The Storyteller: Tales of Life and Music

Synopsis: Why is it that fall is celebrity memoir season? I don’t know the answer to that, but his book, published in October 2021, is a COVID pandemic project of Dave Grohl. The author describes his youth in Springfield Virginia, and his introduction to the punk music scene. He drops out of high school to join a band (leading to some major conflict with his father), becomes the drummer for Nirvana, then nearly loses his way after the death of friend and bandmate Kurt Cobain. A compendium of vignettes, this covers the highs and lows of the rock and roll life of Dave Grohl.

Review: Disclaimer: I read this book after hearing the buzz—it’s good! and he did in fact write it himself (he says). I did know who Dave Grohl is, though I really don’t have a lot of familiarity with any of his music including both Nirvana and the Foo Fighters. The point being, I didn’t come to this from the perspective of a fan. but rather, a reader. Grohl is indeed a gifted storyteller, and this was throughly enjoyable on many levels. If you’re looking for insider scoop on the suicide of Kurt Cobain, or a lot of salacious celebrity gossip, you won’t find it here. This is a collection of stories from his life, not a true autobiography. He skips completely skips over his first (failed) marriage, and there is almost no negative description of anyone. It’s an homage to the people who have inspired him and to the people he loves, not a work meant to settle the score. In fact, it’s almost a bit too PG. It was a complete coincidence that I was in the midst of this book when the internet informed us all of his new baby daughter’s arrival. Sadly, the mother is not his wife, so lets just say, the nice guy image is taking a hit. If we’re lucky, maybe there will be volume 2 of The Storyteller down the road where we get some introspection on how nice guys are also capable of very NOT nice things.

Rating: 4/5

Recipe: Grohl describes with nostalgia his early days of touring in a van and being so broke, that he lived off of 2 dollars a day. He would buy two corn dogs at the gas station, eating half of one for breakfast, half for lunch, and saving 2 for dinner. Oh, and canned beans. I don’t love the mess of deep frying, so these baked muffin corn dogs fit the bill for me.

1/2 cup buttermilk

4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled

1/4 cup sugar

1 large egg

1/2 cup yellow cornmeal

1/2 cup all purpose flour

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

4 all beef hot dogs cut into 1 inch pieces

1) Heat the oven to 375 degrees. Spray mini muffin pan with non stick spray

2) Whisk together buttermilk, melted butter, sugar and egg in a medium bowl. In another bowl, whisk together the cornmeal, flour, baking soda and salt. Add the wet ingredients to dry, stir to combine but don’t overmix.

3) Fill each mini muffin cup halway with batter. Push a piece of hot dog into the batter being careful not to push it all the way to the bottom, Bake until the edges start to brown and the muffin is cooked through, about 10 minutes.

Serve with dipping sauce of your choice.

Table For Two

Synopsis: A gift from Amor Towles, this is a collection of 6 short stories and a novella. The short stories largely are set in New York City, while the novella is set in Los Angeles. The short stories include a description of a Russian immigrant to NYC, the story of an aspiring novelist, as well as stories relating to art and music. The novella continues the story of Eve, originally a character from his first novel Rules of Civility. Eve relocates to LA and life ensues.

Review: Obviously, one cannot discuss a specific character or plot as it relates to this book. Nonetheless, there are common themes such as “How do we attain and experience happiness?, “ the themes of power, money and the individual, and social expectations. I LOVE short stories, and these are perfectly executed. The biggest problem is you just don’t want them to end! The characters are fully formed, the prose sublime, the dialogue is witty and charming. what more could we want? I love this author and will read anything he puts out for consumption. The novella was also delightful. I absolutely loved his novel Rules of Civility, so getting to spend more time with Eve was a delight. I’m a fan, the end.

Rating: 5/5

Recipe: Timothy Touchette wants to be a novelist, but finds success forging other author’s signatures for money. As he enjoys his payday, he delights in a New York steakhouse, having bananas foster for dessert. Enjoy the dessert, but don’t be like Timothy.

1 tablespoon unsalted butter

2 teaspoons dark brown sugar

1 banana, peeled halved lengthwise and crosswise

cinnamon

1 ounce light rum

vanilla ice cream

1) Melt butter and sugar in a small pan. Add banana pieces and saute until lightly browned. Sprinkle with cinnamon.

2) Add rum to the pan. Carefully, light the sauce with a long reach lighter to flambee. Spoon flaming sauce over banana pieces until extinguished.

3) Serve warm over vanilla ice cream.

Conversations With Friends

Synopsis: In Dublin, college students Frances (the narrator) and her best friend and ex-girlfriend Bobbi are noticed by Melissa, an essayist and photographer in her late thirties, when they are performing spoken word poetry. Melissa invites them home, where they meet her husband Nick, an actor. Their four lives become increasingly entangled as Frances begins an affair with Nick, and Bobbi and Melissa grow closer. It explores themes of friendship, privelege, love and betrayal.

Review: One of the main themes of Conversations with Friends is the conflict between youthful idealism and aged experience. Melissa and Nick are older than Frances and Bobbi, and their world view consequently differs a lot. It’s one thing to call yourself a communist and talk about destroying capitalism, and a completely different thing, when faced with the richness of its blessings, to reject it once again. There is a lot of dialogue in this book, and it’s witty and well written. This is good, because I found the characters (maybe with the exception of Frances) to be rather unlikeable. Frances, though, she got to me. She behaves stupidly! This in spite of being so smart, yet she lacks emotional intelligence and is struggling with the weight of her family baggage. Ah, aren’t we all? I guess that’s it! I jumped on the Sally Rooney train this year, and I am enjoying the ride.

Rating: 4/5

Recipe: Frances and Bobbi join Melissa and Nick, with assorted others, on a vacation to Provence. They eat lots of dinners, leisurely, with a lot of wine, and it would sound so enchanting except for all the drama. Still, a lovely summer night probably calls for olives, good bread, nice wine, and maybe the perfect ratatouille.This is my favorite, from Melissa Clark of the New York Times.

