Tag: cooking

The Tuscan Child by Rhys Bowen

~ foodinbooks ~ 22 Comments

I didn't actually intend to blog this book, not that it wasn't enjoyable but because I had actually forgotten I had it on my bookshelves. As fortune would have it, I found some late-summer squash blossoms at my nearby grower's market yesterday morning, along with many other garden goodies. Anyway, back to the book. Set in … Continue reading The Tuscan Child by Rhys Bowen

Beauty by Robin McKinley

~ foodinbooks ~ 24 Comments

As I've shared before, I am a sucker for fairy tales. Whether it's the Grimm Brothers, Hans Christian Andersen, Charles Perrault, Angela Carter, Italo Calvino, Neil Gaiman, Gregory Maguire, or Robin McKinley, the tales of kings, queens, princesses, trolls, talking animals, enchanted castles, and beasts have fascinated me since I was a little girl. But … Continue reading Beauty by Robin McKinley

The Sea, the Sea by Iris Murdoch

~ foodinbooks ~ 27 Comments

Though an interesting read, it was also occasionally difficult to continue The Sea, The Sea, so convoluted are the mental musings of Charles Arrowby, the main character. I never fully connected to him or any other character, though the setting - an isolated house on a cliff overlooking the ocean - sounds appropriately Gothic and … Continue reading The Sea, the Sea by Iris Murdoch

The Book of Unholy Mischief by Elle Newmark

~ foodinbooks ~ 17 Comments

Any book set in Venice is always moved to the top of my reading list. And of course, any book set in Venice about cooking and food is going to have the most special place in my heart. The Book of Unholy Mischief definitely takes the cake here! Luciano is the narrator, a young boy who … Continue reading The Book of Unholy Mischief by Elle Newmark

The Milagro Beanfield War by John Nichols

~ foodinbooks ~ 25 Comments

At last, we are in New Mexico! My home state is written about beautifully in this classic, The Milagro Beanfield War. Set in the mythical village of Milagro (there is actually a Milagro, NM, but the real town is nothing like the book's version), it's the story of Joe Mondragón and his fight for water … Continue reading The Milagro Beanfield War by John Nichols

The Dead House by Billy O’Callaghan

~ foodinbooks ~ 8 Comments

What I found fascinating about The Dead House is the fact that it's narrated in first person by a character who is not the focus of the story, but whose own story is as much a part of the overall arc as the main character. Mike is an art dealer and his best friend is … Continue reading The Dead House by Billy O’Callaghan

The Coincidence of Coconut Cake by Amy Reichert

~ foodinbooks ~ 23 Comments

I fully admit that this would never have been a book I'd deliberately choose to read, falling as it does into my category of chick lit. And we all know how I feel about chick lit. However, The Coincidence of Coconut Cake (what a twee title!) was actually fairly decently written, though with a fair … Continue reading The Coincidence of Coconut Cake by Amy Reichert

Homage to Anthony Bourdain

~ foodinbooks ~ 16 Comments

I woke to the horrific news that Anthony Bourdain had committed suicide. I referred to him as my "future ex-husband," and he was certainly one of the biggest influences on my cooking. I am pretty heartbroken over this. My heart goes out to his family, particularly his daughter, and I hope his wild soul has … Continue reading Homage to Anthony Bourdain

Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger

~ foodinbooks ~ 11 Comments

This is a bizarre, surreal, and very captivating read. I'd read The Time Traveler's Wife a few years ago by the same author, and although I enjoyed it greatly, it didn't grab me the way this one has. Her Fearful Symmetry is one of the strangest and compelling ghost stories I've read in ages, although … Continue reading Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger

Salt: A World History by Mark Kurlansky

~ foodinbooks ~ 16 Comments

An interesting microcosm of history, Salt essentially takes us back through the known history of the world, and analyzes how this humble little rock - the only rock humans can eat - and how it has had a transforming effect upon civilization. To be honest, however, there were large chunks of the book that weren't … Continue reading Salt: A World History by Mark Kurlansky