But reading the intro to cheryl mendelsons tome, home comforts, felt like i was looking into a mirror. Revisiting home comforts, a y2k manifesto in favor of control. These routines echo the rhythm of life, and the housekeeping rhythm is the rhythm of the body. Uncommonly good collectible and rare books from uncommonly good booksellers. Not since the edwardian era, when the legendary mrs. Home comforts paperback the art and science of keeping house. Its filled with 884 pages of practical tips on the keeping of the home. And if i recall correctly, she doesnt laugh hysterically at the idea of ironing sheets. Mar 12, 2020 cheryl mendelson is a philosopher, lawyer, sometime professor, and a homemaker, wife, and mother. She has practiced law in new york city and taught philosophy at purdue and columbia universities. Become a better homemaker 3 tips to help simply convivial. I keep house, lawyer, professor, and novelist cheryl mendelson writes in home comforts, her 884page compendium of housekeeping howto. The impeccable cheryl mendelson, whose 800page magnum opus is set fair to becoming the joy of cooking of cleanliness. The art and science of keeping house and was hooked from the opening line.
Apr 19, 2018 this obsession for me culminated around 2005 with possibly the most comprehensive book ever written about housekeeping. Sep 26, 2011 i got myself my own copy of home comforts. May 17, 2005 the classic bestselling resource for every american home. But then home comforts is not a typical book about keeping house, and the mendelson home is not one lacking in poetic sentiment. Home comforts is based on her domestic education, which she acquired while growing up on a farm in the hills of greene county, in southwestern pennsylvania, from her grandmothers, aunts, and mother.
When it became a best seller, it spawned a furor over whether it was, in the words of one critic, a scary sign of antifeminist backlash. Edward, cheryls husband of 11 years, is a professor of english at columbia university and the executor of audens literary estate. Mendelson, cheryl archives grandfather clocks blog. Mendelson opens our eyes to the homes we inhabit yet know so little, to the. Mendelson s 72chapter, informationcrammed, yellowspined bible of domestic life has been a presence on. This obsession for me culminated around 2005 with possibly the most comprehensive book ever written about housekeeping. But reading the intro to cheryl mendelson s tome, home comforts, felt like i was looking into a mirror. From such seemingly small moments come ideas for big books. Edward, cheryl s husband of 11 years, is a professor of english at columbia university and the executor of audens literary estate chosen by the poet himself. A cleaning gurus tools cheryl mendelson cheryl mendelson, author of the sleeper hit home comforts, ignores fancy packaging to find housekeeping marvels at supermarkets and hardware stores. Home comforts is a readable explanation for both beginners and experts of all the domestic arts choosing fabrics, keeping the piano in tune, caring for books, making a good fire in the fireplace and avoiding chimney fires, ironing and folding, setting up a good reading light, keeping surfaces free of food pathogens, and everything else that. The art and science of keeping house, as well as three novels. Nov 04, 1999 cheryl mendelson is a lawyer and university professor who loves the simple comforts of home, but as a professional woman felt she needed to keep that side of herself a secret.
Home comforts is based on her domestic education, which she acquired while growing up on a farm in the hills of greene county, in southwestern pennsylvania. The art and science of keeping house by cheryl mendelson, i was like hi yes sold. The art and science of keeping house, by cheryl mendelson. Apr 10, 2020 the best part is that this is the ideal book for renters and apartment dwellers since it covers all styles of living spaces, rather than simply the traditional home, and the books visual styling makes it the perfect coffee table book once you are done reading. The redoubtable cheryl mendelson, whose 800page magnum opus is set fair to becoming the joy of cooking of cleanliness, has compiled a unique reference work that is endlessly useful and well. Cheryl mendelson is currently considered a single author. Jul 12, 2017 but reading the intro to cheryl mendelsons tome, home comforts, felt like i was looking into a mirror. If youve got any great books or blogs to recommend, share them here. But as author cheryl mendelson points out in home comforts, keeping house well can be a rewarding positionit allows you to provide for the physical and emotional comfort of. The art and science of keeping house, published last year, has. Best home care books to read while stuck inside this spring. An engaging writer on a subject i never would have thought i would care about, ms.
