Smell Good Books...

   Don't you love the smell of a new book?  I can't get enough of it.  I think it ranks up there with a new car smell and a newborn baby's head.  A recent trip to our local small bookshop uncovered some great finds.  Yes, Amazon is easy... Barnes & Noble has everything under the sun (and a coffee lounge to boot), but there's something so lovely about a little corner bookstore.  Remember the enchanted one in the movie with Meg Ryan, You've Got Mail?  called "The Shop Around The Corner", a book lovers dream.  Anyway, let me share with you some good 'smellin' books from our little shop around the corner! *Warning...lots of pictures ahead!*

     On Alicia's blog, she has written about these yummy cookbooks and I happen to pass by them on my way to the Home Decor section.  These are not your ordinary cookbooks, each page has beautiful photos, incredible family stories and delicious recipes.  I couldn't put them down.  When I paged through each book, I felt like I was transported to another time and place. It reads more like a story than a cookbook.  Aren't the titles dreamy?  Apples For Jam: A Coloful Cookbook and  Falling Clouberries: A World of Family Recipes by Tessa Kiros. I'm anxious to try some of these recipes, they make me want to cook something...anything.  Even if you don't cook, they are lovely to have sitting in your kitchen (just for the cover artwork alone!)

     Coming up with a unique hostess gift (or any gift) sometimes can be so hard.  The Art of Giving takes the guesswork out and is filled with the most creative (and easy) gift giving ideas I've ever seen. There are pages in the back for color copying and making your own labels & tags, etc. Take a look:

    My daughter came home from school last week with a library book that was all tattered, torn, taped (the 3 T's) this book had received it's fair share of use.  After we read the book, it became obvious why it was so over-used....it is probably the cutest darn book (and perfect for a 6 year old who is asking for a new doggie).  She read that book at least 10 times a day, every word, over and over.  Carried it wherever she went (Hey...it even comes with a leash strap!) and was so sad when she had to return it on it's due date.  This book is the next best thing to a dog, and after you read it, you'll know why. (I won't spoil the ending for you.)  So when we passed a new crisp copy in the children's section, she squealed like a monkey, jumping up and down.  I highly suggest Open Me...I'm A Dog to anyone with children (or not) and whether you have a doggie (or not!)~xo

Comments

[Amy at Bunny Rose Cottage]

Hi Tara! These books look fabulous! I definitely want to get The Art Of Giving! I am always 0bsessed with giving the best most unique gifts, lol! And the cookbooks look wonderful too. I love the name Falling Cloudberries! For some reason it reminds me of spring. Dont know why but it does! The dog book sooks adorable! I love any book that will motivate my boys to read! Thank you so much for sharing these.

Hugs,
Amy

[Jackie]

Oh my - Apples for Jam is my favorite!! I have been looking for Falling Cloudberries, but it's hard to find. Great books!! The Art of Giving looks fun too! Thanks for sharing!

[Teresa]

You must have the sweetest little book store to go to! Great books, I really love Tessa's books. I am really excited about Falling Cloudberries, just for the cover alone. Thank you for sharing, love it all!!

Teresa
xo

[Steph D]

lovely post Tara! Makes me want to crawl inside those books, especially Apples for Jam. I have to get the Art of Giving, thanks for sharing!

[Charlotte]

When I went to high school in Oklahoma (back in the dark ages), we had to buy our own books. I will never forget the wonderful smell of these new books. I especially remember my Latin book smelling wonderful. Strange I would remember that.
Great blog. Love your header.
Blessings.

[Janet]

Hope you are feeling better Tara sweetie:-). Funny you should mention the smell of books. Back a hundred years ago my very first job was at the library.....makes sense since I have always loved to read. I really fell in love with the smell of OLD books~yum! XO~Janet

[Jen R]

I love bookstores, there is something so "zen" about them.. I am going to get that book, my girls would love it!
Thanks!
Jen R

[Sarah]

ooooh! What yummy looking cookbooks! Love the Apples for Jam.

[Tracie]

Hi Tara,
I'm off looking for Falling Cloudberries and of course as a dog owner who still reads with her teen, Open Me... I'm a Dog. Thanks for sharing the Meg Ryan picture, I love all her romantic movies, I wanted to be the owner of The Shop Around the Corner, just charming!
Tracie

[nunu pepe]

I absolutely love your style ! bookmarking your blog :)

[Steph]

Recently found your blog! Love it!
I am going to go look for those books this week!

[Dianne]

For those of you not lucky enough to have a sweet corner bookstore, I found both cookbooks online at Amazon. They were almost half price and new!
Thanks for sharing those Tara.

[bari]

Thanks for the book info and eye candy... I had to laugh about the smell of a newborn's head! Me too. Books rank up there with that.
Bari
PS congrats on Wriskey!

[Diane]

Hi Tara
Just stopped in to catch up on you! Wow! I LUV your shirts! Thank you for sharing about the Dog book. I love to read to Dylan and always looking for one that will keep his attention. Thank you sweetie for your prayers. Andreas recovery is nothing but an answer to all of the prayers that have been sent up.
xoxo
Diane

[kari & kijsa]

Beautiful books, beautiful photos...just beautiful!!!

blessings,
kari & kijsa

[Megan Faulkner Brown]

Your work is amazing! I think I'm going to leave my computer on all day with your blog open so I can always have such fine art in my home. heehee. Can't wait for the next post.

[Mrsfish/Pink Portuguese Roses]

I can't agree with you more! Where I live, all our small book stores have gone out of business, because of the "big box" stores and the internet. Very sad, indeed. Your post really stuck a cord with me. I really do love books and those little out of the way book stores. I will look for the books you recommended. And thanks for being you!

[missy]

I love the bookstore in "you've Got Mail". When I was in interior design school we had to study the store as an assignment. What great homework! Just the reason I chose interior design as a major.

[Danielle]

Hi Tara!
I LOVE these books. I agree about the corner bookstore there is something so cozy that you can't get at the big chains. Received my Wriskey and it's perfect! I just ordered 3 more! Thanks!

[Gail]

Hi Tara! I am officially a Wriskey girl! I just received mine and I love it! thanks. Stop by my blog I took a picture of it! take care,Gail thetatterednest.blogspot.com/