1 large onion, halved and thinly sliced

1 3/4 lb zucchini, cut into 1/4 inch slices (about 7 cups)

1/2 cup olive oil, plus more for serving

6 thyme springs

4 rosemary sprigs

6 garlic cloves, smashed and peeled

fine sea salt as needed

2 pounds eggplant cut into 1 inch cubes (about 10 cups)

2 medium red bell peppers, sliced into 1/2 inch slices

3 cups cherry tomatoes

8 ounces goat cheese, crumbled

lemon wedges for serving

1/2 cup basil leaves, sliced

1) Heat oven to 425 degrees, arrange two racks in the top and bottom thirds

2) On one rimmed sheet pan, toss onion slices, zucchini, 1/4 cup oil, 3 thyme sprigs, 2 rosemary sprigs, 3 garlic cloves and 3/4 teaspoon salt.

3) On a second rimmed sheeet pan, toss eggplant, red peppers, 1/4 cup olive oil, 3 thyme springs, 2 rosemary sprigs, 3 garlic cloves and 3/4 teaspoon salt.

4) Roast both pans for 40 minutes, stirring vegetables 2-3 times.

5) Add tomatoes to the pan with eggplant and peppers then continue to roast until the tomatoes burst and the zucchini turn deeply golden brown, another 20-25 minutes. The vegetables will be very caramelized.

6) Transfer zucchini and onions to pan with eggplant, mix well, drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle goat cheese and olives on top. Roast another 5-10 minutes.

7) Transfer to serving platter, squeeze lemon juice over, garnish with basil leaves. Serve hot or warm, with more lemon wedges on the side.

Horse

Synopsis: Geraldine Brooks has written a novel spanning antebellum Kentucky, New York in the 1950’s and present day Washington DC, all in the service of telling a story about “the greatest race horse in American history." This novel is based on the remarkable true story of the record-breaking thoroughbred, Lexington. In Kentucky in 1850, an enslaved groom named Jarret and a bay foal form a bond that carries the horse to racing victories across the South. New York City, 1954: Martha Jackson, a gallery owner, becomes obsessed with a nineteenth-century equestrian oil painting ( of you-know-who) of mysterious provenance. Washington DC: Jess, a Smithsonian reseacher and Theo, an art historian, find themselves unexpectedly connected through their shared interest in Lexington.

Review: A discarded painting in a junk pile, a race horse skeleton in storage at the Smithsonian, and the greatest racehorse in American history, are all strands in this historical fiction tapestry. The subject of the book, though, is not really the racehorse, it’s racism and it’s impact on human relations both past and present. There is equal part truth and fiction in this story, but the end notes describing the “real” characters was fascinating. Richly detailed and well researched, the characters were complex and individual in speech and mannerisms. Entertaining and informative, so 5 stars for that. Unfortunately, I found the narrative arc of Jess and Theo to be a bit strained. First of all, it’s a relationship completely devoid of chemistry. I couldn’t even figure out why these two were hanging out together! Certain events from this timeline felt contrived or forced, and those with an imagination probably know where these two are headed. This segment of the book was too much “telling,” and not enough nuance or letting the story speak for itself. I would say it was an overall favorable reading experience, with my level of enjoyment greatest for the story of Jarret and Lexington.

Rating: 4/5

Recipe: Derby pie is similar to a chocolate pecan pie, but more chewy, not as gooey, and uses walnuts instead of pecans. Lexington did not race in the Kentucky Derby, but this book sure made me think of this classic dessert. This recipe will be called “Sort of like Derby Pie,” because that name is trade marked and the Kern family will aggressively pursue those who infringe upon it. So enjoy this pie, sort of like a derby pie but not exactly. Mixing by hand does seem to produce a better texture, so no mixer required.

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup flour

1 stick of melted butter

2 eggs, slightly beaten

6 oz package of chocolate chips

1 cup chopped walnuts (but I use pecans because I like them!)

1 tsp vanilla

1 pie crust

1) Mix together the sugars and flour

2) Add melted butter and blend well

3) Stir in the eggs, chips, nuts and vanilla

4) Pour into pie shell and bake in 325 degree oven for one hour.

James

Synopsis: James is a retelling of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, but from the perspective of Jim—wait, make that James. The enslaved man known as Jim can finally reclaim his identity, preferring to be known as James. Early in the novel, James acquires a pencil at an unspeakable cost, which allows him to tell his story. When the enslaved Jim overhears that he is about to be sold down South and separated from his family, he decides to hide on nearby Jackson Island until he can formulate a plan. Meanwhile, Huck Finn has faked his own death to escape his violent father. Thus, as all middle school readers of Huck Finn know, begins the journey by raft down the Mississippi River to the promise of the Free States.

Review: This is, not surprisingly, a sly and witty revision of the story of Jim. James, as he prefers, is not the naive butt of the joke that he is in Huck Finn. Rather, he is literate, thoughtful, and resourceful. Questions of freedom and identity must necessarily be explored, and notions of race are front and center. James hits many of the key plot points of Huck Finn, though this is not just a simple retelling. Percival Everett has produced a brilliant novel that many reviewers have described as funny, and while there are moments of humor, I wouldn’t describe this as comic. It is at times amusing, at times heartbreaking, with repeated opportunities to examine the best and worst of humanity in a stacked deck world. This may be one of my top picks for this year.

Rating: 5/5

Recipe: Life on the river would be challenge unless you know how to fish. Corn pone and catfish seem to be the staples for James and Huck. Catfish is a mild white fish, similar to sole, so prepare accordingly!

4 catfish fillets, about 2 pounds

1/4 cup milk

1/2 cup flour

salt and pepper to taste

1/3 cup vegetable oil

4 tablespoons butter

juice of 1/2 lemon

2 tablespoons finely chopped parsley

1) Dredge the fillets in milk, then dredge in the flour seasoned with salt and pepper.

2) Heat the oil in a skillet until quite hot. Add the fillets and cook for about 3 minutes on one side until golden brown, then flip and cook another 5-6 minutes.

3) Transfer the fish to a plate, wipe out the pan.

4) Add the butter to the skillet and when it is foaming and starts to brown, swirl it around and pour over the fish. Sprinkle with the lemon juice and garnish with lemon slices and parsley. James and Huck wouldn’t have capers, but they would be good here too.

In the Orchard

Synopsis: A day in the life of Maisie Moore. She’s a mother of four, ranging in age from 8 year old Xavier, Romeo, Harriet, and newborn Esme. In our one day with Maisie, we experience a lot of interior musings on thoughts of motherhood and nature, punctuated by a visit by the family to an orchard for apple picking.

