Danger! by DK Publishing

Danger! presents page after page of information on things that are dangerous in this world and out of this world. These things exist in nature, our environment, space, science, our own bodies and much, much more.

This is a very cool book! It's similar to other books published by DK in that each 2-page spread tackles a different subject with using eye-catching designs, colourful and interesting graphics/illustrations, as well as informative text. Even though it's written for 10-17 year-olds, I learned a lot about the dangers surrounding me. Mind you, I think I'm pretty safe from some of them (I don't plan on taking up extreme sports or going into orbit anytime soon), but it's nice to know what's lurking around the corner.

The book is grouped into chapters featuring items from nature, such as sharks; the planet, the Bermuda Triangle for example; space, wouldn't be complete without an alien encounters; science, like radioactivity; the human body, featuring epidemics and pandemics; places, such as dangerous foods and extreme sports; and dangers of the past including weapons of war. Each one of them had some pretty exciting, yet dangerous, topics.

There are many very cool pages in the book. My favourites include:
• "How to Survive a Horror Movie" (page 158-159) is hilarious.
• "Horrible Handscape" (page 116-167) describes all of the bacteria and viruses that can be picked up on your hands. Yuck!
• Typhoid Mary (page 134-135) tells the "gruesome tale" of Mary Mallon in graphic novel form.

The material is presented in an entertaining way so that it's not too scary. However, it much be a little too much for younger readers or really sensitive ones. When grouped together like this, all of the dangerous things out there could get a little overwhelming.

The table of contents lists the chapters as well as the contents of each chapter. I love being able to see at a glance what topics are covered. The index is quite extensive and should help the reader find specific items in the book.

Highly recommended.

For more information about this book or to browse inside, please visit DK's website.

I'd like to thank those nice people at DK Canada for this review copy.

Danger by DK Publishing, Dorling Kindersley (DK), ©2010. ISBN 9780756667399(Hardcover), 192p.

Digital Photographer's Handbook by Tom Ang

The Digital Photographer's Handbook is a comprehensive guide for taking digital photos, making them better with the latest software, and sharing and/or printing them. Ang also covers the latest trends and a buying guide.

This is such a great reference book for those who own and use digital cameras. Whether it's a camera phone, a compact point-and-shoot or a DSLR, there's something in this book for everyone with any type of digital camera. Every time I open up the book, I learn something new and find something interesting to read about. Right now, I using it as part reference book (when I need to know something) and part general photography book, where I sit down and read a section. There's so much in this book, it's going to take me months to go through it all.

The book is divided into 6 sections, with post-processing or image enhancement being the biggest and more extensive. Other sections include: the basics, which covers composition, focusing, viewpoints, colour balance, using a flash and much more; photography projects, where Ang shows the photographer how to take photos of things like architecture, children, animals, portraits; printing and sharing photos; buying guide for cameras and other photographic equipment; and finally, taking your photography to the next level by making it into a business or staging an exhibition.

Ang covers a multitude of subjects in this book, however, at times he didn't go into as many details as I would have liked. Because there are many different cameras and photo editing software packages out there, that's understandable. He can't possibly cover all of them. His generalities, though, sometimes had me fumbling around with my gear trying figure out how I could do what he was describing. I guess that's partially my fault in that I don't know my camera or software as well as I should.

The book is roughly half text and half photos. I love that it contains lots of photos taken by Ang. He's a great photographer. He also a very good teacher and explains things in a clear and understandable manner. My favourite pages are the Quick Fix ones, where he identifies a problem that can occur in a photo, then offers solutions on how to fix it. He even offers advice on how to avoid the problem in the first place.

The book contains a huge glossary, one of the largest I've seen. It explains so many things. The author has also included a number of other useful elements: list of web resources and their function; list of manufacturers with web addresses; software resources with a brief explanation of each; and a list of photography books for further reading.

The table of contents not only lists the major sections, but it also has the individual subjects within each section. The index is pretty good; I found everything I was looking for.

I've also read and continue to use Ang's, How to Photograph Absolutely Everything (my review). It's also really good.

Highly recommended for the digital photographer. I'll be keeping this one close by and will likely refer to it often.

For more information about this book or to browse inside, please visit DK's website.

For more information about the author and his other books, please visit Tom Ang's website.

I'd like to thank those nice people at DK Canada for this review copy.

Digital Photographer's Handbook (5th Edition) by Tom Ang, Dorling Kindersley (DK), ©2012. ISBN 9780756692421(Soft cover), 408p.

Get Start: Growing Vegetables by Simon Akeroyd

DK is kicking off the new year with a "Start Something New" celebration. Today I'll be reviewing one of the books in their collection. If this book isn't up your alley, then perhaps one of the other ones will be. There's really something for everyone. Click here or on the photo below to see some other books that can get you started on learning a new skill.
 

