Speaking of Edgar. . .

We read many books over the course of our lifetimes. Some are so-so; some good; some very good; some incomparable. The Story of Edgar Sawtelle is an incomparable novel. Words don't do justice to this amazing book. I read the book, somewhat impervious to most reviews - though, I must admit, when I caught Stephen King's glowing praise of this book, I did feel compelled to read the novel. His review was very intriguing. And so I hoisted the nearly 600 page book up and had a look. . .4-5 evenings later I had reached the final pages & feverishly raced, with trepidation, to the dramatic conclusion.

What a book! I have a collection of quite memorable books that I keep in my head (and my bookshelves), but I know that this debut novel by David Wroblewski has just nudged the other books over a bit. Ok, let's disassemble the basic structure of this really amazing book: it is a contemporary "retelling" on Hamlet; it is a family saga; a mystery; suspense; a look at the paranormal; ghost story; animal tale and historical fiction. Do all these parts work together? Yes!

Aside from all this we are presented with a protagonist who is a young boy, maybe 12, unable to speak. His family has a quite well-respected dog-breeding business out in the remote rural area in Wisconsin. Basically, that is about all there is to know. Honestly, though, there are not many books that a reader can read that seem to seep into his/her pores, taking over nearly every waking thought. EDGAR is such a book. Please read this one carefully-there are many important details. . .then, after you've read 20-30 pages, let's see if you can think of anything else, but this story & these characters in this wonderful discovery.

Feel free to let me know your take on this most unusual novel-I would love hearing from you! Links to two very interesting interviews with the author follow:

http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2008/06/author_david_wroblewski_on_the.html

http://www.newwest.net/topic/article/an_interview_with_david_wroblewski/C39/L39/

Another very good book out just this early summer is one attracting a good deal of buzz. It's a novel by first-time adult novelist (she has previously written books in a juvenile/young adult series, Beacon Street Girls, but this was under a pseudonym, Annie Bryant) Brunonia Barry and the title is The Lace Reader.

This is something of a gothic thriller, set in Salem, Massachusetts, focusing on a family of women who have the "gift" for predicting the future merely by studying a swatch of lace. However, at one point in her life, one of the younger family members, Sophya "Towner" Whitney vowed never to read lace again. Her restraint and resolve are tested, though, as she is called home following her beloved great-aunt Eva's mysterious disappearance. Barry combines the picture of a fractured family with the history of this particular community, including its witchcraft trials, religious cults, and quotidian seaport life making this real page-turner a most unusual and bewitching novel. Interestingly enough, the book was originally self-published but once William Morrow took a peek at this rich, rewarding read, it was auctioned for a staggering price and is now the book of summer 2008. What a success story this author has!

Let me know your thoughts on your summer (or any seasonal) reading! I look forard to comments, queries and suggestions.

I will see you at Corona Public library on your next visit to find a good book!

Lea un buen libro! Lisez un bon libre! Legga un buon libro! Leia um bom livro! Lesen sie ein gutes buch!

SO WHAT'S COOKIN' ?

I know, I know---SUMMER=HOT! And really, the weather has been so warm, who would want to enter into their kitchen, but to retrieve a refreshing glass of iced tea or to scoop some tasty ice cream?!? Sometimes summer cherries, melons, plums, nectarines can call to us, but generally our trips to the kitchen are limited to the absolute "have-to visits" from June through September! Even though we seldom want to venture into our kitchens, cookbooks and books which focus on food are an entertaining and exciting way to plan for future kitchen ventures - why not take a tour with me while we travel in and out of some of the most lively food-associated books? We can plan our future culinary adventures while dreamily gazing at the lovely illustrations and/or the lively text. . .we can learn a great deal from these books so let's begin the adventure!

