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Sunday, December 19, 2010

Sunday Salon- Not Much Reading Today, and An Intriguing Bookish Rumor

Today is the last weekend day before Christmas and the day I start my cookie baking. Today I'm making chocolate chip cookies; every day for the rest of the week, up to and including Friday, I'll be baking something. I have a list; I have a schedule; I have ingredients. I'm ready.

Reading? Well, this week I read the very short and very haunting From the Land of the Moon, Milena Agus's novel about the life and loves of an Italian woman in the early 20th century. I loved this book and I need to read it again. I'll have a review shortly. I don't want to wait to tell you more. I'm still working my way through David Grossman's To the End of the Land (I know, similar titles) and I'm really enjoying it but it's a slow read and a long book, which is why I have to take breaks with shorter (if not necessary lighter) books. This is the second such short book I've read in the last week or so; earlier I read Bad Marie, a very different book but one that I enjoyed as well.

Today most of the reading I'll be doing is on the back of the Ghirardelli chocolate chip package, where I get my cookie recipe.

From the Rountree Alice
It's kind of a non-sequitur but I heard a very intriguing book-related rumor recently. About a year ago  I came across an incredibly striking illustrated version of Alice in Wonderland with pictures I'd never seen before, by an illustrator named Harry Rountree. A little research told me that his version is relatively rare, particularly this one, the 1908 edition with 92 color plates. This book was over $300 and I couldn't afford it but I never forgot about it and my husband has been checking around different places in hopes of finding a more affordable copy. Recently, a bookseller told him that he had just sold an intact copy to someone who purchased it with the express purpose of republishing it, spectacular illustrations and all, which this person believes are out of copyright.

If a new edition of the Rountree Alice ever sees the light of day, run don't walk to buy it- I know I will. The pictures are stunning and nothing like the traditional Tenniel pictures. If anything, they look like something out of Hayao Miazaki. Some of the pictures could have come straight out of Spirited Away or one of his other films. I really hope something comes of this.

Anyway that's it for this Sunday Salon. Have a great Sunday, whatever you're up to!
More Sunday Salon here.

18 comments:

  1. Good luck with the baking. We see you when we see you!

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  2. Chocolate chip cookies -- yum! Enjoy your day / week of baking!

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  3. My sister is a HUGE Alice in Wonderland fan - I buy the book for her in any form I can find (well, I've avoided the $300) version.

    Looking forward to confirmation of this rumor --

    Have fun baking; I'm envious of your prep/plan!

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  4. I'm not much of a baker. I like the one item a day for a week plan. yummy.

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  5. Ooh, the Alice in Wonderland book sounds so exciting! Did you see that version at a antiquarian book fair? I hope we see that published!

    Have a wonderful week baking! I can almost smell those cookies baking from here!

    Have a wonderful Christmas!

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  6. The Alice in Wonderland sounds so intriguing. I know with Dante's Divine Comedy, it makes a big difference which illustrations are used. I love the one that features the William Blake illustrations, but it's very hard to find. Have fun baking - I bought many many chips yesterday too - on sale at Walmart, what could I do?

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  7. I am so impressed by your baking schedule! I might muster a batch of cookies with my nephew later this week!

    Have a great week!

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  8. Yay for cookie baking! I got stuff to make mine as well. Don't know when it will happen but I have the stuff.

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  9. Well, that is a good rumor and I will be delighted if it turns out to be true. :)

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  10. It looks like Amazon has a Kindle version of this book (and also a paperback version)...but it is clearly not the 1908 version. Interesting, though...I hope your rumor is correct!

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  11. I'm not doing much reading today...first round of the fantasy football playoffs so keeping up with all the scores.

    My wife will be baking cookies later in the week. I'll be reading the back of a chocolate package too. :)

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  12. Today starts the beginning of the Holidays, family should be here within an hour :-) we have 3 going away for the holidays.

    Enjoy reading the ingrediants, lol

    HAPPY HOLIDAYS

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  13. Good luck with your baking! I made cookies last Sunday, and then a few more yesterday, but only one kind because I'm feeling sort of lazy. But, my mom has lots of cookies at home that I am so excited to eat.

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  14. Enjoy your baking! That's one of my favorite holiday activities. And that's quite an exciting bookish rumor...I'll keep my eyes out! Have a wonderful holiday!

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  15. I am also going to be starting the Christmas baking this week, and I am really looking forward to it! Fudge, Cakes, Pies, and cookies are on my agenda, and my daughter will be helping which is also really great! I hope all your baking turns out wonderfully!

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  16. Thank you for the heads up!

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  17. What a beautiful illustration. Coincidentally I just purchased an Alice in Wonderland coloring book (for adults) for myself as a Christmas gift. I know it sounds weird but I love to color even though I'm much too old to be doing it!

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