What I am reading . . .

Unfortunately, I will be attending a funeral this weekend and unable to post a regular blog entry, so here is something to tide you over:

I am constantly picking up new things to read–hate not having something really interesting or entertaining at my fingertips so, while the list is large, I also hope it is interesting!

WHAT I AM READING . . .

In history:

• The American Historical Review, Vol. 115, No. 3, June 2010 (So, I am a little behind . . . ): “A contiuall and dayly Table for Gentlemen of fashion”: Humanism, Food, and Authority at Jamestown, 1607-1609 and “If You Eat Their Food . . . “: Diets and Bodies in Early Colonial Spanish America” (will feature these in a future blog–Food Week, coming soon!)
• The First Fossil Hunters, Paleontology in Greek and Roman Times by Adrienne Mayor–fascinating stuff, was originally turned onto it by a History Channel special with the author, focused on this project.

For instruction:

• Reading History, A practical guide to improving history by Janet Allen with Christine Landaker–just got this back after I had loaned it out, starts from the premise (backed up by studies) that one improves reading and literacy not through reading classes but through material such as social studies which forces readers to grapple with material.

For blogging and writing in general:

• Lonely Planet’s Guide to Travel Writing, by Don George– got to keep the pencil sharp!
• Will Write for Food, by Dianne Jacob — definitely plan on using this when I do my Food Week this winter here on the blog!!
• Sin and Syntax, How to craft wickedly effective prose, by Constance Hale — useful entertaining, my writing should no doubt improve!

Magazines:

• Preservation Magazine — published by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
• Smithsonian Magazine

For fun:

• Snoop, What your stuff says about you, by Sam Gosling, PhD — he is a psychologist and I think there is actually a lot here that historians good borrow!
• Lord Peter, by Dorothy Sayers — compilation of all of Sayers short stories featuring the debonair detective Lord Peter Wimsey!
• Getting to that time of the year when I like to reread Harry Potter, too!

Finally, I always find great articles to share online, so follow my Twitter, ETFranz, for more reading material (but, not many personal status updates!).