Book it

Last Updated:October 27. 2009 5:33PM
Published: October 28. 2009 3:30AM

If you are looking for a gift, here are a couple of books I’ve come across this year that you might consider.


“Alabama Illustrated: Engravings from 19th Century Newspapers”
Authors: James L. Baggett and Kelsey Scouten Bates

Publisher: Turner Publishing

Price: $29.95 hardcover

Length: 95 pages

Taken from the Birmingham Public Library’s archives, these images appeared in newspapers across the state in the 1800s, before photography was commonplace. It’s a unique way to take a look back in time and see what news was important to Alabamians. Each illustration is accompanied by a short story explaining the significance of the drawing. While a lot of the coverage was about the Civil War, other illustrations include an illegal still, Emerson College, devastating storms and an attack on a jail in Birmingham. This book would be perfect for an Alabama history buff.


Best of the Best Cookbook Recipes
Authors: Food & Wine Magazine

Publisher: Food & Wine Books

Price: $29.95 hardback

Length: 279 pages

Food & Wine magazine came up with a stellar idea for the chef in your family. They took a look at the 25 best cookbooks of the year, and pulled the best recipes from them, compiling them into this book. The recipes come from superstar chefs such as Bobby Flay, Mario Batali and Giada De Laurentis. The recipes are organized into chapters by cookbook, and are then cross-referenced by course, such as hors d’oeuvres, pasta and grains and desserts. Many of the recipes are accompanied by mouth-watering photography, making this a good book just to flip through. One word of caution, though. The recipes aren’t necessarily for someone looking to whip something up after a hard day at work — but you will sure want to try.

The Art of Racing in the Rain

Author: Garth Stein

Publisher: Harper Paperbacks

Price: $14.99 paperback

Length: 336 pages

This is the book that has stayed with me the most this year. On the day of his death, Enzo, a lab-terrier mix, tells the story of his life with race car driver Denny Swift. Enzo believes he will return in his next life as a human, and laments his lack of opposable thumbs and his inability to speak to Denny and his family. As a race car driver, Denny’s specialty is racing in wet conditions, and he teaches Enzo his techniques while the two of them watch races on television. But it is Enzo who also teaches Denny that in life, you must keep racing through the bad times to get through it. Like many stories built around animals, this is a bittersweet tale, but it is not maudlin or overdone. Enzo has a wisdom and sensitivity that belie his breed, and yet he also has a love of life, laughter and the feel of wind racing through his fur. If you have a dog, you will find yourself looking for a piece of Enzo in it as well.


Lucia’s Survival Guide and Cookbook
Author: Lucille Campilongo

Publisher: iUniverse Star

Price: $12.95

Length: 111 pages

In 1980, Lucille Campilongo’s daughter, Gina, was about to spend a year in Italy to study. Gina had never lived away from home, and her mother was concerned that she had not taught Gina the skills she needed to properly take care of herself. So, she got a notebook and wrote down the things she wanted her daughter to know. This notebook became “Lucia’s Survival Guide,” and it is the perfect gift for someone just starting out on his or her own. It has tips ranging from how to find an apartment to how to properly iron clothes, to what staples should be in your pantry. It has plenty of simple, yet healthy, recipes that are written in an easy-to-follow manner that even a non-cook such as I can follow. She also has included places to put your own recipes and notes, so you can truly make this book your own.