Review: You might guess from the synopsis that this novel is almost entirely character driven. Literally, there is no plot other than apple picking. This slim volume is completely inhabited by thoughts, memories, speculations, dreams and observations on motherhood, marriage, life, death, birth, healing and growing. Yet, while some would say nothing happens in the book, EVERYTHING happens! Birth, life, the wonder of children observing the world in the way only children can. The writing is spectacular. There’s a hypnotic daydream quality to it that’s lovely. I would also admit I enjoyed it in small doses, for the exact same reasons.

Rting: 4/5

Recipe: This apple cake recipe is one I got from my own mother, so hits both the idea of apples and motherhood—perfect! It’s one of my favorite cakes because it is so moist and delicious. But a fair warning: like many Bundt cakes, sometimes getting it out of the pan is the hardest part.

1 1/2 cup vegetable oil

3 eggs

1 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons vanilla

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon apple pie spice

3 cups flour

3 cups fresh diced apples

1 cup golden raisins

1 cup chopped walnuts

1) Mix oil, sugar, eggs and vanilla

2) Combine dry ingredients

3) Mix dry ingredients into wet ingredients

4) Fold in apples, raisins, and walnuts

5) Pour into greased and floured bundt pan

6) Bake for 90 minutes at 350 degrees until done.

Normal People

Synopsis: Normal People follows the complex friendship of two teenagers, Connell and Marianne. They attend the same high school in County Sligo, Ireland, and later, Trinity College Dublin. Connell is popular, handsome, a good athlete and highly intelligent. Marianne comes from a wealthy family, also highly intelligent, but also unpopular, an outcast, and a loner. It just so happens that Marianne’s family employs Connell’s mother Lorraine as a housekeeper, which forces their paths to cross frequently, and an illicit romance develops. Connell doesn’t want his cool kid friends to know he’s hanging out with uncool Marianne, so he keeps the relationship secret and due to her screwed up psyche, she goes along with the big secret. Fast forward to college, and now Marianne blossoms and becomes the popular one while Connell struggles to find his niche. The two weave in and out of each others lives over the next few years, forging an intense bond which sometimes holds them together and sometimes not.

Review: Sally Rooney has been a critic’s darling since the publication of her debut novel Conversations with Friends in 2017. Normal People was her second book, though my first Rooney experience. I can say that now I know what all the hype is about. The writing is straight forward, but she tackles some pretty weighty stuff here: mental health, class status, social constraints, and so on. Connell, while having an outwardly “perfect” kind of life in high school, struggles with anxiety, and his lack of finances is a major stress for him in college. Marianne has grown up thinking of herself as intrinsically unloveable, so looks for attention in troubling romances/friendships. Both Connell and Marianne are marred by flaws, they can be hypocritical, unlikeable or unable to express there feelings. But they are vividly real, and even the supporting cast felt like people I actually know. The relationship between these two is at times good, at times bad, and endlessly messy. I’ll consider it a win, since even though it was a difficult read at times, once I finished I immediately ordered Rooney’s other two books.

Rating: 4/5

Recipe: When in doubt, what would Ina do? I think her Irish soda bread is just what is needed here. Soda bread is a quick bread where baking soda is used as the leavening agent instead of yeast. This allows a busy home cook to eliminate the need for kneading, and streamlines the process of bread making.

4 cups all purpose flour

4 tablespoons sugar

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

4 tablespoons cold unsalted butter cut into 1/2 inch dice

1 3/4 cups cold buttermilk, shaken

1 extra large egg, lightly beateen

1 teaspoon grated orange zest

1 cup dried currants.

1) Heat the oven to 375 degrees. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper

2) Combine flour, sugar, baking soda and salt in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Add the butter and mix on low speed until the butter is mixed into the flour

3) With a fork, lightly beat the buttermilk, egg and orange zest together in a measuring cup. With the mixer on low speed, slowly add the buttermilk mixture to the flour mixture. Combine the currants with 1 tablespoon flour, and mix into the dough. It will be very wet.

4) Dump the dough onto a well floured board and knead it a few times into a round loaf. Place the loaf on the prepared sheet pan and lightly cut an X into the top of the bread with a serrated knife.

5) Bake for 45-55 minutes, or until a cake tester comes out clean.

6) Cool on a baking rack. Serve warm or at room temperature,.

There There

Synopsis: This is the 2018 debut novel by Cheyenne author Tommy Orange. The book follows a large cast of Native Americans living in the Oakland California area, exploring issues of Native American history and identity. The twelve characters struggle with an array of issues including depression, unemployment, fetal alcohol syndrome, and the challenges of living with an “ambiguously nonwhite” ethnic identity in the United States. All the storylines and characters eventually coalesce around a powwow taking place at the Oakland Coliseum, where some characters have smuggled in 3D printed handguns in an attempt to rob the event.

Review: These are not stories of reservation life or the “old ways.” For Orange’s characters, reservation life is not a distant memory, it’s a place never seen or known. These characters are Native, biracial, or sometimes living in white households without any native influence. Some embrace their heritage, some do not, but all are wondering what it means to be Native in our culture. Each character has his/her own chapter, with the threads uniting them slowly drawing closer as the novel progresses toward its tense conclusion. I did not make notes about their relationships along the way, and Friend, I would if I were to read it again. It’s a lot of people to keep track of! As much as I liked the book, my favorite part might be the author’s foreword which is a longish essay on Native history. That alone is worth the price.

Recipe: I had never heard of Indian tacos until I read this book. These are requested by one of the characters as a favorite dinner, and apparently that’s a sentiment shared by many. This was voted the State Dish of Arizona in 1995! Unfortunately, the history behind Navajo fry bread is painful, as is much of Native history. It was created in in 1864 using the simplest of ingredients—flour, salt and lard—ingredients supplied by the US government to the Navajo people when they were forced to leave their historical homeland and march 300 miles by foot to New Mexico. After The Long Walk, the Navajo were resettled in land which did not support their traditional staples of vegetables and beans, so fry bread became a big part of their diet and culture. In this dish, the fry bread is used as the taco vehicle, either flat like a tostada, for folded into taco shape.

2 cups all purpose flour

2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

1 cup warm water

3 cups oil for frying

1) In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking powder and salt. Add the warm water and mix until a dough forms. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 5 minutes, then transfer to a clean bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Let the dough rise 10 minutes.

2) Divide the dough into 8 equal portions, then pat and roll out the dough balls into roughly 6 inch discs on a lightly floured surface. Keep them covered with plastic wrap while you prepare to fry them.

