New gardeners, or experienced gardeners who move to New England from very different climates, often ask for recommended books that are appropriate to our region. This is a compilation of three related threads that were posted on the New England Gardening Forum. Some of these books are of most interest to New Englanders; others apply to gardening in general. Additional recommendations will be added as they appear. The first thread discusses whether books are still relevant in a time when the internet teems with information, some of it much more current than any publication can carry. There are also some book recommendations in this thread. The second thread is the main listing, with comments, of books New England Garden Webbers consider worth reading. The third thread concerns Thalassa Cruso, an Englishwoman who moved to New England, wrote many useful books, and hosted a TV show remembered with delight by many of us. ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ Proposed FAQ on recommended books Posted by claire z6b Coastal MA (My Page) on Mon, Jan 18, 10 at 14:39 I'm wondering if people think an FAQ on recommended gardening books would be useful. This could be either general gardening books or those specific to New England Regional gardening, and an easy format would be to just copy a thread like this so that individual comments would be included. What do people think? Please post your recommendations on the other thread, but just comment here or there if you think it's a good idea. Claire Follow-Up Postings: RE: Proposed FAQ on recommended books Posted by bill_ri_z6b (My Page) on Mon, Jan 18, 10 at 16:20 Claire, I have lots of gardening books. One of my first and favorites is a two volume set called "Exotica" by Dr. A. B. Graf. I bought it in the 70's for $75.00. A few years later I bought his book "Tropica" for $100.00. Now that's some serious money in those days! And although I did learn a lot from them many years ago, I find that browsing the internet is far more up-to-date. First of all, there are always changes in the taxonomy. I see many cases where the genus, species or even the family has been reclassified. Another thing is that seeing one single photo in the books gave me an impression of what I thought the plant looked like. Now, seeing some of the same plants online, with many more angles, perspectives and lighting conditions, etc. I have a new concept of many of them. Some are more attractive than I had thought, while others not so much. So I guess what I'm saying is that books are kind of old school where so many new plants and new ideas abound. Finally in these tough economic times, I don't know if people would care to spend money on books when the latest information is available for free. I know that some people still don't have internet access, but then again they wouldn't be on the forum anyway. RE: Proposed FAQ on recommended books Posted by corunum CT 6 (My Page) on Mon, Jan 18, 10 at 16:23 Yes! It's a great idea! And, good of you to do it. Read the other thread and saw that that was where I discovered Stein's "Noah's Garden". Without that posting, I would have missed that book. Also from the other thread, 
"For general ambience of gardening and idiosyncratic gardeners, read anything by Thalassa Cruso, or anything by Beverley Nichols, or anything by Henry Mitchell.". I have already ordered a one cent copy of Cruso's "To Everything There Is a Season: The Gardening Year". As if that were not enough, I also discovered that I am an idiosyncratic gardener! That now replaces the moniker whacko eccentric. 
Thanks, Claire. Jane RE: Proposed FAQ on recommended books Posted by claire z6b Coastal MA (My Page) on Mon, Jan 18, 10 at 18:04 Bill: I understand what you say about browsing the internet rather than reading books. However, you started browsing with a solid background gained from excellent reference books. I'm a happy browser, but my problems with the internet are always 1. Where do I start?, and 
2. Who do I believe? I love my books, even the ones I haven't gotten around to reading yet. The information in them is already assembled and digested by someone who has some expertise in the field. I can read about a plant and then go and google for more pictures and more opinions and maybe interesting new cultivars. Believing everything on the internet is like believing everything in some of the more disreputable catalogs. I give preference to .edu or .org or .gov sites, and take .com sites with a varying amount of salt. Also, not everyone is equally comfortable searching the web or has the patience to dig through all the information available. Besides, it's fun to read about a gardener's personal experience - I discovered Thalassa Cruso about the same time I discovered Julia Child (they both had great TV shows). People still post questions on many forums about what books are recommended for gardeners, so the interest seems to be there. Whether it's worth doing a FAQ is another issue. Claire RE: Proposed FAQ on recommended books Posted by prairiemoon2 zone 6/MA (My Page) on Tue, Jan 19, 10 at 5:37 I had a smile on my face reading your three posts. I could agree with all of you. First I have to say Claire, that was the funniest line I've read in awhile. [g] "I love my books, even the ones I haven't gotten around to reading yet." What is so funny is that I completely understand what you are saying. :-) I've been horrified by the interest in Kindle. Just as iPods are quickly replacing CDs, I can see it won't be long before book publishers are going to be absent from the landscape. I think that's very sad. I grew up with books and they have a lot of value to me that is hard to put into words, above and beyond the obvious. And Bill, I see your side of it too. When I want information, the internet has become the first place I look more often than not. But despite that, I've often been disappointed with the information I've found. And there is too much of it, so it is hard to gather it all together and it's time consuming. I love information that has already been assembled and edited as Claire mentions, by an expert. But then again, I really value hearing many opinions about other gardener's experiences. So I do need both. Now I browse the library catalog a few times a week online and have books on reserve continually. So access to the internet has actually increased my use of the library. And Bill, your point about seeing many different photos on the internet, really struck a chord. A picture is worth a thousand words and multiple photos of something you have never seen, is even better. One book I would have really missed seeing was 'The Garden at Highgrove.' by Prince Charles of Wales. I love his garden and he and his gardeners grow organically. English gardens are my very favorite and his is amazing on a grand scale. He is coming out with a book on the environment this year, called 'Harmony' that evidently will include criticism of big business. Not that I am an admirer of him personally, but I do find his interest in organic gardening and the environment surprising and refreshing in such a prominent figure. Another English gardener, whose garden I greatly admire is Beth Chatto, who has a few books out. She has 'The Dry Garden' and The Damp Garden' but my favorite is'Beth Chatto's Woodland Garden: Shade-Loving Plants for Year-Round Interest'. Her book was the first time I found myself intrigued by her winter gardening choices. I love the way she has managed to combine cultivating plants in a natural setting in a seamless way. She elevates it to an art. See link to an interesting interview with her below. 