According to Greenpeace, only 24 books are produced for every Canadian spruce that is chopped down. But eco-conscious bibliophiles could find a solution in book-swapping websites.

Take BookMooch, a site run from California that allows users to earn credit for every book they want to give away. The site facilitates the meeting between users and they take it from there.

With almost 70,000 users in 91 countries, BookMooch is the most successful site of its kind. Since its launch in 2006, nearly 700,000 books have been swapped.

Who knows—maybe your beach-weathered copy of The Kite Runner could end up on a nightstand in Nepal.

Check out other book-swapping sites:
www.bookins.com

www.paperbackswap.com

www.whatsonmybookshelf.com

An imaginary book of love letters which featured in Sex and the City is to be turned into a reality.

Remember that scene in the film when Carrie reads extracts from Love Letters of Great Men to Mr. Big? Well, booksellers were so inundated with requests for a copy that British firm Macmillan has decided to issue a publication with the same title.

The book reveals intimate communiqués from historical figures such as Pliny, Henry VIII, Mozart, Napoleon, Prince Rainier III and Oscar Wilde. Can you guess who wooed his beloved with this line?

"Wishing myself (specially an evening) in my sweetheart's arms, whose pretty dukkys I trust shortly to kiss. Written with the hand of him that was, is, and shall be yours by his will.”

A. Pliny to his wife, Calpurnia

B. Henry VIII to Anne Boleyn

C. Mozart to his wife, Constanze

D. Alexander Pope to his long- time lover, Martha Blount

E. Lloyd George to his mistress, Frances Stevenson

Answer:B

Available at Amazon.ca.

If you were picking your holiday spot on the basis of its literary connections, where would you go?

San Francisco, New York, Florence, Paris, St. Petersburg?

U.S.–based company Literary Traveler caters to bibliophiles looking to travel into the world of books.

Literary tours include Montreal, (Mordecai Richler), Florence (Dante Alighieri), and London (Charles Dickens). Or meet Sick Boy on the Trainspotting tour of Leith and Edinburgh. "If it’s a really bad day Sick Boy himself will be behind the bar, serving with a snarl."

At the other end of the world, follow in the footsteps of Gauguin with exotic idylls in French Polynesia.

“Life is like a song. You have to enjoy it while it plays because you never know if it will come on again,” Paul Gauguin.

www.literarytraveler.com

Bright, floor sweeping skirts, peasant blouses, embroidered rebozzos (shawls) and strings of colourful beads – who doesn’t love Frida Kahlo’s ethno-eccentric style?

New on bookstands, we’re ogling over Self Portrait in a Velvet Dress: Frida's Wardrobe ($35.60), just released by Chronicle books.

With a unique focus on the artist as a fashion icon, the book features a combination of 95 original and beautifully styled photographs of Kahlo, her paintings and her freshly restored clothing.

A veritable Mexican feast for the eyes.

Self Portrait in a Velvet Dress: Frida's Wardrobe is available at David Mirvish Books, 596 Markham St., Toronto, 416-531-9975, www.dmbooks.com

Q: Is there a posh way to open a screw-capped wine?

For all the issues Emily Post does not address, from creating a pitch perfect playlist to hosting a scorcher of a poker party, we refer to Party Confidential: New Etiquette for Fabulous Entertaining.

From party pros Lara Shriftman and Elizabeth Harrison, (their PR firm has feted the likes of Will Smith, Lenny Kravitz and Paris Hilton), this modern day planner offers rules and advice on everything you’ll need to light up the party circuit.

A: Turn, pour and let the good times roll.

Available at Chapters across the GTA.

Nothing spells summertime leisure better than a beach blanket and a juicy novel we can't put down. Herewith, our Top 5 Summer Reads.

