Mmmm books

A few years ago, I found myself not reading as much as I wanted to. I think this had much to do with moving into our new home and all the time, energy and drywall dust that created, but still I wasn't too happy about it. Then a dear friend started up a bookclub, which I gleefully joined and that got things rolling again as far as reading was concerned. Now, if I don't have a book on my bedside table that I'm engrossed in, I feel at a loss.

While I was in Victoria recently I had a chance to visit my absolute favourite bookstore Munro's. If you've never been and you're ever in Victoria you must go. The end. It is, to me anyway, what a bookstore should be. That is: filled with books. No tchotchkes, no cds, no in store Starbucks, just mainly books on dark wooden bookshelves with gorgeous high ceilings. If I ever have the time, I'll spend a few hours with a stack of books in a chair in Munro's weighing my options. And, sadly, I always need to put some back. Last time I was there, I reluctantly put back Peter Reinhart's new Whole Grain Breads cookbook, mostly because it was too heavy to bring home in my one small suitcase on the ferry, but I've kind of regretted it ever since.

As I mentioned a while back now, I've been experimenting with making bread, and I'm happy to report I'm getting somewhere. Still, bread is a bit of a mystery to me. I'm not sure where I can play with recipes and where I can improvise, and frankly it kinda scares me to contemplate. Reinhart's book however, provides all kinds of theory, history and technique to each recipe. And photos! Photos of what it should look like, photos of what you don't want and really photo, after glorious photo, which for the newbie bread maker like me seems like a brilliant idea. That, and as the name implies, it's all about whole grains. I first heard about the Whole Grains Bread cookbook over at Heidi's site, so I wasn't surprised it was such a great resource.

Speaking of 101Cookbooks and recipes, she's got a recipe up from the new How to Cook Everything Vegetarian, Mark Bittman book. I'm pretty curious about this cookbook too, as I've always felt pretty left out of the How to Cook Everything love.

Comments

[Gene]

Munro's sounds like Powell's in Portland, Oregon. I don't live anywhere nearby (which is probably a good thing, because our house is already full of books), but it's definitely worth a visit if you're in the area.

[Emira]

I adore Powell's as well! I spent plenty of time there when I was in Oregon. And by there, I mean at several of the locations. I'm also a big fan of Elliot Bay in Seattle. Sadly, Vancouver lost most of its good bookstores. We still have Duthies on 4th, but it's a shadow of what it once was, and there's Kidsbooks when you want kid titles, but that's kind of it now.

[Mena]

When I worked at Russell Books in Victoria (second hand book shop) Mr. Munro would bring in boxes of remaindered books that weren't selling at Munro's. It was like Christmas every time he showed up. I miss those two book stores.

[Angelinaa]

I could sit in a book store all day long. Powell's is the best book store I've ever been to. But then, I've never been to Munro's.

I learned to bake bread using Martha Rose Shulman's book called "Great Breads". It doesn't have a ton of photos but her explanation of all the steps are perfect for beginners. I taught two of my friends to bake bread using her book.

However, Peter Reinhart is pretty much the bread baking king and I bought his book "The Bread Baker's Apprentice" and I still haven't tried anything from it two years later because I'm super intimidated. I figure I'll work up to it eventually.

[daisies]

i heart munro's and spent some quality time there when i was in victoria last month. i always end up buying a cookbook while i'm there :)

[emira]

Angelina, thanks for the recommendation. And daises i hear you. I always leave with a book. Often a cookbook in the mix.

[KC]

If you ever saunter south to Seattle, our best indie bookstore is Elliott Bay on 1st in Pioneer Square. Huge, little alcoves all over, squeaky wood floors, shelves and shelves of books. Ahhh. Pure bliss.

[Karen]

I worked at Munro's when I was 18 years old...it's a wonderful store, and Jim Munro is a terrific bookseller. The tapestries by his wife Carole Sabiston are beautiful, too. It's such a big part of my love for Victoria, my hometown--I visit whenever I go back, and I'm so happy that it's still there, more or less unchanged, with those fantastic remainder tables and the staff who've been selling there for years and years. Unparalleled, really.

[degan]

oh i heart munro's! and i miss it so much living in vancouver. there really is nothing here that compares.