Home comforts is a massive guide to the fundamentals of keeping house. Aptly titled my secret life, this chapter gave me a perspective that resonated so much with me and gave me the language to describe how i really feel about keeping my home. And if i recall correctly, she doesnt laugh hysterically at the idea of ironing. She has a comprehensive guide to the home and what it takes to care for it, and writes well enough to. Choosing fabrics, cleaning china, keeping the piano in tune, making a good fire, folding a fitted sheet, setting the dining room table, keeping surfaces free of food pathogens, watering plants, removing stains home comforts addresses the meanings as well as the methods of hands on housekeeping to help you manage everyday chores. Theres only one book to own if you want to be serious about your housekeeping. Mar 31, 2015 a cleaning gurus tools cheryl mendelson cheryl mendelson, author of the sleeper hit home comforts, ignores fancy packaging to find housekeeping marvels at supermarkets and hardware stores. For cheryl mendelson laundering is the best part of housekeeping. The best part is that this is the ideal book for renters and apartment dwellers since it covers all styles of living spaces, rather than simply the traditional home, and the books visual styling makes it the perfect coffee table book once you are done reading. The art and science of keeping house scribner, 1999, which succeeded in updating the.
Cheryl mendelson, author of the sleeper hit home comforts, ignores fancy packaging to find housekeeping marvels at supermarkets and. The good life cheryl mendelson 97816081983 netgalley. The art and science of keeping house by cheryl mendelson online at alibris. Choosing fabrics, cleaning china, keeping the piano in tune, making a good fire, folding a fitted sheet, setting the. Cheryl mendelson is a philosopher, lawyer, sometime professor, and a homemaker, wife, and mother. A cleaning gurus tools cheryl mendelson cheryl mendelson, author of the sleeper hit home comforts, ignores fancy packaging to find housekeeping marvels at. Home comforts ebook by cheryl mendelson rakuten kobo. Two decades ago, cheryl mendelson shocked americans by informing us that there is a right and a wrong way to use a broom. Mendelson provides a thorough reference to caring for ones home and possessions, from the proper way to clean wood floors to how to lower ones drycleaning expenses to safety matters.
I purchased a used copy of cheryl mendelsons book home comforts. This book is more of a reference book and isnt exactly meant to be read from cover to cover. If books were priced by their thickness or number of pages, this one would be one of the best deals ever. So, speaking of housekeeping, have you seen home comforts, by cheryl mendelson. On the other hand, its very handy to have a sanity check for certain.
If books were priced by their thickness or number of pages, this one. Home comforts is a fascinating time capsule of 2000era preoccupations, a product of its era that lays out in exacting, excruciating detail the work it takes to keep and maintain a house. You get satisfaction not only from the sense of order, cleanliness, freshness, peace and plenty restored, but from the knowledge that you yourself and those you care. Provocative, inspiring, and deeply grounded, the good life shows that while the moral life is a hard road, the more of us who recognize that it is out there to be attempted, the better our culture will be. Cheryl mendelson is the author of the bestselling home comforts. Cheryl mendelson is a lawyer and university professor who loves the simple comforts of home, but as a professional woman felt she needed to keep that. While i could reasonably be expected to but a book on art, and occasionally science, a book subtitled the art and science of keeping house isnt my usual fare. Beeton still held sway, has their been a domestic vade mecum of such singular distinction. The classic bestselling resource for every american home.
Cheryl mendelson writes clearly and well, and her book is a great reference for anyone either beginning to keep house, trying to establish a routine, or looking to pick up tips and hints. Cheryl mendelson believes that domesticity is undervalued in america c. The author doesnt want you to wash your hands in the kitchen sink. You get satisfaction not only from the sense of order, cleanliness, freshness, peace and plenty restored, but from the knowledge that you yourself and those you care about are going to enjoy these benefits.
I keep housewhen i want a good read, i reach for my collection of old housekeeping. In home comforts, cheryl mendelson has shaped personal experience, thoughtful reflection, and years of dogged investigation into a remarkable guide to modern material life to our food and clothing and shelter, how best to choose, use, and care for them, and the nonmaterial satisfactions we take from them. Join facebook to connect with cheryl mendelson and others you may know. A very large, 884 page book, called home comforts by cheryl mendelson. The redoubtable cheryl mendelson, whose 800page magnum opus is set fair to becoming. Apr 06, 2018 not since the edwardian era, when the legendary mrs. The art and science of keeping house by cheryl mendelson this isnt a book you read all the way through its a reference book but i thought id note that i read the intro and its really changed my whole attitude about housework. Your purchase supports more than words, a nonprofit job training program for youth, empowering youth to take charge of their lives by taking charge of a business. Cheryl mendelson believes that domesticity is undervalued in. Indispensable housekeeping books the butlers closet. The art and science of keeping house by cheryl mendelson.
If one or more works are by a distinct, homonymous authors, go ahead and split the author. Home comforts book by cheryl mendelson official publisher. Its full of physical pleasures the look of favorite clothes restored to freshness and beauty. Due to the fact that i care for 3 children every day and run this blog and my va.