The Weight of a Good Book: a Meme!

June 27, 2005 from Delicious! Delicious! www.deliciousdelicious.com

INT. HOTEL ROOM--AFTERNOON

Caryn stumbles through the door with her over-sized suitcase and a few other very heavy bags. She drops everything in the center of the room and looks around. It could be a hotel room in any place in America.

CARYN

At least we're not in Mississippi anymore, Toto.

She plops down beside her big suitcase and unzips it. Shoving the clothes aside, she reveals that the bottom of the suitcase is full of books. She takes them out one at a time: The Gourmet Cookbook, Zingerman's Guide to Good Eating, The New Basics Cookbook, The Essential Wok Cookbook and Simply Tuscan. She straightens the curled edge of one of the covers when Mr. R. appears at the door.

MR. R.

It looks like we're in the same hotel this time. I'm just down the hall.

He looks at the stack of books on the floor.

MR. R. (CONT'D)

Cookbooks? You've been lugging books across the country?

Caryn firmly places her hand on the stack.

CARYN

I only brought a few. These are my favorites. I have over 60 of them.

MR. R.

Is there a bookshelf in that suitcase too?

CARYN

Maybe. And still I have less luggage than you.

Mr. R. picks up the wok book and begins to flip through the pages.

MR. R.

I'm in the mood for Chinese tonight.

Caryn perks up and digs through the suitcase again. She pulls out a very large book with gorgeous, glossy photos titled Asian Flavors: The Beautiful Cookbook.

CARYN

Great. Because I just got this one!

Mr. R. rolls his eyes and puts the book down.

MR. R.

We're leaving in five minutes for a sort of mini-production meeting on the new set. You can come too.

Caryn smirks as he heads back to his room.

CARYN

Why do I have to go?

She pulls one last book from under the clothes and examines the cover: When French Women Cook. A bookmark holds her place.

CARYN (CONT'D)

I guess I'll need something to read then.

She tucks the book under her arm and sulks out.

This entry was designed as a response to a popular meme about cookbooks. I was tagged by New Orleans Cuisine and Culinary Fool, so I had to throw in my two cents. I'm ashamed to admit that I really have been known to travel with more than one cookbook in the suitcase.

Total Number of Cookbooks:
Over 60

Current Favorites (Most Meaningful):
The Gourmet Cookbook edited by Ruth Reichl
Zingerman's Guide to Good Eating by Ari Weinzweig
The New Basics Cookbook by Julee Rosso and Sheila Lukins
The Essential Wok Cookbook by Wendy Stephens and Zoe Harpham
Simply Tuscan by Pino Luongo

Newest to the Collection (Last One Bought):
Asian Flavors: The Beautiful Cookbook published by Harper Collins

I'm still reading (Last Food Book Read):
When French Women Cook by Madeleine Kamman

Other people that need to join the meme?
I think I'm the last person in the Land of Food Bloggers to complete this meme so I have a new suggestion! If you don't have your own blog, use my comment section here to respond to the above 4 questions. I'd love to see what y'all read!