WORDS, PICTURES AND PAGES – 2017 READING LIST PART 1

With the log burner installed and the imminent arrival of our sofa, I have been stockpiling books and reading materials for the year ahead. Cosy evenings fireside or down in the shed on summer days – are always better with a book, don’t you think? I also have stacks of magazines and saved pages torn out and clipped together for short bursts of reading when I am having a break and a cuppa. Keep reading to find out some of the books on my 2017 reading list and join me for a little giveaway at the end of my next post x

So, what’s on my list? Books bought on recommendations, some on a whim, others have been sent to me for review from publishers, some have been gifts from friends and others are old favourites, that I love to flick through often. A varied selection including recipes, fiction, interiors, memoirs, magazines and everything in between. For more reading inspiration, I love joining in with lovely Laura and her Year in Books chat over on Twitter. So many great folks who love reading, hanging out for an hour, sharing more great books to add to the ever-growing stack or wish list, maybe I might meet you there one time?

Let’s start with all the recipe books that will be opened first when we finally get our kitchen finished! We devour cookery books here, and these all have great stories and ideas as well as recipes inside. I can’t wait to make dishes from these books! First Mountain Berries & Desert Spice by Sumayya Usmani – this sumptuous book will introduce you to Pakistani culture and traditions and desserts. From sweet snacks to share with friends over coffee to amazing puddings, you will be tempted by every sweet page of beautiful dishes. I am obsessing over the ‘Bejewelled Parsi Wedding Custard’ and ‘Dooth Ki Bottel’, with milk, rosewater, seeds and spice.

If your sweet tooth is not as excitable as mine, next up is Power Food by Rens Kroes – Perfect for pampering yourself with delicious, organic, energising Food. Amsterdam based Rens works as a nutritionist helping people find the path to a balanced lifestyle of healthy eating, exercise and relaxation. I’ll be all over this one for the summer, super cute Rens has made healthy eating fun and easy to achieve – perfect for busy peeps!

The Kinfolk Table has been by my bedside and toted all around this house with me, I love and know every page of it, the photos and stories inside are as heart warming as the food – a great book for everyone’s home. Bowls of Goodness a book by an Instagram fave of mine Nina Olsson of Nourish Atelier – filled with vibrant vegetarian recipes, on every page is a recipe I want to prepare and cook. The friendly feel and relaxed style make this book feel like a tasty hug.

Next, on our vegetarian voyage, we will be stopping off to read Saffron Soul by Mira Manek, inspired by her mothers and grandmothers traditional Indian cooking – these recipes are fresh, light and wholesome. Just what we require here after months of eating toast, take away and cereal, since most of our kitchen has been missing since December! The first pages I will be heading over to are – 114 for Baa’s Thali and 180 for a cup of restorative Turmeric Milk with seeds and ginger. This is another book that makes me want to try out every recipe.

Moving out of the kitchen, I always have a few interiors books on the go. For the first half of the year I will be studying every inch of every page of Studio by Sally Coulthard – a collection of artists studios and ateliers from all over the globe, this one makes me feel normal for hoarding making materials, knowing I am not alone in creating from a messy nest of equipment and paper inspiration. The perfect book for anyone who enjoys being creative or who is fascinated by peeking in other folks awesome studios!

For lovers of all things natural, let’s dive into – Architecture By Hand by Spencer Fung next. The pages of this beautifully tactile book are full of nature-inspired design and decor – including techniques, history and heritage. The book’s chapters take you on a journey with wood, stone, weave, metal and fine details – including Spencer’s observations and sketches and the provenance and use of natural materials throughout his projects. The pages are full of calming colours and relaxing spaces, I love the whole aesthetic and feel of this book, only one down side -the husband keeps stealing it!

Last on the home front is Renovate Innovate by Antonia Edwards – 255 pages of reclaimed and upcycled homes. This is another coffee table staple for us – as we are trying to save as much money as we can whilst renovating our living space. Three main chapters cover everything Reclaimed, Revived and Reimagined from an Atlanta tree house to an Alpine barn apartment, huge projects and tiny houses are all included. This is a magical collection of interiors, exteriors and inspiring ideas.

I hope you are in the mood to curl up with a book after this. I know I definitely am, now to settle on just one?! To beat the Monday blues, I will be back and sharing a few more books including my garden/plant favourites and the three books you can win in a little giveaway. Happy weekend, stay cosy x

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