The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois

Synopsis: Is this the story of a person or a place? This is a family history, centered on Ailey Garfield, the youngest daughter of a middle class Black family. Her mother’s family has deep roots in Chicasetta Georgia, and Ailey returns every summer to escape the northern city in which they live. This ambitious novel covers at least 200 years of family history, tying in multiple threads of the family history from slave, to slave holder, to Native American, to good old white trash.

Review: Wow! There are a lot of highs and lows in this ambitious novel. As you might expect, any story that dwells even partly in the world of slavery and bondage is going to have more than it’s share of horror and grief. The time traveling nature of this book takes us back and forth between early branches of the family tree of slaves, native Americans displaced by the plantation owners, and everything from root to twig! Ailey develops an interest in history, and begins to research the family tree. There were many great characters, especially Uncle Root, Belle, and Ailey herself. However, be aware, it’s a long book, 816 pages to be precise. I don’t generally shy away from something because of it’s length, but my chief criticism here is that this family tree really needed some pruning and editing. A LOT of pruning, I would say. I think it could have been even more compelling if more concise.

Rating: 4/5

Recipe: There were a lot of references to food and eating in this book. In fact, at one point I even wondered if the author was developing a story line that Ailey had an eating disorder, because she was always proclaiming how hungry she was and discussing the food she was planning to devour. There are so many good southern inspired recipes, but pecan pie was my choice. One of my favorites!

Chocolate Pecan Pie

4 oz German Sweet chocolate

1 prepared pie crust (you can make your own, but I like a few shortcuts)

2 tablespoons butter

3 eggs, slightly beaten

1/3 cup sugar

1 cup Karo light or dark corn syrup

1 teaspoon vanilla

3 tablespoons bourbon, optional

1 1/2 cup pecan halves

1) Heat oven to 350 degrees

2) Line 9 inch pie plate with pie crust

3) microwave chocolate and butter together until melted

4) Brush bottom of pie crust with small amount of the egg

5) Stir sugar, corn syrup, eggs and vanilla into chocolate mixture until well blended

6) Add bourbon if desired

7) Stir in pecans

8) Pour into pie crust

9) Bake about 50 minutes or until knife inserted 2 inches from edge comes out clean.

Crying in H Mart

Synopsis: Michelle Zauner is a musician, now best selling memoirist, who shares her story of grief. Zauner was born in Seoul, the daughter of Chomngmi, a native of the city, and Joel, a white American. When she was a year old, the family relocated to Eugene, Oregon where her mother invested her energy in the pursuit of perfection in all things, ESPECIALLY her only child. Though the mother-daughter relationship was somewhat fraught, Michelle moves back home at the age of 25 to help care for her mother after a diagnosis of advanced stomach cancer. Stories of Korean food serve as the backbone of the book, as Zauner explores the connections between food and identity.

Review: I love a good memoir, but upon realizing this is a story of loss, grief, and her mother’s death from cancer? I had a moment where I wondered if this was for me! Happily it worked out well, because the book is amazing, and in spite of sadness, I loved it. Zauner’s descriptions of her youth in Oregon were entertaining and relatable. She loves her parents, but also struggles with rebellion. Developing an adventurous palate is a way to gain her mother’s approval during their summer visits to Seoul. She returns home after her mother’s diagnosis to help care for her, ready to bolster her recovery with Korean cooking, then realizes she doesn’t really know how to prepare the things her mother loves. As a teen, she effaced the Korean side of her heritage as a normal adolescent effort to “fit in.” Korean food, and it’s preparation, is her way to honor and remember her mother, and she dives into the task. However, as much as this memoir is about food, it’s primarily a love letter to her mother. This moving book covers the obvious story of loss and grief, but also the magic and comfort of home, and culture as a source of strength.

Rating: 4/5

Recipe: Given the prominent role of food in this memoir, there are no shortage of possibilities for recipe pairings. Zauner attempts to hone her skills in the kitchen by watching YouTube videos of Maangchi, kind of a Korean Julia Child. I haven’t gotten around to watching those, but it seems appropriate that any recipe used here should use kimchi. I loved Zauner’s description of how fermenting cabbage to make kimchi allows it to have a completely “new life.” Plus, I love kimchi. This recipe from NYT writer Eric Kim can easily be cut in half to serve 2-3.

SHEET PAN FRIED RICE WITH KIMCHI

Ingredients:

2 cups uncooked medium grain white rice

1/4 cup toasted sesame oil

1/4 cup gochujang

1/4 cup kimchi juice plus 2 cups coarsely chopped kimchi

3 tablespoons soy sauce

2 teaspoons granulated sugar

salt

1 large onion cut in medium dice

3 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into small pieces

20 grams gym (roosted seaweed), crushed

6 large eggs

1) Cook rice

2) Heat oven to 425 degrees

3) in a large bowl, which together sesame oil, gochujang, kimchi juice, say sauce and sugar. Season with salt and stir in kimchi and onion. Add the cooked rice, the butter and seaweed, and stir to combine.

4) Transfer mixture to a large rimmed baking sheet and spread out loosely. Bake until the top of the rice is crispy and chewy, 25-30 minutes.

5) Remove the pan from the oven. Using a spoon to make shallow depressions for the eggs. Crack the eggs into the depression and place the pan back in the oven for 3-6 minutes until egg whites have set, but the yolk remains runny.

Project Hail Mary

Synopsis: Ryland Grace is a junior high science teacher-turned-astronaut who is the sole survivor of his space mission. With his two crewmates dead and a fuzzy memory, all Grace remembers (at first) is that he has been asleep for a very long time, and that he is a long, long way from home. Alone in space, Grace has an impossible task: to recall his past and figure out his mission to save not just himself, but the entire human race and planet Earth. SPOILER ALERT! He isn’t alone for long, as he encounters an alien spacecraft that also has a sole occupant.

Review: What an unexpected pleasure this book was! I had never even heard of the novel when it was selected by my book club. I was vaguely familiar with the author, Andy Weir, from his first science fiction smash The Martian, but knew nothing of this book. I was a tiny bit skeptical as this is not the type of book I typically choose, but found a lot to praise. First, the science is sound and plausible. Weir does a great job of breaking things down in small digestible pieces that anyone can understand, and it’s all important to the story. BUT, the story is so much more. It’s about friendship, overcoming adversity, finding hope, and being the best McGyver you can be. I enjoyed this as an audio book and feel it was uniquely suited to that medium. The narrator, Ray Porter, was outstanding! Ryland Grace’s alien counterpart, Rocky, speaks in chords and musical tones, and this was executed perfectly. Kudos to Andy Weir!

