Feast of Sorrow: A Novel of Ancient Rome by Crystal King

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I'm back, and I greatly appreciate everyone's patience and kind comments asking when I would get my ass back into the blogging world. Well, yesterday was the day. I'm officially moved into my gorgeous new house, which has the most beautiful kitchen, so Food in Books has returned. Having lived in controlled chaos surrounded by … Continue reading Feast of Sorrow: A Novel of Ancient Rome by Crystal King

The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón

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One of the books I'd want to have with me if stranded on a desert island, this noir-style novel has everything you could want in an adventure story. The Shadow of the Wind is set in post-WWII Barcelona, and has tongue-in-cheek melodrama, mystery, forbidden love, a spooky mansion, hints of the supernatural, a strange, scarred … Continue reading The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón

The Oracle Glass by Judith Merkle Riley

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Having just finished binge-watching Versailles on Netflix, I can say, hand over heart, that I would have made a DAMN fine royal mistress to Louis XIV. I could totally pull off silk gowns, elaborate jewels, illicit love affairs, intrigue..........sounds like my dream life! If anyone knows a king out there who'd appreciate my cooking, do … Continue reading The Oracle Glass by Judith Merkle Riley

The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri

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Thanks to ET for the photography. Anymore, reading about the experiences of immigrants who come to this country seems to be the norm. It makes sense, after all. We are a country built almost entirely upon waves of immigrants from around the globe. My own family were immigrants from Spain and the Netherlands via Mexico … Continue reading The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri

The Last Painting of Sara de Vos by Dominic Smith

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Special thanks to RP for the photography and kitchen assistance. Having minored in art history in college, I always fall in love with books that tell stories about painters and their inspiration for famous works. I previously blogged about Girl with a Pearl Earring, which tells the story of Vermeer's masterpiece. In The Last Painting … Continue reading The Last Painting of Sara de Vos by Dominic Smith

American Gods by Neil Gaiman

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Photography by me. It’s a simple premise. Imagine that all the gods of ancient mythology and all the characters of folklore – we’re talking Anubis, Odin, Kali, Johnny Appleseed, John Bunyan, the Easter Bunny……well, maybe not quite a rabbit  -from every background and corner of the globe, actually existed and are still alive today, waging … Continue reading American Gods by Neil Gaiman

Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier

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Do you know what it's like to read a book and have it haunt you, like a whisper or the faint hint of perfume in an empty room? I've always been possessed by the gorgeous Gothic-ness of Rebecca, which has mystery, ghosts, passionate love and a big, haunted house. And then of course, the most … Continue reading Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier

The Mirror Thief by Martin Seay

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Photography by me. Are you a Venetian at heart? I am, and any book set in Venice has a special place on my bookshelf. Venice is the most beautiful place on earth, because it shimmers. That's the only way I can describe it. The waters surrounding the islands, the lagoons with their sea-green waves, the … Continue reading The Mirror Thief by Martin Seay

Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ’s Childhood Pal by Christopher Moore

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Thanks to TB for the photography. This is one of the funniest books I've ever read, and I've read it several times. Though it's a very irreverent re-telling of the life of Jesus, I didn't find it at all disrespectful. It is a fictional retelling, of course, but very much grounded in historical research and … Continue reading Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ’s Childhood Pal by Christopher Moore

The Scottish Prisoner by Diana Gabaldon

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Thanks to Dr. H for the photography. Lord John Grey was a major character in the Outlander series, being the warden of  Ardsmuir Prison in Scotland, where Jamie Fraser was imprisoned after Culloden. Lord John, being the fascinating character that he is, got his own spinoff series - of which today's book is the latest … Continue reading The Scottish Prisoner by Diana Gabaldon