Home Comforts by Cheryl Mendelson (2005)

I was initially doubtful about this hefty text on caring for one's home. The book is literally a textbook on the topic. Leafing through the book, Mendelson engages the reader with stories of her own upbringing and life, and it is evident in her articulate writing that care of home and hearth are of great meaning to her. She expertly describes how to care for myriad home care issues - from what a well-stocked pantry should contain, to how to properly clean several types of carpeting. Being a know-it-all in care of the home, I thought there would be little for me to take away from the book, but I was pleasantly surprised that there is a lot that I was unaware of, and that I was able to take from the book and apply to my own routine. I like the book in that you can take from it as much or as little as you want - dabble in a few tips, or revise your entire thinking about the keeping of a home. Mendelson covers every aspect of home care I can think of - even legal issues surrounding one's home. Mendelson awakens a passion for the dying art of caring for the home - in a day when so many of us subsist on tv dinners and hire people to clean our homes. The book is practical and thorough, yet enjoyable to read. It deserves a place in each home.