The Gift of Reading

Happy post-Christmas haze! I hope everyone had a lovely holiday. I have been relaxing and reading some of the beautiful books that I was lucky enough to receive as gifts. Let’s dig right in, shall we? My dad surprised me with Frida’s Fiestas, a gorgeous little book, written by Guadalupe Diego (daughter of Diego) that recounts the lavish dinner parties hosted by Frida. This book is like a collision of my passions and I can’t wait to take a stab at traditional Oaxacan mole.

My sis lives near the cutest vintage cookbook store in San Francisco called Omnivore and she always finds me something wonderful. This year, I’m ready to take on Indian food. And how great is that cover? Thanks Sis!

I have been drooling over Tartine Bread, thoughtfully selected by my lovely cooking-inclined lady Amelia. Is 2011 the year I become a competent bread maker? Maybe? Hopefully? Either way, the book is tremendously pretty.

Apollo’s Angels: A History of Ballet by Jennifer Homans. Seems random, right? This is exactly the kind of book that I love to dive into and become completely immersed in a world about which I currently know nothing. After the New York Times listed this as one of their top five non-fiction books I was interested. After I heard the author on “Fresh Air with Terry Gross,” I was obsessed. Listen Here.

Cleopatra: A Life by Stacy Schiff. Bottom line: I can’t wait to know everything about her.

And this has to be what I am most excited about. I have been dying to read Just Kids by Patti Smith for months now. I started it last night and even the preface is beautiful.

Did you receive any fabulous reads this year? Do tell…