When it comes to books, there are two subjects that always interest me: New England and Judaism. The Boston Girl, the latest novel from the immensely talented and entertaining Anita Diamant, features both of these themes in an engaging, realistic way.

Most people know Anita because of The Red Tent, a biblically inspired novel. Long before I got into her fiction, I enjoyed reading her Jewish lifecycle books. (Saying Kaddish: How to Comfort the Dying, Bury the Dead, and Mourn as a Jew, in particular, was a lifesaver for me when I was dealing with the death of my father in 2004.)

The Boston Girl is told from the perspective of Addie Baum, an 85-year-old grandmother, who is recalling her life in a heart-to-heart with her 22-year-old granddaughter. Her poignant tale beings in the early 1900s, when she was born to Russian immigrant parents, who lived in a poor section of the North End.

The harsh descriptions of tenement life and the limited roles for women during that age are so vivid! Anita’s writing always creates strong female characters who are desperate to break out of strict gender roles and experience life to the fullest, in their own ways. Addie dreams big—of new places, her own job, and love. She is brave enough to seek them out, but it’s not an easy path.

The attention to historical detail is exceptional, and the reader can’t help but be drawn into the Baum family, their neighborhood, and the early 20th century experience. Anyone who enjoys leafing though family scrap books will love it.

This book struck a chord with me because it reminded me of my own family. My grandmother and her 3 sisters grew up in a Boston suburb (Lawrence) around this time, and definitely shared a similar experience. All of them have been gone for many years now and they are so dearly missed! I wish I could have a conversation like Addie and her granddaughter did.

The Boston Girl gets 5 stars from me!

The Tightwad Gazette is a frugal classic for anyone interested in cutting expenses. Originally published as a newsletter in the ’90’s, it’s been complied into a fantastic book full of easy to read short articles, plus some tips and reader feedback. I first read it about a decade ago and recently picked it up again (Yes, some of the tips seem out dated now, but most are very relevant).

The author, Amy Dacyczyn, used to have a lot of haters who thought she was a miser and a fanatic. While she is much, much more frugal than I’m interested in being, I like reading about people on the fringes. (Making pot holders from old blue jeans? Yeah…all set on that!)

According to Amy, her family of 8 lived comfortably in rural Maine for less than $30,000 annually. They insisted on buying most items used, cooking simple meals from scratch, gardening, practicing cheap hobbies like reading and letter writing, and cut corners whenever possible.

Doing this enabled Amy to quit her job as a graphic designer and husband Jim retired from the Navy after 20 years of service. Having both parents home full-time allowed them extra time to devote to frugality.

One of my favorite parts of the book was Amy’s list of 10 Painless Ways to Save $100 This Year:

1. Purchase 10 articles of clothing at thrift shops and yard sales this year instead of paying department store prices.

I’m a big fan of clearance racks and buying off season. Most items I buy are marked down 50-75% and I find my best deals at the Outlets and Target. Thrift stores are a bit trickier and can be a huge time-waster. I shop them every few months. Yard sales have never worked for me (I’m a small Petite and have a very hard time finding my size), but can be great for kids clothes.
 
2. Hang four loads of laundry per week instead of using the dryer.

Ok, I never do this! I’m frugal, not a fanatic, and the dryer is way too convenient to pass up—especially during the winter.

3. Once a month make a pizza from scratch instead of having one delivered.

We don’t eat tons of pizza around here, so the few times we buy it out aren’t a large expense. I like some homemade pizza, but nothing compares to Uno’s deep dish!

4. Write a good letter instead of making a monthly long distance phone call.

I’m old enough to remember how expensive long distance used to be. (Growing up, we’d literally wait til 5:01PM when the rates changed.) Thankfully with email and cell phones, this tip is no longer needed. I love calling my sister in Florida anytime for a flat monthly fee.

5. Reduce your soda consumption by four cans per week.

A great suggestion and one that’s healthy. As an admitted Diet Coke addict, it’s hard, but I’m willing to try.

6. Bake one batch of bread per week.

Because I can buy it so cheaply, bread isn’t a big concern. Also, I don’t have a bread maker and rolling it out by hand takes a lot of time.

7. Save $50 each on two children’s birthday parties by making homemade decorations, cake, wrapping paper, and one present.

Love this tip! Very doable for most of us. I think kids parties are so over the top anyway. Other good ideas are skip the decorations, give the gift of time or a special outing, and bake a simple cake.

8. Reduce your smoking by three cigarettes per day (or give up smoking altogether and save even more).

Having lost my father to smoking-related heart disease at only 54 years old, I pray anyone reading this will quit smoking! Forget the money; the cost of your health is even greater and once gone can’t be fixed.

9. Reduce your whole milk consumption by two gallons per week, substituting dry milk in cooking, homemade cocoa mix, and in half-and-half for drinking.

I’ve never tried dry milk and we don’t use milk for drinking anyway. I’m an almond or cashew milk person, and it’s used sparingly. For everyone else, I look for marked down milk and it’s mainly for cereal.  
 
10. Pack four inexpensive lunches per week.

This works well, provided there’s time/energy to do it. The key is planning ahead, like with bulk cooking. If I wait until the last minute, it doesn’t get done.

 
Rather than focus on the extremes in The Tightwad Gazette, I think it’s the overall message that’s important. By saving when possible and making the most of our resources, we can live without the misery of crushing debt and being chained to job we hate, which is truly priceless.

It’s a shame Amy missed out on the blogging craze because her style and material would’ve been perfect for this medium. I’d love to see her come out of retirement and start writing again.

One More Story, an online library, is offering every book in their collection FREE Through March 9th! What a wonderful way to encourage a love of reading for children.

Potlucks tend to be a love it or hate it experience for most people. (At my old temple, we used to have a monthly potluck which I enjoyed, but there were always a pack of complainers!) Creating different recipes for the same group can definitely be challenging and if you’re looking for something new, The Third Thursday Community Potluck Cookbook is worth a look.

Written by Nashville caterer and blogger, Nancy Vienneau, it’s chockfull of seasonal favorites. There is a southern slant to the book and many of the recipes will have to be adapted for the Jewish kitchen, but I did like the overall feel. Encouraging cooks to use in-season ingredients and make the most of their garden’s bounty is a great idea.

Nancy’s group is casual and it includes a diverse group of attendees who’ve been coming together for five years. The only requirement is to have a love of food and friends and be willing to share. The recipes are fresh and flavorful, with an emphasis on whole foods—not the mixes, boxes, or canned soup that most potluck casseroles are comprised of. It’s much more upscale than a potluck is expected to be, which is a refreshing change!

My favorites were the desserts (what else is new, right?) I found the Brown Butter Honey Cake interesting. Made with multiple dairy products, it’s so different from what I consider a honey cake to be. I’m used to the the classic, parve treats found in Jewish cuisine.

In addition to the sweets, there were good ideas for salads and something called black raspberry chicken that I’d really like to make when the barbeque season returns. I did skip over a bunch of pork dishes, but that’s to be expected with any southern cookbook. (Obviously, I knew what was inside; there’s a huge ham on the book’s cover!)

Most pages include full color photos which is a big plus. If I see a visual, I’m much more likely to try it. In addition to the recipes, there are tips for creating food gifts such as jams, sugars, and baked goods.

I don’t think The Third Thursday Community Potluck Cookbook will ever become a staple in my kitchen, but it was a fun, fast read that I enjoyed, and would definitely help anyone who’s in a potluck rut. I give the contents 3 out of 5 stars and the title 1 star (too wordy and not eye catching).

I received a complimentary copy from Book Look Bloggers in exchange for my honest review.