern and original dress drawings/photographs, which was very cool. For regular Burda users I will caution that this book DOES include seam allowances, unlike the pattern magazine. Here is a conversion of book patterns to the magazine numbers:

Vintage
Vintage Chic Sheath = 09-2012-109
'70s Simple Luxe Lace Dress = 09-2012-108 (Cover Dress)
'50s Summer Sundress = 07-2012-133 (Vintage Reprint)
A Little Bit Audrey Sheath = 11-2012-138 (Vintage Reprint)
Beguiling in Blue Jacket and Skirt = 12-2012-101 (Jacket), 12-2012-108 (skirt)
Très Tweed Mock Two Piece = 12-2012-141 (Vintage Reprint)

Trendy
Red Hot Mini = 06-2012-134
Blue Angles Asymmetrical Dress = 02-2013-110
Purple Party Tunic and Cowl Top = 01-2013-123B, A
Summer Origami Sheath = 07-2012-131

Casual
Hand-Stamped Tunic = 06-2013-133
Summer Tie-Dye Lace-Up Dress = 07-2013-122
Sunshine Bangle Wrap Dress = 07-2013-125
Urban Ikat Sleeveless Dress = 02-2013-114
The Jersey Plunge V-Neck Dress and Top = 09-2013-101B, A
Blooming Bouclé Cap-Sleeved Dress = 03-2013-110

Formal
Delicately Scalloped Skirt = 12-2012-105
The Artful Jacket = 12-2012-115
Princess Taffeta Dress = 11-2012-121
Sophisticated Silk V-Neck Dress and Pleated Lace V-Neck Dress = 08-2013-116A, B
Fit and Flare Frock = 10-2012-128
Little Black Dress = 12-2012-110

My conclusion is essentially the same as for Wardrobe Essentials - this is a great book for someone who is an intermediate seamstress wanting an introduction for Burda patterns, but it isn't really necessary for anyone who is a long-time subscriber to the magazine. While seam allowances and extra instructions are nice, they aren't strictly necessary for a more advanced Burda user. It also doesn't have patterns covering the higher size ranges. I think the book serves its intended purpose well, but I don't think it will be of much interest to those who already have the patterns, or don't like Burda's general style. I do think this book would be a great gift for someone who is still newer to the hobby, as it has a good variety of styles, the patterns are a nice range from very easy to mildly challenging, and the book is quite a good value considering the number of patterns included.

One star for pretty pictures. One star for light sabers. That's about all I can say to recommend this one.

Sloane!!! I love when it all ties together.

The brilliance of this play will be lost on the young who are forced to read it.

I haven't had a chance to read all of the informational part of the book yet, but I've tried 5 recipes and they've all been amazing! I love how this book also considers ease of prep and ease of clean up when outlining meal plans. Definitely my favorite AIP recipe book so far.

Lots of great pictures of explosions, not as much plot or character development as in previous installments.

This book is a bit outdated in its examples and styling, but the information about how to create different types of seams in leather and suede are still very relevant. It has great information about the different types of tools that will be helpful for working with leather that you may not have for working with other textiles. I wish it was a bit more explicit about when certain techniques may be preferable to others - it does list a lot of examples as to when something could be useful, but almost every instructions tells you to test with your particular textile. This, of course, is sage advice, but can be a bit frustrating when you are trying to plan out a project. In any case, if you are looking for a book full of great projects and patterns, this probably isn't the book for you. There is a bag project, which actually looks pretty useable, but otherwise this book is much more useful as a reference about seam types, useful tools, and construction processes. I wouldn't have it as a main construction reference - other books are much more useful in regards to actually constructing a garment - but this book is great at highlighting the most useful techniques for working with leather. I think there may be some tools notions that are more modern and have been invented since the book was published, but overall I think it was very helpful in getting me started on a leather sewing project.

Brilliant.

I realized I was never going to finish this book series because it wasn't good, and after reading Marie Kondo's book about decluttering your life, I knew that spending time on the Divergent series would just be creating mental clutter. So here is the review of the first book, which I read several years ago, but never posted....

