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5 Minutes for Books — Queen of the Castle

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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:
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  • Pull out candles to dine by.
  • Serve an all-orange dinner, with the kids devising the menu.
  • If your freezer resembles the black hole, start clearing it now in preparation for make-ahead Thanksgiving dishes you plan to make.
  • Bury your hands in the dog’s thickening fur.
  • Celebrate Get Organized Week by setting aside fifteen minutes each day this week to sort through your piles of mail.

    • 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.

    Reader Interactions


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    121 Comments

    3. 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….?

      Reply

    31. 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!!!

      Reply

    34. 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!

      Reply

    47. Wow….reading about the book…I’m ALMOST inspired to clean my house. Almost. QUICK! Someone gimme the book before all inspiration is lost…………

      😉

      Reply

    50. 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!

      Reply

    62. With baby # 5 on the way, I am definitely the “just plain too tired homemaker!!!” I NEED this book!!

      Reply

    65. 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

      Reply

    82. 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!

      Reply

    94. 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”

      Reply

    117. I totally wanted to read/review this book when I saw it going around the Blogosphere awhile ago. Maybe now is my chance 🙂

      Laura

      Reply

    118. 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.

      Reply