October 8, 2007
5 Minutes for Books — Queen of the Castle
Queen of the Castle by Lynn Bowen Walker is a fantastic and fun resource for homemakers everywhere. The subtitle says it all: 52 weeks of encouragement for the uninspired, domestically challenged or just plain tired homemaker. The author comes across as the slightly-more-together friend and mentor that we all wish we had. Not the perfect wife, cook, housekeeper, and PTA mom, who might end up irritating us, but someone who is simple willing to share how she manages to get dinner on the table while also taxi-ing her children to after-school events.
The book is written in a 52 week format, so that the busy mom can cover one chapter each week, but I found myself browsing through and reading the parts that I really thought I needed right away. The chapter titles are very helpful to locate the information you need. For example, week 41, October, is called “The Seasons Are Changing: Homemaking in the Fall.” It opens with Lynn’s wistful look at the changing air and colors which makes her want to nest and give attention to her home. The ideas for fall that she offers range from practical to pampering:
I highly recommend this book for its clear presentation and easy format which includes quotes from many homemaking and mothering and women’s books on the topics that she is covering, along with a word of the day, plenty of personal anecdotes, and oh yeah, chocolate recipes.
The author has donated a copy for our U.S. or Canadian readers, so if you’d like to be crowned queen of your castle, leave a comment to be eligible to win. I’ll announce the winner in next week’s column.
Filed under * Feature Columns, 5 Minutes for Books, Books, Contests by Jennifer
Thank you soooooooooo much for sharing this post! (ps. Kirtsy and StumbleUpon are our favorites)
121 Comments on 5 Minutes for Books — Queen of the Castle »
#1 - 5 Minutes for Books — Dangerous Admissions @ 12:03 am
[...] by Jennifer This is the first of two reviews and giveaways in 5 Minutes for Books. Scroll down or click here for the second [...]
#2 - Laura @ Laura Williams' Musings @ 12:44 am
Count me in!
I blogged the giveaway too in my Monday Edition of Contests Galore
http://laurawilliamsmusings.blogspot.com/2007/10/monday-edition-contests-galore.html
#3 - Casey @ 1:59 am
This sounds like a great book!
#4 - TheAngelForever @ 2:02 am
Looks like a great book. This queen of her castle is feeling domestically challenged, mind you it may be the baby wake up call at 1 this morning. Count me in for the contest.
#5 - Laura @ 2:13 am
I totally wanted to read/review this book when I saw it going around the Blogosphere awhile ago. Maybe now is my chance
Laura
#6 - Amanda @ 2:35 am
I blogged about the contest!
HERE
#7 - Marie @ 4:23 am
would love to have it. Count me in please!
#8 - Nichole @ 4:36 am
Sounds like a great book!
#9 - Michelle @ 5:25 am
I have been wanting to read this book for awhile now. I would love to be entered.
#10 - Melissa Markham @ 6:17 am
Queen of the Castle…I love the title! Sounds like a great book!
#11 - emily @ 6:49 am
Oh, I definitely need this book. I hope hope hope that I get picked.
#12 - Lisa K. @ 7:40 am
That definitely sounds like a book that would be useful to our household, please enter me!
#13 - stephanie @ 7:46 am
Me please!
#14 - homemom3 @ 7:46 am
Would love this book. Count me in. I’ll have a link on Tuesday for it.
#15 - Christy @ 7:50 am
count me in!
#16 - Heather @ 8:00 am
Do I ever need a book like this!!!
#17 - Lauren@Baseballs&Bows @ 8:24 am
Sounds great!
#18 - Mama Zen @ 8:32 am
I would love to have this!
#19 - Jess @ 8:51 am
I think its sounds like a good boo too!
#20 - Heather @ 8:58 am
Just the book I need!
#21 - Lisa Brendle @ 9:01 am
This sounds like a book I need. Please count me in.
#22 - Sarah @ 9:03 am
This sounds like a very practical, great book!
#23 - Andrea @ 9:19 am
Sounds like a great book!
#24 - the holly @ 9:28 am
this looks right up my alley!
#25 - Beth S. @ 9:52 am
This sounds like a really good book.
#26 - Cara's Coffee Break @ 9:54 am
I love these kind of books! Linked to your giveaway on my blog!
#27 - Laura @ 10:06 am
Would love to read this!
#28 - Veggiemomof2 @ 10:12 am
I’ve put this book on my To Be Read list!
