Day 55: Cultivated by Christian Geall

Chatting Books Online Day 55. Today’s recommended book is one that I fell in love with earlier this year the moment the rep showed me a sample . It is so beautiful the best word I can think of to describe the photos is simply saturated. Today’s book is “Cultivated: the elements of floral style” by Christin Geall . This book is perfect gift for your mom or anyone who loves floral design , or even just seeing beautiful arrangements.

This description says it all :
"Christin Geall is the rare talent who has the eye of an artist, the pen of a poet, and the heart of a gardener. Cultivated brilliantly pairs Christin's honest, thought-provoking essays with breathtaking photographs of her exquisite floral designs. Drawing from history, art, theater, literature, and her own fascinating flower journey, she boils down otherwise intimidating design concepts and explains them in a way that is both informative and inspiring."
- Erin Benzakein, author of Floret Farm's Cut Flower Garden

And as an added bonus and perfect gift add a box of matching notecards !

Hardcover book :0.8" H x 9.6" L x 7.2" W (1.7 lbs) 224 pages sells for $27.50 a copy .
Box of 12 matching notecards and envelopes sell for $15.95 a box .

And remember , we are always happy to provide our signature @brown paper packages tied up with string” gift wrap for free on purchases from our store - just ask us to wrap it up !

Day 54: Three Little Cajun Pigs by Mike Artel

Chatting Books Online Day 54. Today’s recommended book is another of Mike Artell’s delightful Cajun retelling of a classic nursery tale in Three Little Cajun Pigs. In this book Old Claude the gator returns this time to get his teeth on the Cajun piggies who find themselves questioning their architectural choices in the course of events . Like much in the south the three piggy brothers find out there is not much that cannot be improved by a big pot of gumbo shared with friends.

This hardcover storybook sells for $17.99 a copy .

Day 53: American Sketches by Walter Isaacson

Chatting Books Online Day 53. Today’s recommended book is American Sketches by Walter Isaacson . Walter Isaacson is well known for his biographies of famous people . These tomes are generally well written , well researched volumes that not only give the full picture of the person but due to their sheer size can also double as a doorstop when necessary . This book is something different . You still get the well written , well researched part, but it is the volume of information that differs . This book instead is a collection of short essays ranging from around 5 to about 25 pages in length each with just enough meat on the bones to enlighten and spark interest in a variety of interesting folks . It covers founding fathers , great thinkers like Einstein , more recent movers and shakers like Gorbachev , Madeline Albright, and the Clintons. As well as folks leading the way in technology and journalism . Naturally one of my favorite things about the book is that Mr. Isaacson both starts and ends the book with mention of Walker Percy and reflections on their friendship and that friendship’s influence on the writer . Perfect bite sized morsels of knowledge that you can read all at once or story by story .

This book is available in paperback for $15.

Day 52: Who's Your Mama, Are you Catholic, and Can you make a Roux?

Chatting Books Online Day 52. Today’s recommended book has a fantastic title : Who’s your Mama, are you Catholic, and can you make a roux ? by Marcelle Bienvenu.

Since the author, Marcelle Bienvenu, worked in both newspapers , and in restaurants, it should come as no surprise that this book is part cookbook but with an article or essay on Cajun life on nearly every page making it a great book whether you want a cookbook or a delightful read . With a title based on the questions any new person is likely to be asked at a southern or Cajun gathering - not to be nosy , but instead to find a connection - this book will give you a window into this culture that will at once feel familiar and welcoming .

One of my favorite things about this clever book is that the recipes and articles in this book are arranged by season rather than alphabetically or randomly so you get a blackberry tart (tarte a la bouillie) and a crawfish bisque recipe (among many more) in spring , fig preserves in summer , duck, oyster , and andouille gumbo in fall , etc.

This fourth edition ( originally published in 1991) contains all the original articles and recipes in a sturdy hardcover edition for $22.95

At this time for the safety of our customers and employees until we get all sanitization supplies and practices in order The Conundrum will continue with curbside pick up and mail delivery only . Our parking lot (curbside) pickup is twice daily Monday-Saturday 9-9:30 and 4-4:30, there is no pick up available on Sundays . Thank you for your support through this unprecedented (at least for us) situation, I cannot begin to express my gratitude sufficiently for all of the messages of support, and for the orders that have kept us afloat and hopeful for the future . Be well .

