Morningside Heights was truly a pleasure to read. The characters were all well-developed and believable, the plot was clever and satisfying, and the writing was rich and thoroughly entertaining. I'm looking forward to more from Ms. Mendelson in the future.

A glowing review in Newsday inspired us to read this funny, insightful, intelligent, compelling and totally entertaining novel. The characters are so well described you feel as if they could be you or one of your friends in true-to-life situations both humorous and challenging. Reminiscent of Jane Austen's novels, the author's description of this NYC neighborhood and its inhabitants will captivate and entertain you thoroughly. One of the best books I have read in many years and I await her next with anticipation. I hope and expect this novel to be well-received and well-loved by many. Very highly recommended.

In Mendelson's first novel, she demonstrates the ability to weave a web of intriguing, complex and loveable characters, making it nearly impossible to put the book down. Her writing style is fluid and engaging. I'm ready for her next non-fiction.

For years, I had a hand-me-down copy of "The Good Housekeeping Homeowner's Manual" on my bookshelf. At last, I've found a tome worthy of replacing that venerable old standard. Comprehensive, to the point of borderline obsession, Ms. Mendelson give exhastive instructions on all points of good housekeeping, from proper laundering, to food preparation to legal matters pertaining to home ownership.

Ms. Mendelson's meticulousness is not meant to incite a housekeeping frenzy in the manner of Martha Stewart, but rather, to provide a comprehensive primer for those of us who grew up in a time when "homemaking" was looked down upon and pushed aside in favor of fast food, take out and the 30-minute-company's-coming-3-room-dash. The reader must remember that he/she need only take and use what is needed from the book and not slavishly adhere to every recommendation.

"Home Comforts" is a great book for both novice homemakers and Martha Stewartistas alike. Novices will learn the essential tools and pantry items to keep in the kitchen to prepare a meal anytime, so that they need not keep Domino's on speed dial. They will also learn basic, sensible schedules for cleaning, laundering (as in, No, the cannot go in all at once even if you put it on the cold water setting) organizing. Experts will also be pleased to learn new techniques for stain removal and the nuances of lighting and air in the home.

The book is a manual, but it is a pleasurable read as well. Ms. Mendelson has a concise, graceful style that softens the edicts she writes. Highly recommended.

Mendelson's lucid prose transforms the hot-button subject of homemaking (which is more than just housekeeping) into an activity worthy of time and attention. Without the slightest preachiness, she covers everything you need to know to run a home efficiently. Her gentle, practical tone eliminates any need for defensiveness, so it is possible to glimpse her vision of the pleasantness of order.

The book is more like a detailed, well-organized textbook than a "helpful hints" manual. For example, the "Cloth" section begins with descriptions of modern fabrics, and thoroughly discusses everything relevant to choosing, laundering, ironing, folding, removing stains, sanitizing (for contagious diseases, lice, or poison ivy), and troubleshooting fabric difficulties. And she manages to make it interesting!

My mother, whose home was perfectly maintained, used many of Mendelson's techniques and scheduling ideas, but never passed them on to me (she preferred to do it herself so that it would be done "right") so I grew up feeling that housework was something I couldn't successfully do.Since there are few things more depressing than feeling incompetant, I've tried to learn homemaking through trial and error. This book would have eliminated much of the error, and provided a much shorter and more pleasant learning curve.

I recommend this book to anyone who has a home or wants to be prepared to maintain one. It's well worth the price.

"Home Comforts" is a massive guide to the fundamentals of keeping house. An engaging writer (on a subject I NEVER would have thought I would care about), Ms. Mendelson provides a thorough reference to caring for one's home and possessions, from the proper way to clean wood floors to how to lower one's dry-cleaning expenses to safety matters. For someone like me who never really learned how to keep house, this is an essential reference.

Yes, the author is often obssessive--and she freely admits to that charge. (Has Martha Stewart ever done so?) In fact, she details which chores she believes are essential and which tasks are obssessive. But her advice seems to be generally sound and thoroughly researched, especially when it comes to explaining the scientific & medical reasons of why certain tasks should be done in certain ways. (The chapter on dust mites is, frankly, slightly terrifying.)

This isn't a book about decorating or crafts for the home or time management (though there is some advice about organizing). There are dozens of other sources for those subjects--take this for what it is. It's fantastic, and it's changed the way my husband and I keep our house. I wish more books--non-fiction and non-fiction--could be so well-written.