Today is Valentine’s day. I brought out a few books to help with the romance. One must court their romantic other. Flowers and Chocolate are a good first start. I will begin with “The Rose Family” by Olive L. Earle, 1970. This is a nice introduction about the rose plant. It turns out that strawberries are a part of the rose family. That is good to know because of the next book.
“The Chocolate tree, A natural History of Cacao” by Allen M. Young, 1994. This is a good book on the history of Cacau, and culture around it. Very interesting on the steps needed to get cacau harvested, and then processed. Remember to perhaps cover some strawberries in chocolate.
The next book is “Inter Courses, an Aphrodisiac Cookbook” by Martha Hopkins and Randall Lockridge, 1997. This is a cookbook based on the language of love. These sexy recipes all use ingredients that reportedly heighten romantic feelings. Hopefully they can put your partner in the mood.
If more persuasion is needed, or expected, I have several more books to offer. First is “Diamonds in Pictures” by George Switzer, 1967. It is a quick instruction about Diamonds, history, how mined, how cut, marketed, and some famous diamonds in history.
This second book is a companion to the other; “Pearls, in Pictures” by Jo Mary McCormick, 1966. This volume discusses natural pearls, cultured pearls, and imitation pearls. The processes of seeding, harvesting or diving for are all discussed, along with fresh-water and saltwater pearl differences, and how to care for pearls. These books should give an idea for nicer gifts of jewelry.
There are polls about what men want and what women want for Valentines day. Also, there are polls of how many couples get together for Valentines Day. I added this book for the roughly 68% of millennials that will connect, though Baby Boomers as a group feel more loved, highest of all groups.
“The Pop-Up Kama Sutra” by Sir Richard Burton and F.F. Arbuthnot, 2003. This is an unusual book with moving action that only pop-up books can deliver. For those who are intrigued, there is a warning “that among…positions are those that should only be attempted by trained yoga practitioners.” That leaves me out. I am in the third tri-mester of life:”tri-weekly, try weekly, try weakly.” Oh, and “dirty books are never dusty.”
For those who did not buy proper presequitory gifts, or have boorish or other poor behaviour, and are sleeping on the couch, there is still a chance for romance. One can read about romance while contemplating next year. I have a three volume set of “Royal Romances of History” by Lyndon Orr, 1912. It is about famous couples in history, and is a good read. The first couple in book one is about Antony and Cleopatra. Things did not end well for them.
In the end, Valentines is about romance, not just physical love. I have two gifts for my wife, gifts that we can use together, as we try to figure out this puzzle of life. I love Valentines Day (and hope not to be reading on the couch).
Why was the jigsaw puzzle so happy? It had everything together.
Librarytomes 