Rating: 5/5

Recipe: I must be honest: there was not a lot of appetizing food options relating to this story. Liquid nutrition by NG tube? Freeze dried rations? I’m not even going to TOUCH the idea of the me-burger! So enjoy an ad hoc selection of Alison Roman’s Sheet Pan Chicken with Chickpeas, Cumin and Turmeric. I really can’t get enough of this, it’s so good.

Ingredients:

3-3.5 pounds chicken pieces

1 1/2 cups full fat Greek yogurt, divided

5 tablespoons lemon juice, divided

2 teaspoons turmeric, divided

2 (15 ounce) cans chickpeas, drained and rinsed

1 tablespoon fennel seed

1 teaspoon cumin

1 large red onion, thinly sliced, divided

2 tablespoons olive oil

1/2 cup cilantro leaves, torn

1) Season chicken with salt and pepper

2) Combine 3/4 cup yogurt, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, 1 teaspoon turmeric and 2 tablespoons water in a large bowl. Season well with salt and pepper. Add chicken and toss to coat evenly. Let sit at least 30 minutes at room temperature or up to overnight in the refrigerator.

3) Place oven rack in the top third of the oven and heat to 425 degrees.

4) Combine chickpeas, fennel seed, cumin, and remaining teaspoon turmeric and half of the sliced onion on a rimmed baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil, season with salt and pepper and toss to coat.

5) Move chickpeas to the outer edges of the baking sheet. Scrape excess marinade from chicken and place in the center. Place baking sheet in the oven and bake, tossing chickpeas occasionally until the skin of the chicken is golden and starting to crisp, 45-50 minutes.

6) Meanwhile, toss remaining onion slice with 2 tablespoons lemon juice, season with salt and pepper and set aside.

7) Combine remaining yogurt with 1 tablespoon lemon juice and salt and pepper, set aside.

8) Once chicken is ready, scatter with lemony onions and cilantro. Serve with seasoned yogurt along side as a sauce.

Crossroads

Synopsis: Meet the Hildebrandts, a pleasant mid-Western family who live in New Prospect, a fictional suburb of Chicago. It’s 1971, and the Hildebrandts, individually and collectively, are at a crossroads. Our patriarch Russ is the associate pastor of First Reform Church. He’s nursing a grudge against another pastor of the church, and growing ever closer to committing adultery with a young widowed parishioner. Children Clem, Becky, Perry and Judson are all self absorbed in their own drama, as teenagers are. Mom Marion starts the novel as a frumpy, overweight pastor’s wife, almost invisible except as a “warm cloud of mommieness.” She reaches her own crossroad, naturally, as each member of the family grapples with issues of faith and morality.

Review: There are two things that Jonathon Franzen supplies in abundance: humor, and words. Why write one sentence if two will do? This is a long book, but well worth the investment of time. Everyone in the family gets page time (well, except for Judson who is a bit too young for much angst or drama). It’s set in the 1970’s, a time of deep social division and upheaval, so yes, it feels of the moment! It’s a novel about being good, and what that means to each of the Hildebrandts. One powerful (and hilarious) scene has 15 year old Perry getting drunk at Reverend Haefle’s Christmas party. He engages a rabbi and Lutheran minister in conversation about whether it is possible to be truly good if you derive satisfaction from being good. After all, if your self interest is the motivation, maybe you’re just a narcissist! And that is NOT good. Big Questions, wrapped in a dysfunctional family saga, with a measure of cultural commentary thrown in, this is vintage Franzen.

Rating: 4/5

Recipe: Perry consumes just a bit too much of Mrs. Haefle’s traditional Swedish glogg, and ends up being escorted home by Reverend Haefle. Sounds like it could cause quite the hangover.

Ingredients:

1 bottle red wine

1 1/2 cups bourbon or vodka

1/2 cup sugar

2 tablespoons orange zest

2 tablespoons raisins, more for serving

1 tablespoon cardamom pods

2 tablespoons sliced ginger

1 stick cinnamon

8 whole cloves

2 tablespoons blanched, slivered almonds

orange slices for garnish

1) combine wine, bourbon or vodka, sugar, orange zest, raisins, cardamom pods, ginger, cinnamon stick and cloves into a 2-3 quart pot and simmer for 2 minutes.

2) remove from heat and let steep for an hour

3) strain to remove the fruit and spices and gently reheat the punch

4) add a few slivered almonds and raisins to each serving glass and garnish with a slice of orange.

This Tender Land

Synopsis: It’s 1932, a time of hardship, adversity and despair, especially at the Lincoln Indian Training School. Ostensibly it’s a place where Indian children who have been taken from their families are sent so they can be educated in the ways of the white world. In reality, it’s a place meant to obliterate every trace of their Indian heritage, by force if necessary. Odie O’Banion and his older brother Albert are the only two white boys in the school. Odie is mischievous boy who is frequently punished and always getting in trouble. A series of events leads to Odie and Albert, along with two other orphans, to steal away in a canoe, heading for the mighty Mississippi, seeking freedom or a home of their own. Over the course of a summer, these four vagabonds will cross paths with others who are adrift, from struggling farmers, to traveling faith healers, to displaced families and lost souls of all kinds.

Review: Who can resist a plucky orphan story, especially when it’s the age old yarn of good v evil? It’s been done, of course, but there’s something satisfying about rooting for an underdog! Four orphans, all likable characters, escape an institution that’s as bad as it comes, run by the truly villainous Thelma Brickman, or the Black Witch as they call her. They are off to try and find the aunt of the two brothers in far off St. Louis. Along the way they have to face more than a couple of obstacles. This book reminded me of a classic Huck Finn type story, and it was a bit of a nostalgic read. In tone, it was very similar to The Lincoln Highway, so if you liked that story, this has a similar vibe. While it was a bit predictable in some ways, it also contained more than a few surprises. I can’t resist a hero who remains hopeful in difficult circumstances!

Rating: 4/5

Recipe: It’s the depression and times are hard. Odie and his fellow travellers are fortunate to find a soup kitchen of sorts serving Lentil soup. They probably didn’t have kielbasa, but that really makes this delicious.

