"Jerusalem Rising" by Barbara Britton

 

In the writings of the Hebrew Bible, the repair of the Temple wall is recorded.  One verse stands out since it references women assisting in this task--something normally designated to men only.  "Shallum son of Hallohesh and his daughters repaired the next section" (from Nehemiah 3:12).  Britton takes this one verse and crafts an entire story from it.  Readers learn about Adah and her family.  They see ancient Jerusalem thru her eyes as she first vows to help her aged parents rebuild their section of the wall.  Drama ensues when nearby enemies try to thwart the progress on the wall--something recorded in the Hebrew Bible.  There is some mild romance interwoven in the pages as Adah and her sister get married.  Wholesome yet enticing, there is nothing graphic.  While we may not know much about Shallum's daughters cited in Nehemiah 3:12, this book does an excellent job of creating a believable tale about these remarkable women.  Hebrew mannerisms and customs, as well as Hebrew phrases, are included to truly transport readers into this fascinating time.

"You Are What You Wear" by Jennifer Baumgartner

 

This book was so fun that I decided to host a book club to discuss it with friends.  Split into easy-to-digest chapters, this book focuses on common fashion mistakes.  The author covers things like not dressing one's age, dressing too provocatively, overspending on clothing, not having cohesive outfits, swimming in labels, hiding behind bulky clothing, and more.  As a psychologist, Baumgartner ties in psychology with fashion.  So instead of just saying what fashion errors people make, she explains *why* people make them in the first place and what internal work must be done for the inside to match the outside.  A key takeaway I had for myself is to invest in neutrals and to think twice before buying a statement item.  No matter how pretty a piece of clothing is, it is worthless if it doesn't "go" with anything in one's current wardrobe.  

"Balancing in Heels" by Kristin Cavallari

 

On the lookout for lifestyle books, this title caught my eye.  Not being too familiar with Cavallari I decided to learn about her life and what she has to say about wellness.  At first it can be easy to think that the blond thin famous woman has a perfect life that is unattainable for the average person.  However, as readers go thru the book, they learn that Kristin has had her own struggles in life.  While now married to a wealthy football player, she actually broke of her engagement with him the first time around and had a baby before being officially married.  Despite being happy now, Cavallari's journey to wife and mom were not exactly easy.  Also, while it can be easy to think Cavallari is just blessed with a good physique and looks, readers understand that anyone can be fit and glowing like her.  By eating whole unprocessed foods and working out consistency, any woman can become her healthiest self.  Overall this book was a fun read and I would recommend it to others.

"Face Yoga" by Annelise Hagen

 

Having just recently heard of the concept of "face yoga", I decided to read up on it.  I learned about puffing up my cheeks like a trumpet player, blowing kisses like a movie star, puckering up my face like a fish, and other techniques.  While this book does have some face yoga exercises / examples in it, that actually makes up a very small portion of the pages.  The bulk of the book discusses regular yoga, diet, exercise, meditation, and mindset.  Overall it was a nice book but I did feel the title was a tad misleading given the amount of content solely focused on face yoga.

"Modesty: A Fashion Paradox" by Hafsa Lodi

This fascinating book covers modest fashion from a primarily Muslim perspective.  That being said, the author does occasionally weave in parallels with Christian and Jewish traditions which--while not as strict as Islam--promote their own form of modesty.  Surprisingly, Lodi who is a Muslim herself does not cover her hair.  She approaches fashion from a straightforward approach.  While she does not avoid the topic of religion, she also does not force it on readers.  As a non-Muslim myself, I learned a great deal about Islamic fashion while not feeling like I was being proselytized to.  It was interesting to see how modesty standards vary within even the Muslim community itself.  While some Muslim models are celebrated as heroes, others are criticized as not being modest enough.  From those who argue over whether or not to cover one's hair to what specific hair covering is appropriate, there is a myriad of opinions.  There are even those who argue over colors, sparkles, and even nail polish.  Lodi does a good job representing diverse opinions without overtly favoring one over the other.  This book is a great read for people of all faiths (or none) who want to learn more about modest fashion.  It should be noted that this book is more academic / historical and is not in any way any sort of "how to" guide for modest dressing.  Aside from a few color photos in the middle of the book, this is primarily text.

"Crown of Creation" by Chana Weisberg

 

Chana Weisberg is one of my favorite teachers when it comes to women and Judaism.  While this book is a tad more academic than leisurely, it is fascinating nonetheless.  Chana walks readers thru the lives of Sara, Rebecca, Ruth, Esther, and more.  Through both biblical and talmudic sources, she weaves together tales of mystical proportions.  All of this is done in an attempt to understand the spiritual forces behind the actions of great Jewish women.  I found this book to be very thought-provoking.