January 2008 Booklist

[eleneariel]

A day early, but I know I won't be adding anything else to this list in the next 24 hours.

1. Local Breads, Daniel Leader

Even if you never make any of the breads, this is a lovely book to read and look at. He tells lots of stories about how he gathered these recipes from various European artisan bakers. The recipes are more difficult but, in my opinion, worth the effort. Everything I've tried so far has turned out amazingly.

2. Celtic Folklore Cooking, Joanne Asala

Some neat folktales, some interesting recipes, and quite a bit of wicca/pagan tie-ins. Good if you need celtic recipes for a theme party or something, not so interesting otherwise.

3. French Women Don't Get Fat, Mireille Guiliano

Author: annoying. Principles: sound. Recipes: yum!

4. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, J.K. Rowling

... the Great Harry Potter Re-Read continues ...

5. Emily of New Moon, L. M. Montgomery

I know, I know. It's about time! I love Emily now. Not as much as Anne, but I do love her.

6. The Year of Living Biblically, A. J. Jacobs

I think this guy could probably write about the eating habits of carpenter ants and still make it interesting. I absolutely love his earlier book, The Know-It-All, and this one is just about as good -- just more melancholy for the believer, because it's so obvious that Jacobs is searching for the truth but never quite gets it.

7. The Victorian Internet, Tom Standage

Another of those specialized history books that I adore. Well written, short, interesting. And I finally found out how they got telegraph cables across the oceans; I'd always wondered about that one.

8. Crisis, Pursued by Disaster, Followed Closely by Catastrophe, Mike O'Conner

Another one along the lines of The Glass Castle. Interesting, as bizarre childhoods always are, and I'd recommend it, but I do agree with other reviewers that the ending didn't justify the buildup -- but then, isn't that how life often is?

9. Persuasion, Jane Austen

I've been re-reading Jane Austen along with the Masterpiece Theatre broadcasts. I like this one.

10. Northanger Abbey, Jane Austen

I like this one, too.

11. Being Dead is No Excuse, Gayden Metcalfe

If you're from the south, or know anyone from the south (particularly a southern lady of a Certain Age) you'll howl with laughter. If you're a Yankee, you'll wonder what the fuss is about, and all us southerners will pity you.

12. Forever Lily, Beth Russell

The actual story -- wonderful and recommended to anyone with an interest in China or adoptions or both. (I never want to see a Chinese orphanage because I think it would kill me to walk away a leave those children behind.) Rather unfortunately, the author decided to weave in an elaborate dream-sequence which adds nothing but strangeness to the story, which was perfectly remarkable enough on its own. Still, a hearty endorsement from me as a Book That Made Me Cry In A Good Way.

13. Charlie Wilson's War, George Crile

My pick of the month: If you read history at all, read this. The characters and events hardly seem like they could be real, but they are. I gained a whole new understanding of this period of history - the critical years that led up to the crumbling of the Soviet Union.

Comments

[everydayjoy.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I love getting to read your booklists.

[eattheolives.livejournal.com]

Thank you. :)

[ruthette.livejournal.com]

I read the Emily books about a hundred times each when I was in middle school.

<3!

[eattheolives.livejournal.com]

It'll be awhile before I catch up, then!

[http://users.livejournal.com/patrick___/]

I'm going to have to add The Victorian Internet to my reading list. Which is starting to get very long, but that's ok. :-)