My favorite place

Today I spent a few hours at the library. I love that place. Rows upon rows of cookbooks. Books about journaling and books about food. Books about sewing and yoga and cats. I have yet to see most of the books in that place, and I’m glad, because it means years of library-loving to come.

I tend to start out looking at the new books, in case they have the newest from Jacques Pepin or Diana Abu-Jaber. I move next to the fiction, sometimes just grabbing a book off the shelf, sometimes looking for a recommendation from a blog or a friend. The last book I grabbed off the shelf was Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolfo A. Anaya. I’m halfway through it, and I’m loving it.

Next is up two flights of stairs to the nonfiction. Oh, how I love nonfiction. It’s so fascinating. I float toward the cookbooks, looking for anything new, anything relevant to my food interests of the week…cookies for the bed and breakfast, vegetarian entrees for home, soups in the winter. I can find an amazing book on any row of nonfiction. Today I found one about journaling.

Finally, I end my afternoon with a visit to the second floor, where back issues of popular magazines are kept. I thumb through Gourmet and Bon Appetit, Saveur and Fine Cooking, Martha Stewart Living and Real Simple. I write down ideas, make copies of recipes that interest me, and just read, read, read.

I always feel so happy downstairs, checking out my books, because I know that I will have hours of good reading at home ahead of me, and hours of library-browsing to come next week.

It’s my favorite place.

8 responses to “My favorite place”

  1. Hi, here from micheles! First thing i noticed, the word cocoa. love it. second thing i noticed, photo of books. love it. cookbooks, sewing, yoga, cats, vegetarian, etc! will be back!!

  2. G’day Crystal,

    Visiting via Michele’s M&G, lovely place you have here.

    I have not been to the library for ages, I must adnmit though, when I do go, I can spend hours there, so much to see, so much to learn, so much to read.

    Enjoy your reading.

  3. Hey there…Michele sent me to meet and greet you! I love the library too. I don’t read as much as I’d like. Hopefully that will change with summer.

  4. GREAT POST! I love books too…I just don’t have enough time to do all of the reading that I would like to do. The last book I read was Watership Down by Richard Adams…I had to read it for an english class…but I ended up loving it! I love the smell of books and coffee….Barnes & Noble HERE I COME!! 🙂

    here from michele’s!

    Lu

  5. I love the library too. Love the smell of books! here via Michele today.

  6. Yea that book smell is great. The older the book the better. I’m one of those people that like to read the books that get overlooked (good or bad) and look really old. Usually can find some great ‘gems’ that way. But I hear about Library business way to much after work from Jo. :p

  7. I discovered the rest! I’m really enjoying my visit. I love your cat’s dining area. You seem to be very creative.

    I’ve only lived in Austin for about a year and from what I’ve seen of the Library system here I have not been at all impressed. I’ve only been to Old Quarry Branch and used their online services. Is there a branch that you would recommend visiting instead?

  8. Lora, I agree. I lived in San Marcos for a while, and I loved the library there. It was so airy and bright, and everything was easy to find. In Austin, I’ve only been to the Faulk Central branch, because it’s nearby. I like it because it’s so big, but it’s not the prettiest place to spend the day.

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