Review of The Art of Entertaining

[Omneya Shakeep]

[Following is a volunteer review of "The Art of Entertaining" by Maggie Fleming.]

---

5 out of 5 stars

---

Share This Review

---

Everyone loves to host a good party, but many get a bit lost in the process of being accommodating to the guests, not knowing what to keep in mind in order to give them the best experience. The Art of Entertaining by Maggie Fleming not only gives the right tips to be an excellent host but also how to be a welcomed guest on every occasion.

The book is well organized and covers the most important and common occasions, parties, and gatherings someone might host or be invited to, dedicating the first chapter to tailgates, the second to home parties, the third to weddings, the fourth to birthdays, and the fifth chapter to holiday gatherings. Maggie Fleming dedicates a chapter to each occasion where everything is discussed, from decorations and menus to the host and guest behavior, what to make sure is there, and what to avoid in each event from a clear professional perspective that is very eye-opening.

I love the author's choice of background color themes and the vivid, expressive pictures relating to each topic discussed in the chapters, as they gave an extremely cheerful vibe while being eye-catching. Another one of my favorite aspects is the small tips at the end of some pages on what to be mindful of or what to avoid, both as a guest and a host, while also making sure the pages aren't stuffed with too much information to the point of being too overwhelming. However, I feel a couple of the tips were redundant since they were simply copied sentences from the above paragraph that I'm just guessing the author wanted to emphasize.

I was absolutely thrilled reading this book, as I found it very informative and easy to understand, and I wish the author had added more events for me to learn about. There is nothing that I dislike in the book; I also only encountered a few minor errors, showing it is well-edited, and since the above remark didn't bother me that much to warrant a point deduction, I believe it deserves 5 out of 5 stars. I think The Art of Entertaining will appeal to anyone who enjoys attending or hosting parties regardless of age with its simple and direct language.

******
The Art of Entertaining
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon

[Gerry Steen]

I have experienced a few NFL parking-lot tailgates. Boy these people really go all out to make a party. Some don't even go into the stadium for the game. This book could give me the confidence to organize a big tailgate. Thank you.

[Seetha E]

With chapters dedicated to tailgates, home parties, weddings, birthdays, and holiday gatherings, the book appears well structured. Fun, entertainment, and good food are at the crux of each of these, yet, each one demands different handling. This book will certainly assist many. Thank you for your great review and recommendation.

[Sarah Zain]

From your review I sense the book is a fun read as well as informative to whoever wishes to be a good host. I will add it to my list. Great and enjoyable review Omneya!

[Arshadq]

I have actually read the book myself, and I couldn't agree more! It is great to see someone with the same likeness! However, I did think the book was mostly targeted towards beginners, since some of the tips were common. Great review!

[Priya Murugesan]

This is a very good review! I believe it would be a great source for someone who loves to host parties and wants to learn better ways of doing so.

[The Keeper Jr]

Great review! it seems like an informative book. Even though I don't do much hosting when it comes to parties, this book can be helpful for some tips and general knowledge. Thanks for the detailed review!