Living with grace and style

"Things I Wish My Mother Had Told Me: A Guide to Living with Impeccable Grace & Style" isn't the kind of book I usually go for. But it's a handsomely understated production and in-between the (brand) name-dropping, Lucia van der Post, style arbiter for The Times of London, offers plenty of valid advice. Like her suggestions for "How to Be a Good Grandmother" beginning with "Never criticize anybody -- son, daughter, in-laws, children. As far as you're concerned, they're all perfect." and ending with "Try to be useful -- and fun." and "Think of a role you can play that nobody else can."