Tuesday, February 23, 2016

What's On My Book Pile

I have always been an avid reader. I absolutely love books. One of my favorite places to while away a rainy afternoon would be either in a bookstore....or sitting in my favorite chair, next to the fire, reading a good book. Aside from novels, my favorite books are usually about cooking, gardening, or decorating. Love, love, and LOVE. 


I've been so busy lately that I never seem to get to all the books I want to read. They tend to pile up next to my chair, waiting for that quiet and peaceful day off that never comes. 

It's ok....I get through them a little at a time. There's no rush, I'm not going anywhere. 

In the mornings I love to sit with a cup of coffee before work and either browse around visiting all my blog friends or enjoy a good book. 

Here's what's on my ever-growing book pile right  now, awaiting my attention:


The one on top just arrived yesterday and I can't wait to have a peaceful hour to just enjoy each and every page!

My Tiny Garden on Amazon
I was first made aware of this book by a blogger I have long admired, Marie Viljoen of 66 Square Feet - the cover photo is actually of her last garden, on a rooftop in Harlem, NY.
When I first started following Marie a number of years back she was living in Brooklyn and gardening on the tiniest terrace....and doing it so remarkably I was completely entranced by her tiny garden. She has her own book out for a couple of years now, which of course I own and love. 

66 Square Feet on Amazon
Her book is a compilation of a year in her garden and the amazing food she creates, much of it grown on her tiny terrace. I have made many of the recipes, which are incredible. I just adore her gardening style and it truly shows that even if you have only a tiny space to work with you can still have the most lovely intimate garden. 

Anyway....I digress. Back to my current book pile!

I have two of Sweet Paul's books on my pile....the first is Eat &Make, which I recently ordered through Amazon. 

Eat & Make on Amazon
The second Sweet Paul book on my pile is Summer Food, which I picked up this past summer when I was lucky enough to meet Sweet Paul at an event here in Upstate NY. 


What a great guy....and what an amazing book! It's sitting on my pile waiting for warmer temps to stick around for more than just a day....I  just can't bring myself to be tortured reading it when we're still having single digit nights and we're expecting a winter storm today. Nope, has to wait for spring!

Another absolutely wonderful book on my stack is Melissa Michael's book, The Inspired Room, named for her incredible blog. 

The Inspired Room on Amazon
I finished reading this book ages ago but I keep picking it up and going back to certain sections....I find it such a peaceful read, and ever so inspiring....it definitely lives up to it's title!

There are quite a few cookbooks awaiting my attention:

Around My French Table on Amazon
Secrets from a Caterer's Kitchen on Amazon
The Improvisational Cook on Amazon
The Sprouted Kitchen on Amazon
Can you tell I'm a huge foodie?? I love to cook and love experimenting with new recipes. 

The last two books on my pile were both gifts from friends during a recent dinner party. Great housewarming and hostess gifts for sure!

The Art of the Bar on Amazon
The Complete Flower Arranger on Amazon
Now....I just need to take some vacation time and settle in with a pot of tea. 

What's on your book pile?

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36 comments:

  1. Thank you so much for including The Inspired Room in your wonderful post, I appreciate the kind words and review! I'm honored to have my book in your stack and can't wait to check out the other books you recommended! :)

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    1. You are so very welcome, Melissa - I love your book as well as your blog - can't wait to see the kitchen progress and the side yard!

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  2. I love books, too! That first one looks really good.

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    1. I opened it up this morning but didn't have enough time to really relish it so I had to resist....I don't want to rush through it!

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    1. Absolutely, Marie! Looking forward to seeing your new garden in Spring - this will be the 3rd garden I've watched you work your magic in!

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  4. My pile are all fiction books. Thrillers. I love a fast paced psychological thriller!
    Brenda

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    1. I used to....I find that as I get older and busier I gravitate towards books that bring on a peaceful feeling.

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  5. OK, you seriously have to stop showing all these awesome books you're reading...because I'm also an avid reader and we pretty much have the same tastes...and I love books and have gazillions of them already in my house. So, what happens when I see your reading piles?! You guessed it: I have to look up every one of the books that appeals to me and put them on my never-ending "to read" list or else, ummm...buy them. I've only done that with a couple of books you suggested so far, so I guess I'm not doing too bad, lol. And I do buy them used (on half), so there's the other part of my justification. ;-) Tonight I'm starting Everything on the Table: Plain Talk about Food and Wine. Was this one you suggested? I can't remember. I'm also going through a couple of older issues of the British magazine, The Simple Things.

