The Bucolic Plague
Josh Kilmer-Purcell
This is one of those books that has me vacillating wildly between seething jealousy and abject horror. When Josh and Brent, overworked Manhattanites, find the perfect old mansion for a song it seems like their dreams have come true. The first months of farming and spending weekends at the Beekman house are idyllic. But the two driven A-personalities soon feel the need to do more. What was a peaceful retreat becomes a task-master. Having Martha Stewart herself as Brent’s boss makes their scrutiny of the farm and their need for country-perfect even more intense. Hilarious, sad and a hell of a warning to those who don’t know the word “no.”That being said, they do seem to have landed on their feet with their...
Can You Get Hooked on Lip Balm?
thebeautybrains.com
Yes, yes you can. But the the lip balm question is only one of hundreds in this fascinating little book. Full of delightfully refreshing skepticism, various beauty products and myths are put through the rigors of scientific inquiry. Not surprisingly, most claims by the beauty industry are either false or worded in a skewed manner. However, there is plenty to be relieved over. Many products and ingredients have myths attached to them that are complete falsehoods. Dig in and find out if expensive shampoo is really better, what is in perfume and if your moisturizer will really get rid of wrinkles.
American Hair Metal
American Hair Metal – Steven Blush
This book is worth it just for the cover. Blush gives you an up close and personal look at the biggest, hairiest and most famous metal bands. Each page brings a band with still bigger hair, more makeup, hazier lenses and thickly studded leather outfits – all brand spanking new. Coupled with horrendous fan letters and quotes from the bands, the book is hysterical and wind-blowingly awful.
“I see our group reaching the top and staying there for a long time…” – Michael Sweet – Stryper (1986)
Fruits
Fresh Fruits by Shoichi Aoki
I loved the original book by Aoki, Fruits – a collection of photos of Japanese street fashion. Fresh Fruits is the same format, kids in their truly outlandish fashions with a small chunk of commentary at the bottom. At first, I skipped over the rather hard to read comments on the bottom. However, the images soon became secondary when I really started paying attention. The first few lines of commentary are about where the kids got their clothes. However, the last line about “your current obsession” can be shocking, from the pierced punker who is obsessed with cooking rice balls to the delicate little Goth Lolita in floppy bonnet who is...