3) Heat 3 cups of oil in a large skillet over medium heat until the oil is between 350 and 360 degrees. Working in batches, fry in the hot oil until the dough is golden brown on one side, then flip to the other side. Drain on paper towels, drape over a spoon handle to form a taco shape if desired.

The Women

Synopsis: Frankie McGrath is a 20 year old nursing student in 1967. Her older brother has just graduated from the Naval Academy, and is heading to Viet Nam. Frankie decides to enlist herself, and is sent to her first tour of duty right out of nursing school. To say she’s overwhelmed would be an understatement. Her innocence is shattered, and lack of experience is rapidly corrected. The first half of the book deals with her tour of duty “in country,” and it is horrific, though strong friendships are forged and some romance found along the way. The second half of the book is another eye opening experience when Frankie returns home to find that not only do Viet Nam veterans not rate a hero’s welcome, most people don’t even acknowledge that she is a veteran at all. PTSD, bad decisions and more drama ensue.

Review: I’ve had an up and down relationship with Kristin Hannah. The first book of hers that I read was The Nightingale, which I loved. The Great Alone was OK, and The Four Winds was a little disappointing. To be honest, I wasn’t sure I wanted to read another of her books. However, I was intrigued by this period of history so I decided to go with it, and was rewarded with a well researched historical novel. Hannah specializes in the strong female protagonist up against the patriarchy, and this is no exception, but that is not a criticism! I learned a lot and found the medical related story elements to be fascinating. Frankie was a mixture of admirable and annoying, which to me makes her a very believable human. With so much to like about the book, as usual there are a few … suggestions I might make. The product placement got a bit heavy handed for me at times. Referencing the music of the times did help to create a certain atmosphere, but I didn’t need all the brand name dropping. “I’m drinking Tab! It’s the 60’s!” The prose is nothing to write home about, and the romance heavy plot was very predictable. Still, I was rooting for Frankie, and was touched by the ending, even if I could see it coming from a mile away. Kudos to Hannah for shining a light on the unsung role of women during this war.

Rating: 4/5

Recipe: Frankie takes some R&R in Kauaii between her two tours of duty in Viet Nam. She enjoys a nice meal of lamb chops and Baked Alaska, which is certainly a dessert of the 1950’s and 60’s. Leave it to Ina Garten, to update it in a form that is a bit easier to manage at home. From Cook Like a Pro, this is an updated classic with a few short cuts, so you can have it ready in less than an hour. You could bake your own pound cake, but it’s a relatively minor component of the dessert, and this is what bakeries are for.

1 (1 pound) store bought pound cake

1 pint raspberry sorbet

1 pint good vanilla ice cream

For the Swiss Meringue:

8 extra large egg whites

1 1/2 cups sugar

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

Fresh Raspberry sauce:

6 oz fresh raspberries

1/2 cup sugar

1 cup (12 oz) seedless raspberry jam

1 tablespoon framboise

1) Slice the cake into six 1/2 inch slices. Cut six 2.5 inch circles (one from each slice) with an unfluted round cookie cutter, or use a small knife. Place them 2 inches apart on a flat tray or dish that will fit in your freezer.

2) Soften the sorbet and ice cream just enough to be able to scoop them with a standard ice cream scooper. Fill half the scoop with sorbet, and the other half with vanilla ice cream. Place the ice cream flat side down in the middle of the cake round. Freeze for at least 30 minutes.

3) Preheat oven to 500 degrees.

4) To make the Swiss meringue, place the egg white and sugar in a heat proof glass bowl and seat over a pan of simmering water. Whisk the mixture almost constantly, until it reaches 120 degrees on aa candy thermometer and the sugar is dissolved. Pour into the bowl of electric mixer fitted with whisk attachment. Add the vanilla, cream of tartar and salt and beat on medium speed for one minute, then high speed for 5 minutes, until the egg whites form stiff glossy peaks.

5) Transfer the cake rounds and ice cream to a sheet pan lined with parchment. Quickly spread the meringue over the cakes, making lot of peaks all over, or get fancy and use a pastry bag. Be sure all the ice cream is covered in meringue.

6) Bake 2.5-3 minutes until the edges are browned, turning the pan once to brown evenly.

7) Transfer to dessert plates, drizzle the raspberry sauce around each baked Alaska and serve immediateley.

8) For the raspberry sauce Bring raspberries, sugar and 1/4 cup water to a boil in a small saucepan, then lower heat and simmer for 4 minutes. Pour the cooked raspberries, the jam and the framboise into a food processor and process until smooth. Pour in a bowl and chill.

The Garden of Evening Mists

Synopsis: Teoh Yun Ling is a woman of Chinese-Malay heritage. After the Japanese invaded Malaya, she is taken by the Japanese occupiers to a concentration camp in the mountains. Yun Ling and her fellow captives are conscripted to hard manual labor, while her sister is forced to provide “comfort” to the soldiers. Sadly, Sun Hong, the sister, perishes in the chaos and violence of the end of the war, though Yun Ling survives. Some years later, she decides to build a garden to honor her sister’s memory and seeks the assistance of Nakamura Aritomo, a master Japanese gardener. He offers her the opportunity to apprentice with him, and despite her bitter attitude toward the Japanese, Yun Ling accepts. Yugiri, the Garden of Evening Mists, is the backdrop to their evolving relationship. Throw in lost gold and treasure, terrorists, colonialism and budding nationalism, tattooo artists and a relationship triangle, well it gets interesting.

Review: How did I find myself back in historical fiction about World War II? After discovering this author earlier this year, I wanted to read more of his work, so its wasn’t intentional, but here we are! This was a different piece of history and Malay history is nothing that I was familiar with before, so that alone was fascinating. The peaceful garden is an oasis from the violence of the terrorists that surround them in the jungle. It’s a place where Yun Ling initially goes to forget about her horrific experience during the war, then later in life returns to the garden to try and remember. She despises the Japanese, but loves Aritomo. Life is made up of contradictions, I suppose. Eng’s writing is exquisite and I would recommend this to anyone .

Rtiing. 5/5

Recipe: Much of the novel takes place on the Majuba tea plantation of Magnus Pretorius, which neighbors the Garden of Evening Mists. I like this Lemony Turmeric Tea Cake both because of the connection to tea, but also that turmeric is native to tropical Asia, so how appropriate! The recipe is from Alison Roman’s Nothing Fancy.

