This is ... my current reading list

I used to be an avid novel reader, but late last year I noticed that all the novels I was reading were really depressing me, were very self-indulgent. Where do these self-indulgent characters come from? And why do authors think that such a character would appeal to people? I'm all for character flaws (after all, no one is perfect, even in literature) but novel after novel had these same selfish characters, so I stopped reading novels for a while.

That's a very long-winded way of explaining the lack of fiction on my bedside table.

I'm not fussy with what I read in bed (and bed is the only time I read these days), and yes, I do read cook books. So from top to bottom:

'In Defence of Food' by Michael Pollan. I read the first and last sections of this book. The last section on foods we should be eating is brilliant, and the whole reason I bought the book. The rest wasn't an easy read, but I've kept it on the reading list as I want to go back and read the middle section.

'Affluenza' by Oliver James. I read a lot about this book in other books and articles on sustainability, and thought I should go back to the source. I haven't started it yet but will be tonight.

Mixtapezine. The first issue. I keep going back to Mixtapezine and read them time and time again. The stories never get old. Brilliant. If you're not currently subscribing, why not? You're missing out!

More Softies. I love these softies books. I have the first one in this series (which I seem to have misplaced - I'll have to search for it) and the Therese Laskey one as well. I haven't made anything from any of them! Hopeless. But they are a lovely read, and I go to sleep dreaming of stuffed sausage dogs and robots.

Burda World of Fashion. I can't afford these magazines at $15 a pop, and I'd rather get the twice -yearly plus-size editions. But this one was on special at the newsagents for $8 so I just had to grab it. It's a lovely magazine.

'Jamie at Home' by Jamie Oliver. Probably my favourite Jamie book, combining my love of gardening with my love of cooking. With all the fresh spring and early-summer produce coming up in our garden and at the markets, this book is proving it's worth when I'm doing my weekly menu plan.

Pyrex: The Unauthorized Collectors' Guide by Barbara Mauzy. Really only interesting for vintage Pyrex nerds like me. For more online information, you should go to Pyrex Love run by my friend Linda and her lovely husband Bryan (I take solace in the fact they have much more vintage Pyrex than I do).

Thanks to My Champagne Dreams for the theme this week, and welcome back to Three Buttons!