I was first given the book Winter's Tale by a woman who worked with me in a law firm, several years ago. She was an odd woman, claiming to be psychic and in touch with - in her own words - "the universal forces." She was a practicing Wiccan, though it turns out she was … Continue reading Winter’s Tale by Mark Helprin
Tag: shrimp
Maledicus: The Investigative Paranormal Society by Charles French
Being a fan of anything paranormal, I quite enjoyed Maledicus: The Investigative Paranormal Society, although there were some pretty gruesome parts, too. (And I admit that I was too damn hungry to pause for my usual book-and-food photo, so I improvised and did one with a glass of the wine I used in the recipe … Continue reading Maledicus: The Investigative Paranormal Society by Charles French
Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger
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
The Bloody Chamber by Angela Carter
I remember discovering Angela Carter in my mid-20s and falling instantly in love with her lush, prosaic, luxuriant and very bawdy language. Her writing can instantly evoke palaces filled with plush draperies, languid golden bathrooms, fairylike woods filled with magical creatures.......and also be as basic and raunchy as humorously describing a cat licking his bottom, … Continue reading The Bloody Chamber by Angela Carter
The Vacationers by Emma Straub
This book was previously blogged about by a fellow food blogger, Cara Nicoletti, whose page Yummy Books was one of the inspirations for starting my own food and book blog. The Vacationers is about a family's secrets and dysfunctions that come out over two weeks when they are vacationing in their house in Mallorca. I … Continue reading The Vacationers by Emma Straub
Zorba the Greek by Nikos Kazantzakis
In memory of my beloved grandfather Tito Baca, who lived his life to the fullest. Just like Zorba. Zorba the Greek is a man well known to me. This book, as well as the movie, was something I read as a teenager, not really "getting" it, but when I came across a used edition in … Continue reading Zorba the Greek by Nikos Kazantzakis
The Witching Hour by Anne Rice
Thanks to KMQ for the photography. We continue with our month-long Halloween theme and a particular favorite book of mine. I'm always excited to reread "The Witching Hour" which is on my top 10 absolute most favorite books in the world. I first discovered Anne Rice one summer when I was 12, visiting my aunt … Continue reading The Witching Hour by Anne Rice
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