1 1/2 cups flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon kosher salt

3/4 teaspoon ground turmeric

2 lemons

1 cup granulated sugar plus 2 tablespoons for sprinkling

3/4 cup sour cream or full fat Greek yogurt

2 large eggs

1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted

whipped cream (optional)

1) Heat the oven to 350. Lightly grease a 9 x 4 inch loaf pan and line with parchment, leaving some overhang on the longer sides to be able to lift the cake out.

2) Whisk the flour, baking powder, salt and turmeric in a large bowl.

3) Grate 2 tablespoons zest from 1 lemon into a bowl. Halve the zested lemon and squeeze 2 tablespoons lemon juice into a small bowl. Cut half the remaining whole lemon into thin rounds, discarding seeds.

4) Add one cup sugar to the lemon zest in the bowl and rub together. Whisk in the sour cream, eggs and lemon juice until well blended.

5) Using a spatula, add the wet mixture to the flour mixture, stirring just to blend. Fold in the melted butter. Scrape into the prepared pan, smooth the top. Scatter the top with the lemon slices and the 2 tablespoons sugar.

6) Bake 50-60 minutes until done. Let cool before slicing.

Fourth Wing

Synopsis: Fourth Wing is set in a fantasy world where the country of Navarre protects its borders with an elite army of dragon riders. When young people reach the age of 20, they enter the Basgiath War College in one of four roles. Our heroine, Violet Sorrengail, is a book worm, and destined to enter the Scribe Quadrant, recording the nation’s history in the archives. Instead, Violets’s mother, a general and commander of the college, forces her to enter the deadly Rider quadrant. Violet’s small size and physical limitations immediately make her a target of the other students. She faces a series of life threatening challenges, with the goal of ultimately bonding a dragon.

Review: This was an interesting pick for me. I don’t typically choose fantasy, but this got a lot of buzz on social media so I decided to give it a whirl. Think Harry Potter meets Game of Thrones! Cadet training involves the balance beam suspended over an abyss, Ninja Warrior courses and your classmates trying to kill you. It wasn’t original, it wasn’t surprising, and it was painfully cliche at times. BUT, it was also entertaining in a guilty pleasure sort of way. I went right out and bought the next installment of the series, so I guess that’s an endorsement. I really wanted to know more about Violet’s mom and their relationship, but maybe that’s coming in the next book. Friends, here’s a spoiler: General Sorrenegail is……. not great. (I’m not sure what is yet to be revealed about her, but I don’t think it’s going to be warm and fuzzy). A love triangle, telepathic dragons and a cliffhanger ending, it’s got it all.

Rating: 3/5

Recipe: I was puzzling over what to pair with this book when I spied a new entry in the produce section of my local grocery—dragonfruit! OK, that makes sense. It’s a fruit from a cactus plant, indigenous to Mexico and Central America. It has a leathery skin and scaly spikes on the exterior, hence its name. As a tropical fruit, I’m sure it would be great in smoothies, fruit salads, or cocktails, but I opted for something savory. It tastes like a cross between a pear and a kiwi, and this recipe uses it as a salsa for scallops, though any mild fish would likely do as well.

1 dragon fruit, finely diced

2 tablespoons chopped chives

1 tablespoon lemon juice

8 large scallops

1 tablespoon olive eoil

1) Put the dragon fruit in the refigerator for a few hours to get cold, which will allow you to dice set fineleey. Season the scallops with salt and pepper. Heat the olive oil in a skillet on medium heat and pan sear the scallps until golden brown, about 2-3 minutes.

2) In a separate bowl, combine the dragon fruit, lemon juicee and chives. Top the scallops with thee dragon fruit salsa and serve.

Maame

Synopsis: Maddie, a British-Ghanian woman in her mid-twenties, is the “Maame” of her family. Maame, meaning woman, or perhaps adult. Her father is suffering from Parkinson’s disease and Maddie is his primary caretaker. Mom is off in Ghana most of the time living a different life (though still manages to be overbearing) and her older brother James has crafted an absentee life that carefully avoids any family responsibilities. Meanwhile, she’s trying to work a full time job, forge a career, and figure out how to proceed into adulthood. Thankfully, Mum returns from Ghana, allowing Maddie the opportunity to try out a lot of “firsts”: first apartment, first drinks after work, internet dating. The novel explores themes of being torn between family and adulthood, split between two different cultures, and coming of age.

Review: This was a random purchase for me, one of those stroll through the bookstore and get sucked in by the “recommended by our staff” displays. What a delight! It’s hard to believe this is a debut novel. Maddie was a complex character that actually felt quite believable to me. She’s a people pleaser, lacking confidence, and struggles with panic attacks. She’s dutiful and loyal, but also gullible, impulsive and easy to push around. Life is complicated, and the novel doesn’t try to hard to wrap it all up with a bow which I liked. It is billed as “new adult” reading? A category I’m not that familiar with, but maybe YA with sex. Honestly, unless you’re a kid, we’ve all been 20-something in our lives, so it seems like an artificial category. Many of the characters were a bit unlikeable, but maybe that’s why it seemed so realistic! I enjoyed it, and was totally rooting for Maddie’s success.

Rating: 4/5

Recipe: On one of Maddie’s first dates, Ben invites her to his house for a home cooked meal of mushroom risotto, and she is SO impressed. In fairness, risotto is a labor of love, a lot of stirring and hands on time, so the effort for a first date is impressive.

4 tablespoons olive oil

1 1/2 pound mixed mushrooms, chopped

3/4 teaspoon salt

1 medium yellow onion, chopped

2 garlic cloves finely chopped

1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves

1 1/2 cup arborio rice

2/3 cup dry white wine

5 cups warmed vegetable broth

1/2 cup grated parmesan, plus more for serving

chopped parsley for garnish

1) Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the mushrooms, 1/2 teaspoon salt and fresh ground pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, 8 minutes or until soft and browned. Remove from the pan and set aside.

2) Add the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil, the onion, and remaing salt. Cook, stirring occasionally for 5-8 minutes until softened. Stir in the garlic, thyme and rice. Let cook for 1 minute, then add the wine and cook 1-3 minutes until the wine cooks down.

3) Add the broth 3/4 cup at a time, stirring constantly and allowing the broth to absorb before adding more. With the final addition of broth, add 2/3 of the sauteed mushrooms into the risotto. cook until creamy and the rice has an al dente bite. Stir in the cheese and season to taste.

4) Top with remaining mushrooms, garnish with parsley, and serve with more grated cheese if desired.