 

Besides the one below, I've reviewed a few of the other books. If one of them interests you, you can see if I reviewed it and what I thought of it on my Review by Title page.

 

Get Started: Growing Vegetables shows new gardeners how to grow and harvest vegetables successfully. It's structured approach and step-by-step instructions start off with simple easy-to-grow crops then progresses to ones that need a little more finesse allowing novices to build upon newly learned skills and develop more.

This is such a good book for learning how to grow vegetables. I'm an experienced gardener and have grown a few herbs through the years with mixed results, but I've yet to tackle growing and harvesting vegetables. This year we plan on putting in a vegetable garden, so I this book couldn't have come at a better time.

The introduction features items on planning, equipment (I learned what a "dibber" is used for), soil types, soil preparation and garden sites before launching into more science-y stuff like the life cycle of plants, the science of photosynthesis, and the science of plant needs, which explains all about the nutrients the plants need. I really liked this last part. While that might not be something I'll thinking about when I harvest my carrots, blueberries or zucchini, it's good to know how those things work and what the plant needs to not only survive, but thrive. Besides, I'm a sucker for trivia; you never know when the information will be useful.

In true DK fashion, the whole book is nicely laid out with lots of pictures that are labelled and explained. It's organized into 3 sections: Start Simple, Build on it, Take it Further. Each builds on the previous one. After outlining the basics in each section a number of projects are presented. That way, the novice gardener can learn some new skills then immediately put them to use. The whole book contains 22 projects to complete and feature a variety of vegetables and fruits for the new gardener to try. The projects themselves are well presented with clear, logical steps with lots of photographs and informative explanations. I love that a time frame is provided so you'll know how long before your crop is ready to harvest.

I loved that the first section starts the novice off with the easiest and most reliable crops to grow. There's nothing more frustrating than planting something, waiting for it to grow, and then have nothing to harvest or show for your hard work. I also loved that not all of the new skills are presented at the beginning of the book. Some of them are presented later on as the reader needs them. This prevents the dreaded "information overload" that novices can experience when learning a new skill or starting a new project.

I was surprised by the number of projects that include containers. In a way, it's good for those that don't have a large expanse of land to dedicate to growing vegetables. These projects would be ideal for those with small yards or those in apartments with balconies. However, I'm wondering if the processes and tips will translate to planting the crop directly in the ground, as I plan to do. I guess I'll find out this summer.

Unfortunately, this book is written in the UK and doesn't cover extremely cold weather temperatures like we experience here on the Canadian Prairies. I know right off the bat that a few of the suggestions just won't work for us. Others I'm not so sure about. I think I'll ask around, perhaps at my garden centre, about these tips. In addition, I'm guessing that the time frames for harvesting will be affected by the differences in weather. That's another thing I won't know until I test it out.

The book also features a couple of kitchen garden plans, which are terrific. I'm loving that they are laid out in squares rather than the old-fashioned/traditional long rows. I'm looking forward to designing my own garden in this fashion.

The table of contents is extensive, yet compact. It lists items in the introductions as well as the skills (how-to) and projects. The index is good and should aid the reader in finding specific items in the book.

Highly recommended. If the other books in this "Get Started" series is half as good as this one, those looking to learn a new skill this year are in for a real treat.

For more information about this book or to browse inside, please visit DK's website.

I'd like to thank those nice people at DK Canada for this review copy.

Get Started: Growing Vegetables by Simon Akeroyd, Dorling Kindersley (DK), ©2013. ISBN 9781465401960(Hardcover), 192p.

DK's Start Something New - Do It Yourself by Julian Cassel, Peter Parham and Jon Eakes

DK is kicking off the new year with a "Start Something New" celebration. Today I'll be reviewing one of the books in their collection. If this book isn't up your alley, then perhaps one of the other ones will be. There's really something for everyone. Click here or on the photo below to see some other books that can get you started on learning a new skill.
 

 

Besides the one below, I've reviewed a few of the other books. If one of them interests you, you can see if I reviewed it and what I thought of it on my Review by Title page. By the way, I'll be reviewing another one of them tomorrow. 

 

Do It Yourself contains over 400 DIY projects that features large photographs and lots step-by-step instructions to fix, build or install almost everything in your house. This newest edition has been updated to include eco-friendly green alternatives and tips.

This is an awesome book. I learned so much about how things work around the house, the problems that can arise and what to do to fix them. Every time I open the book I find something interesting to read. The explanations are clear, concise and written in easy-to-understand language that even the most novice do-it-yourself will understand.

The major sections include: tools, equipment, and materials; alterations and repairs; kitchens and bathrooms, decorating and finishing; improving home performance; outdoor alterations and repairs; electrics, plumbing, and heating. Within those sections the more detailed parts cover flooring, home security, communications systems, roofs, landscaping and much, much more. It's all in there.