'Meadows'by Christopher Lloyd is another favorite that has some memorable photos in it. Meadows like I've never seen in my life. Made me really long for a landscape that had meadows. Jane, I have not gotten around to reading 'Noah's Garden' yet, but I have heard many people mention it as one of their favorites. Thalassa Cruso is another author I haven't tried yet. Is she from New England? Here is a link that might be useful: Interview with Beth Chatto RE: Proposed FAQ on recommended books Posted by claire z6b Coastal MA (My Page) on Tue, Jan 19, 10 at 11:36 PM2: Thalassa Cruso was a young Englishwoman from a horticultural family who married an American and moved to New England. She immediately began to set up gardens here and had to deal with a new climate, new zones and new plants. Her books relate how she dealt with the new problems, the mistakes she made, and how she learned from them - all this with great humor and intelligence. A good read. Claire RE: Proposed FAQ on recommended books Posted by prairiemoon2 zone 6/MA (My Page) on Tue, Jan 19, 10 at 14:02 Claire, that sounds like a book I would find very interesting. Thanks RE: Proposed FAQ on recommended books Posted by idabean 5A (My Page) on Tue, Jan 19, 10 at 23:32 wonderful idea. I would contribute titles and read the recommended. Since I saw "Its complicated" I was thinking about rereading the Secret GArden. I don't think I've read it recently with the eye of a gardener. idabean/marie RE: Proposed FAQ on recommended books Posted by bill_ri_z6b (My Page) on Wed, Jan 20, 10 at 5:45 Claire and Prairiemoon, I used to watch Thalassa Cruso ("Making Things Grow") all the time. From some of your comments, I'm thinking that maybe because I have a solid background about gardening in general, which I acquired from such shows, as well as from the great old reference books that I had and I suppose from many years of gardening experience, that my interest has now shifted more to the "What?" rather than the "How?" do I grow. So, at least for me, the internet is the best source to find those new and exciting plants. I am particularly interested in finding lesser-known species of a familiar genus that is hardier than it's better known relatives and worth a try here in my zone 6 garden. Also, there are newer hybrids of more tender genera that have been bred for cold hardiness. And finally there are some plants that are seldom grown (for reasons unknown) that are perfectly hardy here but just aren't used. I certainly don't know everything (Can any of us ever?) but I do know the basics. So for me, the internet is the tool of choice, but I can see how good books might be best for someone who is starting out with gardening. And there aren't any TV programs that even come close to Thalassa's. Even with HGTV and all the other channels, the shows are almost ridiculously vapid when it comes to actual identification and culture of the plants themselves. They're geared toward the "WOW!" factor of the before and after yard makeover. They all seem to take place in California, in a flat suburban yard, neatly fenced or walled in. It goes from a scruffy, weed infested messy yard to a trendy but uninspired one.........must have a gravel patio, pergola, fire pit and water feature. Then the homeowner is required to say "Awesome!" a minimum of six times. I sit and wonder how long before the plants are dead and the pergola falls over.......... RE: Proposed FAQ on recommended books Posted by prairiemoon2 zone 6/MA (My Page) on Wed, Jan 20, 10 at 11:35 Bill, I never gardened at all until the early 1980s when a friend of mine introduced me to vegetable gardening. I loved it and still do. I used to watch 'The Victory Garden' show. HGTV has really reduced their programming in the area of gardening. One show I have enjoyed is 'Gardener's Diary' which spends a whole episode visiting one person's garden of interest. Very worthwhile show which you can still catch reruns of, once in awhile. Sorry I missed 'Making Things Grow' I am sure it was interesting and educational. So, the FAQ on gardening books wouldn't be something you would use too much, maybe you could start a thread to share some of your favorite links to internet sites that have been helpful to you? I'm always looking for a good internet reference too. There's so many out there, it's hard to weed through it all to come up with the best sites. RE: Proposed FAQ on recommended books Posted by claire z6b Coastal MA (My Page) on Wed, Jan 20, 10 at 11:45 Marie (idabean): Please post your recommended books on the other thread (or here if you prefer). My intent is to take these two threads and combine them loosely so that each post is retained in each entirety. That way all the comments will be available on the FAQ. I did something similar to that with the How do I keep deer and moose from eating up my garden? FAQ although I may leave the dates in. Once I get the FAQ on the FAQ page, I can always add more recommendations as they come in. Claire RE: Proposed FAQ on recommended books Posted by bill_ri_z6b (My Page) on Wed, Jan 20, 10 at 12:26 Prariemoon, I had forgotten about "A Gardner's Diary" but I did watch it all the time. It was a last remnant of the type of programming that we should see more of. Intelligent and educational with nice photography. I have noticed that even the video talents of whoever does the shoots for some of the newer HGTV shows are sorely lacking. Underexposed or totally blown-out videos are common. I just don't think they want to spend the money for a real professional, just as they don't want truly experienced hosts. It seems the shows are more for good times and laughs during the makeover rather than to demonstrate good practices to us, or introduce us to some interesting plants, trees or flowers. I will post links to some internet sites that I find useful. .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... Recommended gardening books? Posted by ctreynard ) on Wed, Jul 23, 08 at 6:02 Hey, all! Looking to read some gardening books (perennial and botanical) that have knocked other people's sox off, or given you "aha" moments.... Any suggestions? Follow-Up Postings: RE: Recommended gardening books? Posted by arbo_retum z5 ,WinchstrMA (My Page) on Wed, Jul 23, 08 at 15:37 The Well Tended Perennial Garden RE: Recommended gardening books? Posted by amysrq 5 (My Page) on Wed, Jul 23, 08 at 17:27 Oh, that's nice to hear....my copy just showed up on the doorstep this afternoon! I also orderedYour House, Your Garden on the advice of a very experienced gardening friend. RE: Recommended gardening books? Posted by thyme2dig 5 (My Page) on Wed, Jul 23, 08 at 20:34 Another good DiSabato book is The Well Designed Mixed Garden. Dirr's Hardy Trees and Shrubs, and his Viburnum and Hydrangea books are good resources Time Tested Plants, Pamela Harper The Collector's Garden, Ken Druse Newcomb's Wildflower Guide is very helpful for identification RE: Recommended gardening books? Posted by davidinct (My Page) on Thu, Jul 24, 08 at 0:39 If the logistics, history and economics of world flower trade interest you "Flower Confidential: The Good, the Bad, and the Beautiful in the Business of Flowers" by Amy Stewart is worth a look. Starts with the somewhat tragic story of Leslie Woodriff who bred the "Stargazer" lily, touches on one of the last sweet violet growers in America, growers in South America, importers in Miami, the Amsterdam auction houses and high line florists in New York. For humor and some history of rose breeding, pick up Aurelia C. Scott's "Otherwise Normal People: Inside the Thorny World of Competitive Rose Gardening" RE: Recommended gardening books? Posted by ctreynard ) on Thu, Jul 24, 08 at 17:32 Wonderful suggestions, all! Keep them coming! :) RE: Recommended gardening books? Posted by claire z6b Coastal MA (My Page) on Thu, Jul 24, 08 at 18:04 For general ambience of gardening and idiosyncratic gardeners, read anything by Thalassa Cruso, or anything by Beverley Nichols, or anything by Henry Mitchell. For beautifully written and effortlessly informative books about native plants, read anything by William Cullina (formerly of the New England Wild flower Society). He wrote the best explanation I've ever read about why some plants grow well in acidic soil and others in alkaline. Claire RE: Recommended gardening books? Posted by emily06 72 (My Page) on Thu, Jul 24, 08 at 19:18 In addition to those already recommended: The Garden Primer by Barbara Damrosch Color Echoes: Harmonizing Color in Your Garden, by Pamela J. Harper The Damrosch book is a compendium which has helped this newbie gardener avoid big mistakes countless times. The newest edition also stresses organic practices. 