Sarah's pick: The Secret Life Of A Slummy Mummy by Fiona Neill
For all the times you a) stalked someone else's nanny b) had too much wine and Googled your exes c) fed your children potato chips for dinner, this funny British book vindicates: you are an angel. Find it at www.chapters.indigo.ca

Maria's pick: Maneater by Gigi Levangie Grazer
Everything I need to know about the L.A. dating scene, I learned from Maneater. Penned by the one-time wife of Hollywood uber-producer Brian Grazer, the story follows anti-hero Clarissa Alpert as she aggressively tries to bag a Mr. Rich. But in image-is-everything L.A., even the shrewd Clarissa has trouble separating the (poor) boys from the (loaded) men. Find it at www.chapters.indigo.ca

Tara's pick: Chasing Harry Winston by Lauren Weisberger
Hot off the press from the gal who brought us The Devil Wears Prada comes another guilty pleasure filled with the dating dilemmas of today's twenty-something Manhattan beauties. There's plenty of hot-spot name dropping, plus we couldn't get enough of the Brazilian socialite whose "Rules" are sure to add more than a little spice to your summer escapades. Find it at www.chapters.indigo.ca

Julie's pick: Love Is Not Enough: A Smart Woman's Guide to Making (and Keeping) Money by Merryn Somerset Webb
Before Whelan heads off to York's MBA program this September, she's putting money before men. Webb's sharp and brutally honest book is as entertaining as it is understandable. Feminism, finances and chapters like "Prince Charming Isn't Coming," urge ladies to take notice of their phone bill and dismiss the "boots are an investment!" mentality. Makes cents to us. Find it at www.chapters.indigo.ca

Marianne's pick: How to Be Single by Liz Tuccillo
Written by He's Just Not That Into You co-author and Sex in the City writer Liz Tuccillo, you'll laugh and cry as an ever-single gal travels the world interviewing women like herself. But don't let the boyfriend see it, he'll start to worry. Find it at www.chapters.indigo.ca

You can only read The Hungry Caterpillar so many times before you start bellyaching too.

Canadian website Enfant Terrible has just received a shipment of gorgeous Japanese kids books that aim to inspire and surprise with their unusual themes (following the journey of a tear) and unique lessons (a book about birth from the baby’s perspective).

Created by designer Katsumi Komagata, their interactive forms and pop-ups will have you intrigued too—at least until the 100th reading.

www.enfantterribleshop.com

Forget Facebook – MLS is where we whittle our hours away.

If you’re like us and enjoy peeking around other people’s pads, you’ll love Dressing the Home: The Private Spaces of Top Fashion Designers.

Filled with gorgeous images, shot by Guillaume de Laubier, the book takes us on a tour of Gilles Mendel's dining room, Dolce & Gabbana's living room and Betsey Johnson’s hallway.

Other designers that reveal their most intimate spaces include Christian Louboutin, Catherine Malandrino, Diane von Furstenberg and Patrick Cox.

Does their fashion aesthetic echo their interiors? Try and guess who lives where— without peeking.

Dressing the Home: The Private Spaces of Top Fashion Designers is available at chapters.indigo.ca

Ever wondered what Galliano’s favourite colour is or who Valentino’s favourite model might be?

In the tradition of Assouline's bestselling Proust Questionnaire comes The Fashion Questionnaire ($40) – a revealing peak into the minds of industry luminaries like Lagerfeld, Elbaz and Theyskens.

Herewith, a sampling:

Michael Kors:
Your favorite designer: Halston

Valentino:
The collection you will never forget: The last one.

Oscar de la Renta:
Your ideal bag: Small with big bills inside.

Donna Karan:
Your favorite decade in fashion: 1930s.

Roberto Cavalli:
Your present state of mind: Flying…as always

Carolina Herrera:
Your fashion motto: “The superfluous is always such a necessity"—Voltaire.

The Fashion Questionnaire is available at Teatro Verde, 55 Ave. Rd., Toronto, 416-966-2227, www.teatroverde.com

Fresh off the heels of her first book, former model and denim maven Paige Adams-Geller shares her jean tips with Vitamin T:

Hang dry or air dry?
Definitely hang dry. If you put your jeans into the dryer too often the heat will blow out the lycra and they won’t have any recovery.

How often do you wash your jeans?
Every three to five wears. If they have a lot of sanding or distressing I’d suggest washing less frequently though.

Low rise or high rise?
Typically, the most ideal rise for most bodies is one and half inches bellow the bellybutton.

How many pairs do you own?
One hundred and fifty pairs, at least. My friends are dying to come over to raid my closet.

Do you remember your first pair?
I was a real girlie-girl and all I wanted to wear were sundresses and pantsuits.

What about your worst pair?
A pair of red and charcoal grey thick striped skinnies with zippers at the ankle. Hideous.

A favourite pair?
My black Paige Blue Heights skinny jeans.

Your Perfect Fit ($14.40) is available at Chapters stores across the GTA.