Books books books!

[kima]

I just finished browsing around amazon and found some titles that intrigued me. I would love to hear from anyone who has read any of these. It is quite an electic list, with no rhyme or reason.
The Best Recipe Cooks Illustrated
Not Just Beans Tawra Jean Kellam
Confessions of a Shopaholic Sophie Kinsella
A Spiritual Journey Jane Goodall
Beyond Innocence: An Autobiography in Letters Jane Goodall
Year of Wonders Geraldine Brooks
Losing Julia
Cane River Oprah pick


Oops the Spiritual Journey title should be preceeded with the words Reason for Hope

Love to hear about any one of these from all you bookworms out there!:)

[Alisa]

Hi Kima - I just finished Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella and found it hysterically funny. It's along the lines of Bridget Jones' Diary - unrealistic and silly but managing to make some serious comments on society. Sorry, I haven't read any of the others.
Alisa

[tracey67]

Hi Kima!

I haven't seen the Cook's Illustrated BOOK, but I'm familiar with "the best recipe" from their magazine. Each month they take a recipe that is fairly popular -- chocolate chip cookies, beef stew, roasted chicken, etc... and then cook it a million different ways in order to find THE BEST RECIPE for it. For instance, with chocolate chip cookies, they experimented with using different combinations of shortening and butter, they fiddled with the amount of flour, they adjusted cooking temperature and time. This column is usually 2-3 pages long because they really explain WHY they used "this" and "that" and why they used this temperature instead of that temperature. They explain how each ingredient or technique changes the overall outcome of the dish. Throughout the column they also describe the taste-teste reactions to each of the variations -- i.e. this version of the CC cookie is too crispy, this version didn't rise very well, etc. Finally, at the end of the column they provide the recipe for what they felt was the best. Occasionally they'll offer variations. For the CC cookie one I think they offered a version for people who like their cookies thin and crispy and another version for people who like thick and cakey.

Soooo...I'm guessing that the book you saw is a collection of all these columns. If you enjoy REALLY reading about cooking and understanding the science behind recipes, then I think you'll really like this book.

tracey

[akairo]

Ok, so I almost hate to share this one, but..........

found a great site that has used books from differents used bookstores from around the world. So far, all the books that I have bought have been in great condition and cheap, cheap, cheap. I even found a few "Cake Mix Doctor's" on the site.

www.abe.com

Happy hunting.
Tamara

[kima]

Thanks for replying you guys! You haven't read them all Alisa- for shame! What do you do on those long cold Nova Scotian winter nights?;)
I have bought books from abe books as well and had excellent service. The perennial problem is that most of the bookstores are in the US and with the exchange and shipping the deals are not great. The company is based here in Victoria BC so you would think there would be more Canadian stores!:(

Again thanks for your help. Maureen

[ewatkins]

Our Book Club read Losing Julia last year, but I missed the discussion so don't know what others thought. I enjoyed it--interesting perpective on WWI in France as well as getting old and living in a nursing home -- unusual combination but it works.

[Alisa]

Originally posted by kima
You haven't read them all Alisa- for shame! What do you do on those long cold Nova Scotian winter nights?;)

Give me a break, woman!:D

[kirkbyky]

Akairo--
I don't know if anyone's answered your current riddle, but are you the # 8 ?

Those are great by the way!

Kyle

[BethH]

I loved Reason to Hope! I read last year after hearing her speak in Chautauqua, NY! She is awesome. After reading it, I became a much more conscious consumer--I really do try to use my market power to promote causes and products that I like (i.e. free range, organic eggs).

If you are into the environment and are an idealist like me--you will love it! :)

[kima]

Thankyou for the recommendation Beth. I am an idealist (sort of, on good days!) and definately an environmrntalist (whatever that is!!). I need to be inspired from time to time and I think Jane Goodall would provide that!! :)

[Jen]

I haven't read any of them, but Year of Wonders is on my "to read" list too. I get digests from Amazon periodically about new books that come out, and that one looked really intriguing. The reviews on the site sound great! Anyway, I've reserved it at my local library...now I just have to wait for it to come (and for me to finish the 18 other books ahead of it!).