The Harper book was truly "aha!" for me. RE: Recommended gardening books? Posted by terrene 5b MA USA (My Page) on Thu, Jul 24, 08 at 19:29 I love William Cullina's books and just ordered the one about Ferns, Mosses, and Grasses. Claire, why do you say that Cullina is formerly of NEWFS? Their website says that he is the nursery director. RE: Recommended gardening books? Posted by prairiemoon2 zone 6/MA (My Page) on Thu, Jul 24, 08 at 19:46 I've taken out a few of Cullina's books too. The library system even has that Ferns and Mosses book and I've borrowed it already. Barbara Damrosch has a wonderful garden! She and her husband Eliot Coleman hosted a gardening TV series called 'Gardening Naturally'. So I know she is a great gardener, but I took her books out and never warmed up to them. Sorry. Eliot Coleman wrote, 'The New Organic Grower' and'Four Season Harvest'. He is very innovative about organic growing methods and growing vegetables in New England. I have taken out 'The Garden at Highgrove' which was to me, a mesmerizing coffee table quality book about Prince Charles' efforts to renovate their royal property using organic methods. Gorgeous photos. I always mention 'Meadows' by Lloyd Christopher which is quite delicious to me. I find the photos again, very inspiring and satisfying and make me wonder how there is a gardener that exists that could create some of these landscapes. I have a real love of many gardens created by Piet Oudolf who has four books in our library system. 'Dream Plants for the Natural Garden' was a great one. I wish someone would invite him to come to Boston and design some of our public spaces. I'm sure I am forgetting some of my favorites. I did take a minute to see what was new in the library system and a couple of titles...looked interesting that I have not read yet.... 'The Authentic Garden: five principles for cultivating a sense of place', by Claire Sawyers 'The Magic of Monet's Garden: his planting plans and color harmonies' by Derek Fell If I remember the one I am forgetting I will come back. Have fun... pm2 RE: Recommended gardening books? Posted by claire z6b Coastal MA (My Page) on Thu, Jul 24, 08 at 20:40 terrene: I don't remember where I read it, but he's moving to the Coastal Maine Botanical Garden in Boothbay, Maine. He talks about the move on his web site. Claire RE: Recommended gardening books? Posted by diggerb2 z5oh (My Page) on Fri, Jul 25, 08 at 17:21 my aha book was sara stein's Noah's Garden. I just so enjoyed it after checking it out of the library 3 times, i had to go and buy it for myself. but its more about the philosphy of the garden that actual gardening. But nopw i know how to get lightening bugs in my yard and the neighborhood kids come to my house to catch them all of june and july. yes the book by HRH Charles about Highgrove is just lovely 
and full of information on a grand scale. I liked the Botany of Desired by Michael Pollan. the book about growing Giant Pumpkins was a good read. i refer to it as backyard biggies-- but i think the title is Backyard Giants-- its a new book in the past year or so. Buried Treasures-- its a book about rare/exotic bulbs 
was interesting to read. but i always suggest Noah's Garden. Diggerb RE: Recommended gardening books? Posted by moccasinlanding z8B AL/z5b MA (My Page) on Sat, Jul 26, 08 at 21:41 One of my very favorite books is by Roy Guste, SECRET GARDENS OF THE VIEUX CARRE. Long out of print, it recently came out in second edition. Having such a lovely series of photos and text showing the courtyard gardens of New Orleans has provided me much inspiration. Another one I liked for years, THE SCENTED GARDEN by Rosemary Verey, is OOP but Amazon has some for sale. I am awaiting delivery of HYDRANGEAS which was recommended on this forum or on the hydrangea forum. So much variety I never imagined in these over-achieving plants. One of my favorites was lost in Katrina, MONET'S GARDEN...don't recall the exact title. But it is the source of inspiration for my mass planting of nasturtiums which grow with reckless abandon along the drive and patio at our house in MA. It is way to hot to do that in south AL. RE: Recommended gardening books? Posted by davidinct (My Page) on Sat, Jul 26, 08 at 22:49 Cornell has 1,849 "agricultural texts published between the early nineteenth century and the middle to late twentieth century" on line below: Here is a link that might be useful: Core Historical Literature of Agriculture RE: Recommended gardening books? Posted by jackied164 z6 MA (My Page) on Sun, Jul 27, 08 at 22:09 The Well Tended Perennial Garden would be top on my list and I was happy to see it was the first to be recommended. I have many other books I got to to find out about plants but this it the one to go to to find out how to really grow perennials. My asters no longer flop, my hellenium is much more to my liking and I am much better at fall and spring garden chores. A great read is Margery Fish's book "We Made A Garden". I love forces of nature and she was one. RE: Recommended gardening books? Posted by carl18 z6 NJ (My Page) on Mon, Jul 28, 08 at 20:22 Three cheers for this post! You've already tipped me off to a couple more books I need to look for. . . Let me echo the recommendations for Pam Harper, Michael 
Pollan (almost everything he's written) and most definitely 
HRH Prince Charles's Highgrove book. . .glanced at it in 
the PHS library in Philadelphia thinking it was just another "photo-op" coffee table book and ended up tracking 
down a used copy on Amazon. . . Other favorites, especially about gardeners and the pursuit 
of gardening: - "Two Gardeners: A Friendship in Letters" a remarkable 
exchange between Elizabeth Lawrence, the noted 
southern garden writer, and Katherine S. White, the 
legendary New Yorker writer; 
- "A Gentle Plea for Chaos" by Mirabel Osler, a 
charming gardening memoir; 
- "Duck Hill Journal", my favorite of the Page Dickey 
writings, partially because I've visited her garden 
in Connecticut and this just helped you understand 
how it all came to be; 
- "Deep in the Green", a collection of some of Ann 
Ravers best columns for The New Yorker and the the 
NY Times; 
- Two splendid Piet Oudolf books: "Dream Plants for the 
Natural Garden" and "Designing With Plants"; 
- "On Garden Style" by Bunny Williams (another CT garden 
I've visited) but oddly enough, I found the book 
