What happens to old cookbooks?…..

23/8/2013

This morning, I had this thought? What happens to old cookbooks?

Now, you need to bear with me while I take you on this little journey to get back to the question…….

Recently I posted on Facebook the question of how should I best organise and catalogue my recipes? I have so many and I really do need to have an attitude adjustment, do some serious culling and disposing and then catalogue the ones I keep. How will I do that? – I have no idea!!

I also have quite an extensive cookbook collection. I have been collecting them for quite a while now. Not long after Tez and I were married he decided instead of spending a lot of money on cards to attach to gifts he gave me, he substituted and purchased cookbooks, in which he always writes an inscription to mark the occasion.

So many birthdays, anniversaries, and Christmas’ etc., commemorated with great books annotated with lovely inscriptions.

This morning I had arranged to meet a lovely young woman named Lauren, who is the energy behind The Interior Hunter (check her out here). We arranged to meet at the Coffee Cog at The Red Book Shop. Of course before I left, I had to have
a quick look in the cookbook section. I picked up a book that had the following inscription.

In case you can’t read it:
Dear Lyn, Very best wishes for your 18th Birthday and for the many years
to come. I hope this will always help you! Love Marion x 15.6.69

(Now the spooky part is that my Andrews’s birthday is 15 June!!)

So, did the Art of Good Cooking by Paul a Peck help you Lyn? Marion you can be assured that this book has now found a very loving bookshelf to live in for the next “chapter” of its life.

But it does make me wonder what will happen to all my cookbooks. When the day comes that someone has to clear out my “book shelf of life/living” what will they think of all the books? What will they think of all the love and romance in the inscriptions from Tez? Where will the books end up?

Happy thinking about this one! Oh Yeh, Happy Tastings!!! DC xx

6 Comments

Jan Champlin

23/8/2013 12:29:42 pm

I have an amalgam of recipes from my mother, my grandmother, friends and other sources. I try to remember to write whose recipe it was as I like to keep the connection going. Favourite is probably still my nanny's scone recipe.

Deb

23/8/2013 02:44:41 pm

How wonderful Jan, I have favorite things I watched Nonna cook when I was a kid - it is all in my head. I think I should write it down. Look forward to tasting Nana's scones one day ! DC

kim

25/8/2013 09:36:26 am

Not sure that I like these postings (books and friends)as have made me think over where I am and where I may be going.

Since I have not been working I have been consuming many books, I have never been a strong reader and never found enough time as reading seemed an arduous task, all has changed. Bear with me here.
I have recently finished "Yossarian slept here", which is the story of Joseph Heller (author Catch 22) as seen from his daughters point of view during his life time with her. A few good Jewish stories are in amongst the text.
Back to my link with books although a bit round about maybe.
One story questions "how much land does a person need", it goes on as, a successful farmer with a small property requires more and more land preferably adjoining his own. His toils in accumulating land and wealth are a testament to his business acumen. When he reaches the end of his life a service is read and he is placed in a plot of land exactly six foot long and three foot wide.
Well, books we gather around us, they are our "friends" they keep us warm and nourished, they give us hope and the chance to ponder life beyond our immediate self. We learn from each page, that which we may or may not already know.
Each book has some special significance to each of us.
Mostly books are a reminder of a time in our history, a place where we may have been happy, sad or requiring a bit of gratuitous spending. It matters not.
In your case Debra your books would seem to encompass two peoples lives, as you are both sharing the same moment which is more the reason to cherish these pages of joy.
But life is a strange place, and at it's end "You can't take it with you" as they say.
Some of your treasured print may be rescued by friends, family or loved ones. In so they will keep a small part of your history and legacy.
Some will no doubt find their way into the second hand book shops and may find their way into the hands of a new owner looking for a book to love and nurture. The inscriptions inside if they should have one, may prompt, the exact same response that your new book has had for you.
I have a lady friend around the corner, she knits and crochets the most amazing blankets/rugs/covers, they are art works! The other day I was invited into her house (this really was a privilege) to view her "wall of wool". A wall of book cases with balls of wool of every colour that she may just require whenever needed. It is her passion.
Every ball has a recollection in history for her of a time or place from where it came.
But my friend Jane is very philosophical about life and knows that each ball is special to her, and on her demise all these balls will find a new home to please another.
Much as your books will find new meaning in a new context for a new owner.
They are a witness to your life, so once you are gone they are of no consequence, they are waiting for a new life.
Really the crunch comes if as for some, as the case may be, that we become unwell and have to watch as these memories "have" to be culled. Who will make the choices, who will you keep and who will go, this is a harder question to ponder.
I can empathise with you, Bev and I have gathered some forty five years worth of books together most have a place and time attached, some are older and come from our childhood or parents libraries.
We know that our kids will get a skip and recycle the lot. They may keep one or two.
I suppose that it is that one or two that are the legacy.
The rest only have special meaning of time and place to either of us, and once we are gone then that time and place has gone forever. ......................kim

Deb

25/8/2013 11:05:02 am

WOW! Kim what an awesome response....thank you so much for your thoughts, they are truly beautiful and cherished. So wise and thoughtful. YOU ARE so right !! Culling has been a big topic of conversation around our afternoon tea table today. Andrew & Andrew are here for a few days and Bella called in. We sat and talked about "clearing out and garage sales" we have shared in the past. They were giving me a real stir about how much stuff I have. We then went down memory lane through numerous photo albums. Let me tell you by the end of our reminiscing they were saying "thank god you have not culled! You have chronicled our lives!!". A moment in time and place of our lives !!! Thanks Kim. DC x

Carly Findlay link

25/8/2013 04:39:26 pm

You should talk to my mum about her cookbook collection! So many!
I listened to a wonderful podcast on ABC Radio's 360 Documentaries about cookbooks - you should listen too :)
http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/rnfirstbite/my-life-in-cookbooks---360-documentaries/4858628

Deb

26/8/2013 02:19:17 am

Hi Carly, Thanks for visiting my blog. I will definitely have a listen and thanks for the recommendation. I look forward to meeting your mum one day and will definitely add this conversation to the list of many things that I think she and I will discuss ! :-) DCx

What happens to old cookbooks?…..

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