A Certain Hunger by Chelsea G. Summers

You know a writer is good when he or she writes a villain in such a way that you not only sympathize and empathize with them, you find yourself actively rooting for them and hoping they get away with murder. Patricia Highsmith did it with Tom Ripley. Thomas Harris did it with Hannibal Lecter. Shakespeare … Continue reading A Certain Hunger by Chelsea G. Summers

The Club Dumas by Arturo Perez-Reverte

"The Anjou Wine" is the first chapter in this rollicking adventure tale reminiscent of Alexandre Dumas, the famous French author of The Three Musketeers saga, and plays a starring role in this week's recipe, too. The Club Dumas, in short, is the tale of Lucas Corso, an antique book dealer who is sent in search … Continue reading The Club Dumas by Arturo Perez-Reverte

What Moves The Dead by T. Kingfisher

Being the former Goth girl that I am, I retain my love for all things dark, macabre, creepy, ghostly, horrific, and occasionally gruesome, which explains why I love this book so much. What Moves The Dead is a fantastic re-imagining of Edgar Allan Poe's story The Fall of the House of Usher, which is like … Continue reading What Moves The Dead by T. Kingfisher

Slow Burn: A Family History of Green Chile Stew

My latest article for the New Mexico Humanities Council talks about my family's method for that wintertime classic, green chile stew, and I share the history of the Crock-Pot, so give it a whirl at: https://nmhumanities.org/?blogId=2026

The Hacienda by Isabel Cañas

The revolutionary era of Mexico seems to be a popular literary backdrop these days, which I appreciate because it shines a light on an era that I personally know little about. Growing up in New Mexico, the connection with Mexico was of course a significant part of our culture, and I have a vivid memory … Continue reading The Hacienda by Isabel Cañas

My Aim is True (Medium Raw) by Anthony Bourdain

The essay My Aim is True has to be one of my all-time favorites by the late, great Anthony Bourdain, who I affectionately have always referred to as my future ex-husband. I loved him in life and I love him in death. This essay, part of his collection of essays in the book Medium Raw, … Continue reading My Aim is True (Medium Raw) by Anthony Bourdain

Taste by Stanley Tucci

Stanley Tucci is a wonderful actor who has been in some of my favorite films, including Julie and Julia, The Devil Wears Prada, A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Witches, Prizzi's Honor, and one of the best foodie films of all time, IMHO, called Big Night. If you call yourself a foodie and you haven't seen … Continue reading Taste by Stanley Tucci

New York City September 2022

Some of my adventures during a recent week-long trip to the Big Apple. Such a wonderful city! The Brooklyn Bridge. The Staten Island Ferry The Financial District 9/11 Memorial Trinity Chapel in Wall Street 9/11 Memorial Reflecting Pool One World Trade Center Near Gracie Mansion Historic Firehouse Chinatown Little Italy Washington Square Park View of … Continue reading New York City September 2022

Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen

So yes, this is totally a chick-lit book. I admit it. I also admit that I rather enjoyed it. So go ahead and judge me, all you literary snobs. Oh wait, I'm the literary snob! I forgot! Anyway, Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen is totally a rip-off of Alice Hoffman's wonderful book Practical Magic, … Continue reading Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen

Duma Key by Stephen King

I have never much cared for Florida, which I realize is an unpopular opinion. But aside from the massive amount of bugs, the dreadful humidity, the terrible hurricanes, and the fact that Mar-a-Lago is located there, Florida just has never been my cuppa tea. It's a beautiful place, certainly, but it has always had a … Continue reading Duma Key by Stephen King