When I accidentally got sucked into watching the second half of the Divergent movie, I was inspired to read the books.  This was, unfortunately, not the best idea I've ever had.  Somehow the screenwriters managed to turn a vapid girl trapped in an illogical world into an exciting action adventure story.  Kudos to them.  Scenes that were emotional and exciting on film were awkwardly cringe-worthy on the page.  If I had a single electron for every time Tris “felt electricity” when she was close to Four I could power Manhattan for a week.  The world felt gritty and, well, at least plausible on screen - I never really accepted the whole society in the book.  Where are the adults?  Where are the old people?  Why are 18 year olds running things?  How do they get food?  It's like a child's perspective on what being a teen should be like, without actually dealing with any real issues.  It's almost like the book uses being Divergent as an excuse for having fewer emotions - but, really, if they are supposed to be more human, shouldn't they have more?  Shouldn't things bother Tris more than they do?  This book touches on a lot of serious themes, but I can't say I think they handled any of them well.  Too often the answer is violence or submission, neither of which have the lasting repercussions you would expect in a more realistic scenario.  Although my ebook has the entire series bundled together, I'm not sure when I'll get around to finishing it - I think my time could be much better spent reading something else.  

While the tone and general presentation of the material is quite dated, the actual information about sewing techniques, garment care, and home economics is generally still quite practical and applicable.

This is a fairly short eBook by sewing blogger Athina Kakou. While I love the idea of making a book about building a capsule wardrobe that is specific to sewing, I felt that there could have been more detail or instruction in this book. I realize that most of the exercises and practical advice is contained in the workbook and sewing planner she offers, but I feel that this book could benefit from perhaps being combined with the workbook. I enjoyed seeing photos of her own self-sewn wardrobe collections, but I feel like it could have perhaps been more helpful to combine the content of the two books and cut down on the photos? It is a lovely book, but perhaps not as detailed or inspirational as I had hoped. I think I may get more from the Workbook and Sewing Planner, as this book was a bit too general for me.

I really enjoyed that this book went into the history of the garments it recommends as part of a classic wardrobe. It also gives great ideas for how to personalize a sewn wardrobe! I do wish it possibly had more photographs in addition to the drawn images, but overall it was a quick, fun read that has provided a lot of inspiration!

It should be preemptively acknowledged that I am pretty much a Burda fangirl. So when I heard about the release of the latest book in the BurdaStyle collection, BurdaStyle Modern Sewing: Wardrobe Essentials, I was rather excited and pre-ordered it right away. This was, unfortunately, before there were any preview images of the book (not even a cover image). Once the preview images were released it became rather apparent that this book would not contain any new patterns, and is instead a rehashing of patterns that have been released in the BurdaStyle magazines (mainly in the international versions, though some were used in the US versions as well I believe).

Having had a chance to read through the book I have to say that my list of praises far outdistances my list of complaints, though my complaints may have more weight than my praises, at least for other long-time Burda sewists. This book is definitely aimed for someone who is not a beginner to sewing, but may be new to using Burda patterns. The introduction includes information about measurements, sizes, difficulty ratings, pattern symbols, instructions for common techniques (ease pleats, front fly zip insertion, interfacing, invisible zippers, marking patterns, seam finishing, understitching, and a list of common notions and tools). There is also information about grading sizes and notes about seam allowances (which ARE included for many of the patterns included with the book). The end of the book contains a glossary and a few pages of instruction about how to use a serger. The rest of the book gives detailed sewing instructions for the patterns that are included.

The most common complaints about Burda sewing patterns are (1) poorly translated/confusing instructions, (2) the difficulty of tracing, and (3) the lack of seam allowances. While I would argue that the last can be more of a benefit than a detriment, I have to concede that this book address all three of these issues. The instructions, while not much different from the original in terms of construction order, are much more readable than than what typically come in the magazine. Additionally, many of the more complex steps have accompanying illustrations to help clarify the directions. The pattern sheets are also much improved over the international versions - they are more reminiscent of the previous pattern sheets where everything was much more spaced out and easier to read (circa 2006). You will still have to trace, but it won't be quite as migraine-inducing as the regular sheets. As for the seam allowances - the introduction indicates that most patterns are given a 5/8” seam allowance and a 1.5” hem allowance, though some are given more or less as indicated on the pattern. As with the magazines, you may have to draft your own pieces when making something simple, such as the rectangles needed for welt pockets. A few other positive aspects of the book - it has a nice spiral binding, which makes it very easy to leave open to the instruction as you are working on construction, the text is quite legible, and the storage pocket in the back makes it very easy to store the pattern sheets as well.