The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store

Synopsis: James McBride’s latest novel opens in 1972, with the discovery of a skeleton in the bottom of a well. Rewind to the 1920’s and 30’s, where we get to know the residents of Chicken Hill in Pottstown Pennsylvania. In this neighborhood, African Americans live shoulder to shoulder with Jewish immigrants. Moshe Ludlow owns a local theater where klezmer bands play. He decides to branch out and include jazz, to great success, and marries Chona, daughter of the local rabbi and owner of the eponymous Heaven and Earth grocery story. The community comes together to try and protect Dodo, a young deaf boy that the state would like to institutionalize at a local insane asylum (!) No wonder they want to protect him. We do eventually solve the mystery of the skeleton, but a lot will happen along the way.

Review: This was the book I needed at this point in time. James McBride wrote this book as an homage to his Jewish grandmother, and you can really feel the love for all (well, at least most) of the characters. McBride seems to specialize in the description of community, many many characters, with intertwined stories. And while I havene’t read all his books, this one makes me really want to go back and read what I missed! The beauty of this book is that while it exposes the worst of humanity (Son of Man, we are talking about you), it also illuminates the best of us. There is a lot of hope and humanity on display, and In our divided times, that felt really good. Besides, no one does nicknames better. Fatty, Newspaper, and MonkeyPants? The best part about loving this book is I didn’t necessarily expect to love it, so it was a fabulous surprise.

Rating: 5/5

Recipe: Black eyed pea hummus, courtesy of Michael Twitty. Merging southern culture and cuisine of the diaspora, Michael Twitty has his own cookbook (or perhaps a memoir with recipes?) called Koshersoul.

1 15 ounce can of black eyed peas, rinsed and drained

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

1/3 cup tahini

1/2 cup fresh lemon juice

1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt

4 cloves garlic, minced

1 teaspoon sweet or smoked paprika

1/2 teaspoon cumin

1/2 teaspoon coriander

1/2 teaspoon chili powder

1 teaspoon brown sugar

1 teaspoon hot sauce

2 teaspoons minced parsley, for garnish

1) Put it all in a food processer and blend until smooth

2) Add more spice if you think it needs it

3) Garnish with parsley and a drizzle of olive oil on top

Yellow face

Synopsis: June Hayward and Athena Liu have been friends (sort of) since college. The two young women are authors of varying success. Athena’s work has reached critical acclaim and brought her financial success while June’s debut flopped. So when Athena chokes and dies in her apartment, and June is the only witness, she acts on impulse, stealing Athena’s latest manuscript—a wildly unedited manuscript about Chinese migrant workers in labor camps during World War I. June edits, adds, rewrites, and takes the novel to her agent presenting it as her own work. It’s a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive…..

Review: This one was almost perfect! First of all, COMPLETELY entertaining. Is she going to get away with it? But underneath the unreliable narrator, is a grisly, hilarious, satirical commentary on publishing. June is self absorbed, and a dishonest manipulator who always has an excuse ready for for you, but more importantly, for herself as she justifies her theft. And yet, I was kind of rooting for her? OK author Kuang, I totally fell for your bit. It adds to the fun that Athena is not all that likeable herself. There’s a LOT to think about in this novel, and that’s what makes it great.

Rating: 4/5

Recipe: Pandan pancakes. I really don’t want to say more, until you read the book! Pandan is a plant, whose extract has notes of vanilla, coconut and rose. It imparts a green tinge to baked goods, and can generally be substituted for vanilla as desired in sweet dishes.

3 cups buttermilk

2 large eggs

1 teaspoon pandan extract

4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

2 cups all purpose flour

1/4 cup sugar

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

1) Mix the wet ingredients

2) Mix the dry ingredients

3) Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients, and mix until just combined. Do not overmix. Let batter rest 5-10 minutes.

4) Cook pancakes in a nonstick skillet then serve with butter, maple syrup and toasted coconut.

Shrines of Gaiety

Synopsis: Nellie Coker is the matriarch of the 1926 London nightclub scene, and multiple parties want her empire—lawfully or unlawfully. Her children aren’t much help. Her oldest son Niven is drifting in and out, enjoying himself with Gwendolen the librarian. Her oldest daughter has a secret which she tries to fix with disastrous consequences. Ramsay hides a drug habit and his sexuality while trying to write a great novel. Meanwhile, Frobisher the detective is investigating a series of disappearances and deaths of young women, which puts him in touch with Gwendolen who then goes undercover in the nightclub! Phew. The nightclubs range from glamorous to seedy, as do the characters. Shoot outs, romance, double dealing and more.

Review: I will admit it, I can’t get enough of Kate Atkinson. This is a fizzy, entertaining tale of post World War I England. It is not surprising in the way Life After LIfe was, and there are not shocking revelations a la Case Histories. Still, Atkinson is a master of the craft. Nellie Coker is the center of the nightclub universe, but the story is told from multiple perspectives, giving an aerial view of how all the characters are interconnected. Atkinson seems to be drawn to telling the stories of war-scarred 20th century Britons, and as usual, this is research packed historical fiction, with a measure of mystery and a dash of romance.

Rating: 4/5

Recipe: Nellie meets a mysterious businessman at the Goring Hotel for tea. It’s my understanding that the Goring is known for their afternoon tea, and this is a British custom I can totally get behind. Snacks that come in three courses? Yees!! Finger sandwiches first, then scones, then sweets. Who needs dinner after that? These herbed goat cheese sandwiches can be dressed up with smoked salmon, avocado, or even turkey.

8 oz cream cheese

10 oz mild goat cheese

2 cloves garlic, minced

1/2 teaspoon minced thyme

3 tablespoons minced parsley

5-6 tablespoons milk, half and half or heavy cream

3/4 teaspoon kosher salt

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

thinly sliced 7 grain bread

1 thinly sliced hot house cucmber, not peeled

1) Combine cream cheese, goat cheese, garliac, thyme, parsley, salt, pepper and 5 tablespoons milk in the bowel of electric mixer. Mix well, adding more milk if needed.

2) Spread a slice of bread with the goat cheese mixture.

3) Slice the cucumber into thin rounds and arrange on top of the cheese.

4) Top with remaining slice of bread.

5) Make the sandwiches in the morning, put on a sheet pan and cover with damp paper towel, then plastic wrap.

6) Just before serving, cut off crusts and cut into triangles. soldiers, or quarters.

