Romancing the Ordinary

Rating:
Summary: A wonderful reminder to savor life
Review: As a longtime SIMPLE ABUNDANCE (SA) fan, I was excited to hear that SB was coming out with a new day book. (I have been re-reading SIMPLE ABUNDANCE for a while now!). ROMANCING the Ordinary is lovely to look at and the essays are pure SB -- comforting and informative, as always.

One of the things that made "SA" so helpful and appealing was its daily entries. While "Romancing the Ordinary" is divided into 12 months, there are no daily entries -- so you simply read the essays for that month as you see fit. I am not sure why the publisher didn't encourage Sarah to make an essay for each day of the year, just as she did for "SA". For that reason alone, I gave the book 4 stars instead of 5.

However, I do love the concept of day books, and I think women need them more than ever now that life is so busy, and often fraught with conflict. Writers like Sarah give us comfort and advice, and permission to enjoy and savor life instead of merely rushing through it. Sarah gives us old wisdom, new thought, and some wonderful quotations along the way. We need more of this!

Rating:
Summary: A Romance for All Seasons
Review: I found it impossible not to be drawn to Romancing the Ordinary, at first simply for its beautiful cover. What I found inside was even lovelier! The style os this book harkens back to Simple Abundance as it calendars the year month by month, offering recipes and cozy home remedies. Sarah's signature narrative is in full effect with her personal anecdotes and insight, where it feels more like an exchange with an intimate friend. Though there is a noted change in her tone--sometimes she's nostalgic, others she is inquisitive and even sassy!
There has been so much tragedy in the past year that I think many of us are finding renewed significance in our everyday ordinary. Sarah takes that sentiment to a refreshing new level. Embedded between fanciful ways of revamping the blah of everyday routine, are nuggets of wisdom and practical proposals.
The book's foundation focuses on her intriguing idea that we can live life fuller simply by beginning to re-appreciate the power of our natural senses. In addition to the five physical ones, she tacks on wonder and intuition. Sarah's theory of Romancing Life translates seamlessly into Romancing Yourself. A practice that begins with self-knowledge. She shares her own realization that, the more you know how to make yourself happy, the easier it will be to recognize who will make you happy. And in the meantime, why wait for that someone? Do it yourself. Now what woman can argue with that?

Rating:
Summary: A Must Read and Live Book
Review: I was surprised and delighted with Romancing the Ordinary for as a 53 year old woman, feeling my passion and sensuality emerge from this "sleeper" work by Sarah tickles me. I expected beautiful prose, for which we are well rewarded. I anticipated the wisdom of other eras, SBB's trademark quotes, and was delighted and comforted. I hoped for new insights and reminders of practices that work (take time for myself, baths and candles) and was grateful that SBB took the time and risk to remind me about things that work to ground me as a woman. The thrill came when I realized my passion, for life, love, sex and living my life full out, with me first, happy and joyful. Contrary to one reviewer, this is a book for all women, married and single. My husband and I are quite thrilled with my love of this book," which I read first, like a novel! Try the food of love, page 84 or read "Lead Her into Temptation", pg 408. No one but Sarah and maybe God, would know the trouble and fun a baked apple can cause. For every woman, who knows and cares about another woman, share this treasure with them and savor the "es"sensual delights that life holds for us.

Rating:
Summary: Doesn't get opened often
Review: This book remains on my nightstand, but its proximity to me still is not enticement enough to open it more. Breathnach's first book (S.A.) is hard to beat.