- Title: Romancing the Ordinary A Year of Simple Splendor
- Author: Sarah Ban Breathnach
- Year Published: 2002 (The Simple Abundance Press/Scribner)
- Year Purchased: 2002
- Source: It was a Christmas gift from my mom.
- About: There is something a bit stale about most inspirational books that are directed at women, or maybe I don’t have the proper constitution for that type of thing. Either way, I was surprised to discover that Romancing the Ordinary, although a trifle flowery in spots, is actually inspiring. I know, I know. Hear me out. These are the reasons I love this book: 1) It’s easy to use. Twelve months=a dozen chapters. In other words, I can take an entire month to read a chapter. It’s such a slight commitment that it does not take serious time away from my other reading. 2) It’s guilt-free. Romancing the Ordinary isn’t a self-help program, but a reminder to slow down for three seconds and attend to your own needs. It’s a how-to guide in relaxation, if you will. 3) It doesn’t try to make you a better person. If it did, I would have pitched it years ago. 4) It is full of quotes, and we all know I love quotes. 5) Most of the books quoted from are fabulous. Anything that turns me on to books I’ve never read, especially intriguing ones, is a winner. 6) It has recipes. The Rice Pudding is delectable. 7) Even though I haven’t tried 85% of her ideas, I don’t feel inadequate. Who needs that from a book, anyway? I take what I want, dismiss the rest, and go on my merry way. 8) The underlying message. Perhaps it is an elaborate way of saying something very basic-“Hey there! Always remember that alone time is great. Don’t let yourself get lost in the demands of the every day.”-but it is a reminder we all need on occasion.
- Motivation: My mom bought a copy for someone else. After they raved about it, she decided that I would find it enjoyable, too.
- Times Read: 3 or 4
- Random Excerpt/Page 208: “I am now an orderly woman. By this I mean, I am a woman who reveres order. But I am not the neatest person. I have always been a messy girl, and not so long ago, in an effort to embrace my imperfection, I came to the awareness that I will probably always be a messy girl.” (Ed. note: Ahem. My husband would say that this reminds him, quite powerfully, of me.)
- Happiness Scale: 8 1/2
A Small Press Life: Books. Art. Writing. Life. Tea.
Not just a blog, a philosophy
A Small Press Life: Books. Art. Writing. Life. Tea. 
I’m wondering if I indulged the female principle of my male psyche (anima?), if this would work for me, or if I should just continue with the marijuana?
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Both? At the same time?
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I tried, it all went wrong, I’m having dirty thoughts about transsexuals.
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Nothing wrong with that.
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There’s a great book called PERFIDIOUS MAN, mainly photos by David Gamble (?), but with text by Will Self. The book’s about what it means to be a man, what constitutes being a man. The photos are great, really good. And Will Self decided if he wanted to understand what it meant to be a man, there would be no one better to ask than a female to male transsexual. It’s fascinating stuff.
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Hmmm. Another damn fine sounding book to add to my list. You are on a roll this week, what with all of your apparently non-shitty recommendations.
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I thought it might especially appeal to you with your feminist sensibilities. I too am a feminist, I think and believe it or not. To that means men and women treating other equally. But as Erich Fromm says, equality doesn’t mean being the same; the North Pole and South Pole are different, but equal.
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I’m not surprised by your feminism. At all.
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Really? I am.
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My point being that as a feminist I am never surprised by who else identifies as such.
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