i've mentioned before that i love books about the west coast - history, ecology, etc - and right now i'm reading the collector, by jack nisbet, which is about the botanist david douglas, and his explorations in the pacific northwest in the 1830s. i'm finding it pretty interesting so far, realizing how many hundreds of plants and animals he documented and "discovered", besides the douglas fir, whose cone is featured on the cover. "collector" is a very apt title, as i'm slipping back and forth between fascination and mortification on the techniques of that time. common practice for botanists/naturalists seemed to be all about preservation (of plants and animals specimens, to take back to england) but with very little note for conservation (ie picking all samples of a plant that could be found, with little regard for leaving some be).
the second and third books in the pile, books #1 and #2 in the bone collection, by jeff smith, were actually picked up for my nephew, for his birthday next week. but i didn't think he would mind if i started reading them, and i finished the two over the past three evenings. they are graphic novels, telling the story of the three bone cousins and their many adventures, and i really enjoyed them. there are actually nine books in this first series, so i am thinking i might have to get the others at some point to read.
like so many others, i am a big fan of heidi swanson and her food blog, 101 cookbooks. i've been reading it for a few years now, and last year i picked up her other book, super natural cooking. it is one of my most used cookbooks. i was thrilled to hear she had another book coming out this spring, and my copy arrived this week. super natural everyday is looking really good so far, although i haven't had time to make any of the recipes yet. but i highly recommend checking out her website if you are not familiar with it, and the books are a great extension of that. all the recipes are vegetarian, with a focus on whole foods that incorporates lots of interesting ingredients while still being very approachable.
bottom of the pile is a library book, one that i wanted to check out before purchasing. so far, handmade living, from lotta jansdotter, is a beautiful look at clean scandinavian style. i think she describes her style as swedish, with influences of asian and the west coast, and that is a mix that definitely appeals to me. lotta's own printed fabric is featured throughout the book, and that along with recipes and decorating ideas makes it a wonderful feast for the eyes.
so, what's on your bedside table this week?
5 comments:
I just finished reading a memoir--Mennonite in a Black Dress. My mom passed it on from a friend, thinking I'd like the humor in it (I did, although it has solidified my opinion that I'm not much of a memoir person).
Funny, though, I just saw Alison Reid's Stitch Magic on the Purl blog and thought of you.
Interesting stack of books. At the moment, I am enjoying the second book in the Outlander series. Those books just suck me into the whole Highland world of the late 1700's.
i am reading gathering moss by robin wall kimmerer, rereading the sea around us by rachel carson and my bedtime reading is the fifth book in the outlander series. Seriously thinking of a group trip to scotland in 2012. Interested?
My son loves the Bone series.
I am just finishing Madhur Jaffrey's memoir, Climbing the Mango Trees. I have really enjoyed it. She has a collection of recipes at the end of the book, and her stories of growing up pre and post WWII in India is very interesting.
I am reading "Swamplandia!" right now. I will definitely check out the botanist book (right up my alley) and cookbook. My son loves the Bone books. I have missed much beautiful goodness here in your last several posts. Glad to be back to my blog reading!
Post a Comment