Without fail, the original version of Joy of Cooking by the Rombauers is the probably the most tried-and-true source for most of out culinary needs and interests. It is worth its weight in gold! Most recipes offered by the authors are terrific, not only because they are almost always fairly simple to prepare, but because there is often a bit of history attached to the recipe, in addition to offering several lovely sketches of the fruit, vegetables, herbs or other ingredients needed. Recently, though our summer temperatures were upwards of 95 degrees, I found myself (yes, in my kitchen!) preparing a lovely ratatouille from some of the most simple yet very colorful summer vegetables. I had searched for days through other cookbooks, but once again Joy of Cooking came through with a very condensed version of what I needed to do! This dish served over rice with goat cheese crumbles is a dazzling delight, even if I did need to enter the kitchen to prepare it!

We can't just plan the future meals we'll serve and share without developing an appreciation of our food origins. Therefore, let me introduce to you Heat : an amateur's adventures as kitchen slave, line cook, pasta-maker, and apprentice to a Dante-quoting butcher in Tuscany by Bill Buford, a rollicking account that tells us all sorts of strange, wonderful facts that the author gleaned from his most unusual 15 month apprenticeship. Mere words cannot describe some of the adventures Buford shares, but this part memoir, part biography, part tutorial, with its deftly woven narratives, includes everything from high-end restaurant gossip to kitchen secrets to a tribute to the traditions of handmade food--Buford, the former editor of Granta and former fiction editor of The New Yorker, was a frustrated, splattering home cook forever anxious about serving his various cooking disasters until "graduating" from this apprenticeship — immerse yourself in this tome of food details - what a treat!

Thumbing through The Silver Palate Cookbook by Julie Rosso (food editor for Parade magazine) & Sheila Lukins is a grand way to acquire a few nifty food ideas. The Silver Palate Cookbook was first printed in 1979. Its authors, began a high-end delicatessen in New York in 1978, selling fresh foods, as well as providing a catering service for busy people who entertained frequently. The range of featured treats they offered expanded to include bottled fruits, chutneys and olive oils. Some of their noteworthy favorites might include chicken salad with red grapes, pecans and a roquefort dressing or oriental chicken salad. Their ideas for any kind of cold chicken are some of the best-ever and the chatty, winning style will definitely appeal to those of us who like our cookbooks informative - full of advice.

Anthony Bourdain's Kitchen Confidential is a must, if interested in learning the inside world of behind-the-scenes restaurant life. The author Bourdain covers chef's training, personalities, food prep, cooks' lifestyles, his own history and the art of running a successful restaurant. Presently the executive chef at Brassierie Les Halles in New York City, Bourdain describes the frenetic pace of the busy dinner hour & how to keep up in order to survive there. His chapter called "From Our Kitchen to Your Table" is a must ~ Bourdain warns us about the various “what not to do” when out to eat. For example, never order fish on Mondays, especially if it is a “Special”. This book is likely to amuse and, maybe, horrify the reader, but it is never boring - - -however, it may not be every reader's cup of tea.

Actually, it is really hard to go wrong with a Barefoot Contessa cookbook. My favorite is Barefoot Contessa at Home: Everyday Recipes You'll Make Over and Over Again by Ina Garten. Although I vow to stay away from cooking for most of the summer, her recipe for new or red potato salad is enough of a reason for me go back on my word! Additionally, her double chocolate layer cake is the best I have ever tasted. The book makes for a very entertaining read, as Garten's informal, friendly style strikes a chord with readers as she helps to educate us on entertaining with simple style, flair and a sense of fun - stylishly elegant, lovely home cooking!


So let's look forward to returning to our kitchens, but if you're feeling a bit reticent, please feel free to check out The Book of Jewish Food : an Odyssey from Samarkand to New York by Claudia Roden; Mollie Katzen's timeless Moosewood Cookbook; the incomparable Schott's food & drink miscellany -conceived, written, and designed by Ben Schott; Peter Mayle's wonderful books on Provence; Frances Mayes' Tuscany books; the ever-popular Michael Pollan's book, Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals; so unusual: The Devil's Larder by Jim Crace; Nora Ephron's witty & wise Heartburn; cute Eat Cake by Jeanne Ray; The Whole World Over - the joys of pastry, in fiction by Julia Glass plus any of Ruth Reichl's adventurous outings with good food. . . here's to some remarkable reading, relaxation and and repasts!