Ingredients:

2 cups dried lentils

1 medium onion, finely diced

3 minced garlic cloves

1 can diced tomatoes, 14.5 ounces

1/2 cup chopped carrots

4 cups chicken broth

1 teaspoon cumin

1 bay leaf

1 cinnamon stick

1/2 pound or more smoked sausage or kielbasa, cut into 1/2 inch pieces

1) Place the lentils, onion, garlic, tomatoes, carrots, chicken broth, cumin, bay leaf, and cinnamon stick in a 5-6 quart slow cooker. You can substitute a few shakes of cinnamon if you don’t have a cinnamon stick. Stir to combine.

2) Place the sausage pieces on top.

3) Cover and cook on low heat until lentils have absorbed all the liquid and are tender, about 8 hours.

4) Add more liquid while cooking if they seem dry.

5) When ready, remove bay leaf and cinnamon stick, and serve.

Razorblade Tears

Synopsis: Ike Randolph has been out of jail for fifteen years. He operates a landscaping business and scrupulously has been staying out of trouble. The last thing he expects to hear is that his son Isiah has been murdered, along with Isiah’s husband Derek. Ike never really accepted Isiah, but is devastated by the loss. Derek’s father Buddy Lee was almost as ashamed of Derek for being gay as Derek was ashamed of his father’s criminal record. Ike and Buddy Lee, two ex-cons with nothing in common, band together to try and discover who murdered their sons and exact a little revenge. In their quest, they will confront their own prejudices about their sons and each other.

Review: This was a really pleasant surprise! It’s not the type of book I typically choose, a crime thriller/who-dunnit/noir type book. I listened to an interview with the author, S.A. Cosby, and decided to give it a try. It was so entertaining, but also so much more. The complex relationship between Ike and Buddy Lee is as much a driving force in the novel as any action sequence. They begin with a relationship defined by mistrust and suspicion, but you quickly become invested in the evolution of their friendship. Both Ike and Buddy Lee are confronted with the ways they failed their sons while they were alive. Neither Ike or Buddy Lee accepted their son’s sexuality, and over the course of the book both characters own up to and confront their prejudices. Themes of racism, masculinity, and homophobia are explored in a tense and thrilling story. I liked it so much, I’m ready to start on other books by this author.

Rating: 4/5

Recipe: The novel is set in Virginia, in the greater Richmond area. There are certain iconic foods that I remember from living in Richmond, but this seemed like a good excuse for one of my favorite recipes, cider braised pork tenderloin. Pork is front and center in southern cooking, and this is one of my favorite recipes by Ina Garten.

Ingredients

12 oz bottle hard cider

1/4 cup maple syrup) 1 teaspoon fennel seeds

1 teaspoon black peppercorns

1/2 teaspoon whole coriander seeds

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

2 pork tenderloins

1 inch piece fresh ginger, thinly slice

1 1/2 tablespoons coarsely chopped fresh rosemary

1) combine the cider, maple syrup and 3 tablespoons salt in a 4 cup glass measuring cup. Grind the fennel, peppercorns, coriander and cinnamon together and add to the brine. Place the tenderloins in a 1 gallon ziplock bag and pour in the marinade. Refrigerate for 8 hours or overnight.

2) Heat oven to 450 degrees

3) Remove pork from marinade and dry well. Place on a sheet pan and rub with olive oil. Sprinkle with 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper.

4). Roast for 20-25 minutes, or to 125 degrees internal temp. Remove from the oven and let rest for 10 minutes. Slice into 1/2 inch thick slices and serve with chutney.

Wish You Were Here

Synopsis: Jodi Picoult’s novel opens on March 13, 2020, and we all know what happened on that day. It was the day “normal” went extinct. In this fictional universe, Diana, an art specialist at Sotheby’s, and her boyfriend Finn are preparing to go on vacation to the Galapagos. Diana is expecting a proposal. However, COVID intervenes, and Finn, a surgical resident at New York-Presbyterian, declares that he can no longer go. The hospital needs him to help fight this mysterious new virus. It should be gone in two weeks (!!!!) so Finn urges Diana to go anyway. She does, and ends up stranded on Isabela island in the Galapagos. She is forced to stay longer than expected, and in the process evolves and begins to question her life goals and relationship.

Review: I’ve read a few book by Jodi Picoult, and they follow a familiar rhythm. Contemporary social issue, set in a fictional setting, often with a twist. Well, this one comes with a heck of a twist! This is actually a book that has improved its rating in my mind with more time since completion. My first reaction upon reading it? Well, it was given to me by a friend, and I had no idea what it was about. When I realized it was not just COVID adjacent, but a full on COVID immersive story, my reaction was to wince in pain. Who wants to relive that story? Yet, as more time has gone by, I’ve come to appreciate some of the thought provoking ideas. It’s a reflection on how an experience can change your perception of what is and what is not important. The first half of the story was a little slow for me, but it did pick up after that. All told, a good story, unpredictable (which I liked), but maybe not a great read if COVID has affected you in a deeply personal way.

Rating: 3/5

Recipe: This book made me think about something you could make for dinner with the things you have on hand, just pulling from pantry or refrigerator. Pasta is great in that way, and pasta puttanesca is very close to the perfect pandemic dinner solution.

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon unsalted butter

3 tablespoons olive oil

1/2 cup panic bread crumbs

1 pound spaghetti

4 fillets anchovies (or 1 Tablespoon anchovy paste)

4 cloves garlic

pinch crushed red Chile flakes

28 ounce can whole tomatoes, crushed by hand

1/4 cup black olives, roughly chopped

2 tablespoons chopped capers

2 tablespoons minced fresh flat leaf parsley

1) Melt the butter and 1 tablespoon olive oil. Add breadcrumbs and toast until golden brown. Set aside

2) Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook until al dente, about a minute or two less than package recommends. Drain, reserving 1 cup of pasta cooking water.

3) Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the anchovies and cook 2-3 minutes. Lower heat to low and add garlic, Chile flakes and cook another 1-2 minutes.

4) Stir in tomatoes, olives, capers, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 easspsoon pepper, bring to a simmer and cook 10-15 minuets, until thickened.

5) Increase heat to medium high and add cooked spaghetti and 1/4 to 1/2 cup of pasta cooking water. Cook 1-2 minutes more, then remove from heat, stir in parsley. top with toasted breadcrumbs and serve.