Congrats! I read about 16 blogs for household tips & you are the 1st to mention “Get Organized Week”
#29 - michelle jadaa @ 10:12 am
oooh books…..cool
#30 - Jessie @ 10:18 am
I would love one!!
#31 - Elaine @ 10:20 am
Would love this one!
#32 - jenna @ 10:25 am
I’m a domestic goddess here, hoping to win this book!
#33 - Michele @ 10:39 am
Please sign me up.
#34 - Shera @ 10:54 am
This sounds fabulous!
#35 - flipflop @ 11:17 am
Sure! Count me in!
#36 - Capturing Today @ 11:17 am
Sounds like this would be a wonderfully inspiring book!
#37 - natasha @ 11:25 am
what a wonderful book
#38 - Becca @ 11:28 am
That sounds like it would be so helpful to me! Count me in!
#39 - Lisa Oguin @ 11:38 am
Wow do I ever need this book! Count me in!
#40 - Eleanor Joyce @ 12:13 pm
Boy, do I need this! I don’t feel like a queen, nor does my house look like a castle at the minute!
Sounds like a fun approach to a subject that sometimes is no fun at all…a refreshing change from books and sites that only make the non-queens like me feel more inept and guilty!
#41 - Wendy @ 12:25 pm
wow! What a neat concept for a book:)
#42 - Ashley @ 12:27 pm
enter me please!
#43 - Mommy Bee @ 12:51 pm
I need all the help I can get! Count me in!
#44 - Kelly @ 1:07 pm
Sounds like the perfect book for this busy season of life that I’m in!
#45 - Cole's Mama @ 1:08 pm
I so need this!!
#46 - Beth@sportsmomma @ 1:22 pm
Jennifer- this sounds like an awesome book! Count me in!
#47 - Shannon @ some fine taters @ 1:37 pm
count me in!
#48 - Dawn @ 1:51 pm
This sounds like a book I need. Count me in.
#49 - Kim @ 2:03 pm
Oh, I could use this book… Enter me please.
#50 - Holly @ 2:13 pm
sign me up!
#51 - Amy R. @ 2:14 pm
This sounds great!!!
#52 - Sara @ 2:16 pm
For a soon to be mother of two I think I would love this book
#53 - S.P. @ 2:28 pm
I really want to win! Pick me!!!!
#54 - serina @ 2:35 pm
Sounds great!
#55 - Thea @ 4:22 pm
I’d love to get my hands on this book!
#56 - Amy @ 4:28 pm
Please include me!
#57 - Ornery's Wife @ 5:45 pm
Would love to have this to give to my niece; she and my nephew plan to have 10 children–at least that is how many they have names picked out for–and would love this book!
TM
#58 - Cynthia @ 5:57 pm
can’t wait to read this one
#59 - Jill @ 6:12 pm
This looks awesome. We could really use it around here.
#60 - Julie Sivley @ 7:03 pm
With baby # 5 on the way, I am definitely the “just plain too tired homemaker!!!” I NEED this book!!
#61 - Richelle F @ 8:14 pm
This sounds like a really good book.
#62 - Jill H. @ 8:17 pm
I so need this book it isn’t even funny!
#63 - Karen (Mommy of Three) @ 8:32 pm
Oh how I NEED this book! Please count me in!
#64 - Jordana Chambers @ 8:55 pm
would LOVE to become Queen of my Castle!!
#65 - Drama Mama @ 9:17 pm
Love it! Enter me Please!
#66 - Jen in MS @ 10:15 pm
Looks neat! Count me in!
#67 - AshleyR @ 11:18 pm
Count me in!!
#68 - michelle b @ 11:25 pm
This sounds like an interesting book please enter me in the contest.
#69 - Jen @ 11:38 pm
This book sounds great! Count me in :)!
Jen
#70 - Linda Kasper @ 11:50 pm
This book sounds really neat. Please enter me in your contest.
#71 - Cecilia @ 12:06 am
Wow another? Thanx!
#72 - Jennie @ 1:19 am
This sounds like the perfect book for me- and this website is perfect for me, too. Thanks for creating such a haven for busy, tired mommies looking for some inspiration and relaxation on the net!
#73 - Amy Jane @ 2:12 am
I’m in!
#74 - Marcia @ 3:24 am
thanks, count me in!!!
