Stepdog, A Memoir
Not your typical dog book, “Stepdog” is the hilarious and heartwarming tale of a woman who has finally met the man of her dreams — only to have to deal with the dog of her nightmares. Lots of dogs eat shoes and bite people. Eddie tried to destroy a marriage.
“In Stepdog, Navarro reminds us that our companions (human and animal) challenge our assumptions, force us to compromise and give us plenty of opportunities for hard lessons. A charming, funny, poignant memoir about love, life, and family.” Esmeralda Santiago, author of When I Was Puerto Rican and Conquistadora
“In “Stepdog,” Mireya Navarro offers a funny and honest — that is, not always flattering — tale of her journey to figure out where she fits in among husband, stepchildren and Eddie, the member of the family that seems to have the biggest personality.” Los Angeles Times
“Stepdog is fun and often funny but it will be of special interest to anyone with a blended family life. It’s a powerful reminder that all you need is love, and possibly kibble.” BookPage
“Alternately hilarious and heart-wrenching, Stepdog is an extraordinary chronicle of romance, marriage, blended families, career juggling and an obstreperous dog, written with a journalist’s eye for detail, and a novelist’s insight for character.” Bruce Feirstein, best-selling author and contributing editor, Vanity Fair
“We’ve all heard stories about jealous mistresses and overbearing mother-in-laws. but Mia Navarro ran into something far more formidable — her husband’s dog Eddie. After Mia’s first naive efforts to make peace, warfare ensued; first, limited and strategic; then, an all out offensive to isolate the dog from his master. Eventually, though, Mia and Eddie made an inter-species truce, teaching us all something about canines and their human companions.” Editor’s recommendation, Barnes & Noble
“When Pulitzer Prize-winning Navarro became a stepmother, she didn’t anticipate having to reckon with her new family’s mutt, Eddie, who hilariously (in retrospect at least) nearly managed to destroy her marriage. His possessive and passive aggressive antics play more as a counterpoint than central theme to the author’s exploration of how stepfamilies come to realign and deepen their ties overtime — but the beast also serves as an apt metaphor for the process.” Elle
Green Wedding: Planning Your Eco-Friendly Celebration
Green is the new white for today’s brides — metaphorically speaking. Environmentally conscious couples are often appalled by the cumulative carbon footprint of traditional weddings and are seeking ways of expressing their earth-friendly values as they express their love. Green Wedding shows there are smart alternatives — products and services as well as planning decisions — that can reduce environmental harm while ensuring a joyous, memorable and stylish celebration.
Some environmentalists say the best green wedding is the one that doesn’t happen at all. Elope, they say. On a bicycle. But couples who stick to a more traditional approach can still plan the wedding of their dreams and do well by the environment. Green Wedding, an authoritative guide by New York Times Staff Writer Mireya Navarro, cuts through the green noise to help couples rethink every aspect of the big event, from the invitations and venue to the food and flowers, so that they stand against waste and excess. It features pioneering brides and grooms who already planned green weddings and share their experiences and lessons, with color pictures showing that green can be as gorgeous as it is responsible.
In light of the mammoth challenge posed by global warming, what can a wedding do? Would it really make a difference if couples served locally grown food or chose a venue that cut down on travel?
The answer is an absolute yes.
“This is a huge industry and every choice for a green wedding builds the momentum for an entire industry to shift practices,” said Audrey Peller, a manager with Global Footprint Network, an international non-profit organization that promotes sustainability.
Green Wedding presents ideas for making any celebration, not just a wedding or commitment ceremony, more sustainable, at any budget. Green Wedding also tackles how to deal with consumer dilemmas, the new green etiquette and the occasional resistant guest. Yes, some loved ones may roll their eyes at the registry directing them to donate to help save the polar bear rather than to a new set of towels. But green weddings are inspiring friends and relatives to follow couples along a greener path.
And because environmental responsibility isn’t just a one-day affair, the book includes chapters on ecotourism honeymoons and on living green throughout married life.