My only complaints about the book are (1) NO NEW PATTERNS and (2) I don't know if I would consider all of the patterns Burda chose to be “wardrobe essentials.” While I think they did a good job of selecting patterns that would work well for many women's wardrobes, I also think they missed a few key pieces that would have been great to include, such as a trench coat, jeans, a moto-jacket, or a really classic sheath dress. For those interested, the patterns chosen correspond to the following patterns from the international version of BurdaStyle Magazine:

Tweed Remix Dress = 10-2012-118A (Top Variation = 10-2012-118B)
Shirred Appeal Top = 10-2012-114A/B
Make Mine Mod Skirt = 08-2012-135
Class Act Trouser Suit = 04-2013-101 (jacket), 04-2013-103 (pants)
Simple Elegance Blouse = 07-2012-116
Pleats Please! Blouse = 09-2013-118B/A
In The Swing Dress = 08-2012-133 (cover dress)
Mohair is Better Coat = 12-2012-117
It's A Wrap Top = 11-2011-114A/B
Sheer Pleasure Blouse = 06-2013-119
Twice as Nice Jacket/Skirt = 09-2012-101 (jacket), 09-2012-116A (skirt)
Mad for Plaid Top/Skirt = 04-2012-112B/A, 04-2013-118 (skirt)
In Black and White Top/Skirt = 10-2012-122 (top), 10-2012-121B (skirt)
Free and Easy Blouse = 01-2013-117
Red All Over Jacket/Pants = 08-2013-106A/B (jacket), 08-2013-118C/B (pants)

Concluding thoughts: If you are an established Burda user who no longer has the time to raise a brow at the often perplexing instructions and ponder why anyone would complain about the pattern tracing, this probably isn' the book for you. You most likely already have all of these patterns in your stash, and the additions of seam allowances and extra instructions will probably feel like unnecessary fluff and hand-holding. If you are somewhat newer to sewing with Burda, then this book might be useful - especially the section explaining what the various pattern symbols mean, as they are different from what the Big4 use. If you have been scared off of Burda because of the complaints listed above, yet still long for that swanky German styling - good news! This book is totally going to be your jam. I highly recommend it as a way to ease into using Burda patterns - it is a great way to get used to the Burda system without having to remember details like adding seam allowances and trying to decipher the magazine instructions.

As for me, well, I'm thinking I might like having these extra detailed instructions around, especially for the “All Over Red” jacket and pants, which have been on my to-sew list for quite some time. I very much appreciate the quality of the publication, and it might be nice to have an easier time with the tracing. Strictly speaking, no, I really didn't need this book, though I don't mind having it in my Burda collection. The question, unfortunately, now becomes: what to do about the upcoming BurdaStyle Modern Sewing: Dresses for Every Occassion? Do I skip it, knowing that I already have all of the patterns and that the information pages will be nearly identical to those in Wardrobe Essentials? Or do I add it to my current collection just to fulfill my needs of completion satisfaction? Well, I suppose I have another two months to decide...

While Sew... The Garment Making Book of Knowledge isn't necessarily the sewing book I'm looking for now, as someone who's been sewing for several years, this is definitely the book I wish I'd had when I started.  I think the book has a very logical layout, with the chapters taking you from exploring what and why to sew, to picking out patterns and fabric, to adjusting for fit, and finally to advice about tools and sewing plans.  I really enjoy Barbara's opinions about what makes sewing successful and rewarding, and her attempts to point everyone in the right direction so they can achieve success of their own.  Her advice about sewing for your lifestyle takes the main ideas of The Curated Closet and distills it down to a single chapter.  The mini-lessons contain some brilliant tips to assist with tricky sewing (like dealing with hems or bulky necklines), and I really wish there had been room for more of them in this book.  Final verdict: I think this would be a great book to give as a gift to someone who is new to sewing, or would be a great purchase if you are new to sewing yourself. 