The book lists a selection of materials, including eco-friendly ones, to use when building or installing new items in the home. It also points out things to consider before starting the project (or during the project) and has lots of side boxes with material lists, tips, and other things you need to know. The problem solver pages feature ways in which to fix problems that can arise in specific areas. These pages have lists of materials needed, photos to show the steps, and tips on what to do. They are well laid out and didn't over complicate things.

My husband is the do-it-yourself guy in our house; I'm just the helper/gopher. I figured I'd get his take on some of the things in the book. I asked him to take a quick peek at a few of the instructions for things he's done before, things he's about to do, and things he hasn't tackled yet. Overall, he really liked the book and spent lots of time flipping through it. As for specific projects, the instructions (including steps, details, information about the materials/project, etc.) were mostly "very good", however a few projects "need a bit more in the way of details/information". Basically it's a good reference book and is really going to come in handy as we continue to work on and improve our house.

The table of context is quite extensive and lists the major sections as well as the projects and topics within each section. Page numbers are supplied for each item. At 21 pages, the index is one of the longest indexes I've ever seen in a book like this. It's awesome. The glossary contains 2 pages of definitions for common terms used in the book. However, for a book this size, I think it's a little weak. I still found it interesting and learned a few new terms. There's also an acknowledgement section that contains a list of resources with websites, which presumably can be used for more information.

Even if you plan on hiring a contractor or other professional to do the work, you can use this book to familiarize yourself with the work so that you can ask intelligent questions and make better decisions. I think it's always good to have a general idea of what the project involves so that you can assure it's done right and can appreciate the work involved. It might even inspire you to try a few of the simpler things yourself to save a bit of money.

Highly recommended. It's an excellent reference book and will no doubt get lots of use in our family.

For more information about this book or to browse inside, please visit DK's website.

I'd like to thank those nice people at DK Canada for this review copy.

Do It Yourself by Julian Cassel, Peter Parham and Jon Eakes, Dorling Kindersley (DK), ©2010. ISBN 9781553631194(Hardcover), 544p.

Keepsake by Kristina Riggle

In Keepsake, Trish is raising two kids on her own. She doesn't realize it yet, but she's become a hoarder, just like her Mother. When her young son becomes injured after some of her many possessions fall on him, Child Protective Services steps in. To get her son back, Trish enlists the help of her sister, Mary, who's basically her opposite, to clean up the mess. Together they sift through years of clutter and uncover the memories, the secrets and the pain buried beneath it.

I really enjoyed this book. The story is written from alternating views, Trish, the hoarder, and Mary, her sister, both in the first person. I particularly fond of this style; it was a perfect fit for this book. I loved hearing the story from both the sisters. Trish's hoarding was definitely a problem. Her defensiveness over every little thing was quite abrasive at times. I can't believe that Mary and the others who helped stuck around. I'm not sure I would have. Even though Mary wasn't a hoarder, she wasn't without her own problems: compulsive neatness. I can see how it could be almost as psychologically damaging as hoarding.

Even though I love the style in which it was written, I found myself spending a little time at the beginning of each chapter trying to figure out who was "talking". It wasn't always clear to me until I got a little ways into the text. Perhaps a chapter heading like "Chapter 3 - Trish" or even just to have "Trish" without the chapter number at the beginning. After awhile I figured it out that it was alternating so that if I had just read about Mary, then it was Trish's turn. However, every time I picked up the book, I had to work out who I was reading about. It would have been nice to have a reminder.

My one other complaint is that the story felt a little superficial at times. I can't quite put my finger on why, though. The author gave lots of insight into the thoughts and problems of a hoarder, but perhaps she could have dug a little deeper and wrote a little more about the "professional help" Trish was getting. I wasn't entirely convinced that Trish would/could change her current behaviours even though her reasons for being a hoarder were uncovered.

I absolutely loved the cover of this book. It's beautiful, but I'm pretty partial to pearls.

On a personal note, I found it little hard to read because we had a hoarder in our family. Actually, it was more like an ill family member, who couldn't properly care for himself or his house. Unfortunately, his many possessions and clutter had to be dealt with after his death. This story stirred up lots of painful emotions and memories.

This edition contains a section at the back of the book that contains a Q&A with the author, some questions for book club discussions and a bit about the author's other books. It's well worth the read.

Highly recommended. I'd definitely read another book by this author.

For more information about this book or to browse inside, please visit the HarperCollins website.

I'd like to thank those nice people at William Morrow/HarperCollins for this review copy.

Keepsake by Kristina Riggle, William Morrow (HarperCollins), ©2012. ISBN 9780062003072(Trade paperback), 366p.