more interesting than the actual garden. . . Carl RE: Recommended gardening books? Posted by ellen_s z5 centralMA (My Page) on Tue, Jul 29, 08 at 9:55 Reader's Digest Organic Gardening for the 21st Century, by John Fedor is one of the books that changed my gardening outlook when I was given it as a gift. It is one of those books where the photos draw you into the text, and explains the concepts of organic gardening in an easy-to-understand way. Highly inspiring. And its reference section on growing vegetables is one that I still regularly turn to. The Cullina books are also must-have for anybody growing native plants and learning about natural-style gardening. I love his books and his writing style is so enjoyable. RE: Recommended gardening books? Posted by natgreeneveg 6 (My Page) on Mon, Nov 2, 09 at 12:41 In case anyone missed the PBS special The Botany of Desire which premiered Wednesday, October 28, 2009, you can still watch the entire program online. It's incredible. BOTANY OF DESIRE is a documentary which tells the utterly original story of everyday plants and the way they have domesticated humankind. An interpretation of the relationship between plants and people. This two-hour documentary explores plant evolution and takes viewers from the potato fields of Peru and Idaho, the apple forests of Kazakhstan, and the tulip markets of Amsterdam. View online in it's entirety: here This is another related program by the same presenter on LINK TV (a cable access channel) which is timely: Deep Agriculture 
Traditional methods of agriculture in most developed nations have long ignored environmental concerns. Factors such as soil erosion, water shortage and the impact of chemicals on bio-systems have been overlooked in favour of massive crop yields and cheaper food. But what impact does this have on our health and our environment? View online in it's entirety: here __________________________ Sit down with a cup of tea or coffee and witness the evolution of an Organic Kitchen Garden. RE: Recommended gardening books? Posted by claire z6b Coastal MA (My Page) on Mon, Jan 18, 10 at 14:32 I'm wondering if people think an FAQ on recommended gardening books would be useful. This could be either general gardening books or those specific to New England Regional gardening, and an easy format would be to just copy a thread like this so that individual comments would be included. What do people think? ;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;; Below is a post I clipped a while ago for possible inclusion in this kind of FAQ. In any case, it belongs in this thread too. RE: Porcelain berry --worry or not? (Follow-Up #7) 
posted by: carl18 on 09.02.2008 at 11:32 am in New England Gardening Forum Let me attempt to brighten your frame of mind: My feeling is that Mother Nature really DOES have it all under control (how many millions of years has it been?). . .for example, with any luck, one day you'll find one of those nasty hornworms on your prized tomatoes and, lo and behold, it has a pack of tiny parasitic wasps glued to it's backside. . .once these little predators turn up, you'll have no more hornworms that season. Bottom line: 
we're the one's who are out of line, not M. Nature. . . 
sigh. . . Appropos this subject, I am HIGHLY recommending a remarkable book (discovered here on GW on someone's book list) titled "Noah's Garden" by Sara Stein. . .it's all about understanding the complex ecology of our (very 
unnatural) gardens, and trying to go native. . .which she freely acknowledges is tough (given how extreme our gardens have become), but possible in moderation. I found an inexpensive copy at used books. . . Carl RE: Recommended gardening books? Posted by corunum CT 6 (My Page) on Wed, Jan 20, 10 at 11:57 Gardens: An Essay on the Human Condition Author: Robert Pogue Harrison Here is a link that might be useful: Gardens: An Essay on the Human Condition RE: Recommended gardening books? Posted by prairiemoon2 zone 6/MA (My Page) on Wed, Jan 20, 10 at 19:22 So many books and so little time... :-) I would really love to just sit and read all of these books. Anyway, since you are going to do the FAQs Claire, I dug up the book I was trying to remember the last time this thread was circulating. I don't know if any of you like fiction, but this is a novel about an Englishwoman who was a horticulturist during World War II and was sent to a country estate to manage 'land girls' to grow vegetables as part of the war effort. I loved it! It had all my favorite themes, the English countryside, gardening, garden restoration and WWII. Link below to Amazon. The Amazon review is not that great, but read the customer reviews. I would have given the book 4 stars. It's called' The Lost Garden' by Helen Humphreys and it is available at the library. Here is a link that might be useful: The Lost Garden by Helen Humphreys RE: Recommended gardening books? Posted by prairiemoon2 zone 6/MA (My Page) on Thu, Jan 21, 10 at 10:23 Claire, I visited some of the book websites this morning, trying to remember some of the titles I've enjoyed on the subject of New England Gardening and then I went to the library database when the bookseller sites had more new books than old. At least at the library, I was expecting to see many titles that I had read, because I have taken a ton of gardening books home over the years, but I was quite surprised to find so many titles that I hadn't read and stirred my interest. So here is an account of my morning book browsing..... 'The New Hampshire Gardener's Companion: An Insider's Guide to Gardening in the Granite State. ' I have not read it but the customer reviews gave it 5 stars. 'The Massachusetts Gardener's Companion: The Insider's Guide to Gardening in Massachusetts' I saw one for Vermont and Rhode Island and I assume they also have one for Maine and Connecticut, too. I enjoyed 'The New England Gardener's Book of Lists' by Karan Davis Cutler And it looks like there is a new book out just this year...'New England Gardener's Resource: All you Need to Know to Plant and Maintain a New England Garden' by Jacqueline Heriteau & company Another new book just out in 2010... 
'Roses for New England: A Guide to Sustainable Rose Gardening' by Mike and Angelina Chute Here's one for Tree Oracle and ego45... 
'Republic of Shade: New England and the American Elm' by Thomas J. Campanella I was surprised to see a music CD in among the books on the Barnes & Noble website called 'Nights in the Gardens of Maine' by Paul Sullivan. He also has one called 'Sketches of Maine' And here is a book I want to read, called... 
'Oh Garden of Fresh Possibilities!: Notes from A Gloucester Garden' by Kim Smith. It is written by a woman who is a professional decorator and lives on a quarter acre seaside property. She crams a lot in, even apricots, which made me think of Bill, trying to push his zone. On the Amazon website, there were rave reviews for the book. See link below. Another book that I also want to read.... 
