Customer Reviews

Romancing the Ordinary: A Year of Simple Splendor

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

I found it impossible not to be drawn to Romancing the Ordinary, at first simply for its beautiful cover. What I found inside was even lovelier! The style os this book harkens back to Simple Abundance as it calendars the year month by month, offering recipes and cozy home remedies. Sarah's signature narrative is in full effect with her personal anecdotes and insight, where it feels more like an exchange with an intimate friend. Though there is a noted change in her tone--sometimes she's nostalgic, others she is inquisitive and even sassy!
There has been so much tragedy in the past year that I think many of us are finding renewed significance in our everyday ordinary. Sarah takes that sentiment to a refreshing new level. Embedded between fanciful ways of revamping the blah of everyday routine, are nuggets of wisdom and practical proposals.
The book's foundation focuses on her intriguing idea that we can live life fuller simply by beginning to re-appreciate the power of our natural senses. In addition to the five physical ones, she tacks on wonder and intuition. Sarah's theory of Romancing Life translates seamlessly into Romancing Yourself. A practice that begins with self-knowledge. She shares her own realization that, the more you know how to make yourself happy, the easier it will be to recognize who will make you happy. And in the meantime, why wait for that someone? Do it yourself. Now what woman can argue with that?

I'm a long-time fan of Ms. Ban Breathnach's work. However, I'm not an easy sell just because an author comes out with something else. From the moment I picked up this beautiful book, I could tell that she had ventured into new territory. Laid out as a journey through the twelve months of the year, each chapter gently guides you through the delights to be found in every day and the simple graces you can bring into your life. You'll also find all of the SBB trademarks: rare quotes, thought provoking questions, recipes for body and soul, and of course the lyrical prose that only comes from the goddess of gratitude.

I have read Sarah's Simple Abundance each year since it came out. Now I find this wonderful book of hers too. I am so glad she chose to refer to God more in this new book. I love Sarah's ability to write as we live. She knows what it is to truly see, hear, listen, touch, and smell our lives. Please don't just glance at your child, look into your child. Don't just see a flower, see the Creator who made it bloom. And as the seasons in life and nature change, we too change and grow. We cannot do it alone. Live your life, every moment, every breath.
thank you Sarah.

I was surprised and delighted with Romancing the Ordinary for as a 53 year old woman, feeling my passion and sensuality emerge from this "sleeper" work by Sarah tickles me. I expected beautiful prose, for which we are well rewarded. I anticipated the wisdom of other eras, SBB's trademark quotes, and was delighted and comforted. I hoped for new insights and reminders of practices that work (take time for myself, baths and candles) and was grateful that SBB took the time and risk to remind me about things that work to ground me as a woman. The thrill came when I realized my passion, for life, love, sex and living my life full out, with me first, happy and joyful. Contrary to one reviewer, this is a book for all women, married and single. My husband and I are quite thrilled with my love of this book," which I read first, like a novel! Try the food of love, page 84 or read "Lead Her into Temptation", pg 408. No one but Sarah and maybe God, would know the trouble and fun a baked apple can cause. For every woman, who knows and cares about another woman, share this treasure with them and savor the "es"sensual delights that life holds for us.

As a longtime SIMPLE ABUNDANCE (SA) fan, I was excited to hear that SB was coming out with a new day book. (I have been re-reading SIMPLE ABUNDANCE for a while now!). ROMANCING the Ordinary is lovely to look at and the essays are pure SB -- comforting and informative, as always.

One of the things that made "SA" so helpful and appealing was its daily entries. While "Romancing the Ordinary" is divided into 12 months, there are no daily entries -- so you simply read the essays for that month as you see fit. I am not sure why the publisher didn't encourage Sarah to make an essay for each day of the year, just as she did for "SA". For that reason alone, I gave the book 4 stars instead of 5.

However, I do love the concept of day books, and I think women need them more than ever now that life is so busy, and often fraught with conflict. Writers like Sarah give us comfort and advice, and permission to enjoy and savor life instead of merely rushing through it. Sarah gives us old wisdom, new thought, and some wonderful quotations along the way. We need more of this!

After reading the other reviews, I just have to write my own--because I actually bought this book. I have read and re-read Simple Abundance and Something More, so I am a fan of SBB. This book is not as evil as has been reviewed. However, I must say, if you are a Christian who does not allow her children to read Harry Potter because it is "evil," then this book is not for you. SBB does discuss magic and witches in the sense of Glenda the good witch from the Wizard of Oz.