As for me, I'm holding out for a full book of tutorials, tips, and tricks from Barbara, because I think she has a lot of wisdom to share.  As someone who is in that weird intermediate-not-quite-ready-to-be-advanced stage, I'm totally missing books with modern solutions to sewing problems that I run into frequently.  I want something that will give me ways to deal with tricky sewing issues that include modern fusibles, cover stitch machines, and sergers, and show me the best ways to utilize them.  Honestly, what I'd love to see hit the market is a book with detailed instructions about how to get clean interior finishes, or even comparing RTW finished with traditional home sewing and couture finishes and discussing the merits of each.  I think the mini-lessons in Barbara's book have given me hope that this could exist in a future book, and I really think the home sewing market is ready for something like that.

Anyway, long rambling tangent aside, I really like this book.  I think it has a fun, modern aesthetic, sound advice, and good tutorials.  Although it might not be everything I'm looking for in a sewing book at the moment, I'm happy to have added it to my ever growing sewing library.

The Princes of the Air is a science fiction space opera about three grifters who long for a better life. They use their wiles to swindle unsuspecting citizens while dreaming of the day they will be able to fly away from their miserable life on Riyah Zain. Orden Obeck has sold himself into educational slavery - there is only one legal way off the planet for him, and that is proving himself to be one of the top diplomatic students at the university. His friends David Koleman and Theodore Cranach Valerian Norne have other options, but they are far too expensive without using their wiles to procure a little... assistance. Besides, if they are going to run off on a crazy adventure, they are going to run off together. They all dream of exploring far off worlds in the name of the Queen, and providing her their unique services. The novel follows the adventures of Obeck, Koleman, and Norne as they work to achieve their goals and have a far grander adventure than any of them ever imagined.

The novel is seemingly made up of several disparate sections, which really only come together in the end. It is sort of interesting to compare to many more recent novels, where characters are followed almost reality-tv style through every minutiae of their lives. The book touches on a lot of the thematic tropes common to science fiction - oppressed classes, the nature of governments, and the trials and tribulations of growing up - all without actively making the novel feel like it is about any of these things. It touches on topics like depression and PTSD as well, which serves to make the main characters feel all the more human. They may be the princes of the air, but they aren't untouchable.

The Princes of the Air is the sort of book that made me question weather I was intelligent enough to read it as I was reading it. I was constantly pondering if I had really picked up all the clues that Ford was laying down. In contrast to so many of today's works of science fiction, which read almost as if you were watching them on a screen, Ford's novel leaves almost as much unsaid as he states directly. This skill is used in all of the writing throughout the novel, but is especially evident in his sections of dialogue. I have been called out for improperly using this terminology already, but the only real way I can think to explain this is to say that Ford is a master of using negative space - the reader has to read between the lines that are between the lines to really understand the complexity of what is happening as the story progresses. The book appears to be an un-intimidating 250 page pulp from the 80s, but it took me more effort to read through it than I've had to expend on epic tomes five times its length. I wasn't really grabbed by the story and swept along (at least, not until the ending), but I was never bored either. This book required effort to power through, but in a good way. The reader has to put in a good deal of effort to keep up with the characters in the story. Well after having finished the book my brain is going back and forth between events and coming up with conclusions along the lines of “Wait, but that means he.... whoa.” I feel I really need to re-read it now that I've finished it so that I can better see all the beautiful bits of plot and foreshadowing that are woven into the story. Perhaps not right away, but eventually - probably after reading more of Ford's other works.

I would highly recommend this novel to any sci-fi junkies out there. Its got the usual bit of cool technology - spaceships, robots, etc. - but it also has an interesting mix of heist story, buddy comedy, “wizard school,” and hero's odyssey thrown in to the mix. For non-genre fans, it might be a bit of a struggle getting used to the world and Ford's prose simultaneously, though I think it is well worth the effort. All in all this book was a fun intellectual challenge, with a very satisfying conclusion.

World building: 5
Storytelling: 2

I found myself enjoying this way more than I expected. The characters all grew on me, and I got totally wrapped up in the story by the end. I had a moment where I thought, wow I'm halfway done and nothing has really happened yet, but I also didn't really care, because I was enjoying it. The audiobook narration was awesome, which totally added to my enjoyment. I think If I'd read this in paper format I'd have rated it 3 Stars, but as audio I want to give it 5 Stars, so I averaged it out to 4 Stars.