I listed a cookbook today that really has me wondering at its story. It's a 1943 Wartime Edition of the American Woman's Cookbook, the "Victory Binding" issue. These were published by the Culinary Arts Institute and Ruth Berolzheimer was the editor.

Now, my cookbooks are obviously used. I like to have the book right there on the counter when I'm making a recipe, and you can tell because I'm not a very neat cook. I blame my mother, I remember her Rumford and Watkins cookbooks being lovingly used and battered until the covers needed to be held on with rubber bands.

But this cookbook is darn near pristine. There is some rubbing along the extremities, and a few spots on the covers, and the pages are age-browned. But there is not a mark on this book. Not a spill, not a dog-eared page, not even a name written proudly inside.

It makes me wonder. Was there a tragedy behind this cookbook? Was it purchased in anticipation of a wedding that never happened because of World War II? Did the sadness of that loss make the once-happy owner unable to bear the sight of this lovely book, and was it banished to the depths of a trunk in the attic? Or am I being overly romantic and dramatic, and was the former owner just a very, very neat cook?

Have you been to the Discworld?

I don't remember exactly when I discovered Terry Pratchett. As a big fan of Douglas Adam's Hitchhiker's books, I was overjoyed to find another series with that peculiar British humor that I craved, having shared a love of Monty Python with my father.

I believe Mort was the first Discworld book I read and, to this day, Death is my favorite character (isn't he everyone's, though?) and Reaper Man my favorite novel.

The Colour of Magic was the first book in the Discworld series and, to be completely honest, it was not one of my favorites when I first read it many years ago. Rincewind, the skinny, cowardly wizard whose main concern is his own skin, just didn't appeal to me much. Where was the "hero" of the novel, the warrior or wizard who fights with swords and sorcery, for whom honor is more important than their next breath?

Ah, I was younger then. Now, with more experience and a lot more years on me, I have come to truly appreciate Rincewind, his strong sense of self-preservation, and his ability to scream for mercy in nineteen languages, and just scream in another forty-four.

Rincewind the Wizzard is an omnibus from the Science Fiction Book Club that contains the Discworld novels The Colour of Magic, The Light Fantastic, Sourcery, and Eric, the first 4 Rincewind books. I have a nice copy available in my store at Birdsong Books.

Popular Lithuanian Recipes Cookbook

This cookbook was compiled by Josephine J. Dauzvardis. She was an honorary consul from 1971 to 1986 representing the Consulate General of Lithuania in Chicago, a post she took over when her husband passed away. Because of her knowledge of her country's customs and recipes, she was popularly known as the Lithuanian Lore Lady.

She compiled and edited the recipes in this cookbook which was first printed in 1955. It was the first attempt to compile and publish in English a more extensive collection of recipes which were popular among Lithuanians. Some are typically Lithuanian, dating back to ancient times; others have been adopted from neighboring nations and adapted to the Lithuanian palate.

Included are over 150 recipes from beverages such as Honey Liqueur, vegetables such as Potato Mushroom Roll, soups like Beer Soup, to cakes such as Birch Log and other scrumptious pastries.

I have a copy of this wonderful cookbook in Good condition in my store if you've been looking. The link is here: Popular Lithuanian Recipes