Bob Langrish’s World of Horses by Bob Langrish

Bob Langrish’s World of Horses is a stunning collection of equine photos from around the world. There’s plenty of information about these magnificent animals accompanying the photos, discussing how traits and behaviours are shaped by environment. The book itself is organised by terrain rather than by breed, or chronologically. Tiny maps show where each picture was taken. I do wish that the pictures were bigger, however I had a digital copy, bound by tablet size constraints. Overall, though, I lived this collection! I grew up on a horse farm, and spent a substantial amount of my childhood around them. This book brought back many happy memories. Perfect for horse lovers of any stripe!

***Many thanks to the Netgalley and Storey Publishing for providing an egalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

 

The Joy of Forest Bathing by Melanie Choukas-Bradley

The Joy of Forest Bathing by Melanie Choukas-Bradley is a wonderful introduction to shinrin-yoku, or forest bathing. This meditative practise originated in Japan, but cultures the world over have similar concepts. There’s been plenty of research supporting the healing nature of shinrin-yoku, from lowering heart rate and stress levels, to buffing the immune system. The author’s memories from the Introduction called up memories from my own childhood, free to roam my grandparents’ horse farm. I enjoyed being immersed in nature then. It felt so carefree. There are plenty of meditative and breathing exercises given, and the book is full of gorgeous photos, along with sketches. Whether you are new to forest-bathing or an old hand, you are sure to love this nature book!

***Many thanks to the Netgalley and Quarto Publishing for providing an egalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

 

Kawaii Doodle Cuties by Zainab Khan

Kawaii Doodle Cuties by Zainab Khan teaches in the art of crafting adorable kawaii art, from happy sushi to cute clothing. After an introduction to kawaii art, tools, and a tips’n’tricks section, the rest is divided by nature of the objects. The first chapter is foods from around the world. Next is a nature chapter, followed by ones on architecture, animals, transportation methods, clothing, and random objects that don’t really fit any of the other categories. There’s a final section with several search and find puzzles that can also be coloring pages.

Thus is a wonderful book for teaching the art of kawaii. I tried my hand at it, but my cubs proved better. Haha. My efforts weren’t too bad though, and it influenced what and how I am likely to Doodle when stuck on the phone. Perfect for the artists or budding artists out there!

***Many thanks to the Netgalley and Quarto Publishing for providing an egalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

 

Shakespeare for Freedom by Ewan Fernie

Shakespeare for Freedom by Ewan Fernie takes a look Shakespeare’s works and how its interpretations of freedom are still relevant today and the manner in which they shaped and continue to shape such wide-ranging social constructs as theatre, civic culture, and politics, be it for good or bad. This was a great read, in-depth and thought-provoking. I ended up reading a bit, and stopping to ponder things, so it took me a lot longer than usual to read. The writing was engaging, academic yet mostly easy to follow. Readings of various Shakespeare texts are paired with analysis of literary criticisms from a variety of sources. If you have an interest in Shakespeare and his influence through the ages, be sure to check this book out!

***Many thanks to the Netgalley and Cambridge Press for providing an egalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.