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 Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George

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

Voyager by Diana Gabaldon (Outlander Series)

So I won't bore you with my gushing adoration for the books of Diana Gabaldon. If you're a book lover, a lover of history, a lover of epic love stories, a lover of time travel, or if you watch STARZ, you've probably heard of the Outlander series by this marvelous writer, and hopefully, you also … Continue reading Voyager by Diana Gabaldon (Outlander Series)

The Golem and The Jinni by Helene Wecker

This book, The Golem and The Jinni, is the literary equivalent of being in an opium dream. Strange creatures, lyrical and unusual prose, mad leaps of logic, fantasy oases in the desert, and food descriptions that are so real you can almost smell the scent of cinnamon and yogurt and herbs. The premise, a woman … Continue reading The Golem and The Jinni by Helene Wecker