Day 51: My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante

Chatting Books Online Day 51. Today’s recommended book is My Brilliant Friend , Book one in the Neapolitan novels by Elena Ferrante . This novel begins a story that will captivate you . Set in 1950’s Naples , Italy it tells the tale of two young girls who meet as 10 year old children . With its immersive descriptions and details you will truly feel like you are right there in this working class Italy neighborhood watching these girls as the story of their friendship unfolds . Through times both tender and turbulent the relationship continues through a series of four novels carrying you through almost 50 years of their lives . By the time you finish this series you will think of Elena and Lila as your own childhood friends and you will feel you know the streets of Naples without ever having to have actually been there . Lose yourself in these wonderfully written books (also now a series on HBO) and then join in on the speculation of who Elena Ferrante actually is in time for her newest novel which will be translated and released in English later this year . For those of you who have not heard the scuttlebutt, Elena Ferrante is actually a pen name for an Italian author who prefers to remain unknown . Speculation is rampant but no one actually knows who this person really is making it all the more fun to guess . Paperback , sells for $17.00.

At this time for the safety of our customers and employees until we get all sanitization supplies and practices in order The Conundrum will continue with curbside pick up and mail delivery only . Our parking lot (curbside) pickup is twice daily Monday-Saturday 9-9:30 and 4-4:30, there is no pick up available on Sundays . Thank you for your support through this unprecedented (at least for us) situation, I cannot begin to express my gratitude sufficiently for all of the messages of support, and for the orders that have kept us afloat and hopeful for the future . Be well .

Day 50: The Week in Review (April 27 - May 3, 2020)

Chatting Books Online Day 49. Today’s recommended book is Southern Writers on Writing . This is a simply a must have for any southerners who loves the written word . With essays by 27 southern writers including some of our favorites like Julie Cantrell , Harrison Scott Key and M O Walsh this collection will make you laugh , perhaps tear up a bit, and more over will make you think as each author discusses what it is to be from the south , what it is to be a writer , or what it is to be a writer from the south . Hardcover $28.00 . To order message me or use our website at http://www.conundrumbooks.com/…/southern-writers-on-writing… .

At this time for the safety of our customers and employees until we get all sanitization supplies and practices in order The Conundrum will continue with curbside pick up and mail delivery only . Our parking lot (curbside) pickup is twice daily Monday-Saturday 9-9:30 and 4-4:30, there is no pick up available on Sundays . Thank you for your support through this unprecedented (at least for us) situation, I cannot begin to express my gratitude sufficiently for all of the messages of support, and for the orders that have kept us afloat and hopeful for the future . Be well .

Day 49: Southern Writers on Writing

Chatting Books Online Day 49. Today’s recommended book is Southern Writers on Writing . This is a simply a must have for any southerners who loves the written word . With essays by 27 southern writers including some of our favorites like Julie Cantrell , Harrison Scott Key and M O Walsh this collection will make you laugh , perhaps tear up a bit, and more over will make you think as each author discusses what it is to be from the south , what it is to be a writer , or what it is to be a writer from the south . Hardcover $28.00 . To order message me or use our website at http://www.conundrumbooks.com/…/southern-writers-on-writing… .

At this time for the safety of our customers and employees until we get all sanitization supplies and practices in order The Conundrum will continue with curbside pick up and mail delivery only . Our parking lot (curbside) pickup is twice daily Monday-Saturday 9-9:30 and 4-4:30, there is no pick up available on Sundays . Thank you for your support through this unprecedented (at least for us) situation, I cannot begin to express my gratitude sufficiently for all of the messages of support, and for the orders that have kept us afloat and hopeful for the future . Be well .

Day 48: Plaid and Plagarism by Molly MacRea

Chatting Books Online Day 48. Today’s recommended book is Plaid and Plagiarism, Book 1 in Molly MacRae’s Scottish Highlands Bookshop Mysteries. So far there are 3 books in this series with book 4 expected this December .
In this book four female friends retire from their jobs and move to this tiny, quirky, seaside town in Scotland to buy a bookshop. What can go wrong ? Well , the house they rented isn’t ready , there are nosy neighbors , a poison pen letter writing mystery , and oh yeah- a dead body in the garden shed . These ladies instantly become amateur sleuths (the local constable loves this idea), and help solve the murder in this cozy, bookish mystery .
To purchase this , or any , book just message me. I can send you an online invoice link via email . We can then either mail the book to you or you can pick it up from our front bench during one of our twice daily , no contact , pick up window which are between 9am and 9:30 in the morning and between 4pm and 4:30 in the afternoons Monday - Saturday . Be well .