Bookstores are a dangerous place, especially for my wallet. I can never seem to leave one without a book, or at least a magazine, in hand. I picked up a couple of goodies this past week while on my lunch break. First is the premier issue of Urban Farm magazine, brought to us by the folks at Hobby Farm. The creation of this publication is further evidence that the idea of urban farming is becoming more mainstream. Or at least I'd like to think so. I'll read this one from cover to cover before rendering an opinion.
I also purchased a memoir published earlier this year entitled, Farm City- The Education of an Urban Farmer, written by Novella Carpenter. I knew I would like this book the moment I read the first sentence - "I have a farm on a dead-end street in the ghetto." Only 50 pages into it, Carpenter is proving to be a very funny and insightful author. The book is less about the vegetables she grows, and more about the bond she developments with the chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys and pigs she raises for meat. This is made all the more interesting by the fact that Carpenter lives in a distressed duplex apartment and farms on an adjacent abandoned lot in a seemingly lawless section of Oakland, California nicknamed "Ghost town". You can read the first chapter of Farm City and the accompanying New York Times review here.
I just finished reading Urban Farmer, it was hilarious!
ReplyDeleteAnd, even more important, informative.
Let us know what you think about Urban Farmer when you finish reading it. I wouldn't mind getting it if it is good.
ReplyDeleteI really like to read a good book, but haven't found the time to do so in several years. My preferred reading is about facts, not someone's opinions or experiences. It seems everyone is writing a book these days. Gosh, I hope that didn't sound negative....
ReplyDeleteYes Thomas, bookstores are a VERY dangerous place.
ReplyDeleteI spend far too much time in second hand book stores trying to convince myself that I can save money by purchasing "preloved" copies. Unfortunately the cheaper price merely means I buy MORE books so I save very little if anything - and then there's the problem of where to put them when I get them home since all of my bookshelves are full.
My best purchase recently was a hard covered, illustrated edition of Richard Adams' "Watership Down" in a slipcase.
I found it for $3.00 in a junk shop and only yesterday I saw an identical 2nd hand copy selling for $175 (Aust).
I stumbled upon Novella's blog earlier this year. She seemed to be quite a character. I should go back to check her out. The book sounds good.
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