Song of Achilles

Synopsis: A re-telling of the siege of Troy, and the story of Achilles, “the best of all the Greeks.” From childhood, Achilles was the golden child of his father King Peleus and his mother the cruel sea goddess Thetis. Think of him like the popular high school quarterback…. handsome, athletically gifted, and in this case, a fearsome warrior as well. He forges a close friendship with Patroclus, a minor prince who has been exiled to his kingdom. When Helen of Sparta is kidnapped, all the heroes of Greece are called upon to lay siege on Troy and reclaim her. Achilles, seduced by the lure of a glorious destiny, joins the cause, and Patroclus follows along.

Review: Hmmm. I thought I would like this, and I wanted to like it. I was inspired to read it because I read Circe (Miller’s retelling of The Odyssey) and I loved it, so this retelling of The Iliad seemed like a sure thing. Friends, it didn’t work out that way. I didn’t care for either protagonist. Achilles seemed very superficial, an attractive golden demi-god with no personality, and in the end he turned into a selfish, self absorbed jerk. Pride and vanity! Patroclus was a weak, bland character who couldn’t figure out how to live his own life. For me, there was no chemistry to this love story. Well written, but not my cup of tea.

Rating: 3/5

Recipe: One of my favorite summer meals seems a bit Greek inspired. Alison Roman’s recipe for Grilled lamb shoulder over fresh tomatoes is perfect for when tomatoes are at their peak and grilling is easy.

2-3 pounds boneless lamb shoulder

12 anchovy fillets, finely chopped

1/4 cup olive oil

2 pounds very ripe tomatoes, sliced 3/4 ice thick

2 garlic cloves, grated

2 tablespoons lemon juice

Lemony aioli

1) Separate the lamb shoulder with a knife into 3 or 4 smaller pieces to ensure even cooking on the grill.

2) Mix anchovies and olive oil. Season the lamb with salt and pepper and smear with the anchovy mixture. Do this at least 30 minutes in advance, uncovered and refrigerated.

3) Heat aa grill to medium high.

4) Grill until charred deeply and evenly, 5-8 minutes depending on thickness. Transfer to cutting board and let rest for 10 minutes.

5) Meanwhile, place the tomatoes on a large serving platter and season with salad and pepper. Sprinkle on the garlic and lemon juice. Thinly slice the meat and place immediately atop the tomatoes, allowing the juices to mingle. sprinkle with flaky salt and serve with aioli, salsa verde and/or flatbreads.

Band of Sisters

Synopsis: Kate Moran and seventeen other young women make up the Smith College Relief Unit. The women are all Smith graduates who travel as a unit to war torn France in 1917 in an effort to provide some comfort and aid to the war torn civilians of Grecourt, France during World War I. The volunteers are armed with money, supplies and good intentions, all of which naturally go astray. The chateau that was to be their headquarters is a half burnt ruin. The villagers they meet are in desperate shape: women and children huddling in damp cellars, their crops destroyed and their wells poisoned. The Smithies bring welcome aid—and hope—to the region, but must battle constant shelling from the Germans, French bureaucracy, as well as their own internal squabbling and politics.

Review: I read this on the recommendation from a friend who knew I was a Smith college alum. I don’t know which is more amazing: that this story is based very closely on true events, or the fact that I never knew about it! As a Smith grad, I’m embarrassed and a little irritated that the heroics of these women was not known to me or my peers. Yes, I knew the entrance to the Smith is flanked by the Grecourt gates, but had no frame of reference for that, (and apparently very little curiosity either). However, I think the story is more impressive than the novel. As a group, the women displayed incredible courage and resourcefulness. Figuring out how to make do with what they had was a great strength. Unfortunately, the main characters, Emmie and Kate, were frankly a bit annoying. There was too much time spent on the interpersonal drama of the women. Let’s be honest, I’m sure there was plenty of that, but it’s tiresome to read about it at length. I’m sure the events of war time could provide all the drama needed.

Rating: 3/5

Recipe: Smith had fabulous traditions, including one I loved: Friday afternoon tea. My freshman year in Washburn House, we frequently enjoyed these Palmiers. Simple to make, and delicious.

Ingredients

2 cups sugar

1/8 teaspoon kosher salt

2 sheets of puff pastry, defrosted

1) Heat oven to 450 degrees

2) Combine 1 cup sugar and salt and spread on wooden board. unfold each sheet of puff pasty onto the sugar and pour 1/2 cup of the sugar mixture on top, spreading it evenly.

3) Roll it until it is 13 x 13 inches square and the sugar is pressed into the pastry. Fold the sides of the square towards the center so they go halfway to the middle. Fold them again so the two folds meet exactly at the middle of the dough. Then fold one half over the other half as if closing a book. Slice the dough into 3/8 “ slices and place on the parchment lined baking sheet cut sides up.

4) Bake for 6 minutes until caramelized and brown on the bottom, then turn with a spatula and bake another 3-5 minutes. Transfer to a baking rake to cool.

Lessons in Chemistry

Synopsis: Meet Elizabeth Zott, a chemist in the 1960’s. The problem is, she is the only one who views herself that way. Her male colleagues cannot get past the fact that she is a woman and treat her more like a secretary or a doormat. Well, all her colleagues except Calvin Evans, who falls in love with her mind, of all things. True chemistry results! Life, being life, takes a couple of left turns, and a few years later, Elizabeth is a single mother, and the reluctant star of America’s most beloved cooking show Supper at Six. Really, she just wants to be a chemist, if the world would let her.

Review: Another five star find! Elizabeth is a unique character, single minded, and determined to be herself in a world that wants to limit her. She’s not thrilled about hosting a cooking show (she’d rather be in the lab), but she takes it seriously. She empowers her viewers with knowledge and power, and reminds them that their contributions to family life should be valued and appreciated. The cast of supporting characters are equally charming: Harriet, a neighbor in a bad marriage, Walter her boss, not to mention the family pet Six Thirty, a lovable rescue dog with a big vocabulary. This isn’t literary fiction, but it was a fun farce and VERY funny. My first thought on finishing the book was that I wanted to read it again!

Rating: 5/5

Recipe: Obviously, there is a lot of potential inspiration when your protagonist is the host of a cooking show. Elizabeth has many memorable moments, but who can’t relate to skipping dinner and making brownies when things are not going your way? During a particularly bad week, Elizabeth devotes several episodes to that comfort food favorite. I’m not above making brownies from a boxed mix by any stretch, but sometimes I do like to make these individual brownies courtesy of Ina Garten. Warm from the oven with a scoop of ice cream, these are amazing!