The Wager

Synopsis: In the mid 18th century, Spain and England were vying to control the earth’s mineral riches (and its native people) and bank the wealth produced by enslaved laborers. The two nations sent shiploads of men out to square off on the high seas in this pursuit. These imperial encounters boiled over when a Spanish officer boarded a British brig, accused the captain of smuggling sugar and cut off his ear. Thus began the conflict known as The War of Jenkins Ear. It was in this conflict that the British man of war The Wager set out from Plymouth England, to chart a course around Cape Horn in pursuit of the Spanish ships laden with treasure. Friends, it didn’t go well. Typhoid, scurvy, rats and hurricanes. Navigators lost their way, men lost limbs, their minds, and their lives. They ran aground off the coast of Chile in their effort to get to (you can’t make this up) Robinson Crusoe island. They fought, drank, stole, drowned, got sick and died. How could it get any worse? And yet, it does. A group of 30 sailors managed to sail a small boat 3,000 miles back to Brazil, arriving emaciated and barely alive. Six months later, a smaller boat washes up in Chile with only three survivors, delirious and near death. The newcomers blamed the first group of mutiny, leading to counter charges of murder and treachery. They all go back to England for a court martial, where Admirals (and the interested public) will try to sort out what really happened.

Review: David Grann is known for brisk, detailed story telling. This is an adventure tale gone wrong, yet it goes extremely right for the reader who just can’t get enough of the horror and misery. What on earth is the lure of the sea? I don’t get it! Journeys taking months, or even years, in leaking, wet, unheated vessels packed with unwashed people, sailing into gales with no privacy, no GPS, and no Gore-Tex. This was an amazing, brutal story of depravity and violence, but also brotherhood and unfathomable true grit. The amount of research and detail in this book is impressive, and it is a story that just keeps the forward momentum going.

Rating: 4/5

Recipe: I considered the idea of seaweed soup, but truthfully, it’s not something I really think I would want to make for myself. I settled on creamed chipped beef, known as a military recipe, and certainly dried beef was a staple on the ship. We’ll just leave out the insects. You can buy this in 4 oz jars or packets.

4 tablespoons butter

1/3 cup all purpose flour

3 cups whole milk

1 teaspoon black pepper

4.5 oz dried beef, cut into strips

Texas toast slices, biscuits, or english muffins for serving

1) Melt the butter in a large skillet until bubbling, then stir in flour. Add whole milk, whisking until flour is completely incorporated.

2) Stir constantly until the sauce is thickened.

3) Add pepper and strips of beef to sauce mixture, stirring until the beef is evenly coated.

4) Serve over toast or biscuits.

Chain Gang All Stars

Synopsis: Loretta Thurwar and Hamara “Hurricane Staxxx” Stacker are the stars of Chain Gang All Stars, a highly popular, highly controversial, and highly profitable program of America’s private prison industry. Set in the not distant future, prisoners compete gladiator style in televised death matches, playing to crowds in packed arenas. There are protesters of course—not EVERYONE is a fan. Loretta and Hamara are teammates as well as lovers leading to an inevitable showdown.

Review: This novel is a good example of why I try to forge ahead with a book, even when my first impression is less than admiring. This book was included on several “Best of 2023” lists, so I decided to give it a shot. I’ll admit, it was a hard sell at first. The violence can be a bit graphic. The whole notion of death matches as entertainment was frankly sickening. However, as the characters came to life, there was a lot more to this story than just violence and mayhem. I can’t say I “enjoyed” it in the traditional sense, but it was ultimately incredibly powerful and moving. Dark, yes, but also very creative. A sharp critique of our system of mass incarceration and cultural obsession with violent sports, this is the Roman Coliseum for the new age. It ended up being one of my favorite books of the year, but I wouldn’t have said that in the first 30-40 pages, so hang in there friends, it’s worth it.

Rating: 4/5

Recipe: Most of the prisoners in this dystopian tale have to survive on peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. No recipe required! But if you are a star, you get chef prepared catered meals delivered to you by drone. Loretta, as the dominant fighter, is afforded relatively luxurious accommodations and meals. Instead of peanut butter and jelly for breakfast, she receives a delivery of eggs Benedict which she chooses to share with one of the newbies, fostering loyalty and an alliance. This recipe for easy Hollandaise sauce is from Ina Garten—foolproof.

2 extra large egg yolks at room temperature

1 1/2 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice

3/4 teaspoon kosher salt

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

pinch of cayenne pepper

6 tablespoons unsalted butter

1) Place the egg yolks, lemon juice, salt, pepper and cayenne pepper in the jar of a blender and process o low for 15 seconds.

2) Melt the butter in a small saucepan until sizzling hot. Remove the small clear plastic insert of the blender. with the blender on low, slowly add the hot butter to the egg and lemon mixture, blend for 30 seconds until the sauce is very thick. Use immediately.

The House of Doors

Synopsis: W. Somerset Maugham travels with a lot of baggage, literally and figuratively. The celebrated British author of the gilded age has decided to take an extended holiday in Asia with his “secretary” and long time lover Gerald Haxton. Willie is assiduously avoiding his wife in London, and in this tale, spends two weeks at the home of his old friend Robert Hamlyn and his wife Lesley in Penang. Maugham is broke, and ready to mine his friends and companions for new material to write about. Lesley eventually lets down her guard and shares stories about ex-pat scandals of the Federated Malay States, and a few of her own as well.

Review: Thoroughly wonderful. A well crafted historical novel set in colonial Penang. Tan expertly mixes fact, fiction, history and literature to weave a very believable tapestry. The initial chapters are largely setting the stage of time and place. The beauty of the writing carries it along until the plot kicks in. A true crime story of the first English woman accused of murder in Malaysia (her lover!), the arrival of Sun Yet-San, a true historical character of the time raising money to try and overthrow the imperial rulers of China, and Lesley our narrator, looking for something to believe in and give her life meaning. There are stories within stories, secrets, clandestine relationships, and more. Really delightful! I’m new to this author, but can’t wait to explore some of his previous novels, such as The Garden of Evening Mists.

Rating: 5/5

Recipe: Lesley describes an intriguing dessert she refers to as “glutinous blue rice pudding.” Hmm. I’m sure it’s wonderful, but the word glutinous was a little off putting. I could have considered a cocktail since these people seemed to drink heavily, but decided instead on the chicken satay she enjoyed at a local party for Willie. Who doesn’t love that? A long ingredient list, but not that difficult.

