William Shakespeare's Star Wars by Ian Doescher

When I first stumbled across this title I thought it had to be hilarious; just the concept had me grinning! Once I finally got my hands on the book and started reading it, I was hooked. Ian Doescher has perfectly recreated the first film of the original Star Wars trilogy, all in Shakespearean style. And Ian doesn't simply retype the text; he expertly recreates the beloved films on paper through stage cues, character asides, and a chorus that explains background information, scene changes, and (what would normally be) onscreen character movements.

My favorite character in the book is little R2D2. Although his actual lines are all beeps and squeaks, the asides into his inner thoughts and motives are hilarious! His role really blooms as he becomes an instigator in the events that unfold and an affectionate antagonist to his golden counterpart, C3PO. I also really love Ian's portrayal of Darth Vader. He has a very melancholy, Hamlet-esque personality and is prone to soliloquy when left alone in corridors.

In reading this work I actually  began to understand the plot and political aspects of the film better than I ever had before. As I read I continually though, “Oh, that’s what they were doing! I’ll have to re-watch that.” (And any excuse to re-watch the original Star Wars movies is a welcome one to me.) Not only is the book amazingly well done but it is easily enjoyed by hard-core Star Wars fans and casual watchers alike as a picture perfect recreation of the film.

If you enjoy William Shakespeare’s Star Wars: Verily, A New Hope, finish reading the original trilogy with The Empire Striketh Back and The Jedi Doth Return. Or rekindle your love for the first three films by watching the Star Wars Trilogy. All these and more are available through the Virginia Beach Public Library.

For more fun and funny reviews, go to VBPLrecommends.blogspot.com/.

30 Day Shred by Jillian Michaels

The cool days of spring are gone (not to mention those piles of snow) and it finally feels like summer! Which can only mean one thing: swim suit season. Both a beloved and dreaded time when getting the “beach bod” back into shape becomes top priority. But with our busy lives, where do we find time for lengthy workouts at the gym? Well never fear, Jillian Michaels is here!

Known for being a tough (sometimes scary) trainer on The Biggest Loser, Michaels has made her workout routines easily accessible and easy to achieve in her workout video, The 30 Day Shred! This DVD features three leveled 20-minute workout routines that only require a little floor space and some hand weights. However, don’t be fooled by the short workout time or the minimal requirements; this workout is fierce!

Level one day one I couldn't even finish the 20 minute routine. I progressively improved (although there were still some moves that I had to use the simplified methods) and was almost 100% comfortable with the routine just in time to start level two… which left me in the dust once again! The workouts are tough but you can feel the effects right away. Jillian gives constant encouragement and advice for moves throughout the routines, and if that’s not what motivates you (or if you get tired of listening to her), there’s an option to mute her and still keep the background music pumping!

All in all this DVD provides a fast, effective, in-home routine that can easily be fit into almost any busy schedule. If you’re looking for an easier start to your workout routine, try Jillian Michaels for Beginners. Or if you’re looking for the next level in fitness, try Ripped in 30. These fitness DVDs and many more are available through the Virginia Beach Public Library.

Craving more book reviews? Check out VBPLrecommends.blogspot.com/.

Around the House the Fox Chased the Mouse by Rick Walton

Prepositions are probably not your favorite kind of words and I bet they’re not your child’s favorites either. But they can be! Around the House the Fox Chased the Mouse is a language adventure book, which means you and your child get to have fun while exploring the words that are so important to our language; in this case: prepositions.

This book is full of simple text, with big, bright pictures that perfectly illustrate what’s happening in the text.

Follow the fox as he chases the mouse into the barn, through windows, and under tractors. What will happen when the fox catches the mouse? That’s the mystery! And the twist at the end is charming enough to make any adult laugh right along with their kids.

If you enjoy exploring prepositions through this fun and colorful book, try If You Were A Preposition by Nancy Loewen. Or explore some adjectives with Hairy, Scary, Ordinary: What is an Adjective? By Brian Cleary. These books and many more are available through the Virginia Beach Public Library.

Looking for more quality book reviews? Visit VBPLrecommends.blogspot.com/.

The Sonoma Diet: Trimmer Waist, Better Health in Just 10 Days! by Connie Guttersen

Before we get into this week's review, I thought I'd tell you that the book review you're about to read was also published in our local paper in the summer of 2013. Many of you already know that these book reviews are copies of reviews I post for my library on VBPL Recommends. Well, occasionally one of those reviews is chosen to be featured in the local paper. And this one was picked! So, without further ado....

If you’re anything like me you have tried a dozen different diets trying to jump-start your weight loss goals. Most of the diet cookbooks I tried were full of tiny portions of bland food that left me still feeling hungry or huge portions of plain, raw vegetables that I just wasn't used to and couldn't make myself finish without breaking out the ranch dip. So when my mom told me to look at the Sonoma Diet I was more than a little skeptical of cracking open yet another book full of food I really didn't want. Boy, was I wrong!

The Sonoma Diet is full of delicious Mediterranean style meal plans and menus to get you on the right track towards a healthy lifestyle. The food is fresh and flavorful and the meals are easy to put together. Some of the ingredients were foreign to me, but it gave me a chance to expand my palette and find new flavors that I now love to use! However, the recipes are just a small part of what makes this book so amazing. The Sonoma Diet gives you information to make healthy eating a part of your life without having to follow their menus. The book contains plate and bowl guidelines to help you understand portion sizes, their “top 10 Sonoma Diet Power Foods” and smart food combinations to help make healthy food even more effective, and discusses the science behind the diet and what makes it so effective.

I love The Sonoma Diet! I have gone back to the original meal plans time and time again and their chicken salad has become a favorite in my house. The food is delicious and filling and I really learned a lot about how to effectively change my eating habits into healthier ones.

If you love The Sonoma Diet try more of their delicious recipes with The Sonoma Diet Cookbook or if you’re looking for healthy, filling recipes with a home-style flavor, try Flat Belly Diet! Cookbook. These and other great diet books (and cookbooks) are available through the Virginia Beach Public Library.

For more news-worthy reviews, check out VBPLrecommends.blogspot.com/.