Ingredients

1 stick of unsalted butter

4 ounces plus 1/2 cup Hershey’s semi-sweet chocolate chips, divided

1 1/2 ounces unsweetened chocolate

2 extra large eggs

2 teaspoons instant coffee granules

1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon sugar

1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour, divided

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

1 pint vanilla ice cream

1) Heat oven to 350 degrees

2) Melt the butter, 4 ounces of chocolate chips, and the unsweetened chocolate in a double boiler. Set aside for 15 minutes

3) In a large bowl, stir (do not beat) together the eggs, coffee, vanilla and sugar. Stir the chocolate mixture into the egg mixture and allow to cool to room temperature.

4) In a medium bowl, sift together 1/4 cup flour, baking powder and the salt. Add to the chocolate mixture.

5) Toss the remaining 1/2 cup chocolate chips and 1 tablespoon flour and add them to the chocolate mixture.

5) Spoon the batter into 5 3 1/2 inch cast iron skillets, or individual ramekins, place on a baking sheet and bake for 25 minutes.

6) Serve warm with a scoop of ice cream on top.

Pachinko

Synopsis: Min Jin Lee’s 2017 novel is a saga about four generations of a poor Korean immigrant family, trying to control their destiny in 20th century Japan. Pachinko begins in early 1900's Korea with Sunja, the cherished daughter of a poor yet proud family. Her unplanned pregnancy threatens to shame the entire family. Deserted by her lover, Sunja is saved when a young tubercular minister offers to marry and bring her to Japan. The experiences of this family provide the lens through which we examine Japan’s annexation of Korea, it’s entry into World War II as an Axis power, and the ultimate formation of what we now call North and South Korea.

Review: So, what is Pachinko, anyway? The title of this book doesn’t give much away! This novel is historical fiction at it’s best: using the daily life of relatable characters to illuminate our understanding of a part of history. The relationship between Japan and Korea is long and too complex to summarize here. Suffice to say that when Japan annexed Korea in the early 20th century, it did not make life better for the Koreans. Many Koreans were forced to move to Japan to find jobs for their families, but faced discrimination and horrific living conditions when they arrived. Pachinko, we find out, is a kind of Japanese arcade game, and working in a Pachinko parlor was considered a typical job for a Korean trying to get ahead. Many Japanese looked down upon pachinko parlor workers, viewing them as shady and dishonest—or just, you know, Korean. There are so many IDEAS in this book! What does it mean to be a nation? What does it mean to be a family? Ideas of racism, class difference, or the grinding life of women who are indoctrinated to believe that their lot in life is to suffer. Lee has created characters that you really care about, even when they are morally compromised.

Rating: 5/5

Recipe: It’s a cookingthebooksblog first! Two books in one blog, not just a recipe but the entire cookbook! Eric Kim is a New York Times staff write and food blogger. He grew up in Atlanta, the son of two Korean immigrants, and what he presents is a compilation of recipes that pay homage to his Korean roots as well as his American upbringing. This has become my current favorite cookbook for lots of reasons. First of all, Korean food is just delicious. More than that, this book really tells a story, with lovely essays ranging from what it means to grow up and leave home, to what Thanksgiving means to a first generation immigrant family (complete with a full Thanksgiving menu!), to the vital importance of cabbage and white rice in Korean cuisine. Even if you don’t cook, this is a great book just to read. I don’t think its possible to choose just one recipe, but I’m cooking my way through the book, with Gochugaru Shrimp and Grits next in line.

How The Word is Passed

Synopsis: Where are we, exactly, in our national understanding and reckoning of the history of slavery in America? Clint Smith takes us on a tour of nine specific locations that either memorialize or distort their link to slavery, ranging from Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello to the African Burying Ground in Lower Manhattan. Smith walks with other tourists, guides, teachers, scholars, local historians and heritage zealots to try to understand the legacy of slavery and its imprint on centuries of American history,

Review: This is a fascinating, personal, examination of how the history of slavery is presented, and how we as a nation try to understand it. Clint Smith literally takes us on his tour of nine different historical sites to immerse himself in how this history is presented, and how we, the public, are trying to make it make sense. This is the paradox of Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of Independence and fierce advocate for liberty, just not for the 400 people he enslaved on the grounds of Monticello. It is the story of the Whitney Plantation, one of the only former plantations devoted to preserving the experience of the enslaved people whose lives and work sustained it. As you might expect, Smith discovers that the places he visits are all over the place—some examining and confronting the history of slavery, while others downplay or distort it. I suppose we should not expect anything different. We are, after all, the nation where Confederate monuments are being taken down AT THE SAME TIME that basic education about slavery is being outlawed in some states as a form of totalitarian brainwashing. The book has been deeply researched, but it’s truly brought to life by Smith’s engaging interactions with all those he meets. This book reminded me (in a good way) of the writing of Tony Horwitz who has employed a similar approach to the telling of history. If you liked Confederates in the Attic, or Blue Latitudes, you will enjoy How the Word is Passed.

Rating: 4/5

Recipe: Being raised not far from Monticello, that part of the book resonated with me. Thomas Jefferson is truly revered in my part of the country! There were nineteen varieties of peas cultivated at Monticello, and reportedly, peas were his favorite vegetable. This particular rendition is credited to Ina Garten, peas with pancetta.

1 tablespoon olive oil

2.5 ounces pancetta, diced

1 large shallot, halved and sliced

1o ounce box frozen peaas

1 tablespoon julienned fresh mint leaves

1) Heat olive oil and sauce pancetta and shallot over medium heat for 5-7 minutes.

2) Add the frozen peas, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper, cook 5 more minutes until the peas are hot

3) Stir in the mints, taste for seasonings, and serve.

How Beautiful We Were

Synopsis: In October of 1980, in the fictional African village of Kosawa, representatives of an American oil company called Pexton have come to meet with the locals, whose children are dying. Nearby, the company’s oil pipelines and drilling sites have left the fields fallow and the water poisoned. The residents of Kosawa want the company gone and the land restored to what it was before Pexton showed up decades ago. The company’s representatives say they’re doing everything they can, though the villagers know this is a lie. Pexton has the support of the village head as well as the country’s dictator, and with it, impunity. As the meeting concludes, the village madman Konga has another idea: hold the Pexton men prisoner until they get what they want. So launches a David and Goliath story within a setting of modern colonialism.