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    1. Ha ha, so sorry, Melanie!! I have a few more I want to share.....I can't help it, I just love books! And now I have a book and some magazines to look up thanks to you as well! It's like our own little book club! :)

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  6. You had me at gardening, and cooking. I have not had breakfast yet, so I am drooling over the cook books and interested in Sprouted Kitchen. Such beautiful covers too.
    I just finished reading Reconstructing Amelia for book club and then read The Girl on the Train while traveling to and from California. They were interesting, but a bit dark.
    Happy Wednesday to you!
    Jemma

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    1. Oh - I have both those books loaded onto my Kindle app on my iPad although I have yet to read them. The last book I read, while absolutely incredible (The Nightingale), was also a bit dark so I wanted a 'lighter' read this time around. I'm reading Coming to Rosemont and so far it's incredible!

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  7. Just ordered Summer Food-thank you for the recommendations!

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    1. Well, since you are already in full on gardening season at your home, you may as well!! :)

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  8. If only you lived closer I would be over there begging to read them.

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  9. I find every day must include reading from a book, newspaper, or magazine, even if it's only a single page. I love you selections and, if I may suggest a wonderful gardening book, "The Gardener's Bedside Reader." Full disclosure: I have an essay in this wonderful collection of gardening stories, but that's not what makes it a great book. :) It is filled with amazing photos and writings from a number of authors. I turn to it every spring and find fresh inspiration. You can read about the book here, if interested: http://dayleallenshockley.blogspot.com/2010/06/garden-cultivates-pure-joy.html

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    1. Oh, that's so exciting, Dayle, and I am absolutely going to order that book! It's already in my Amazon cart as I type this - thanks a billion for the suggestion!

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  10. Looks like a lot of good reading...66 square feet would be an interesting book :)

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    1. Karen, her patio would make you drool - I know you said you aren't a gardener but you may change your mind if you saw what this woman did with just containers on a patio. Pure heaven. She grew roses, herbs, tomatoes, flowering vines, blueberries, figs, you name it! She inspired me to extend my patio garden at my last two rentals before buying my house....it kept me sane since I didn't have a garden of my own to dig in.

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  11. I wish I had the time to read. I enjoy non-fiction, but it's been awhile since I actually read anything other than a blog! ;-)

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    1. I read novels in bed on my iPad....but the books next to my chair are for enjoying on a weekend morning over a cappuccino!!

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  12. Debbie, The only book I have is The Inspired Room, which is on our coffee table. I love reading historical fiction. In Thursdays post, I've got something special I've written about a particular book I'm currently reading. The first garden book does look intriguing. We live in a condo and can plant flowers, but we don't have lots of room, and the same is true at our cottage. We have a small yard. So I may have to check into that book.

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    1. Oh, I will have to pop by and see what book you wrote about!

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  13. Dear Mountain Momma:
    In a few weeks we are moving - finally and I think you just gave me an idea as my new to me kitchen as a gas fireplace and seating area. The idea you gave me today is to "bring books into that area" too. That is to have a stack here and there and enjoy them as I can! Thank you! Loved this inspirational posting.

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    1. Oh without a doubt, Bernideen! A cozy book and a cup of tea or coffee - that sounds lovely in your new kitchen!

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  14. I don't have a book pile but a book list instead. We have a wonderful library and most of the time I get books there - well if they are fiction. Something like the cookbooks or gardening books I would definitely buy. I want to read Melissa's book for sure.

    So glad you linked this with Thoughts of Home on Thursday. :)

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  15. I love Sweet Paul! After scrolling thru your books, I now need to eat everything I saw and then some. ;)

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  16. I always love to learn what people have on their book pile. You have so many interesting titles. Thank you ever so much for linking up at Thoughts of Home on Thursday. Your presence adds such a ray of sunshine!Thank you ever so much for linking up at Thoughts of Home on Thursday. Your presence adds such a ray of sunshine!

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    1. Glad to link up - thanks for hosting such a great party!

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  17. The Inspired Room by Melissa Michaels is such a wonderful coffee table book. I'm a fan of home decor books too. I spied a few titles in one of your photos that looked interesting.

    Thank you for sharing with us at Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop.

    Olivia, co-hostess
    Reinvented Collection

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    1. It truly is a wonderful book - I enjoy it immensely!

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