I've decided to add a new category called Book Report. I've been going to our little town library on every Thursday. It really is small – but they happily will send books from other libraries in the county if you want them.
I've also discovered used books via Amazon. It's especially nice for decorating and craft books because they are the kind of book that gets read or flipped through once and then stuck on a shelf, never to be looked at again, so they are almost always in pristine shape.
One book I just received was Angèle Parlange's Creole Thrift. My niece has this book and I flipped through it (see?) on a road trip and it looked interesting. I found it used at a very reasonable price so I decided to buy it for myself.
The book actually has me a little conflicted. First of all Ms. Parlange manages to place herself in almost every single shot, looking very posed and wearing skirts that may just be a little shy of appropriate. Then I think "well, she has pretty legs so you go girl."
The other issue I have is her premise is recreating Creole-ish things on the cheap and she does have some fabulous ideas (like her trompe l'oeil barroque mirror frame and circus tent in her dining room) but she invariably has her "people" do them – she has a seamtress, a painter, and iron worker seemingly at her beck and call to do the work for her. Kind of taking the thrift right out of it.
She does have a love for her family history and incorporating it into to decorating and her writing is entertaining. I would recommend this book if you can find it a discounted price or at your library.
I am finally getting around to reading Bill Buford's Heat. His account of being an apprentice in Mario Batali's kitchen. I love reading behind the scenes accounts of restaurant life. Like Anthony Bourdain's books. Or another really good one is Michael Ruhlman's The Making of a Chef. His account of a year at the Culinary Institute of America where he went as a journalist and left a chef. Not as ribald as Anthony's or Bill's accounts but fascinating, nonetheless.
I'm only a few chapters in Bill Buford's Heat but it's a perfect blend of his experience as a bumbling apprentice and a biography of Mario Batali. Mario really is larger than life.
One effect reading restaurant centric books (besides making me hungry) is that each and every one makes me want to take a knife skills class. It seems to me if you mastered chopping and slicing you can just about do anything in the kitchen.
I think you make an excellent point about hos very little DIY and thrift there is in the book. She does hire everything out. Lisa is reading Heat right now, and loves it!!
Okay I had this book as a give away a while back. I did enjoy the book. BUT thrifty please (in my valley girl voice) !!!! This kills me. I see this all the time. What are supposed to be thrifty rooms and there is no way I or my friends could afford them. Heck I have to cut my own hair and look for 12 dollar jeans. She totally annoyed me (I hope she does not read this post 😉 Clarice
I adore books…soemthing so wonderful about holding the written words in your hands verses the computer! I inherited my Mothers collection of books recently. She loved to read mystery’s …so now my book cases are over flowing…which to me is a good thing!
Thanks for the book tips. I’ll look them up at the library tonight!
Terri
Good Idea for the books. I buy used books also especially the ones I’ll probably only read once. I’ll have to see if I can find this one, looks interesting.
You are so right about the “thrifty” rooms!
Great post Andrea. I think your new Book Report category is a terrific idea. Thanks to you, I read Animal Vegetable Miracle and it has had such an influence on me!
About this “Creole Thrift” book……yes, it’s good, but I didn’t buy it. I did spend some time looking at it at the local book store. And, you are right…..she has people!!! I got the same feeling from it that I did when Oprah told us if she could lose weight, we could. While that is true, decorating and dieting, it seems to me,
are much easier when you have PEOPLE to do all the crappy parts, then hand you the finished product, such as a spiffy mirror or dinner! Jokingly, my sister always tells me…have your people call my people. Wouldn’t I just…if I could only find them. I really enjoy your blog, keep it up. Pat at birdnestontheground