Review: Imbolo Mbue has done a masterful job of creating a place and a people that are alive and completely believable. There is no consensus among the villagers about what to do—whether to free the Pexton hostages, to lie to the soldiers, to take the oilmen’s money, or to take up arms. The story plays out over a number of years, and the central conflict is whether to trust Pexton to do what’s right (no), to trust that American activists can bring clout to your struggle (possibly, but with it’s own cost), or whether there is even much of a difference between those options. The story is told in alternating, multiple POV, with the primary protagonist of Thula, a young village girl who eventually becomes the chief of Kosawa’s resistance movement. The narrative arc spans decades, and that for me is what made it so compelling. The transition from youthful idealism to wistful nostalgia is universally understood, for those of us at a certain age.

Rating: 5/5

Recipe: I love a good meatball! Cooking the Books has enjoyed Italian meatballs, Swedish meatballs, and now, North African Meatballs courtesy of David Tanis and the New York Times .

FOR THE SAFFRON TOMATO SAUCE

2 Tablespoons olive oil

1 1/2 cups finely diced onion

3 garlic cloves, minced

2 tablespoons tomato paste

1 inch piece cinnamon stick

large pinch of saffron, crumbled

3 cups chicken broth

FOR THE MEATBALLS

1 1/2 cups cubed day old firm white bread

1 cup milk

1 pound ground beef or lamb

1 large egg, beaten

1 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

4 garlic cloves, minced

1/8 teaspoon grated nutmeg

1 teaspoon ground ginger

1 teaspoon turmeric

2 teaspoons paprika

1/4 teaspoon cayenne

1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

1/4 teaspoon ground coriander

1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

3 tablespoons chopped parsley

3 tablespoons chopped cilantro

3 tablespoons finely chopped scallion

all-purpose flour, for dusting

olive oil, or vegetable oil

FOR THE COUSCOUS (OPTIONAL)

1 cup giant couscous

2 tablespoons butter

1/2 cup golden raisins, soaked in hot water, then drained

PREPARATION

1) Make the sauce. Heat the oil over medium high heat. Add onion and cook without browning for 5 minutes. Add garlic, tomato paste, cinnamon and saffron and stir well to incorporate. Season generously with salt and pepper. Add broth and simmer gently for 5 minutes. May be made in advance.

2) Make the meatballs. Put bread cubes and milk in a small bowl. Leave bread to soak until softened, about 5 minutes, then squeeze dry.

3) In a mixing bowl, put squeezed out dry bread, ground meat and egg. Add slat, pepper, garlic, cayenne, nutmeg, ginger, turmeric, paprika, cloves, coriander and cumin. Mix well. Add 2 tablespoon each of parsley, cilantro, and scallion and knead for a minute.

4) Roll meat mixture into small balls about the size of a quarter. Dust lightly with flour. Fry meatballs in oil until barely browned, about 2 minutes per side. Drain and blot on paper towels. Simmer meatballs in saffron-tomato sauce, covered, over medium heat for about 20 minutes.

5) Make the couscous. Cook according to package directions, fluff gently, and stir in butter and raisins. Season with salt and cinnamon, and toss well.

6). Garnish meatballs with remaining parsley, cilantro, and scallion. Serve with couscous.

While Justice Sleeps

Synopsis: Supreme Court Associate Justice Howard Wynn is a cranky misanthrope, possibly paranoid, and suffering from the fictional degenerative brain disease called Boursin’s Syndrome. He has a personal nurse who has been blackmailed into spying on him. He has designed an elaborate set of chess-related clues to his investigation of a case pending before the court, sequestering them for his law clerk Avery Keene to decode. He lapses into a coma induced by what may be a suicide attempt, whereupon the nurse, contrary to instructions from her unknown blackmailer, saves Wynn’s life by calling 911. Phew. That’s all in the first 20 pages or so. Murder and mayhem ensue. What happens to the Supreme Court when a justice is completely disabled but not dead? Hmmmmm.

Review: I am challenged in the synopsis of this novel—lots of busy narrative threads, and plot driven to the extreme! Avery Keene is a self sufficient loner with a crack addicted mother who is not shy about shaking her daughter down for cash. I found that Avery was not a fully believable character. She reacts to alarming events in ways that are implausible, both logically and emotionally. Some of the minor characters are quite cliche, such as Justice Wynn’s unloving second trophy wife. However, it is a page turner! And I applaud the author’s ability to bring numerous plot threads together in the end. This scores points for sheer entertainment, but it helps if you can just go along for the ride rather than try to have it all make sense.

Rating: 3/5

Recipe: As a nod to our setting of the Supreme Court, we have a take on chicken supreme. I assumed that this referred to a specific sauce, but it seems the French term “chicken supreme” really just refers to boneless skin-on chicken breast. Who knew? You will likely have to ask the butcher for this, as boneless chicken breast is always skinless in my grocery store, or you can de-bone a breast yourself.

Ingredients:

4 skin on boneless chicken breasts

4 tablespoons olive oil

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

1/2 lemon, cut in 4 pieces

3 large sprigs of fresh thyme

1 cup sliced shallots

1 tablespoon chopped garlic

1/4 cup vermouth or white wine

2 cups chicken stock

1/2 cup heavy cream

4 tablespoons cold butter

2 tablespoons minced parsley

1) Salt and pepper the chicken breasts

2) add oil to braising pan and sear chicken skin side down until the skin is nice and crispy.

3) Flip the chicken, add lemon wedges and thyme, cover and place in 325 degree oven for 10-20 minutes, until the temperature reaches 155 degrees. Do not overcook.

4) Remove chicken to a plate.

5) Put the pan back on the stove, heat some olive oil and add shallots and garlic, sauce until the shallots start to brown slightly.

6) Add vermouth, cook for about a minute

7). Add chicken broth and reduce for about 5 minutes

8) Add cream and reduce for another five minutes.

9) Off heat, stir in the cold butter.

10) Stir in the parsley and serve with the sliced chicken breast.

Anxious People

Synopsis: This is a comic novel about a failed bank robbery, and the aftermath. A real estate Open House is interrupted when a failed bank robber bursts in and takes the eight would-be buyers hostage. As the afternoon unfolds, the eight strangers begin to slowly open up to each other and reveal long hidden truths. As police surround the premises, the tension mounts, and before the long the bank robber must decide which is more terrifying: going out to face the police or staying in the apartment with “the worst hostages ever.”

