Sometimes poetry and art can do more than soothe the soul - it can inspire! Such is the case with a new book we recently received for review.

New York is a huge and wonderful city, with great people (even if at rush hour people can get a little pushy), famous tall buildings, and city parks that have endless paths to walk on, along with amazing history. I have lived in the city that never sleeps for 11 years, and can proudly say that I’m a city girl.

Get ready. This is, hands-down, the best biography I’ve ever read. It’s an intimate glance into history, medicine, change, and compassion. It’s the finely crafted life story of a man that we should know, but sadly, many of us don’t.

By now, you’ve read Francis Mayes’ Under the Tuscan Sun, seen the movie, read the sequels. But wait! There’s more! And this is one book you’ll definitely want to pick up. It’s Recipes from our Italian Kitchen: The Tuscan Sun Cookbook, by Francis Mayes and Edward Mayes.

Have you ever read a book with such an extraordinary sense of place that you either felt at home –or longed to feel at home– there? Have you ever traveled to a place where you immediately felt at home? What is the unique draw of these places? And why do these places affect each of us so differently?

There are special places which capture our imagination – and we dream and dream of being there. Tuscany, Fiji, Provence, Iceland, the Orkney Islands. There are books written by people who have moved to these places, which tell of the travails of settling in, of intercultural adjustment and learning to be a local.

Writing is both a creative and a solitary endeavor. Sometimes, we write furiously, racing to wring every last beautiful word out of our mind before we forget. At other times, it can be difficult to think of the words you want to write. For the latter, I've found a wonderful writer's notebook that inspires - and allows your brain to roam free in search of memories, words, ideas.

Everyone loves Moon Handbooks - they are, by far, the most interesting travel guidebooks available. Packed with photos, tips, and the essence of place, these are guides for thinking people, that love to learn more, more, more about where they are going.

There’s something special about live theatre. Not only the magic of performance, but also being present for something that changes every night. Yes, the dialogue is the same, but the actors, crew, and audience make it different each night. No wonder we love it so.

Have you ever held treasure in your hands? You know, those books that make you laugh out loud throughout the entire book, nod your head in agreement, text best friends great lines, and induce a flurry of both written and oral recommendations on book sites and in person?