Blogger Book Love: Abbey from Abbey Goes Design Scouting

Happy Monday everyone! I thought we’d kick of the week with another edition of Blogger Book Love. Today we have an amazing list of favourites from Abbey at Abbey Goes Design Scouting. Abbey’s expertise is so versatile—she’s studying for her Masters in Design History, she runs a vintage shop, she designs the sweetest paper goods, plus she’s soon to be a mom!—and her beautiful blog really reflects the depth and breadth of her diverse passions. Abbey Goes Design Scouting is a delicious feast for the eyes and the mind, so it comes as no surprise that Abbey’s book list is one of style and substance. Without further ado, I give you:

“The Amateur Naturalist, by Gerald Durrell. I grew up in the countryside of Vermont and spent most of my time outside which as a urban adult I find increasingly hard to believe. This is a beautifully illustrated guide to exploring the outdoors. The book mixes practical tips (such as what to pack in a naturalist’s daypack or how to take plaster casts of animal tracks) with detailed information about a wide variety of habitats (grasslands, desert, tundra, deciduous woodlands, mountain, ponds, streams, wetlands, shores, oceans and more).

The Flowering of American Folk Art 1776-1876 by Jean Lipman. This overview of American Folk Art was my first introduction to design as a child and it is packed with inspiration and creativity that I return to again and again. Indirectly, I think this is one of the reasons I ended up getting a Master’s in the History of Design. A lesson to parents everywhere: the books you read your children do have profound effects!

The Wild Trees by Richard Preston. This non-fiction book details the awe-inspiring ecosystem of Redwood trees and the modern-day explorers who first realized the world that existed in the tops of these majestic giant trees. This books sounds like a snooze as I type this, but Preston is a superb non-fiction writer and this reads quickly and will absorb you completely. PS If you like Preston’s style, you’ll love his scientific non-fiction.

Kabul Beauty School: An American Woman Goes Behind the Veil by Deborah Rodriguez. I just finished this autobiography about an American hairdresser who moves to Kabul to start teaching women there how to be hairdressers (a way to help the economy and the women themselves). The book provides insight into the mostly closed world of Afghan women and the trials and triumphs of living in what amounts to a war zone.

The Good Son by Craig Nova. This novel, written by my father, is one of my favorite novels. It chronicles a family through the second world war and is both funny and wise about love and life. He is at work on a sequel to this novel which I can’t wait to read.

I’ve also read and enjoyed just about everything written by Graham Green, Robin McKinley and Henning Mankell.”

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As usual I am humbled by a list of books that I not only haven’t read, but that I haven’t even heard of. I love Abbey’s thoughts on how our childhood experiences influence what we read today–hello American Girl and my historical fiction obsession! And as a total needlepoint nerd, I’ve got to get my hands on that folk art book. I’m so grateful to Abbey for sharing her favourite reads. If you’re just joining us, be sure to catch up on the rest of our Blogger Book Love series!

Tags: abbey nova, Blogger Book Love, craig nova, the good son