Books to Devour

I heard an interview on radio a couple of weeks ago with Marlena De Blasi who was talking about her life in Italy in a little town called Orvieto. This rang a pleasant bell as we spent a little time there over Easter one year and it was one of those places you don't forget easily. It is a medieval village perched on a hill in Umbria.


She was so interesting that I decided to buy her book but on further exploration I discovered it was the third in a series. The first two - A Thousand Days in Venice (my favourite place in the world) and A Thousand Days in Tuscany (pretty special place too).

So as Amazon didn't seem to think the Orvieto one was out yet - I bought the first two.
She is a chef and a traveller and a romantic and is telling the tale of her love affair peppered with images of favourite places and food. What could be better.

I am already half way through the first one.

Living the Creative Life

One of the benefits of my new life is that I am finding time to read a little more.

I have, over the last few years, only read technique type books or magazines as by the time I get time to read my eyes are too tired or the rest of me is exhausted.

So to find a book called - Living the Creative Life by Rice Freeman-Zachery was too opportune to pass up.

I have just finished it and it has consolidated a lot of the ideas and thoughts that have been going around (and around and around) in my brain.

She also has a discussion group which I think I might have to join too - just what I need another list - but I think it may be worthwhile.

The artwork in the book is brilliant and inspiring and crosses many different art forms but with a consistent theme.