Thursday, June 11, 2009

Niche Books

I’ve just discovered a blog devoted to books and I am completely smitten with this site (I just love that word – smitten!)! The blog is called Booking Through Thursday and it posts a weekly question about books. This week’s posting is related to niche books:

“There are certain types of books that I more or less assume all readers read. (Novels, for example.)

But then there are books that only YOU read. Instructional manuals for fly-fishing. How-to books for spinning yarn. How to cook the perfect souffle. Rebuilding car engines in three easy steps. Dog training for dummies. Rewiring your house without electrocuting yourself. Tips on how to build a NASCAR course in your backyard. Stuff like that.

What niche books do YOU read?”

What a great question! I love books about Art. I have several categories of Art books – on techniques (drawing, painting, and clay), works by artists, and biographies of artists. Most recently I am studying A Drawing Manual by Thomas Eakins and Cedric Emanuel’s Canberra Sketchbook – both of which I’ve picked up at a used book sale that occurs twice a year here in Ithaca. My most favorite book that I refer back to time and time again is The Creative Habit: Learn It and Use It For Life by Twyla Tharp. I’ve blogged about this book in the past.

I also love gardening books. The two I’m referencing most right now are Labyrinths by Virginia Westbury and Gardens of New Orleans by Douglas and Hardy. I have hopes to convert my backyard into one that has an NO look and feel to it – a wrought iron backdrop with a foreground consisting of decadent shades of viridian and orange – and a large labyrinth of stone to walk when seeking peace.

I’m going to try to participate in BTT each Thursday. What are your niche books?

9 comments:

  1. Hey! I'm currently READING "The Creative Habit"! I'd found it in my local library's online system, and it sounded like something I'd enjoy, so I checked it out. It really is a good book! :D

    What a funny coincidence that you'd mention it today, though! I've never, ever heard of this book anywhere else before... then I go and read it, and you just happen to mention it in your post today! Wierd! LOL. :P

    ~MizB

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  2. Gardens - lovely niche topic! Here are mine: (1) and (2)

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  3. I buy a lot of drawing manuals for my nephew and gardening books for my mom!

    Booking through niche

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  4. Hi MizB! That book was required for a painting course I took. One of the many things I love about that book is that you can apply it to anything you "create."

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  5. Hi Jacqueline:

    I just love browsing through garden books even when I'm not planning on landscaping!

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  6. Hi Guatami:

    One can never have too many art or garden books!

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  7. Mine is art books too! Except that I'm particularly fond of photography books, but other subjects too!

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  8. Hi Kay:

    I've got a few books of photographs by particular photographers. One of my favorite is Women by Annie Leibovitz and Susan Sontag.

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  9. First, and foremost: Civil War generals & Antarctic explorers

    Next, I surrender (to my compulsion)! The blossoming theme, here, must be nurtured (bad pun intended): ANYTHING to do with gardens in The Cresent City

    Finally, and this is truly a niche, I seek out books that include (if not altogether "showcase") either of these words: HOBGOBLIN or SERENDIPITOUS


    (cool blog)

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