SATAY

1/3 cup coconut milk

3 tablespoons vegetable oil

2 tablespoons lime juice

2 tablespoons brown sugar

1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger

1 tablespoon fish sauce

1 tablespoon low sodium soy sauce

1 teaspoon curry powder

2 cloves minced garlic

2 boneless skinless chicken breasts

PEANUT SAUCE

1 1/2 tablespoons peanut oil

1/4 cup finely chopped yellow onion

1/2 jalapeño pepper, ribs and seeds removed, fínely chopped

4 cloves minced garlic

1 1/2 tablespoons grated fresh ginger

1 cup coconut milk (shake the can well before using)

3/4 cup creamy peanut butter

2 tablespoons Thai red curry paste

6 tablespoons lime juice

2 tablespoons soy sauce

1 teaspoon fish sauce

1) Make marinade for satay. Cut chicken breast on the diagonal into 6 strips. Marinate 2-6 hours

2) For the sauce, heat peanut oil, and sauté onion and jalapeño about 5 minutes. Add garlic and ginger for about 20-30 seconds, then stir in coconut milk, peanut butter and curry paste. Whisk 2-3 minutes until sauce comes together. Off heat, add the lime juice, soy sauce and fish sauce.

3) Drain thee chicken from the marinade. Thread onto skewers (soak them first so they don’t burn) and grill 2-3 minutes a side until light charred and cooked through. Serve with peanut sauce.

Winter Storms

Synopsis: Back with the Quinns! After an ill fated affair with the Winter Street Inn’s Santa, Mitzi has returned to rule the roost. Patrick, in prison for insider trading, is about to be released, Kevin is getting ready to tie the knot with Isabelle, and Ava still can’t make up her mind between Scott and Nathaniel. Jennifer is hooked on pain pills, and Bart is still a captive in Afghanistan. Don’t worry, once Christmas comes, throw in a blizzard, and all kinds of things will happen.

Review: Grab your spiked eggnog, and come on! The book is not good, and yet, I am obsessed with these characters and the story arc. I can’t even describe it as a “hate read.” I know what that is, and this is not that. It’s a guilty pleasure. Truthfully, not good by all metrics, yet so enjoyable I’ve come to look foward to my annual Christmas visit to Nantucket with this author and family. Yes, there is a lot that drives me crazy. Ava is annoying. Kelley is diagnosed with prostate cancer and the story line is not medically plausible. At all. Ms. Hildebrand! Talk to an oncologist. Prostate cancer so very rarely travels to the brain, and response to therapy is so much better than you imply. Your wife cheats on you for years and you just let her back? So much strains credulity, and the non stop name dropping of Nantucket restaurants etc… is almost too much to bear. She name drops herself! And yet, at the end, I had to suppress the urge to move directly to the next book. So, not good, and yet, thoroughly satisfying? I’m going to be sad when the series is over. I think I have one more year given my one book a year pace.

Rating: 3/5

Recipe: So, the recipe I probably should have chosen is the fried fish BLT which Kevin sells at his new take out place, Quinn’s on the Beach. It sounds great! But I don’t love frying food at home. Messy. I was much more inclined to try the poached salmon with mustard dill sauce that Jennifer plans for Patrick’s first night out of prison. Back to civilization Patrick! Fresh fish and champagne! I love all the flavors of this combination, so I’ll wait to get my fried fish sandwich from the take out place at the beach…..

4 shallots, quartered

2 garlic cloves, halved

3 (8 oz) bottles of clam juice

2 cups water

1/4 cup dry vermouth

3 tablespoons mustard seed

1 bay leaf

6 pieces center cut salmon

1/2 cup mayonnaise

1/4 cup dijon mustard

2 tablespoons light brown sugar

2 tablespoons sour cream

1/4 cup snipped fresh dill

1) In a medium sauceepan, combine shallots, garlic, clam juice, watere, veremouth, mustard seed and bay leaf.

2) Heat to boil, simmere covered 20 minutes. Cool and strain.

3) In a large skillet, arrange salmon in single layer. Pour liquid oveer fish. Add water, as needed, to cover.

4) Heat to simmer, and gently cook until fish looks opaque, about 10 minutes.

5) Remove from heat, cool fish in liquid for 1 hour, then transfer to platter.

6) Combine mayonnaise, mustard, brown sugar, sour cream and 1/4 cup dill for sauce

7) Spread thin layer of mustard sauce on each salmon filet, garnish with dill and pass remaining mustard sauce.

Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day

Synopsis: Miss Pettigrew, an approaching-middle-aged governess, was accustomed to a household of unruly English children. When her employment agency sends her to the wrong address, her life takes an unexpected turn. The alluring nightclub singer, Delysia LaFosse, becomes her new employer, at least for a day. Miss Pettigrew encounters a kind of glamour she had not experienced before, and both women are changed forever.

Review: What a sweet, naughty little book! Written in 1938, this has the vibe of a literary equivalent to Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, or some other Hollywood escapade. Timid, mousy Miss Petttigrew, down on her luck and in need of a governess position, is sent to the address of Miss LaFosse, a sexy nightclub singer. Children are nowhere in sight, but Miss Lafosse is in the throes of Man Trouble. She is juggling two lovers, with a third hopeful waiting in the wings. Miss Pettigrew is scandalized, but also intrigued. Miss LaFosse pleads for Miss Pettigrew to help her out. One thing leads to another, madcap adventures ensue, and a friendship begins to form. Miss Pettigrew ends up having the most crazy, wonderful day of her life. Unfortunately, the novel also presents the difficult problem of how to square up the things you like with some casual ethnic stereotypes that were acceptable in 1938, but definitely not acceptable today. Apparently multiple sexual partners was not an issue, but Jewish or Italian heritage might be. These references are not common, but do mar the reading experience, so reader beware.

Rating: 4/5

Recipe: Miss Pettigrew is introduced to the idea of day drinking, and takes to it gamely. A lovely champagne cocktail like French 75 is just what the newly glamorous Miss Pettigrew might enjoy.

1/2 cup Cognac

1/2 cup simple syrup

1/3 cup fresh lemon juice

2 cups ice cubes

1 bottle of good chilled champagne

4 long strips of lemon zest

1) Pour cognac, simple syrup and lemon juice into cocktail shaker and add ice. Shake for 30 seconds.

2) Pour into 4 champagne flutes to fill ~ 2/3 full.

3) Fill glass with champagne and garnish with lemon peel, serve ice cold.