Celtic Folklore Cooking by Joanne Asala
Publisher: Llewellyn $17.95
ISBN: 1567180442
$14.36 from Amazon.com
My husband received this cookbook from a wonderful friend who enjoys Irish cooking. The recipes are compiled from visits the author made to Ireland and Britain over the past several years. She dined at restaurants, pubs and B&Bs and talked to lots of lovely people who were delighted to help present Celtic cooking to the rest of us.
The first recipe my husband tried was cock-a-leekie soup. Everyone except me loved the taste of the prunes. I had never heard of putting prunes in soup before, and the flavor of them overpowered the chicken. However (blush) by my second bowl the prunes seemed the perfect addition.
You'll also enjoy the smatterings of folk lore Asala has included in her book. Like this one from Ireland: "The man who is bad for hospitality is good for directing you on the road."
And my personal favorite: "Never give cherries to a pig (or advice to a fool)."
With 361 pages chock full of edible and entertaining information, this book is a perfect gift for any holiday, birthday or anniversary. Order two copies - you're going to want your own.
Celtic Baby Names by Judy Sierra
Publisher: Folkprint
ISBN: 0-9636089-5-9
$14.95 US
Most authors have several name dictionaries close at hand when they start the framework of their novels. This is one of the best I've seen. Even if you aren’t naming a baby or a character, it's a well-researched, fascinating book to read. I’ve used it for two of my novels now, and helped one friend plan names for her coming bundle of joy. Wish I’d had this dictionary before I birthed my own daughters. I always instinctively knew, even as a child, that names were supposed to mean something. The first question I used to ask people from other countries was, "what does your name mean?" I’ve stopped doing that for the most part, now I just rush to my name dictionary.
The author has divided the book into sections for each Celtic country: there are names from Ireland, Scotland, Wales, The Isle of Man, Brittany and Cornwall. There is also a pronunciation guide for each group of names, as well as a brief historical introduction to each section.
Here’s an example:
Cass m. (KAHS) From the Old Irish cas ‘curly’. A popular name in early Ireland. Cass was the name of a legendary ancestor of the O’Briens, MacNamaras and O’Gradys.
Of course, my favorite is this:
Muireall f. (MOOR-uh-yel) From the old Irish muir ‘sea’+ gel ‘bright’, ‘shining’. The name is anglicized as Muriel.
Celtic Devotional by Caitlin Matthews
Publisher: Gill & Macmillan (Ireland)
Yes, I know this title seems to fit more in the category of Magic and Religion. However, since this is my review site, I reserve the right to categorize according to my personal opinion. (!) This is a work of poetry, emotion and abiding spirituality.
And in my opinion, this collection and compilation of daily devotions could become the most important portion of your own daily spiritual lifestyle. It certainly takes priority in mine. Here are two of my favorite prayers from the section called The House of Life:
Blessing for a Student:
May you be blessed by the nine gifts of the cauldron:
may the poetry of imagination be kindled in you,
may the insight of your reflections ripen the fruits of your meditation,
may you learn from the lore of the land,
may your research empower your descendants,
through the great knowledge of your ancestors,
may the sparkle of intelligence irradiate your life,
may understanding rest in your heart,
may wisdom reside in the depths of your soul.
Prayer For Courage to Re-Encounter Situations, Places or People
Which Have Shaken Confidence
I will rise, I will go back
To the white and silver shore.
I will have courage,
As the sun does rising and setting.
At birth and death, the gift of life is precious,
Soul-life streaming down the strand.
I will go as the sea in its turning,
I will rise, I will go back,
I will rise.
According to information from Amazon.com, this book is out of print. Try an order anyway, I’ve had wonderful success with Amazon.com in getting hard to find books. And if even they can’t locate it, any book of Celtic devotionals by Caitlin Matthews will make a fine substitute.
Argyll The Enduring Heartland by Marion Campbell
Publisher: The Cromwell Press
As a descendant of the Campbells of Argyll, I just had to have this book. I found it in the bookstore at Inverary Jail in Scotland, and whimpered and shivered until my long-suffering husband pulled out our last travelers check and handed it over to me.
You don’t have to be a Campbell or be from Argyll to enjoy this book, however. It is a personal look at life in the highlands; touching myth and legend, history and sociology and even botany. The author describes Argyll with an intimate understanding that transcends travel books and the result is a celebration of the land and the people and consciousness who inhabit it.
According to information from Amazon.com, this book is out of print. Try an order anyway, I’ve had wonderful success with Amazon.com in getting hard to find books. I know this one was available in Scotland in 1996, I bought it at the Inverary Jail.
Back to Navigation Buttons
