Three Books, Three Purposes

In the recent months I've been doing a lot of varied reading. So, I decided to compile a post about the three books I haven't been able to put down... apart from to write this post.


The Bedside Read

After reading The Catcher In The Rye six times, I still go back to it when I'm not yet ready for something new. It's an honest book, with a few subtleties in its descriptions.

Holden Caulfield, the book's protagonist, quickly became an icon of teenage rebellion when the book was first published in 1951. He's an endearing character and portrays both maturity and immaturity throughout. 

Later, in 1981 it was both the most censored and second most taught book in public schools in the US - now if that doesn't intrigue you I don't know what will.

My copy is battered - I even bent the spine, something I largely consider a cardinal sin! - and has underlinings and scribblings on nearly every page.

The Cookbook

This cookbook is a fairly new addition to the stack (of at least 50), it was actually my Mum that picked this up. Looks like she has pretty sharp taste.

It's a hefty book, however it's incredibly articulate! Towards the front of the book is a guide to ingredients; fruit, veg, herbs, spices etc. Leon gives details of when each is in season and where they're typically grown, this is ideal if you're in to shopping for foods when they're at their best.

The back of the book is where the recipes are. A few that caught my eye are: .....

And if all that content wasn't enough it's beautifully designed. Scribbles and casual photos give it a real homely feel. It's a book that's blown the Nigella, Gordon and Jamie's out of the water. You pay for the content and the content sure is good!

The Coffee Table Book

This book might possibly be my favourite of the three. 

It's a beautiful collection of fascinating letters, postcards, telegrams, faxes and memos. Letters from the likes of F. Scott Fitzgerald nearly had me in tears, and that's not to mention the ones fans wrote to Elvis!

I'm glad this book isn't available on a kindle or iPad as it just wouldn't be the same. An exquisite book to read with a cup of coffee (or tea, if that's your thing) on a quiet afternoon

If all that wasn't enough for you, Shaun Usher, the editor, has also set up Lists of Note!

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