Giveaway has ended: Congratulations to the winner, Martha Foster.
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Anyone who tells you their marriage is *perfect* is either still on their honeymoon, lying, or is stark raving mad. (Or drunk, oh so drunk.)
If you’re years (or even months) in, you know that all is not of fairy tales and dreams. Hey, marriage takes work (and that rat bastard rarely does his share of it, freaking good for nothing… oh! I digress!) and any woman today knows that there are bumps and humps and lumps. And other umps.
This is not to say that we don’t love our husbands, or that we don’t want to have a happy home.
But hell, we KNOW there are stinky moments.
Secret Recipes for the Modern Wife by Nava Atlas is a parody of a recipe book that will make you laugh at any and all of these types of moments. You’ll find “recipe” after recipe that makes you nod along and belly laugh in understanding. (And I pray not too many of them will have you crying with woe, but that’s another topic entirely.)
I read a few of these “recipes” out loud to my husband. He fidgeted a little while I laughed my butt off. A couple of times I think I stressed a few words to much, and raised my eyebrow a little too hard. I may have actually pierced him with a few hard glares. I can’t remember if I actually shook the book at him or not. But I definitely laughed out loud. Long and hard. (After I wept a little.)
Then he quietly backed out of the room. Not sure why.
Some examples of “recipes” in the book:
- Beans ‘N’ Weenies of Sexual Tension
- Midlife Stress-Stuffed Cabbage
- Control-Freak Cookies
About the author, from the back cover of the book:
“Nava Atlas is an artist and author who is best known for her bestselling vegetarian and vegan cookbooks, including the classic Vegetariana. She lives in the Hudson Valley Region of New York with her husband and two sons. You can visit her website at NavaAtlas.com.”
Want to grab a free copy, signed by Nava Atlas herself, and chuckle through it like I did?
To enter to win a free copy of Secret Recipes for the Modern Wife, leave me a comment below.
Comments will be accepted from 4:00 p.m. (CST) October 6, 2009 until 4:00 p.m. (CST) October 10, 2009. The winner will then be notified by email, and must respond to claim the book.
Please use a valid email address on the comment form.
Rules:
• No duplicate comments.
• You may receive an additional entry by linking on twitter and leaving a link in the comments.
• You may receive an additional entry by blogging about this contest and leaving a link in the comments.
• This giveaway is open to US Residents only.
• Winners will be selected via random draw, and will notified by e-mail.
• You have 48 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.
Disclosure: This is an uncompensated review. I received the book for review, free of charge.
#1 by pamela on October 6, 2009 - 5:56 pm
I’m going on four years married now. Not only do I want this book, I need this book! Oh and awesome review!
#2 by Chantelle @ Photo Mommy on October 6, 2009 - 5:59 pm
Sounds like a good book.
Chantelle @ Photo Mommy´s last blog ..The Post Where I Make My Family Look Like a Bunch of Fools…Again
#3 by pamela on October 6, 2009 - 5:59 pm
And I tweeted! I just don’t know how to copy the url onto here from ubertwitter. But I totally tweeted! I swear!
pamela´s last blog ..Blogging For Boobs
#4 by connie on October 6, 2009 - 7:03 pm
I’d ♥ a chance to win a copy of this book! Thanks
#5 by Jessica on October 6, 2009 - 7:15 pm
Too funny, I need a laugh!
Jessica´s last blog ..Ooooo Sssssss Uuuuu
#6 by Jen on October 6, 2009 - 7:29 pm
haha.. 5 years in & and could use a good laugh about the trials & tribulations of marriage! =)
#7 by Judy Kropf on October 7, 2009 - 9:05 am
I can’t wait to read this! Nava, I love everything you do, whether it’s real recipes or parodies. My hub and I are 11 years and still going strong–kids, umps and all!
Still hope to meet you one day soon! Let me know when you’re anywhere near Garrison/Cold Spg.
Shana tova, Judy
#8 by Pat Kalinowski on October 9, 2009 - 3:14 pm
My boyfriend does all of the cooking in our house and I know he would definitely get a kick out of this book!
#9 by Martha Foster on October 9, 2009 - 3:15 pm
This sounds like such a fun book! Would love a copy & thanks for the chance!
#10 by shenoa robinson on October 9, 2009 - 3:26 pm
We read aloud a copy of this wonderful book at my birthday party and so sad, so bad, the woman who brought the book took it home with her. AND, it was MY birthday!
Also delighted in the photos, especially the taunting, sexy tarts!
We laughed aloud and promised to make several of the recipes that seemed so appropriate.
#11 by andy on October 9, 2009 - 3:33 pm
Oh, I could use something like this. Although my sarcasm is well developed, my cooking skills aren’t.
#12 by Haley on October 9, 2009 - 3:42 pm
I love Nava Atlas and would LOVE a chance at this book!
#13 by Milinda on October 9, 2009 - 3:43 pm
What a fun sounding book.
#14 by Denelle on October 9, 2009 - 4:10 pm
More than ever, I’m glad to be a “never-married” woman of a certain age!
My choice, no apologies! I cook what/when/if I want!!
#15 by Diane on October 9, 2009 - 4:41 pm
I have quite a number of your cookbooks, and I’d absolutely love to win this book, so I could laugh while I cook. I’ve been “single again” since 1988, and loving every minute of it
#16 by Bintang Howard on October 9, 2009 - 5:02 pm
I’ve been married to a wonderful man for 3 years 2 months now. I’d love to have this book so I could cook more for him as he is a vegetarian and I’m a part-time vegetarian
.
#17 by Melanie on October 9, 2009 - 5:20 pm
I’ve been a long-time fan of Nava’s vegetarian cookbooks and am getting married in March. Fingers crossed!
#18 by Teresa on October 9, 2009 - 5:34 pm
Married for 28 years last week, and my cookbook collection makes him crazy still! Even he would be able to tell you I have a lot of Nava’s books…and that I give them as gifts as well. I love your review…and would probably read aloud as you did and get myself in near trouble. No problem tho’ just fix him a good dish of good food…and all is well!
#19 by Victoria Stefani on October 9, 2009 - 7:27 pm
I just love Nava Atlas – I have a couple of her cookbooks and thoroughly enjoy her e-newsletter and website. This book has to be good!
#20 by Marilee Godsil on October 9, 2009 - 8:36 pm
My dear daughter (and only child) is planning her wedding right now. Your cookbook will be a sort of “birds and bees” talk for her. Ha
#21 by Melissa on October 9, 2009 - 9:10 pm
This book looks hilarious. Thanks for writing about it!
#22 by Tricia Honea on October 9, 2009 - 10:27 pm
Ooh, I’d love a chance to win. I’m on my third marriage and I think I may need some anecdotal advice.
#23 by Susie Rosenrauch on October 10, 2009 - 1:25 am
Great review. I also own a number of Nava’s cookbooks and enjoy the newsletter greatly. Use her recipes a lot. (actually made a summer squash and corn stew of hers for Friday night dinner this week. Was a real hit. Bumps, lumps and other umps … a like that. Would love a chance to enjoy this new book.
Shanna Tova, Susie
#24 by Tracy on October 10, 2009 - 2:46 pm
I would love this book. Married 17 yrs.
#25 by Shirley Deyoe on October 10, 2009 - 5:50 pm
My grandaughter is getting married in November and I would like to give the book to her. She is a ve getarian while her hubbby-to-be is not. I’m sure they will be experiencing some of these situations very soon.
Thank you.
Shirley