This month has been a pretty happy/depressing with my book endeavors. I finally finished the Harry Potter series which was both exhilarating and utterly depressing once I actually finished. I haven’t been so emotionally invested in a series for years, so when it’s all over there’s certainly a void that needed to be desperately filled. I always love to have some kind of lengthy adventure/fiction/fantasy/epic story going on in my background life while I’m also invested in a small pile of other readings or research…just to keep the balance. I’m still on the hunt for the next epic adventure story, so in the meantime, I’ve been really loving my small pile of “others”:
For the Body:
Simply In Season | This is my first go-to cookbook at the turn of the seasons to get in the groove for a shift in seasonal eating. It’s segmented by season with a variety of delicious, fresh and seasonal recipes that celebrate the individuality of every season. Colorful salads, vegetable rich main dishes and just-sweet-enough desserts make it easy to get into the feel of spring, and with the lengthy lists of new vegetables and fruits to expect, it makes your grocery shopping that much easier. Their zucchini brownie recipe is a staple in my house and has been for years.
The Drunken Botanist | This might be one of the most fun herbal resources I’ve acquired in the past few years. This pretty little book centers around herbal cocktails and spiked herbal teas while giving the (sometimes long) and complex history of some of our favorite flavorful herbs. Now, I’m not that much into liquors or cocktails, but all of these unique (and, dare I say it – “medicinal“) recipes do resonate with me, and I’ve initiated a lengthy list of things to try when the weather gets warmer and we host some spring garden parties….
For the Mind:
Textbook of Ayurveda: Fundamental Principles (Vol. I) | This is also a “for the body” book for sure, but the depth of Dr. Lad’s knowledge fills my cerebral space to the brim with every page. I was recommended this book by my ayurvedic practitioner, Vijaya Stallings who was also my ayurvedic instructor at the time. Dr. Lad has such a tangible grasp of ayurveda that is perfect to implement into clinical (and personal) practice. As with any topic that is so in depth, I’m usually having to read everything twice…or three times to really get it all to sink in. And then come back to it later, too.
Tao & Dharma : Chinese Medicine & Ayurveda | So basically anything by Robert Svoboda has my attention. I really love his works on Ayurveda and have several of his books in my handy arsenal of resources. But Chinese medicine is totally mysterious to me. I work with Western herbs 90% of the time, and the concepts, theories and practice of Chinese medicine is a discipline I have not dived into. I’m really loving how this book bends the two disciplines, and it’s not to advanced that I can’t understand the focus on Chinese herbs. It also pulls at my heart strings when two experts blend together their practices to make it work in tandem. Medicine should do that more often…
For the Soul:
Space Trilogy: Out of the Silent Planet | I’m really trying on this one. Once Harry Potter ended, I was so desperate to fill the void I was grabbing anything in my house that I hadn’t already read, and this was about the only thing I had left. I’ll be honest – it’s a struggle getting into this one, but I’m going to power through. I’m feeling so distracted every time i pick it up, like it’s just not hooking me into the epic adventure that it actually is. But maybe I’m just not devoting the time and head space that it needs. Regardless though, I need some extra subconscious adventure happening in the background and suggestions are welcome!
