Heart and Sole: The Shoes of My Life [Hardcover]

This is a very readable (and visual) light treat for both shoe-a-holics and those who can't resist the puns of sole fantasies.

After returning from a recent trip to LA, my husband commented on women's obsession with style and I had just purchased a pair of shoes that made me look much taller and thinner. Shoes can make you lose weight, I love it.

Anyway, it was time to read this adorable book about shoes. I don't have as many shoes as I did in college although I tend to remember my life in some autobiographical way through the shoes I was wearing at the time. I remember the boots I wore in Paris and the sexy shoes with sparkly diamonds I wore for a special occasion.

Jane Eldershaw seems to see life in a similar fashion. Heart and Sole is a lighthearted memoir that explores Jane's life through her shoe selections. She gives tips on how to judge a man by his choice of shoes and why there are only two types of women in the world.

Jane Eldershaw is a writer and magazine illustrator who was born in Australia. Her writing style is original, playful and has a love for descriptive words to tease your mind. She has worked for New Woman and Vogue Australia. The book jacket hides a beautiful high-quality ruby covered and exquisitely bound book. Women who love well-made shoes will appreciate the style and quality of this tiny book. The book was also illustrated by Jane and I was especially amused by "toe decolletage." She has drawn pictures of her shoes, everything from her boots to her Italian Interlude when she wore shoes from Rome. She explores life choices after she wore her new cherry-red-spike-heeled ankle-straps with silver buckles.

Jane also reveals interesting facts about Marilyn Monroe, Barbie dolls and how to find a shoe-inn for storage. Where do your shoes live? What is the heel called. I had no idea there was a "kitten" heel, but it is very common.

I could easily become obsessed with shoes again and have been in the past, but lately I'm all about comfort and the shoes that are fancy are sure to only be worn for special occasions. This book reminded me of how fun it is to shop for shoes and I'm of course always on the look for pretty slippers for wearing while writing reviews. I did try on clear plastic shoe the other day and had to feel a bit sorry for Cinderella. Glass could not be overly comfortable although a girl can dream. I've stepped on broken glass and ruined a heel while almost tripping down steps, so that might be a sign.

This delicious book made me fondly remember the Nordstrom of the past where men dressed in suits played Prince Charming and slipped slippers of all colors onto your feet. Where have those days gone? Jane explores the elements of a good shoe salesman and it is nothing like Married with Children. ;) It is a bit more like Sex and the City. My husband might want to read this book because he is a shoe guy. He has been known to give me advice on shoe selections. He hasn't seen what I bought for our anniversary. Hee, hee...

Other unique features:

Tips on How to Care for Shoes
Discarding Your Past Personalities
What a cobbler Can and Can't do!
Feel-Good Fix-Ups for Fatigued Feet

If you read one book on shoes in this lifetime this should be the book. Perfect for keeping in your matching purse for reading just about anywhere.

~The Rebecca Review

When you can't get out to the mall and actually SHOP for shoes, you can get that same shoe-shopping FIX from Jane Eldershaw's book. It's every bit as cute as those red, kitten-heel, t-straps that you've been dreaming about. (If you don't know what that means, this book is NOT for you!)

› Go to Amazon.com to see all 3 reviews  5.0 out of 5 stars