An Acquired Taste

I skidded into the Book Thing on Sunday, a scant seven minutes before they closed for the day, but managed to find more books/magazines than on some days when I have all of the time in the world.

As usual, I zipped to the decorating/design section and instantly spotted Dorothy Rodgers' "My Favourite Things, A Personal Guide to Decorating and Entertaining", an exhaustive volume of her favourite things, including some incredible recipes that reflect the time when the book was written. The Peak of Chic reviewed the book here. I have someone in mind to send this book to, but if he doesn't want it, I will give it to one of you, as I have a copy already.

The other book I found is called "An Acquired Taste, American Houses, Rooms and Gardens (Explained in a Rapid Primer)" by Mary Knowles Pierce. The chapter headings are unusual, beginning with How to Use This Book -- And Why, and continuing through with explanations of the 17th, 18th, 19th and 20th century architecture and furnishings and illustrations to help the reader understand her points. There's an almost 30 page glossary of design/decorating terms and a bibliography of suggested reading matters.What I found funny was the fact that she offers suggestions for collections and hobbies, as if one could not figure this out for ones self! Things to collect include blue-and-white pottery, swords, guns or pistols, rare books on architecture, interiors or gardening,and framed samples of antique fabrics and wall-coverings.

As for things to make your hobby, she suggests dressing costume dolls and making lamps from odd, discarded old utensils.
I think that in between the strange suggestions, there will be some nuggets of interest!