Hi Barlaysugar,
As far as the low-carb cookbooks are concerned, the bookshops are full of them - depends just how low you want to go. If you only want a small reduction in your carb intake then you can achieve that easily by just halving your intake of the starchy carbs, cereals, bread, pasta, rice and potatoes. Compensate with extra meat or vegetables.
You experience of the metformin side effects is unfortunately quite common. It should ease after a few days as your system gets used to the higher dose, but if it doesn't then ask your GP to switch you to Glucophage SR. This is a slow-release form of metformin and is a lot kinder on the stomach.