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“The Accidental Housewife: How to Overcome Housekeeping Hysteria One Task at a Time,” Julie Edelman, (Ballantine Books, $12.95)
Society may have moved on from the dutiful 1950s housewife, but the practical tasks remain: Piles of laundry, dishes to wash and dinner to cook. Edelman is a pop-culture reporter who has written a guide to cutting through such chores with minimal stress. “The Accidental Housewife” covers shopping lists for every area of the home. The book tells readers how to buy the best vacuum cleaner, and inspires them with useful “take-five” suggestions – things you can achieve in five minutes like Bobbi Brown’s face-saving makeup tips. This read is a simple way to have a house and a life at the same time. | Antonia Blyth