What I do appreciate about the book is the encouragement to view my everyday activities in a different light. Enjoy my pillows, enjoy selecting my books for vacation, enjoy having a comfortable nightgown to sleep in. Think about what would give me pleasure, not just please everyone else. Let go of perfectinism.

I look forward to reading the book over the next year. I look forward to apprectiating my senses more--which is the whole premise of the book.

An inspiring and enlightening work that is very appropriate considering all the depression, anxiety, uncertainty and pessimisim we see all around us. This book is clearly written for women and truthfully I bought it for my wife. But, while she was reading it, I started scanning it and was drawn in. The author suffered a head injury that deprived her of sensory input. One by one, she regained her senses, but gained a new appreciation for life as she rediscovered the abundant joy to be found in simple everyday pleasures. It may sound trite, but I assure you, it's not. You can't help but become more aware of life's blessings when you read this book!

Romancing the Ordinary is a continuation of Sarah's (and our) quest for happiness and joy in this short time that we have on planet Earth. Although I have read, and re-read, all of her books, I am never tired of what she has to say. I don't care if she says "toots," talks about her divorce or daughter, or reiterates a point that she made in a previous book. To me, the bottom line is, Sarah touches my heart. I think that most women who are on the "simple abundance" path will find great pleasure in Romancing the Ordinary. It is truly an "essensual" book from cover to cover.

As a delighted fan of _Simple Abundance_, I eagerly anticipated Sarah's latest work. However, before you buy this book or even spend time reading it you should know that it is on a far lower par then her previous books for the following reasons:

1. The poor writing: Writing style is hurried and affected with frequent employement of exact same phrases [where in the world did her sudden addition to the word "Toots" come from?!], verbs [all her quoted sources either "admit," "note," or "confess"], and other shortcuts. Lacks creativity and is effortlessly contrived. Occasionally jarring incorrect grammar. Her publishing house needs to assign competent proofreaders for the next edition.

2. The illogical format: Though the books is divided into months, there are no individual dates for each essay! Not sure of the logic behind that and don't like it at all.

3. The preoccupation with the wonders of witchcraft: Why so much preoccupation with witchcraft, Sarah? Are you trying to ride the coattails of J.K. Rowling's success or have you really converted to wicca in the scant two years since SA came out?

4. Readers be warned: this book contains hundreds of applications for essential oils and almost as many ways to comfort yourself if you're single. That's great if that's you but tedious if it's not. By the December section, I was ready to scream if I read another mention of the author's divorce, her daughter, or the miracles of essential oils. This book manages to alienate anyone who's allergic to fragrances or in a relationship; if you opt for "unscented' or are happily coupled, Sarah can't relate to you very well it would seem.

5. What IS good about it: The book earned two stars from me because the cover painting is pretty, the green satin bookmark is handy, and the interior vintage photos are intriguing. Thank goodness I checked this one out of the library rather than wasting my money.

"Do you remember when you were little and jumping into the deep end of the pool was one of the most daring things you could do? Once a sense of play introduces a little deep-end jumping into each ordinary day, you'll want to keep doing it again and again. And you were meant to."

Thus begins one of the chapters of Breathnach's wonderful book. And reading this book is much like jumping into the deep end. Each chapter is replete with sage wisdom, witty humor and examples of ways in which we can all make each 'ordinary' day wondrous. From chapters such as "She Who Should Be Obeyed," which speaks to, and honors, a woman's sixth sense of "Knowing," to the delicious quotes which precede each chapter, and are scattered throughout the pages, this book speaks to indulgences intended to restore weary feminine souls -- soul wisdom evident on nearly every page, rituals for body, mind and soul, decorating tips for making your retreat a soul haven, scrumptious recipes, feminine fashion and helpful gardening hints.

A welcome theme that is woven throughout the book like a scarlet thread is the subject of self-nurturance and the importance of being wedded to oneself. In a society that indoctrinates single women with the fallacy that life apart from a romantic relationship is a failed life, Breathnach affirms the fact that the most important love relationship a woman can have is with herself.

I highly recommend this book to any woman interested in rejuvenating her spirit....and perhaps particularly to women who find themselves in mid-life with feelings of regret and longings for adventure. By the time you finish this book, you will recognize that 'something a simple as a rainy summer afternoon can provide us with some unorthodox adventures on the wings of memory.'