'On Guerrilla Gardening: A Handbook for Gardening Without Boundaries' by Reynolds, Richard. "....this lighthearted guide is a seriously silly romp through the adventurous pastime of gardening other people's plots. Reynolds, after five months living in a 10-story tower block in London, missed gardening and began surreptitiously cultivating the planters in front of his building, gardening in the dead of night to avoid interference. He started a blog to share his delight in illicit gardening, and discovered he was part of an international movement." Has anyone read 'Native Plants of the Northeast: A Guide for Gardening & Conservation' by Donald Joseph Leopold? That sounds like it's right up your alley, terrene. Or...'Gardening at the Dragon's Gate: at work in the wild and cultivated world' by Wendy Johnson. I've heard other recommendations for this book but haven't read it yet. Did anyone mention 'Tasha Tudor's Garden' by Tovah Martin, yet? She lived a 19th century lifestyle in a hand hewn house in Vermont, and kept a lot of animals from parrots to Nubian goats. She illustrated 'A Child's Garden of Verses' by Robert Louis Stevenson and has evidently written a lot of children's books. And....... 'Once Upon a Windowsill : a history of indoor plants' by Tovah Martin And here's one for Ginny.... 
'So Fine a Prospect: Historic New England Gardens' by Alan Emmet Did someone mention they were planning to build stone walls? 'The Granite Kiss: Traditions and Techniques of Building New England Stone Walls' by Kevin Gardner I read 'Island Garden'by Celia Thaxter last year which was an enjoyable read. She gardened on an island off the coast of New Hampshire. I have not read the 'Arrows Cookbook' by Clark Frasier and Company...but we did eat there once and the food was wonderful. They have their own herb garden. I came across a book that looks fascinating and I hope to read soon. 'Tales of the New England Coast'compiled by Frank Oppel. It is reprints of magazine articles from 1884 to 1910, giving you little glimpses of New England history. I know it's not gardening but ignore it if it doesn't appeal to you. :-) That's what I found on the subject of New England gardening. I did begin to scan a long list on the library website, but I guess I started with the most recent books and those I would have read would be older. I will try to look at it again soon. I don't think I have read a lot of books specifically focused on New England, for some reason. I skipped over Vegetable Gardening. Aside from Eliot Coleman who I've already mentioned, I've read 'The Victory Garden' and not much else, that I remember. Maybe someone else has read others? If anyone has read any of the above titles and could add their opinions on them, it would be great. Here is a link that might be useful: Oh Garden of Possibilities RE: Recommended gardening books? Posted by jackied164 z6 MA (My Page) on Thu, Jan 21, 10 at 20:42 I was also happy to see The Well Tended Perennial Garden as the first response. That is where it should be and I am another gardener who is much happier with my asters and hellenium and other perennials having read it. Seeing Beverly Nichols, Henry Mitchell and Margery Fish also made me happy. I read them over and over. Here are a few I do not think I saw above. Eleanor Perenyi's. This is another book I read and re-read. Not necessarily because there is a whole lot of garden advice but because it is so beautifully written - and written by a woman with HUGE opinions. I love her and I found an old hardcover edition of the book that has a great picture of her out in her garden with a cocktail which increased my love for her. Her non-gardening book "More Was Lost" is very good as well. I also highly recommend Jamaica Kincaid's "My Garden (Book)". She is a great writer and also full of opinions. I think I read this book at least once a year. Finally I recently read Joe Eck and Wayne Winterrowd's "Our Life In Gardens" and loved it. Their other books are good too. RE: Recommended gardening books? Posted by claire z6b Coastal MA (My Page) on Sun, Jan 24, 10 at 13:47 I just went to my bookshelves and the isolated piles and I pulled out books that I often use as references, plus a few that are half read or still in the waiting line. I'm very interested in using native plants where appropriate, so I often start with William Cullina's New England Wild Flower Society Guides concerning Wildflowers, Native Trees, Shrubs, and Vines, and Native Ferns, Moss & Grasses. After these, I check the entries in "Native Plants of the Northeast" by Donald J. Leopold (mentioned above and very comprehensive). "Armitage's Native Plants for North American Gardens" by Allen M. Armitage concentrates on gardenworthy plants and is also useful. "The Natural Habitat Garden" by Ken Druse is in my half-read pile and is worth finishing. "Dirr's Hardy Trees and Shrubs" by Michael A. Dirr is a classic, mentioned already. The plants mentioned aren't all native, but they will survive in most of New England. If you know and appreciate "The Sibley Guide to Birds", you'll like "The Sibley Guide to Trees" by David Allen Sibley. The book has very clear illustrations and sensible discussions, and maps showing where the trees grow in this country. It includes both natives and introduced trees. For general reference, there's the little "Great Plant Guide" by the American Horticultural Society. The version I have covers 3000 recommended plants. And then there's the Brooklyn Botanic Garden's Handbook series. I've been a subscriber for years and I just counted a little more than 100 separate handbooks on my shelf; each one covering a specific topic. Lee Reich's books are always sensible and well-researched - I have his "Weedless Gardening" - not really weedless, but a persuasive argument for caring for the soil and the soil structure. I've only dabbled in his "Uncommon Fruits for Every Garden" and his" Landscaping with Fruit", but I consider them to be valuable reference books. Some of us may appreciate the "Allergy-Free Gardening" book by Thomas Leo Ogren, which is invaluable to anyone who has to deal with pollen and other sensitivities. Finally, one book I haven't read yet but that has great reviews is "Wicked Plants" by Amy Stewart subtitled 'THE WEED THAT KILLED LINCOLN'S MOTHER & OTHER BOTANICAL ATROCITIES". Now I just have to force myself to put these books back on the shelves... maybe I'll just read a little bit.... Claire RE: Recommended gardening books? Posted by prairiemoon2 zone 6/MA (My Page) on Sun, Jan 24, 10 at 16:53 Claire, I have the 'American Horticultural Society encyclopedia of gardening' and I rarely open it any more. Which sort of supports Bill's suggestion that he would rather use the internet. I must be using it a lot more for gathering information too. So my garden reading is more topical I guess. I did think of a few more books, some of which have a New England slant..... 'Earthly pleasures : tales from a biologist's garden' is a new book out by Roger Swain who was a long time host of The Victory Garden. Did you know he graduated from Harvard with a Ph.D. in Biology? I didn't. [g] Then he worked for Horticulture Magazine and has written other books. He also hosted the television show 'People, Places, and Plants'. 