The Shining by Stephen King

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

~ foodinbooks ~ 4 Comments

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 Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris

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Dedicated to my father, David Baca. Oh, Hannibal Lecter! Probably one of my most favorite literary characters of all time, and definitely someone that all of us can relate to, on some level, anyway. Witty, cultured, and lives by his own standards of conduct, he kills those who offend him, offend his aesthetics, offend his … Continue reading The Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris

The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George

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The premise of this novel, The Little Paris Bookshop, is that books are medicine for the heart and the soul. I love that idea and believe it's true. Books have been my constant companion since childhood, my comfort when sad, and my solace when all hope seemed lost. I remember my grandmother, Nana Jean, reading … Continue reading The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

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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