The Librarian

A Kitchen Garden companion by Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Companion by Stephanie Alexander A book that combines gardening and cooking...it just makes sense. It's a pretty enormous book though, I feel a tad overwhelmed!

All Blacks Don't Cry by John Kirwan All Blacks Don't Cry by John Kirwan If you have experienced depression, or have supported someone else who has, this honest and heartfelt book will be both reassuring and inspiring. John Kirwan has invested a lot of himself into helping people with depression - after reading this book, I think you will agree that the man deserves a medal. As well as sharing some of Kirwan's own experiences of depression, the book offers practical, sound and manageable advice on how to 'banish the black dog'. It really is a story of hope.  And don't be suprised if you suddenly find yourself a lot more interested in how well the Japanese rugby team does in the World Cup in October!

Away We Go directed by Sam Mendes Maya  Rudolf  and John Krasinski in Away We Go I didn't know what to expect when this film began (especially as the first scene is quite....shall we say, confronting!), but first scene aside what I found was a delightfully quirky indie film about a 30-something couple who, suprised by news that they are expecting, hit the road to try to find a suitable place to bring up their family-to-be. The character-driven movie celebrates both the ordinary and the ridiculous, as the couple drop in on friends and relatives around America in their search for a place to nest. While preparing this blog, I came upon a few scathing reviews of this movie, but I've got to say,  I liked it - alot!

A Family in Paris -  stories of food, life and adventure  by Jane Paech A Family in Paris by Jane Paech published by Lantern an imprint of Penguin Books My name has been on the reserves list at the library for this book for an age, and I have been really looking forward to it, so I was very very excited to hear that it was waiting for me last week.  I must admit that my first reaction to the book was suprise. I had imagined curling up on the couch with a  travel story,  but the book was an enormous hardcover, which instead of being written in chapters was simply little half-page descriptions on different aspects of life in Paris.  However, the fabulous photos drew me in, and before long I was truly engrossed in the anecdotes, observations and insights of an Australian family who relocate to Paris for a few years.  I have had my notebook on hand, as this book is a rich resource for anyone planning a visit to Paris, and especially those who plan to stay for some time

Style Stitches by Amy Butler I went to a beaut little design and craft market last weekend, and came across some clothes that a woman had made up using some very gorgeous imported fabric by a designer Amy Butler . Afterwards, I looked up the fabric designer's work on the internet and found some of her sewing books. They look very cool! Here is one of them: Style Stitches by Amy Butler

The Wedding Dress - 300 Years of Bridal Fashion by Edwina Ehrman I heard an interview today on Radio New Zealand , with the author of this book: The Wedding Dress by Edwina Ehrman I was fascinated, by the book, by the topic, by the author. And now I really want to get to the exhibition that is coming to Te Papa in December this year. x Library Girl

Oh, why am I being such a slow reader?! I still haven't finished my book chat book. It is still good though, and I soooo look forward to sharing it with you. In the meantime, for August's book chat here is one of my favourite books by one of my all-time favourite authors. Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver. Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver I'd like to read this one again this winter. It's so beautifully written, and the characters and relationships so real, that the book demands to be read more than once so you can check in again with the place (the Appalachian mountains) and th characters to whom you become so attached. This book came out around the same time as Kingsolver's highly acclaimed The Poisonwood Bible , and it strikes me as an antidote for the intensity and dark desperation of that amazing book, because there is a real lightness to Prodigal Summer that is both uplifting and very beautiful. And, before I go any further I must say a gre