Gotta Love It ; SEE WHAT WE FOUND TO SPICE UP YOUR WEEK

READ: `THE HOST,’ BY STEPHENIE MEYER:

Stephenie Meyer fans shouldn’t stop with “Breaking Dawn,” the fourth and final book in her hugely popular “Twilight” teen vampire series due out tomorrow. “The Host,” her new debut novel for adults, is just as worthy of acclaim. It’s a sci-fi thriller about a plucky parasitic alien, who – when implanted into the body of a young woman on Earth – discovers the power of the heart and soul. It’s a quietly compelling read with a unique alien heroine, who teaches humans a thing or two about humanity. (Little Brown publishers, $25.99)

READ: `CELEBRITY VINYL,’ BY TOM HAMLING:

A compendium of Tom Hamling’s wonderfully terrible record collection (“I feel like Dr. Richard Kimble in search of the one- armed man. Except my one-armed man is the inaudible shriek of Jennifer Love Hewitt,” Hamling writes), this book gathers the worst of the worst. Rodney Dangerfield trying to look street on “Rodney Raps.” David Hasselhoff awkwardly holding an electric guitar that he can’t play. Records by Don Johnson and Philip Michael Thomas! Thank God it doesn’t come with a soundtrack. (Mark Batty Publisher, $24.95

TRY: BLACK CINEMA STAMPS:

Attention stamp, movie history and film poster devotees. Satisfy all cravings simultaneously with the U.S. Postal Service’s new Vintage Black Cinema series. Inspired by the Separate Cinema Archive curated by founder-historian John Kisch, the stamp series reproduces five poster images from the collection. Among them are images celebrating such icons as Duke Ellington and Josephine Baker and the striking poster for King Vidor’s “Hallelulah!” (1929), one of the first, all-black-cast, major-studio Hollywood films. 42 cents each at any U.S. Post Office; more information at http:// separatecinema.com/

TRY: HAIR RULES FRIZZ-CONTROL:

Controlling curls in August is like trying to argue with a toddler – a lesson in complete frustration. Until now. Managing a frizzy mane is a cinch with these shampoos, conditioners and styling products by celeb stylist Anthony Dickey, who has tamed tresses for Sarah Jessica Parker and Minnie Driver. Match the product to your hair type: kinky, curly or wavy. We liked the Hydrating Moisture Cream. $18.50-$34 at hairrules.com

DRINK: DOMAINE DE CANTON:

From the family that brought you Chambord, this is the summer’s tastiest treat on ice. A succulent infusion of cognac, rare baby ginger, Tahitian vanilla beans and a touch of honey from Provence, it’s perfect straight up, on the rocks or as a mixer.

CANTON GINGER MOJITO

1 sprig fresh mint

2 lemon wedges

2 oz. Canton Liqueur

1/2 oz. light rum

Muddle mint and lemon wedges in a tall glass. Fill with ice. Add Canton liqueur and rum and stir.

Cheers!

$32 at select wine and spirits retailers.

CONTRIBUTORS: JED GOTTLIEB, LAUREN BECKHAM FALCONE, JAMES VERNIERE, MAT SCHAFFER

(c) 2008 Boston Herald. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.