Fallen by Karin Slaughter

In Fallen, Evelyn, Faith's mother, isn't answering her phone. She supposed to be minding Faith's daughter, so Faith immediately gets suspicious. Faith rushes to her mother's house, only to find the front door open and a bizarre scene inside. Her infant daughter is hidden away in a storage shed out back while there's a dead man in one room and a hostage and gunman in another. Her mother is nowhere in sight. It's all hands are on deck to track down Evelyn, a former cop, and figure out who took her and why.

I really enjoyed this 5th book in the Will Trent series. This thriller is fast paced and quite the page turner. Even though it's part of a series, I think it can be mostly read as a standalone book. It's the first one I've read, and while I was a little puzzled at times, but I think I got most of what was happening. I did have a little trouble figuring out who everyone was and who they worked for, so maybe a little background information would have helped with that.

The story jumps between the two different legs of the investigation. On one side, there's Amanda Wagner and Will Trent, Faith's partner. On the other is Faith, who's also a witness in this case. They are all going off in different directions to solve the kidnapping case and rescue of Faith's mom. As the investigation continues, they find corruption in the police force and lots of stuff that might put lives at risk if they can't get to the truth.

I liked reading about Faith and liked her tenacity. I found it strange that even though she and Will were partners, they didn't speak that much to each other...at least in this one. I also thought the relationship between Will and his wife Angie was extremely strange, but then I don't think anyone was trying to say it was "normal". I also liked reading about Jeremy, Faith's son and Zeke, Faith's brother.

Favourite quote:

...a woman can run faster with her skirt up than a man can with his pants down. (page 64)

New word: bespoke (page 128): specially made

Highly recommended. I already have Criminal, Will Trent #7 on my to-be-read shelf. I'm going to keep any eye open for other books in the series.

For more information about this book, please visit the Random House website.

For more information about the author and her other books, please visit Karin Slaughter's website.

I won this copy from a contest held by the Stop You're Killing Me (SYKM) website.

Fallen by Karin Slaughter, Delacorte Press (Random House), ©2011. ISBN 9780345528209(Hardcover), 387p.

Needlework Tuesday - Knitting, Buying and Organizing

Last week, I finished another another ruffle-y scarf in Bernat's Truffle yarn.  I just love the colour.
 

I also purchased some more Bernat's Ribbons yarn on sale. I love this yarn and wanted to get one or two more skeins, but when I was the sale (30% off), I got carried away. I bought enough to keep me knitting for awhile. I'm not sure what I'm going to do with all of these scarves. I'd only wear them in the winter and, of course, only one at a time. I might try to figure out what else I can make with this novelty yarn.

I also stumbled upon my next project. I won't be starting this one for awhile, but I'm so excited about it I have to tell someone. A few months ago, when I was knitting my sky scarf, I was thinking that it would be nice to somehow represent more of what was happening around me. The sky scarf I've been knitting captures the sky, but I was thinking more along the lines of precipitation, temperature or even ground cover. I had lots of other things to do, so I didn't really do anything more than think about it. Well, yesterday I found this Temperature Scarf KAL (Knit-a-long) and CAL (Crochet-a-long) by Bernat. Exactly, what I was wanting to make. This is even better because they mostly figured out the basics for me.

Anyway, I'm definitely going to have to make some changes, like the scale of the recorded temperatures. Our winter temperatures are much colder temperatures than -6C (22F). For example, the past two days have been colder than -40C (-40F) with the wind chill. Brrr.... Also, as much as I love seed stitch, I don't think I'd like a whole scarf done in it.   The problem, as I see it, is that it doesn't give you nice crisp lines.  Decisions, decisions.

I'm going to give myself lots of time to start this one. I probably won't be joining the official KAL because I'm thinking of starting closer to April, when my sky scarf is wrapping up. I might start before that if I make some decisions regarding the yarn I'll be using. I'll keep you posted on this one.

Thanks to Heather at Books and Quilts for pointing this project out to me. Even though I had seen it already and was busy planning away, it's nice to know that my blogging friends sometimes think of me.  ;)

Also on my agenda this winter: move my craft room/stuff to the basement and weed out some old craft supplies that I won't be using anymore. I've already moved all my stuff to the basement, but haven't set anything up or organized anything yet. It makes it really hard to do or find anything so I probably should be making that a priority. I bought some baskets the other day for organizing. That should help, once I start, that is. 
 

The red ones are foldable.  The other baskets are folded up and stored inside the big one for now.

I also had some other crafting projects sort of planned for this year, but as of right now, none of them have gone beyond the "thinking-of" stage.   Time is just zipping by.   

Needlework Tuesday is hosted by Heather over at Books and Quilts. Be sure to visit her to see what she's up to.