A few weeks back, Amy Carol blogged about how much she was enjoying baking form a new cookbook called Vintage Cakes. Since cake is pretty much my raison d’être, I immediately went to Amazon and ordered a copy for myself. Only I ordered the wrong book. Because there are currently two brand-new cookbooks called Vintage Cakes. Go figure.
Vintage Cakes: More Than 90 Heirloom Recipes for Tremendously Good Cakes
Vintage Cakes: Timeless Recipes for Cupcakes, Flips, Rolls, Layer, Angel, Bundt, Chiffon, and Icebox Cakes for Today’s Sweet Tooth
The good news is that both books are well worth having. Each is filled with recipes for cakes that I have only read about in British “Big House” literature and seen on BBC dramas. Lardy cake, anyone?
I haven’t baked from either book yet, but I have planned which cake I’m going to make every week from now through the holidays, starting with the Victoria Sandwich Cake on the cover of the Jane Brocket book.
If you care about cake like I do -and I’m not sure anybody cares about cake like I do- you need these two books.
The Life of a Bowerbird: Creating Beautiful Interiors with the Things You Collect by Sibella Court
This is the most charming and inspiring book I’ve seen in a long time. I am a big fan of Sibella Court’s previous book but it’s hard to explain exactly what kind of book this is. It’s not a “how to” book but it’s a lot more than just eye candy. FYI, Bowerbirds are most known for their unique courtship behaviour, where males build a structure and decorate it with sticks and brightly coloured objects in an attempt to attract a mate. Delightful!
Remember when I was reading that book that I couldn’t put down long enough to pee?
Joseph Anton: A Memoir
Joseph Anton is by far the best memoir I’ve read in ages and it’s packed with awesome details about Britian’s version of the witness protection program. For example, not only did Rushdie have to pay for his own ever-changing hiding places, he also had to find them himself! He even had to pay for the armored car that his government protectors drove him around in. There are also real and serious issue about freedom of speech addressed here. Can’t recommend it highly enough.
Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns)
Okay, I admit to having a total fangirl crush on Mindy Kaling, actress, producer and director from The Office and now her own adorable show, The Mindy Project. This book is pretty much the polar opposite of the Salman Rushdie book. It’s just fun, although the writing is smart and funny and charming.
Death in the City of Light: The Serial Killer of Nazi-Occupied Paris
Okay, in my defense, this book was a late-night, Ambien-induced Kindle purchase that I have no memory of actually making. But when I finished what I was reading and needed to start something new, it was already downloaded so I started it. And finished it the same night. This book scared the socks off me! I actually got up in the middle of the night to make sure all the doors were locked because I was terrified of a serial killer from the 1940s. I mean, even if he hadn’t been executed for his crimes, he’s be dead by now anyway! That’s how scary this book is.
But it’s also a fascinating look into Occupied Paris during World War II. I knew very little about the history of this era in France but I will definitely be reading more deeply on the subject. (My friend Amy recommends Sarah’s Key, another non-fiction book set in that era.)
My Ideal Bookshelf
I am so excited about this book that I’m writing about it even though I haven’t received my pre-ordered copy yet. Here’s Amazon’s description:
“The books that we choose to keep –let alone read– can say a lot about who we are and how we see ourselves. In MY IDEAL BOOKSHELF, dozens of leading cultural figures share the books that matter to them most; books that define their dreams and ambitions and in many cases helped them find their way in the world. Contributors include Malcolm Gladwell, Thomas Keller, Michael Chabon, Alice Waters, James Patterson, Maira Kalman, Judd Apatow, Chuck Klosterman, Miranda July, Alex Ross, Nancy Pearl, David Chang, Patti Smith, Jennifer Egan, and Dave Eggers, among many others.”
Do you have any great book recommendations? I would love to hear them. I’ve been thinking about starting a JMF book club; let me know if you would be interested in participating.