Review: I have read several books by Fredrik Backman, so was eager to read this novel. He has a great ear for dialogue, and has an ability to develop great characters of all ages, genders and backgrounds. So with that said, I have to say that while this grew on me, it wasn’t my favorite by Backman. It was a slow starter for me, and I had trouble finding characters to root for. As it developed, I developed more enthusiasm for it. The father-son duo on the police force were great, and the dialogue was actually hilarious at times. In the end, it was a story about parents and the lengths they will go to for their children. It’s a story about trying to understand each other’s difficulties in life and perhaps hold a bit more compassion for them. It was heart warming and charming, and a feel-good, funny story. The second half of the book was more engaging and I just wish it didn’t take so long to get to that point.

Rating: 3/5

Recipe: At one point in the story, the hostages decide to request pizza. Naturally there was difficulty in getting people to agree on what kind of pizza! They ordered Pizza Capricciosa, which includes ham, mushrooms, and artichokes. According to one of the hostages, “everyone” likes that. My pizza isn’t identical, but we still liked it—working on our wood-fired pizza game with the Ooni pizza oven, and I think we’ll be eating a lot of pizza this summer!

Circe

Synopsis: In the house of Helios, god of the sun and mightiest of the Titans, a daughter is born. Circe is a strange child—not powerful like her father, nor alluring like her mother. Although she is a minor goddess in Greek mythology, Circe turns to mortals for companionship and discovers that she does possess power—the power of witchcraft which can transform rivals into monsters and menace the gods themselves. Threatened, Zeus banishes her to a deserted island where she hones her occult craft learning to use herbs and potions, and most remarkably to transform her enemies into animals. Circe crosses paths with some of the most famous characters in Greek mythology including the Minotaur. Medea and Odysseus. She gives birth to a son of Odysseus who challenges her to decide once and for all if she belongs with the gods she is born from, or from the mortals she has come to love.

Review: This was a great re-telling of The Odyssey, but told from the perspective of Circe. I think she was a bit of a bit player in Greek mythology, but her story, as told by Madeline Miller, introduces us to many familiar characters: Prometheus, the Minotaur, Hermes and Athena, and of course Odysseus. I enjoyed it so much, I have decided to go back to her first novel—not surprisingly, a re-telling of the Iliad from the perspective of Achilles.

Rating: 4/5

Recipe: Greek inspired orzo salad with crispy chickpeas is topped with some “magic” herbs….Jeff Mauro’s recipe uses mint, but I like dill or even Greek oregano.

Ingredients

1/12 cups dried orzo

1 cup Greek yogurt ranch dressing, such as Hidden Valley

zest and juice of one lemon

1/4 cup crumbled feta

1/4 chopped kalamata olives

2 firm tomatoes, seeded and diced

1 English cucumber, seeded and diced

1/2 red onion, diced

Crispy chickpeas, recipe to follow

1 tablespoon chopped fresh mint (or dill, or whatever you like)

Crispy chickpeas

1 can chickpeas

1 teaspoon za’atar

1) Cook orzo according to package directions. Rinse in cold water, drain, and transfer to large bowl

2) In a small bowl, mix together the ranch dressing, lemon zest and lemon juice. Toss the mixture and add the orzo with salt and pepper.

3) Fry chickpeas in olive oil until crisp, then season with za’atar and drain on a paper towel lined plate. This is also easily done in an air fryer if you have one.

4) In layers or strips, add the feta, olives, tomatoes, cucumber and red onion. Garnish with crispy chickpeas and mint

The Lincoln Highway

Synopsis: Emmett Watson is a nice young man. How in the world did he end up in juvenile reform school? The novel begins in 1954 as Emmett is released a few months early from his stay at reform school. This is in consideration of his father’s death, the foreclosure of the family farm, and his new responsibility of caring for his eight year old brother Billy. After the warden drops him off, two former “classmates” show up, having stowed away in the warden’s trunk. Duchess, Wooly, Emmett and Billy soon set off on their own epic road trip. Emmett and Billy plan to travel to California, but circumstances lead them in the opposite direction, to New York City.

Review: This is a novel with a great cast of characters who have the common goal of seeking a fresh start. They have all been abandoned in one fashion or another, and are all on a journey of discovery and figuring out how to fit into the world. The story is told from multiple POV, and it worked well here. I’m definitely a fan of Amor Towles, and once again he has created a time and place that is vivid and real. It’s quite the feat for a story that also has a bit of the fantastical “hero’s journey” feeling as well. There are lots of ideas in this book. A single wrong turn can really get you off course—an apt metaphor for life, if not a road trip. There is some violence, and dark shadows do fall across our heroes, but this is ultimately a hopeful novel, and I loved every minute of it.

Rating: 5/5

Recipe: Duchess makes dinner for Emmett, Wooly and Billy, creating a dish he calls Fettucine Mio Amore. Thanks to bookclubcookbook.com, I stumbled upon a Q&A with Amor Towles where the author provided the recipe!

Ingredients

1/4 cup olive oil

1 large or 2 small American bacon, cut crosswise into 1/4 inch strips

1 bay leaf

3/4 cup dry white wine

1 teaspoon oregano

1 teaspoon red pepper flakes

3/4 cup crush tomatoes or tomato sauce (and not an ounce more!)

1/2 cup chicken broth

1/2 cup parmesan cheese, grated

12-16 ounces fettuccine, preferably fresh

1) Cook the onions in olive oil in a deep saucepan, then set onions aside. In the sam pan, fry the bacon until brown but not crisp. Pour off most, but not all of the bacon fat.

2) Add back the onions, the white wine and let simmer for a few minutes. Add the tomato sauce, chicken broth, oregano and pepper flakes. Stir and let simmer another 10 minutes. Add more chicken broth if needed.

3) Cook fettuccine. Toss about 1/4 of the sauce with the fettuccine and parmesan.

4) Divide the pasta on plates, spoon the rest of the sauce on top and serve.

