Cookbook fans can dialogue with authors, share recipes

A couple of days ago I did a blog post about culinary memoirs like Julie & Julia and in July I did a post about reading cookbooks for pleasure. I stand by my opinion that cookbooks are really big with the reading public. Americans of the "Food Network generation" are into food trends and conscious eating, also eating economically. According to Lynn Andriani in Publishers Weekly, 8/10/2009, "While it's been a difficult year for many sectors of the book business, cookbooks and food-related titles...are simmering nicely. According to Nielsen BookScan, sales in the cooking/entertaining category were up 4% in the first four months of 2009 over the same period last year, while sales of adult nonfiction overall dropped 9%."

Foodies in Harford County have in Harford County Public Library a great resource for the big, beautiful books that are the source of their reading pleasure and of new ideas. The cookbook section is probably the biggest adult nonfiction section in each of our branch libraries. Next time you are in a branch, browse the new books shelf and the 640s shelves for all the current and attractive titles we have covering the new trends.

To continue the cookbook experience beyond the bookshelves, why not join in one of the newest trends in 2009: visit the new social networking sites that cookbook publishers and authors are using to successfully promote their books and to enlarge their audiences. These sites provide feedback and dialogue between readers and authors.

Among the most popular sites are MixingBowl and Delish, both of which are aligned with publishing companies—MixingBowl with Meredith; Delish with Hearst - though Meredith has invited all publishers to participate. Mixing Bowl has 28,000 members. Authors and cookbook brands can create groups and fan pages on MixingBowl. A growing number of groups are focused on specific books or series, though anyone can start a group and post recipes and photos. Go online to chat with other fans of your favorite cookbook or celebrity chef. Browse the new recipes or register to share your own. It's free to join.

Cookbooks both practical and escapist!

About a year ago, Gourmet magazine launched a cookbook club, in which it selects a cookbook every month, reviewing it in the print magazine and offering related multimedia content on its website. Read more about the launch at Publisher's Weekly for 5/5/08. Click here for the Cookbook Club website.

The category of cookbooks is probably the most popular category of nonfiction books in the public library. Certainly the publishing industry produces a plethora of books each year that are both practical and a delight to the eye and the imagination.

If you are one of our many readers who check out cookbooks, look below at the short list of some of the new titles recently arrived in Harford County Public Library. If you are looking for practical cooking advice, trendy information, or pure escapism, browse our cookbook section or ask your branch librarian for help.

• American food writing : an anthology with classic recipes / edited by Molly O'Neill Find this book in our catalag
• Bon appétit, y'all : recipes and stories from three generations of Southern cooking / Virginia Willis Find this book in our catalog
• Don't fill up on the antipasto : Tony Danza's father-son cookbook : with memories of and Italian-American family and 50 pf their best recipes / Tony and Marc Danza Find this book in our catalog
• Appetizers : starters and buffet food: Fabulous first courses, dips, snacks, quick bites, and light meals: 150 delicious recipes shown in 230 stunning photographs/ Christine Ingram Find this book in our catalog
• Fabulous parties : food and flowers for elegant entertaining / Mark Held, Richard David, Peggy Dark Find this book in our catalog
• Brunch : recipes for cozy weekend mornings / recipes, Georgeanne Brennan ; photography, Laurie Frankel Find this book in our catalog

Use your Barnes and Noble vouchers until December 11

Just a note for all, and to pass along to friends and family....Barnes and Noble Bookfair vouchers, giving a certain percent of net sales to the Harford County Public Library Foundation, will still be accepted and credited to HCPL at any Barnes & Noble retail location through Thursday, December 11!

Books make good Holiday gifts. Check out the latest ReadersPlace book lists for ideas. This week we feature narrative and celebrity cookbooks.
Click here for the list.