Wednesday, April 8, 2020

Books In My View During Covid 19 or Reading and Looking Out

Written by Treasure Seeker Colleen

As many of you know, I am often out and about in Vancouver; whether it be attending fashion shows, working at My Sister's Closet, or visiting the fabulous Vancouver Public Library and their marvellous events. There is always something to do in Vancouver! 

Since we have been in lockdown, I have been using my newfound spare time to reflect on many of the events I have attending over the past ten years. I will be writing an upcoming post on all of the wonderful Canadian designers we have seen, supported, and worn! More to come on that soon!

I have also been reading up a storm. Since the Vancouver lockdown started approximately three weeks ago, I have read two Canadians, two Americans and a Brit. A cookbook, a mystery, a series of interviews, a fashion autobiography and a book of poetry. Reading and going out are my absolute favourites, however, now, I read, look outside and continue to practise my photography. If I can't be there, I will darned well imagine that I am! Here are some titles I've enjoyed on the never ending journey. What have you been reading? Leave your book suggestions in the comments. I would love to hear them!


IN A PINCH (Effortless Cooking for Today's Gourmet) 2010, is by born and raised in Vancouver, Chef and owner of the Gourmet Warehouse, Caren McSherry. I love her very first sentence: "Different lifestyles make it hard for me to suggest what you should have in your pantry." Tells me right away that what she is going to recommend will be things I might have. Sure enough, her list is doable: Balsamic Vinegar, Beans, Black pepper, butter (yes!) Chili paste and chili sauce, Chocolate, Figs, Grapeseed oil, preserved lemon, rubs, salt, Smoked Spanish paprika (might buy some) and Vanilla. There are varieties and adds to that, if you like, but otherwise you can do a lot with these. If you want to get fancier, she lists 10 (only 10) must haves: Amaretti cookies, Risotto, Capers, Chicken stock base, Dion mustard, Fleur de sel(might buy) jarred lemon curd, Moroccan spice rub, Olive Oil and Panko. So, while we know many of these, it is her skillfully delicious Appetizers, Soups & Salads, Main Courses, Sides, Sauces & Marinades, and finally, Desserts, that make this a great resource! Quick and easy food, beautiful photographs and a list of where to find the ingredients you don't already have, bring the Gourmet to your kitchen.

RIVER OF LIES, 2020, the 5th in the BC Blues Series is by R.M. Greenaway and is her latest, set in North Vancouver, B.C. Read any of these and you will want to follow the complicated lives of her detectives and the solved or unsolved crimes. More details here.




JULIA CHILD THE LAST INTERVIEW (And Other Conversations) with an introduction by Helen Rosner, is a series of interviews with Julia, from 1964 to 2004. Through, these, you learn about Julia's life and many accomplishments. In spite of her great success as an Author, TV Cooking Program Host, Fundraiser, Trail Blazer, and more, she remained down to earth, passionate about good food and friends and teaching. In her words, "I'm Not a Chef, I'm a Teacher!" This collection, a small book of interviews, was published in 2019 and since I always want to hear more about her, I had to read it.



FASHION CLIMBING, A Memoir with Photographs, by New York Times Photographer, Hat Designer and beloved blue jacketed 'eye on the street', Bill Cunningham, was published in 2018. The book jacket is grey with one of his own illustrations, that calls to those who love elegant clothing and piles of fabulous hats. The actual book cover is blue, like the French blue workers jackets he was easily identified by as he snapped all that gorgeous wearable Art on the streets and at the shows and events. This book was widely reviewed and is a true example of his enduring creative vision and the choices he made to sustain it. The movie, Bill Cunningham, New York shows him at work, but the book tells the real story. Bill Cunningham inspired this post



YOU TOOK THE LAST BUS HOME by Brit, Brian Bilston. Published in 2017, this is a book of quick, funny, serious, visual, rhyming and not, poetry. The idea of the bus and the road on the cover appealed to me since I often think of titles and first lines when I am on the bus, looking out. One of my favourites is "Why I Have Never Read War and Peace Ten Excuses". Many of my students, assigned this one for an essay, due tomorrow, wanted to know if I had read it, and if so, how I had carried it since it was so big and heavy. ha ha Here is a verse I love: "I think I left it on the bus, Or perhaps my dog ate it, although it may have been the cat, (she thinks Tolstoy's overrated)."



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