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Romancing the Ordinary: A Year of Simple Splendor 2004 Engagement Calendar
 
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Romancing the Ordinary: A Year of Simple Splendor 2004 Engagement Calendar [Deckle Edge] [Hardcover]

Sarah Ban Breathnach (Author)
3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)

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Romancing the Ordinary Romancing the Ordinary 3.7 out of 5 stars (18)
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Product Description

From Amazon.co.uk

Romancing the Ordinary is the latest book from Sarah Ban Breathnach, author of the best-selling Simple Abundance. In the mid-80s Sarah Ban Breathnach spent several months bedridden, "confused and disorientated" as the result of a head injury. Her eyesight blurred, listening to music made her dizzy and her senses of taste and smell had vanished. At first she bewailed her fate, but gradually her attitude changed--as she recovered her senses, she realised she had learned an important spiritual lesson: "I had discovered the miracle of the sacred in the ordinary."

In Romancing the Ordinary, Ban Breathnach is determined that we too learn how to "turn our days of lead into days of gold." Aimed especially at women, it's a month by month celebration of "simple splendour". Each chapter is headed by an inspirational quote, and is jam- packed with suggestions, recipes, observations, tasks and sensual treats to help you re-discover the feeling of "wonder". Ban Breathnach first task is a deceptively simple one--you have to learn how improve the quality of your days. If that sounds a bit worthy, don't despair, Ban Breathnach's approach is more practical magic rather than good house keeping. So sure, she does suggest getting rid of all the useless junk in your hand-bag, but she also wants you to fully appreciate decadent mugs of hot chocolate or make up your own 'scrumptious' baths oils, or go for a stroll in the park on a sunny day. Instead of waiting for a significant other to show you a world of passion and romance, she wants you to create it for yourself. Now there's a heartfelt challenge. --Eithne Farry --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Publishers Weekly

"Women were created to experience, interpret, revel in, and unravel the mysteries of Life through their senses," declares Breathnach (Simple Abundance), insisting that women have two extra senses: those of "knowing" and "wonder." Breathnach then works her way through the calendar year, offering tips to women to free their "essensual" selves. Much of the advice (e.g., make your own scented sachets and foot lotions) is rote. At times, Breathnach herself criticizes the commercialization of the sensual. For example, the bath is a "waterfall of delight" that's being "snuffed out by the banality of the self-enhancement poseurs." Homemade is the best way to go, says Breathnach, and even the hours spent preparing various potions are a gift in themselves. On the other hand, she heartily endorses purchasing gourmet fruits, "essensual sets of underwear," silk sheets and other luxuries, since these items also pleasure the senses. Fortunately, the object of all this pampering isn't just to attract a mate. Breathnach urges women to stop focusing on finding a partner and to "learn the sacred soulcraft of self-nurture." While exhortations to "become your own courtesan" may seem narcissistic, the message will strike a welcome chord among women who've learned that sacrificing for others isn't always worth it. At times Breathnach is unintentionally funny she recommends taking Beckett plays to the laundromat to "try on for size being an intellectual." But her occasionally pretentious use of quotations and capitalized references to the Spirit and the Divinity shouldn't stop her fans from pampering their Inner Goddess.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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Customer Reviews

18 Reviews
5 star:
 (7)
4 star:
 (5)
3 star:
 (2)
2 star:
 (1)
1 star:
 (3)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
3.7 out of 5 stars (18 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Simply Splendid, Oct 29 2002
By 
Sarah Llewellyn (Salt Lake City, UT) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Romancing the Ordinary: A Year of Simple Splendor 2004 Engagement Calendar (Hardcover)
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.
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4.0 out of 5 stars Doesn't get opened often, May 17 2004
By 
snowblaze (Houston, TX USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Romancing the Ordinary: A Year of Simple Splendor 2004 Engagement Calendar (Hardcover)
This book remains on my nightstand, but its proximity to me still is not enticement enough to open it more. Breathnach's first book (S.A.) is hard to beat.
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3.0 out of 5 stars I am not her target audience, Jan 5 2004
By 
Julia C Tenney (Somerville, MA United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Romancing the Ordinary: A Year of Simple Splendor 2004 Engagement Calendar (Hardcover)
At least, I don't feel as if I am.

I originally picked up Simple Abundance off of a coworker's desk while rebooting my computer for the nth time in a morning. Someone then gave me their mostly unused copy and on a lark, wrote out my response to the daily entries in my online journal, which garnered positive feedback, including someone giving me this sequel of sorts. I'm not sure I would've stuck with either without the feedback. This made both well-worth my time.

(And yes, my readers gave me a 3rd daily essay book "Meditations for Women Who Do Too Much", which is already quite different. And, since I'm able to keep up with daily journal entries, possibly inappropriate.)

I recommend reading this either near a computer search engine (or a classic library) and researching some of the people she mentions. Searching for some of the artists, painters, explorers and otherwise interesting historical figures mentioned in the book made it a stepping stone to a richer experience, which seems to be the goal.

I also recommend a fourm that gets feedback, be it blog (I'm no celebrity, and yet I have an interested audience), discussion list or a group that periodically meets in person.

Romancing the Ordinary is, as mentioned, less cute-fuzzy optimistic (I was fascinated by how she faced life changes, whether or not I agreed with her choices) and more earthy/pagan/wiccan/(women-positive). I regard this as a step forward.

Nonetheless, it is a sequel. The original is still a better place to begin.

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