Tag: Reading

Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-García

~ foodinbooks ~ 16 Comments

I'm as guilty as the next person of judging. I judge wine by the label on the bottle, musical artists by genre, and of course, books by their covers. In this case, can you blame me? The cover for Mexican Gothic is stunningly beautiful and hits me on all my levels: aesthetic, moody, mysterious, and … Continue reading Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-García

The Heartbreaker by Susan Howatch

~ foodinbooks ~ 2 Comments

You wouldn't normally think that the Church of England would make for scintillating reading, but you'd be sooooooo wrong if you start reading the "Church of England" series written by British author Susan Howatch. I stumbled across one of them going on 15 years ago now, and was hooked. The series is broken up into … Continue reading The Heartbreaker by Susan Howatch

Cinnamon and Gunpowder by Eli Brown

~ foodinbooks ~ 19 Comments

If you've followed my blog long enough, you'll be familiar with my great disdain for "chick lit," not because I think literature by women for women is bad but because so much of it is terribly written, horribly edited, dumbed down, and the topic of true love is often written about in such a sappy-ass … Continue reading Cinnamon and Gunpowder by Eli Brown

Last Call at the Nightshade Lounge by Paul Krueger

~ foodinbooks ~ 15 Comments

In desperate need of something new to read and some cooking inspiration during this ongoing pandemic, I did a Google search for best foodie literature and actually got several unexpected suggestions. Two were books that extolled the virtues of various alcoholic beverages and cocktails, and I was immediately intrigued. I am not one to say … Continue reading Last Call at the Nightshade Lounge by Paul Krueger

REPOST – Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain

~ foodinbooks ~ 19 Comments

I originally posted this blog in May 2017.  Today marks two years from the date that my idol Anthony Bourdain died. One of my biggest culinary influences, as well as someone who changed my worldview in general, I loved, respected and honored his work and who he was as a human being. I hope you … Continue reading REPOST – Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain

The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix

~ foodinbooks ~ 10 Comments

If you're like me and you're as drawn to a book's title and cover as you are the contents of the book itself, then you'll love this one. Grady Hendrix has a knack for writing about horror against the most banal, ordinary, American backgrounds. I think of him as the literary version of the Duffer … Continue reading The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix

Alburquerque by Rudolfo Anaya

~ foodinbooks ~ 33 Comments

Those of you who know me know of my deep and abiding love for the books of Rudolfo Anaya. For those of you who may not have heard of him, he is a well-known New Mexico writer who wrote what many consider the seminal work of Chicano literature - Bless Me, Ultima. His work tends … Continue reading Alburquerque by Rudolfo Anaya

The Labyrinth of the Spirits by Carlos Ruiz Zafón

~ foodinbooks ~ 20 Comments

I can't say enough about Carlos Ruiz Zafón's writing. It's absolutely beautiful, lyrical, lush without being overly purple, and whether describing the sensory overload of a roomful of books, the scent of tobacco, the deeply scarlet hue of a woman's lipstick, or the existential dread and horror of torture and death, the man writes like … Continue reading The Labyrinth of the Spirits by Carlos Ruiz Zafón

Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo

~ foodinbooks ~ 14 Comments

So this was a totally bizarre, engrossing and freaky ride of a book. I haven't read anything in quite awhile that literally hooked me from the first sentence and didn't let go. I actually checked it out at the library and got three overdue notices because I wanted to read it slowly and savor it, … Continue reading Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo

Cooking With Fernet-Branca by James Hamilton-Paterson

~ foodinbooks ~ 26 Comments

This book is hilariously funny, riffing satirically on those chick-lit memoirs from the early 2000s in which a heroine ends up living abroad, usually Italy or France, renovates a house, learns to cook, falls in love, and finds herself, though not necessarily in that order. The book Under The Tuscan Sun is referenced often, but … Continue reading Cooking With Fernet-Branca by James Hamilton-Paterson