Tips for Tuesday: Books: Promises of Gold & I've Seen Dead People; Misc: Folkulture

We may have been given complimentary copies for review purposes of one or more of the books and/or other products mentioned below. Any and all opinions expressed here are our own

Books: Promises of Gold and I've Seen Dead People

Today we are recommending Promises of Gold by Serena Clarke. In a world where magic is forbidden, Emmalene's father tells the king that she can turn straw into gold. While she is capable of magic, she cannot do that. The legendary Rumplestilskin sends one of his followers to help her out. Emmalene finds herself falling for the mysterious stranger while the king is falling for her. This appealing romantic tale is loosely based on the story of Rumplestilskin. Even if you guess the surprise ending to this story that doesn't make it any less satisfying. Fans of historical romance, as well as fans of fairytale retellings, should both enjoy this charming story.

Today we are talking about I've Seen Dead People by Donna Francart. This book provides an inside look into a profession not many people would choose, Deputy Corner. There is just enough detail provided to stir the emotions but not enough to upset the squeamish. The narrative jumps around all over the place. It is more of Francart's musings than a straightforward recounting, which is understandable considering it was allegedly based on her personal diary. It is still for the most part interesting, however, at least when she sticks to talking about things related to her job and doesn't go off on tangents.

Misc.: Folk Culture

Today we are talking about Folkulture. Folkulture is a beautiful tapestry that comes in a variety of pretty colors and patterns. Although its multiple uses allegedly include things like a picnic mat, a playmat for kids, and a beach mat, we would not necessarily recommend it for those types of things because it is not that comfortable to sit on unless the surface it is placed on is comfortable to begin with. It is better suited for a tablecloth, a bedspread, or other related uses.  It is best when used on a clean dry surface because it is very thin and porous and anything that is wet or messy underneath will come seeping through. It is, however, machine washable. It is also quite light and easy to carry around.

And that's our view. Tune in tomorrow for Where-To-Go Wednesday.