Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

Thanks to KRB for the photography. The title was the hook for me with this book, not to mention the book cover. Yes, in this case, I did indeed judge the book by its cover, and I was pleasantly surprised. Though nominally a book for young adults, Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children is a … Continue reading Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

The Witching Hour by Anne Rice

Thanks to KMQ for the photography. We continue with our month-long Halloween theme and a particular favorite book of mine. I'm always excited to reread "The Witching Hour" which is on my top 10 absolute most favorite books in the world. I first discovered Anne Rice one summer when I was 12, visiting my aunt … Continue reading The Witching Hour by Anne Rice

The Shining by Stephen King

Thanks to CHC for the photography. I don't think Stephen King has ever been accused of being a foodie, though he is most certainly the most visceral writer I've ever encountered. I've been reading his books since my early teens, starting with The Shining, as well as many others. But the story of the Torrance … Continue reading The Shining by Stephen King

Dracula by Bram Stoker

Thanks to TB for the photography. It's October! The month of peculiar things that go bump in the night, the season of the witch, of ghosts and haunted houses, of vampires and demons. And very appropriately, we kick off this month of Halloween-themed blog posts with the bad-ass granddad of all vampires books, Dracula, and … Continue reading Dracula by Bram Stoker

The Enchanted April by Elizabeth Von Arnim

Dedicated to my dear friend Kate Parker. "Well, this is Italian rain!" I came across the book The Enchanted April while browsing on Amazon.com one afternoon when I should have been working. Having loved the film so much, I decided the time had come to see how faithful to the book it had been. The … Continue reading The Enchanted April by Elizabeth Von Arnim

The Ghost Bride by Yangsze Choo

One of the reasons I started this blog, beyond the joy of combining my loves of reading and cooking, was also my desire to travel, whether physically or through the pages of books. I wanted to challenge myself as well, to cook food that was outside my comfort zone. I've always wanted to gain a … Continue reading The Ghost Bride by Yangsze Choo

The Pit and the Pendulum by Edgar Allan Poe

Poe was always my literary boyfriend, even from a young age. I remember reading Edgar Allan Poe's Complete Tales and Poems as a little girl and being simultaneously freaked out and enchanted. He scared the living daylights out of me, but I still read his stories. I remember being terrified of black cats after coming … Continue reading The Pit and the Pendulum by Edgar Allan Poe

Help For The Haunted by John Searles

I like my horror stories with a side of intelligence, and Help for the Haunted delivers in spades. It's a quintessential coming of age story set in Maryland in the late 1980s. The premise: a young girl, Sylvie Mason, witnesses her parents' murder one snowy night. But Mom and Dad are not your ordinary, everyday … Continue reading Help For The Haunted by John Searles

The Mistress of Spices by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni

One of the most fun things about this blog is the opportunity to not just read new books, but also to try new food combinations. Challenging myself to step outside of my usual culinary and literary tastes has resulted in some wonderful meals, and given me the knowledge that I can probably accomplish anything I … Continue reading The Mistress of Spices by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

For MGC, who turned me on to Kentucky bourbon whiskey. Here's to you, my dear. I've often thought F. Scott was the man of my dreams, albeit 50 years too early. The man could write, loved to drink, was a party animal, and as handsome as any man I've ever seen. I mean, what else … Continue reading The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald