Reading

Books and snooping June

The Temple of My Familiar, Alice Walker-An old favorite that I like to re-visit. I'd think it might be most famous for The Gospel According to Shug, which is a pamphlet that plays an important role in the book. It's a spin on the Beatitudes, and even taken alone, it's pretty inspirational stuff. "Helped are those who find the courage to do at least one small thing each day to help the existence of another - plant, animal, river, or other human being. They shall be joined by a multitude of the timid."

Roast Chicken and Other Stories, Simon Hopkinson-A cookbook divided by ingredient, with short reflections on each of the main ingredients and reflections on favorite chefs and dishes. Hopkinson is an old schooler, English and hilarious. I love his emphasis on simple techniques and fresh ingredients. And, he says things like "I wonder how many home cooks make a great mutton stew but have just never tried?" and "Nothing wakes my sense of history like a breast of lamb stewed all day, served with fried endive and mashed new potatoes."

The Sabbath, Abraham Joshua Heschel-This is from my undergrad Religious Studies days, and I actually end up re-reading it at least once a year. I'm not religious, but I don't think this book is only about religion, it's also about our relationship to time and our understanding of time. There's also a lot of Jewish theology, philosophy and history that I think it's good to learn about. For me, this book has been excellent to read as a reflection on work and rest. "The Sabbath is a day for the sake of life. Man is not a beast of burden, and the Sabbath is not for the purpose of enhancing the efficiency of his work."