#75 - Melanie Sicard @ 4:07 am
Wow….reading about the book…I’m ALMOST inspired to clean my house. Almost. QUICK! Someone gimme the book before all inspiration is lost…………
#76 - Kristina @ 7:43 am
I think they were talking about me when they said “domestically challenged”. Please enter me!!
#77 - Kari @ 9:24 am
Whoohoo!!
#78 - Adena (cre82learn) @ 10:35 am
**AND ** chocolate recipes??!! Oh yeah baby, count me in!
#79 - Mrs.Garcia @ 10:45 am
Please enter me into this contest.
Thank you,
Mrs.Garcia
#80 - Rhonda T. @ 10:53 am
I’d love it!
#81 - Rhonda T. @ 10:54 am
Count me in!
#82 - Sara @ 11:04 am
How could you pass up chocolate recipes? Count me in please!
#83 - Rachel Bolin @ 11:04 am
I absolutely love to curl up with a good book!
#84 - Melanie @ 12:43 pm
Yes please!!
#85 - The Charmed Life Online @ 1:41 pm
I hope I am the lucky one!!
#86 - Becky B @ 1:51 pm
I would love to be included as well!!
#87 - Vickie @ 2:25 pm
Please count me in too.
#88 - Pam @ 2:36 pm
This book sounds luck fun and helpful, too! I’ll add it to my blog so others can join in. My home used to be so organized, but the older I get, the more disorganized it seems. Help!
#89 - Amy A. @ 3:36 pm
Sounds like a fun read. I’d love to win a copy.
#90 - Lisa O @ 6:22 pm
Is this book about me???
Pick me!
Lisa
#91 - peppylady @ 9:12 pm
Good golly be this book would be great. I hope it would have some part of (big word time but can’t think how to spell it) phyianitic why I keep my client home clean and organize but not mine.
Pick me!!!
#92 - ter @ 9:38 pm
Sounds like an interesting book!
#93 - Valerie Mitchell @ 10:01 pm
looks great!
#94 - Fruitbearer @ 1:00 am
Please count me in. Thanks!
#95 - Christy H. @ 9:14 am
Please enter me in this contest. Thanks
#96 - Lisa W @ 10:26 am
I love it! Please enter me!
#97 - Emma Kieninger @ 12:11 pm
I’d LOVE to have this book!
Emma
#98 - Kathy Conley @ 2:40 pm
This is as close to being queen of anything as I will ever get!
#99 - Melinda @ 3:35 pm
Oh this sounds like a great book.
Hugs,
Melinda
#100 - Arielle @ 4:44 pm
I’d love something new to read!
#101 - Nicole Price @ 10:30 am
Count me in the contest please
#102 - Christinajoy @ 5:14 pm
Looks great!
#103 - Lauren Anderson @ 7:18 pm
I’d love to be entered! :0)
#104 - Pamela White @ 12:26 am
i love new books and this one speaks to me
#105 - Donna @ 7:29 am
This sounds great! Count me in.
#106 - Christina @ 8:05 am
Count me in! Thanks!
#107 - Linda SS @ 8:26 am
Sounds like a fun (and definitely needed:) book. Thanks for the entry.
#108 - Caryn @ 12:51 am
Count me in please
#109 - philip halter @ 6:00 pm
great site
#110 - Briggie @ 8:02 pm
this book sounds like it was written just for me, please count me in. thanks
#111 - mims @ 9:23 pm
Sounds like a great book! Please throw my name in the hat too.
#112 - Nina Cunningham @ 10:16 pm
I’d love to win this….thanks!
#113 - Jean F @ 5:26 am
I love to read! Thank you for having this giveaway!
#114 - REBECCA @ 7:46 am
I COULD SURE USE THIS!
#115 - kathy pease @ 11:06 am
im the queen of my castle
#116 - Heather C @ 6:59 pm
I’m tired, so this would be nice to have.
#117 - dawn fiske @ 10:03 pm
Send it my way
#118 - Carolyn Sharkas @ 7:46 pm
Sounds like a book I need. Count me in. Thanks
#119 - Linda @ 11:30 pm
If it;s not too late to enter, I’d love to be crowned . The transition from “Princess” (condo) to “Queen” (homeowner)has not always been a smooth and easy one. Perhaps this book can help….?
#120 - Christina @ 9:22 am
Oh… I do so hope that this is still going on!
#121 - Myrna @ 10:29 am
Am I too late?