'The Boston Globe illustrated New England gardening almanac : a gardener's weekly companion.' by Carol Stocker, a Providence native who wrote the gardening column for the Boston Globe for many years. 'The garden squares of Boston' by Phebe S. Goodman 'To dwell is to garden : a history of Boston's community gardens' by Sam Bass Warner, Jr. For lovers of poetry and those who live in the western part of Massachusetts.....'Emily Dickinson's gardens : a celebration of a poet and gardener' by Marta McDowell. And two more books written by New England gardeners.... 'Four tenths of an acre : reflections on a gardening life' by Laurie Lisle is a biography of one Connecticut gardener. 'Dear Mr. Jefferson : letters from a Nantucket gardener' by Laura Simo Another book for gardeners living on the Cape .... �Į'Nantucket : gardens and houses' by Taylor Lewis Some unusual vegetables to grow..... �Į'The Gardener's Handbook of Edible Plants' by Rosalind Creasy �Į".....Includes such unlikely plants as kumquat, lotus, sorrel, borage, and nasturtium" 'The gardener's life : inspired plantsmen, passionate collectors, and singular visions in the world' by Larry Sheehan "....More than a how-to gardening book, The Gardener���s Life works its way to the heart of why gardeners have unlimited fascination with their pastime, and why the garden is a place where art and nature, technique and toil���not to mention joie de vivre���meet to create paradise." 'Legends in the garden : who in the world is Nellie Stevens?' by Linda L. Copeland and Allan M. Armitage My Mother's Garden' by Deena Rosenberg and Penelope Hobhouse �Į"....A garden and a child - the similarities between the two are striking. Both require an investment of time and patience. Both call for a special caretaker to consider their needs and look out for their futures. And both will blossom when tended with a mother's love." I wonder if anyone has any good children's books to add? I have read....'Linnea's windowsill garden' by Christina Bjork and Lena Anderson and enjoyed it. Claire, you must have a book title to recommend for attracting birds to the garden? I have read 'Bird by Bird Gardening' by Sally Roth and enjoyed it but have read so-so reviews for it. 'The wildlife gardener's guide' by Janet Marinelli is another publication by the Brooklyn Botanic Garden published in 2008. And a DVD of 'Gardens of the World' with Audrey Hepburn' is a nice way to spend a rainy Sunday. So nice to see Audrey Hepburn as host too. I did want to mention, that I plan on copy/pasting this list to keep a copy for myself, since GW seems to be having continuing difficulty maintaining the website. You never know what's going to be missing next. [g] RE: Recommended gardening books? Posted by claire z6b Coastal MA (My Page) on Sun, Jan 24, 10 at 21:11 PM2: I like the way you only highlighted the book titles in red, not the authors. It reads better than doing both. I'll change the FAQ to that method tomorrow, when I go in to enter your latest post. Thanks, 
Claire RE: Recommended gardening books? Posted by prairiemoon2 zone 6/MA (My Page) on Sun, Jan 24, 10 at 23:15 Claire, I didn't notice I was doing it different. If you prefer it that way, I could change my posts tomorrow, if that will help. I think you are right, it is easier to read. I left out something on the Arnold Arboretum and on Frederick Law Olmsted... 'Charles Sprague Sargent and the Arnold Arboretum' by S.B. Sutton 'Frederick Law Olmsted and the Boston park system' by Cynthia Zaitzevsky RE: Recommended gardening books? Posted by nhbabs z4b-5a NH (My Page) on Fri, Feb 5, 10 at 21:23 I love the books of Joe Eck and Wayne Winterrowd - well written & by a couple of great gardeners: Our Life in Gardens A Year at North Hill: Four Seasons in a Vermont Garden Annuals for Connoisseurs I like Michael Dirr's books, not only for his incredible knowledge of plants, but also for his sense of humor and opinions. Besides 
Hardy Trees and Shrubs, I also like his 
Viburnums: Flowering Shrubs for Every Season and
Hydrangeas for American Gardens. A recent purchase is 
1000 garden ideas by Stafford Cliff. 
Little text, but lots and lots of images, grouped by theme - fences, paths, water features, statues, etc., etc. For me a great visual vocabulary list. RE: Recommended gardening books? Posted by diggerb2 z5oh (My Page) on Sun, Feb 7, 10 at 16:06 i would heartily recommend : gardening at dragon's gate as a great read. also the 3000 mile garden diggerb2 .............................................................................................................................................................................................................................. From a thread on Mapping Nurseries: Posted by ginny12 z5 MA on Fri, Apr 16, 10 at 19:50 This is a great project and I hope it goes forward. Don't forget about that most interesting and useful book, "The Adventurous Gardener" by Ruah Donnelly. It's all about just the kind of New England nurseries you are talking about, altho not necessarily right off the interstate. And it came out awhile ago but most are still around. Any New England gardener should have this book--in the car at all times! .............................................................................................................................................................................................................................. Thalasso Cruso video Posted by bill_ri_z6b (My Page) on Wed, Jan 20, 10 at 14:18 It seems that this is the only available video of her show from 1967 called "Making Things Grow". The author of the website tells us that WGBH said it does not have the funds to convert the archived tapes to a modern format. That's too bad because she was quite knowledgeable and had a straightforward approach to gardening. Listen to her comments as she learns about bonsai from her guest! Follow-Up Postings: RE: Thalasso Cruso video - link Posted by bill_ri_z6b (My Page) on Wed, Jan 20, 10 at 14:32 Seems the link did not paste in the previous post, so here it is: (editor's note: search the internet for "Thalassa Cruso Returns!", posted on Michael Weishan's blog) RE: Thalasso Cruso video Posted by prairiemoon2 zone 6/MA (My Page) on Wed, Jan 20, 10 at 15:28 See if this works Here is a link that might be useful: Thalassa Cruso video RE: Thalasso Cruso video Posted by corunum CT 6 (My Page) on Wed, Jan 20, 10 at 16:26 Thank you both. Absolutely priceless film! I've ordered a copy of her book "To Everything There Is a Season: The Gardening Year" from which was recommended by Claire. This is a classic! Made my afternoon! Jane RE: Thalasso Cruso video Posted by prairiemoon2 zone 6/MA (My Page) on Wed, Jan 20, 10 at 17:06 I just watched the whole video and it was not only educational but very humorous. I like her style, because she didn't take any shortcuts, she demonstrated the whole process from start to finish with enough detail, that you weren't left guessing. I wouldn't feel