Start Where You Are by Meera Lee Patel

A Journal of Self-Exploration
4 stars
received for review

From Goodreads:
Start Where You Are is an interactive journal designed to help readers nurture their creativity, mindfulness, and self-motivation. It helps readers navigate the confusion and chaos of daily life with a simple reminder: that by taking the time to know ourselves and what those dreams are, we can appreciate the world around us and achieve our dreams.

Featuring vibrant hand-lettering and images that have attracted a large following for her stationery and textile line in boutiques across the country, Meera Lee Patel's uplifting book presents supportive prompts and exercises along with inspirational quotes to encourage reflection through writing, drawing, chart-making, and more.

Featuring inspiring quotes from writers, artists, and other visionaries paired with open-ended questions and prompts, with plenty of room for writing and reflecting, this appealing full-color book will make a perfect gift and keepsake as well as being a powerful tool for positive change. 

This isn't the kind of thing I'd normally go for-- a little too "self help" for me-- but I'm kind of a sucker for quotes.... and for art.... so.... yeah.  :)

The exercises are fairly simple introspective things that seem interesting.  (I haven't gone through and actually done them all yet.)

This could be a great gift book for this holiday season!

Women Know Everything! by Karen Weekes

3,241 Quips, Quotes and Brilliant Remarks

5 stars
R-2 (there are sections on sex, sexual orientation, etc.)
Copy received for review

(For the record, I like this cover the best.)


This is a huge compilation of quotes from a wide variety of women, but there is a bit of an emphasis on activists and feminists.

Reading it straight through can be a little disorienting since each section (it's arranged alphabetically by topic) has so many different viewpoints represented.

Obviously one won't agree with all the quotes-- I disagreed with whole sections-- but it's very interesting.

My only complaint would be that some of the quotes needed more in the way of context or explaination beyond the woman's name and ethnicity.

Overall, it's a great collection.  My copy is very dog-eared.

A few favorites:
"If men can run the world, why can't they stop wearing neckties?  How intelligent is it to start the day by tying a little noose around your neck?"  -- Linda Ellerbee

"If I had been around when Rubens was painting, I would have been revered as a fabulous model.  Kate Moss?  Well, she would have been the paintbrush."  -- Dawn French

"If we aren't supposed to eat animals, then why are they made out of meat?"  --Jo Brand

And most of the quotes from Zsa Zsa Gabor. :)

This would make a great gift.  For yourself. :)  (Or others.)