I bought only one book - Alice Waters' cookbook 'The Art of Simple Food' which, though published only in 2007, is already well on the way to becoming a classic. I'm hoping it will inspire me to cook simple meals with fresh ingredients, frequently. Once upon a time I think I was regarded as quite a competent cook; but living by myself has made me lazy. I'm fully aware that buying cookbooks has a kind of magical quality to it - you trick yourself into believing that somehow the act of buying the book will of itself improve the quality of your cooking. I know what I really need to do is overcome my laziness about putting effort into cooking for myself: but I am hoping that the new book will provide sufficient inspiration to overcome my laziness.
By the way, I've added an exception to my no-book-buying resolution. I'm allowed to buy gift books for others. This is a necessary variation as I just couldn't manage without buying books for my grandchildren.
Even though I've not bought books I have been reading. Mainly I'm still reading books I was given at Christmas time and books I bought last year. I also read some of my daughter's books when I was staying at her place. So far I haven't lacked for very pleasurable things to read. But this challenge has made me realise that I'm in the habit of just popping into bookshops if I have a few minutes to spare. The Bookshop of Doom in the Devonshire Street tunnel is a particular temptation on my way home from work, and a visit to the city seems incomplete without a few minutes in Kinokuniya.
6 comments:
I buy books for grandchildren too. No way would they come into my count for the year. The other day I sent Jackie French's Diary of a Wombat to a tiny baby in England, along with some knitting. The knitting was well received but the new parents were ecstatic over the book.
I was in the city on Wednesday at Wagamama near Kinokuniya. I managed to get past the shop and down to the station without even entering the place. Not so my lunch friend who lives at Mallacoota. She's a bit starved for real bookshops, although she buys online.
I used to do the same thing - go into a bookstore to pass time - and almost always leave with a book, or three.
I don't think cookbooks (or knitting books, for that matter)really count though...and definitely not books for others!
It wouldn't be a celebration here if I didn't give (or receive) a book or two so they should never count!
Kinokuniya is hard to go past and so is the language section of Abbey Books! Fortunately, I rarely go to the city!
Penguin republished that delightful looking book last year as Recipes and lessons from a delicious cooking revolution
Have just requested it as a purchase for our public library.
Am with you on giving books as gifts. Essential.
this would be even harder for me than clothes or yarn! i will be very impressed if you can stick to it. do 'gifts to self' count?!
Would you mind blogging some of the recipes from the book, Lyn? You don't have to go to the insane degree of (*ahem*) some people, but I'd love to see what you make from it. And I know from experience that it definitely does ensure you use the book! :)
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