anxiety to try a bonsai after watching that video. I wish there were more of her tapes. She's a riot. I looked on You Tube but nothing. I looked in the library system and they had 4 books but no videos. I did read on the PBS site, that this one was available because the new host of the Victory Garden took an old VHS tape of her program and digitized it. But it is expensive to do them all I guess. I'm going to get the books from the library. Thanks for finding that Bill. RE: Thalasso Cruso video 2 Posted by prairiemoon2 zone 6/MA (My Page) on Wed, Jan 20, 10 at 17:23 One last thought, I wonder if the Mass Hort Library would have old videos to borrow? Jane, that is the book that sounded interesting to me too. Plus the tales of how she started a garden here, being a transplant from England. I also wonder Claire, if you're reading, if it might be nice to have the link to her video on the FAQ posts on favorite books? Especially since she was a New England author. RE: Thalasso Cruso video Posted by claire z6b Coastal MA (My Page) on Wed, Jan 20, 10 at 18:02 PM2: I can't put web links directly on the FAQ - they don't allow anything that might change in a few years. I can (and will) put a note to "do a search for Thalassa Cruso video and/or Michael Weishan", or something like that. Claire PS: I wonder if Meryl Streep could be enticed to take on Thalassa Cruso.... RE: Thalasso Cruso video Posted by bill_ri_z6b (My Page) on Wed, Jan 20, 10 at 18:34 Claire, If anyone could pull it off it would Meryl Streep! As far as I know there are no other videos available since WGBH has only the archived tapes (?) and Michael Weishan said that when he asked them about making more episodes available (presumably by transferring to DVD or some digital process?) they claimed that they simply did not have the budget resources. It's too bad. She was a real character! PM2, 
I'm glad that some people got to enjoy that video! RE: Thalasso Cruso video Posted by prairiemoon2 zone 6/MA (My Page) on Wed, Jan 20, 10 at 18:48 LOL Claire....we just saw Julie and Julia. Such a coincidence, that I had given that book to my daughter for Christmas two years ago. She loves to cook. I didn't realize at the time how popular the book was or that they would come out with the movie. Meryl did an amazing job, as usual. Bill, I have one of those machines that burn video to DVDs. I haven't learned to use it yet, [g] but I need to put our old home movies onto DVD. It seems like a pretty small investment, but maybe they feel they would have to do it to a higher standard than a home video/DVD recorder. RE: Thalasso Cruso video Posted by ginny12 z5 MA (My Page) on Wed, Jan 20, 10 at 18:53 I loved Thalassa Cruso. Her books are great and still very useful. I never understood why Julia Child got so much publicity compared to Thalassa Cruso, especially when you consider that gardening is so much more fun than cleaning up the kitchen!

MYSTERIES Conviction BY JULIA DAHL Brooklyn reporter Rebekah Roberts, desperate to escape the sketchy world of tabloid journalism, gets a letter from a man convicted of murdering a family in Crown Heights proclaiming his innocence. His story hooks her and sets her off on an investigation that tests her loyalty to people closest to her. — Hallie Ephron Cast the First Stone BY JAMES W. ZISKIN In 1962 Hollywood, journalist Ellie Stone is assigned to write a profile on a hometown boy who’s just landed a big role in a film — and then goes missing. Full of humor and intrigue, the book examines Hollywood’s dehumanizing ideals as Ellie goes toe-to-toe with the Don Drapers of the film business. — Hallie Ephron Crime Song BY DAVID SWINSON A former police detective turned PI is the novel’s morally compromised, drug-addicted anti-hero. In an understated, dialogue-driven narrative (think: “The Friends of Eddie Coyle”) set in Washington, D.C., Frank Marr soon regrets agreeing to check up on a cousin who may be dealing drugs. — Hallie Ephron Darktown BY THOMAS MULLEN Set in Atlanta after World War II, this police procedural features the city’s first black cops, who face abuse and disrespect from white cops because they’re black and from black citizens because they’re cops. Complications mount when they’re blocked from questioning a white man suspected of murdering a young black woman. — Hallie Ephron The Girl Before BY J.P. DELANEY This psychological thriller weaves the tales of two traumatized women (“Now-Emma” and “Then-Jane”). Seeking solace and healing in different time frames, each rents the same minimalist, high-tech house after passing muster from the creepy architect-owner. Are they being haunted or is it all an elaborate test? Read it before Ron Howard turns it into a movie. — Hallie Ephron The Lies We Tell BY THERESA SCHWEGEL In Chicago, police detective Gina Simonetti is trying to keep her own debilitating health issues under wraps so she can hang onto her job and keep fostering her delightful toddler niece. We get the human and professional side of a police officer in crisis as she goes after a man who brutalizes women. — Hallie Ephron The Switch BY JOSEPH FINDER Returning from a business trip Michael Tanner inadvertently walks off with the wrong laptop computer after going through airport security. Tanner’s curiosity gets the better of him, and he takes a peek to see what’s on it. Big mistake. Perfect for fans of “The Fugitive.” — Hallie Ephron A Twist of the Knife BY BECKY MASTERMAN In a gripping third entry of this powerhouse series, ex-FBI agent Brigid Quinn agrees to help her former partner exonerate a man convicted of killing his wife and three children, even though Brigid thinks he did it. Meanwhile, she discovers some uncomfortable truths about her dying police-officer father. — Hallie Ephron Unsub BY MEG GARDINER An adrenaline-fueled rush, this series first has newly minted narcotics detective Caitlyn Hendrix reassigned to homicide so she can track down a sadistic serial killer, the Prophet. Her father was the lead detective who failed to bring him to justice 20 years ago. Shades of “Silence of the Lambs” and the Zodiac Killer. — Hallie Ephron The Force BY DON WINSLOW Winslow brings incisively-researched details, gut-wrenching plotlines, and infinite heart to his all-too-real, highly compassionate tale of decorated New York City cop Denny Malone, who isn’t as clean as he seems and has drawn the notice of the feds. — Daneet Steffens Since We Fell BY DENNIS LEHANE Lehane’s terrific tour-de-force kicks off with a journalist determinedly searching for her long-lost father, and — after her public, on-the-job breakdown — deftly evolves into a crafty and nuanced page-turner. — Daneet Steffens The Woman From Prague BY ROB HART Accidental spying comes just as naturally as accidental private investigating to Ash McKenna: a mellow three months in Prague comes to a screeching halt when he encounters an evil blackmailer, a Russian assassin, and a femme fatale. — Daneet Steffens Magpie Murders BY ANTHONY HOROWITZ This double-barreled puzzler involving a mystery writer whose work begins to anticipate real events cleverly melds vintage English-village crime