Places where, while reading this book, my belly laugh drew attention from strangers: the E4 to Friendship Heights, Panera, the back of an Uber, the front of an Uber, the waiting room at my endocrinologist’s office. Let me tell you, dear reader, this book is funny as heck. In this collection of essays Philpott discusses her life as a genuinely funny person; from getting married, to raising children, to analyzing the clothing choices of celebrities. This delightful and entertaining memoir also prominently features a lobsterman, a snake wedding, and an exploding dog butt. Just trust me and read this book, OK?
Sisters Laya and Liba have grown up in a remote hamlet among their neighbors where life is comfortable and familiar. But their village is surrounded by an expanse of forest that may hide more than it tells. Dangers lurk beyond the tree line; some are starkly hazardous but many are hidden between dark and magical secrets that have been watching and waiting for generations. In a world where fairy tales are real, it’s up to Laya and Liba to get to the root of the evil by setting aside their differences, which may be greater than they know.
Often with coffee table books, I’ll flip through them, think “hey this is cool”, and ultimately ponder “but do I really need to own this?” The answer for this book was easy: yes. Yes I do need to own this and get everyone I know to own it, too. Following a timeline from 600ce to present day, Women: Our Story spans the globe and touches on the other side of the past; from the worship of goddesses and female pharaohs, to the important roles of women in world wars and politics today. Artists, musicians, religious leaders, royalty, pioneers, and martyrs: this is a book of herstory.
