Food Reading

Even when I don't feel like cooking I gravitate toward the cookery section of the library. I'm always interested in food and there are so many wonderful books on that subject that rarely list a recipe. The result? Hours spent comtemplating my favorite subject without the guilt of untried recipes haunting me. Just a few of my favorites are:

The man who ate everything : and other gastronomic feats, disputes, and pleasurable pursuits by Jeffrey Steingarten — Vogue food columnist Steingarten writes hilariously about his obessions with food.

Tender at the bone : growing up at the table by Ruth Reichl — Former Editor in Chief of Gourmet Magazine Reichl writes a moving account of how her life in food began.

Romance on Ice

Isn't it exciting when two perfectly unrelated, but equally beloved, things mash together? I love reading romances and I love watching ice hockey. Apparently, I am not the only one. Rachel Gibson and Deirdre Martin are just two of the authors who have written fiction with hockey players as the heroes. Grab one today and get in a little reading before the Wings take on the Blackhawks tomorrow.

Body check by Deirdre Martin

Simply irresistible by Rachel Gibson

Fair play by Deirdre Martin

Amazing (Homemade) Cakes

Ever wanted to try your hand at making an awesome, intricate cake to rival those seen on Amazing Wedding Cakes or Ace of Cakes? Start at your library, where we have almost 50 books on cake decorating, including some familiar faces from television.

Ace of Cakes: inside the World of Charm City Cakes by Duff Goldman and Willie Goldman

Cake boss: stories and recipes from mia famiglia by Buddy Valastro

The confetti cakes cookbook: spectacular cookies, cakes, and cupcakes from New York City's famed bakery by Elisa Strauss with Christie Matheson

Hot Soup on a Cold Day

The temperature has dropped and that means it is the perfect time to make a hearty pot of soup. If you agree, but are tired of the same old recipes, come in and take a look under 641.563. It's where you will find a ton of cookbooks all about soup — just like these:

Soups + sides by Catherine Walthers; photography by Alison Shaw

EatingWell comfort foods made healthy: the classic makeover cookbook by Jessie Price & the Editors of EatingWell

Vegan soups and hearty stews for all seasons by Nava Atlas

Reality Chicks

Selected Nonfiction written by women.

Queen of the oddballs : and other stories from a life unaccording to plan by Hillary Carlip — A pop culture obsessed childhood — starting with dressing as Holly Golightly in 3rd grade.

The between boyfriends book : a collection of cautiously hopeful essays by Cindy Chupack — A writer for Sex and the City offers her tales of serial dating.

Candy girl : a year in the life of an unlikely stripper by Diablo Cody — A frank account of becoming a stripper — in Minneapolis of all places.

The late bloomer's revolution : a memoir by Amy Cohen — At 35 the author decides her life needs a jumpstart.

International Documentaries

They all have English subtitles!

Akihabara geeks [videodisc] by NEP for NHK

Amando a Maradona [videodisc] = loving Maradona

Antonio Gaudí [videodisc] by produced by Noriko Nomura ; directed by Hiroshi Teshigahara

Beyond hatred [videodisc] by a film by Olivier AMeyrou

Blind spot [videodisc] : Hitler's secretary by ein Film von André Heller und Othmar Schmiderer ; Tremens Film Tonstudio (Wien)

Che, rise and fall [videodisc] by EMB Entertainment presents ; produced by EMB Entertainment, in association with Barakacine

Paper Chase

As a long time fiction reader who recently has been reading primarily nonfiction, I love the way details spark my interest and lead me on a bread crumb path to the next book. Listening to Mrs. Astor regrets about Brooke Astor's decline made me wonder what happened to her son, Tony. A quick Power Search of our databases found several current articles.

I also wondered about Vincent Astor's second wife, Minnie, who apparently set him up to marry Brooke. So I picked up The sisters, a bio of the 3 Cushing sisters — who all married very, very well. Minnie's sisters Babe and Betsey had beautiful homes which were at least partially decorated by the celebrated firm Parish-Hadley (who also designed Brook Astor's famous library). CPL doesn't own the book I wanted, Parish-Hadley, but no problem — I had it sent here from MelCat.

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