fiction with a snarky contemporary murder mystery. A literary sparkler that is effervescent, riveting, and fun. — Daneet Steffens The Child BY FIONA BARTON A gruesome discovery under a London house drives journalist Kate Waters to pursue a missing-baby story, but, this being a Barton thriller, there’s more to pretty much everything than meets the eye. — Daneet Steffens Based on a True Story BY DELPHINE DE VIGAN TRANSLATED FROM THE FRENCH BY GEORGE MILLER When a writer befriends a ghostwriter, the scene is set for a tension-filled tale about a tangled, stifling relationship that gleefully channels both Stephen King’s “Misery” and 1992’s “Single White Female.” — Daneet Steffens The Daughter of Time BY JOSEPHINE TEY An injured policeman spends his hospital time ruminating over the mystery of Richard III and whether the king, in fact, had his nephews murdered. An elegant and provocative crime-fiction classic. — Daneet Steffens The Martin Beck police procedurals BY MAJ SJÖWALL AND PER WAHLÖÖ TRANSLATED FROM THE SWEDISH BY VARIOUS TRANSLATORS Start with “Roseanna,” first published in Sweden in 1965, and don’t stop until you’ve read all 10 installments of this original — and still one of the best — Nordic noir series. — Daneet Steffens Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less BY JEFFREY ARCHER In this pitch-perfect caper, when a millionaire tricks four men out of their money, they decide to get their revenge — and their money — by conning him right back. — Daneet Steffens Quiet as a Nun BY ANTONIA FRASER The first of Fraser’s entertaining mysteries featuring television journalist Jemima Shore sees Shore returning to her old convent school when a nun dies in an ancient tower under suspicious circumstances. — Daneet Steffens SPORTS Coach Wooden and Me: Our 50-Year Friendship on and off the Court AND Writings on the Wall: Searching for a New Equality Beyond Black and White BY KAREEM ABDUL-JABBAR The prolific Abdul-Jabbar likes to be introduced these days as a writer who used to play some basketball. “Coach Wooden” demonstrates how a progressive black Muslim and a conservative white Christian can create a friendship based on respect, curiosity, and open minds. “Writings on the Wall” explores the nation’s most critical social issue more thoughtfully than any politician has done and actually offers hope. — Bill Littlefield Leo Durocher: Baseball’s Prodigal Son BY PAUL DICKSON The biography by a veteran sportswriter makes a case for the cocky and combative star shortstop and legendary manager as both charming and insufferable, which sounds about right for the guy who both championed Jackie Robinson’s arrival in Brooklyn and insulted him as fat and slow. — Bill Littlefield The Bittersweet Science: Fifteen Writers in the Gym, in the Corner, and at Ringside EDITED BY CARLO ROTELLA AND MICHAEL EZRA Essays by journalists, fiction writers, and people in the game examine the sportboxing as business, cultural curiosity, and craft. The piece titled “Why I Fixed Fights” by Charles Farrell is especially instructive, even for those who don’t aspire to fix fights. — Bill Littlefield Sting Like a Bee: Muhammad Ali vs. The United States of America, 1966-1971 BY LEIGH MONTVILLE Montville, who has written for the Globe and Sports Illustrated, has accomplished the unlikely: He’s written a fresh, ambitious book about one of the most written-about men in the history of sports or anything else. Shouldn’t have been surprised. He’s a writer who never disappoints. — Bill Littlefield Kill The Ámpaya! The Best Latin American Baseball Fiction EDITED AND TRANSLATED FROM THE SPANISH BY DICK CLUSTER This collection reminds us through baseball stories that people are just people — a crucial lesson in these times when some of our leaders apparently don’t feel that immigrants qualify for that distinction. — Bill Littlefield You’re Welcome, Cleveland: How I Helped LeBron James Win a Championship and Save a City BY SCOTT RAAB Embittered superfan Raab provides the antidote to his own gonzo excoriation of James for leaving the Cavs as a free agent before bringing home a championship (“The Whore of Akron: One Man’s Search for the Soul of LeBron James”). While the first book was bile-driven and hilarious, the second is a father-and-son-centered celebration of the return of the prodigal star and paradise found. In Cleveland. — Bill Littlefield The Range Bucket List: The Golf Adventure of a Lifetime BY JAMES DODSON Golf writer Dodson has characterized this book as his “love letter to Arnold Palmer.” It’s that and more, and the “more” includes his revealing and entertaining account of a luncheon four years ago with Donald and Eric Trump at one of their clubs. All the signs were there. — Bill Littlefield Long Shot: The Triumphs and Struggles of an NBA Freedom Fighter BY CRAIG HODGES WITH RORY FANNING Hodges makes his case that he was blackballed by pro basketball for his political activism and inclination to encourage Michael Jordan et al to consider such matters as black history and social responsibility. Hodges sued the NBA in 1996, four years after being waived by the Bulls and drawing scant interest from the other teams. — Bill Littlefield Champion of the World BY CHAD DUNDAS Dundas’s debut novel harkens back to the 1920s, the days before professional wrestling became fake. It follows the unlikely comeback attempt of former-champ-turned-circus-performer Pepper Van Dean in a world of gangsters, bootleggers, and stacked decks. — Bill Littlefield

Would you like some fluff? I need fluff in my life from time to time. I sometimes wake up in the middle of the night and read. I surely do not want something heavy at 3 a.m. I just want something to occupy my mind for 30 minutes. I’ve read 2 books by Susan Elia McNeal, Mr. Churchill’s Secretary and Princess Elizabeth’s Spy. Strong female protagonist and a little WWII history too. While we were in Italy, I read The Great Passage by Shion Miura, a novel about the compilation of a Japanese dictionary from the editor’s point of view. On one train, we were seated across a table from a Japanese publisher and his wife. I was so excited to talk to him about The Great Passage. His English was better than my Japanese but not good enough to converse about a book. If you like words, I think you’ll be intrigued by The Great Passage.

Perfect example of the art and frustrations of parsing kids' taste in literature. Oddly, I remember being "forced" to read some books in third grade for a book report, and I really didn't want to. They were biographies and I couldn't imagine how Ralph Bunche and Galileo could have had interesting lives, (I know!). I learned the lesson of stretching myself when it came to reading, and picking "outside the box" books and giving them a chance. Also not judging a book by its cover, since Ralph Bunche in a grey suit didn't convey the amazing achievements of the man, and nothing says, "dead boring old guy" like a painting of Galileo. I became a fan of both men though, after reading the books. I scratch my head when I think of some of my choices back then, I was all over the board. Still am I guess.