Lost in the Valley of Death: A Story of Obsession and Danger in the Himalayas

Synopsis: A work of narrative non-fiction, Lost in the Valley of Death tells the story of Justin Alexander Shetler, a 35 year old American who disappeared in the Parvati Valley of India. He is but one of at least two dozen tourists who have disappeared in this area in the last few decades. Multiple hypotheses! Maybe suicide, maybe a victim of foul play, maybe a victim of drugs, maybe just wanted to detach from the world and not be found. The author of this book is clearly enamored by this one specific individual, but is not able to provide a clear story of what happened. Justin Shetler had a large social media following, so we have a trail of sorts, as he travels to India on some sort of spiritual journey. He encounters a sadhu, or Indian holy man (or charlatan depending on your view), and embarks on a trip to a distant lake, but never returns. Harley Rustad takes a deep dive into the story to try and sort it out……

Review: I’ve taken some time to think about this story, and about this book, before deciding what kind of review to give. My initial reaction was not favorable, as I found Justin Shetler to be a narcissistic, self important phony. This was a guy who just seemed to have a deep desire for being the center of attention, and it’s not a trait that I find particularly appealing. He meticulously curated his social media following, populating his adventuresofjustin Instagram with moody—and shirtless— self portraits. All of that “seeking and searching”,,,,, who was that for, really? I couldn’t figure out if the social media persona was authentic, or just for the “likes.” The author drew frequent comparisons to Christopher McCandless (of Into the Wild fame), which only increased my antipathy as McCandless was another vagabond that I found to be smug and too self impressed. HOWEVER, having said all that, this book gave me a lot to think about, and that’s exactly what I’m looking for in a book! What is the psychology of “the seeker?” People driven to look outside of themselves for something to give life meaning I guess. It also made me wonder about myself—what is it about these characters that I find so irritating? What does that say about me? In the end, I’ll give this a thumbs up for stimulating a lot of thought and questions.

Rating: 4/5

Recipe: Full disclosure: I did not read this book just to have an excuse to cook Indian food, even though I love Indian food! Until I encountered Urvashi Pitre, Indian food was largely just take out for me. Dr Pitre is known as the “Butter Chicken Lady” and author of several cookbooks. I happened upon her Indian Instant Pot cookbook and fell in love. Butter chicken is the hook that got me in, but the whole cook book is great.

Ingredients

14 ounce can of diced tomatoes

5-6 cloves of garlic

1-2 teaspoons minced ginger

1 teaspoon turmeric

1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1 teaspoon smoked paprike

1 teaspoon kosher salt

1 teaspoon garam masala

1 teaspoon cumin

1 pound boneless chicken thighs

4 ounces butter

4 ounces heavy cream

1 teaspoon garam masala

1/4-1/2 cup chopped cilantro

1). Place all ingredients in the Instant Pot in the order listed except for the butter, cream and 1 teaspoon garam masala, mixing the sauce well before placing the chicken on top.

2) close the cooker and et for 10 minutes on high, and let the pressure release naturally for 10 minutes, then release remaining pressure

3) Remove chicken and set aside

4) Blend remaining ingredients together using immersion blender.

5) Add butter, cream, cilantro, and remaining garam masala if you wish (though I find that a bit much)

6) Add the chicken back in, serve over rice or zucchini noodles

The Rose Code

Synopsis: In 1940’s England, three women answer the call to service at Bletchley Park. This country estate is where the best minds in Britain train to break German military codes. Osla is the society debutante who wants to prove her worth. Mab, from East end London, works the code breaking machines and looks for a socially advantageous husband. Beth is the local spinster whose shyness conceals a brilliant facility with puzzles. The friendship of these three is broken apart, and one is consigned to mental institution to prevent revealing the identity of a traitor within their midst. After the war, the three friends-turned-enemies must reunite to solve the final puzzle to identify the traitor.

Review: I enjoyed The Alice Network by this author, and this was very much in the same vein. It’s hard to go wrong when the background story is the breaking of the enigma code at Bletchley Park! Most of you know how I love a good World War II story, and this was a great mash up of some real events and (obviously) fiction. I really enjoyed the primary plot involving the code breakers, and the stresses our three heroines endured. There is a secondary timeline involving the marriage of the future Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip which honestly, I could have done without. That part of the story felt a bit gimmicky, and I wouldn’t have missed it’s absence. Still, this was entertaining and informative, so what more could a reader ask for?

Rating: 4/5

Recipe: The secondary plot line involves the marriage of then-Princess Elizabeth to Prince Philip of Greece. While I didn’t love that aspect of the novel, it never fails that there is lots of available information regarding royal events! The menu for the wedding “breakfast” (apparently the meal is always called breakfast in England regardless of what time of day the wedding occurs) included a nod to both the princess, with Bombe Glacee Princess Elizabeth, and to the groom with Filet de Sole Mountbatten. While I was not able to locate actual recipes, I think given the Mediterranean background of the prince, that this baked sole recipe will do just fine.

Ingredients

juice of one lemon

1/2 cup olive oil

3 tablespoons unsalted butter

2 shallots thinly sliced

3 garlic cloves thinly sliced

2 tablespoons capers

1 teaspoon seasoned salt

3/4 teaspoon ground pepper

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1.5 pound sole fillets

4-6 green onions

1 lime or lemon, sliced (optional)

3/4 roughly chopped dill

1) In a small bowl whisk together the lemon juice, olive oil, melted butter and a dash of seasoned salt. Stir in the shallots, garlic and capers.

2) In a separate small bowl, mix together the seasoned salt, pepper, cumin and garlic powder. Season the fish on both sides.

3) Place the fish on a lightly oiled baking dish, cover with the lemon mixture, arrange green onions and lemons on top.

4) Bake in 375 degrees for 10-15 minutes.

5) Remove from oven and garnish with fresh dill.

Harlem Shuffle

Synopsis: To his customers and neighbors on 125th Street, Ray Carney is an upstanding salesman of reasonably priced furniture. He and his wife Elizabeth are expecting their second child, and trying to save money to move up in the world. Cash is tight, so Ray discretely fences stolen jewelry on the side to help make ends meet. His side hustle fencing stolen goods draws in a new clientele of shady cops, local gangsters, two-bit pornographers and other assorted Harlem characters. Thus is the internal struggle between Ray the striver and Ray the crook. Can Ray avoid getting killed and grab his share of the big score, all while maintaining his reputation as the go-to source for all your quality home furnishing needs?

Review: Colson Whitehead presents a vividly recreated Harlem of the early 1960’s. It’s a family saga, a crime story, a commentary on race and power, but more than anything it’s quite funny and full of memorable characters. Whitehead succeeds in bringing all these characters to life, and while they are not harmless, they are definitely comic. For all the allusions to drugs and murder, there is a lot more humor than blood in this novel. I admire the way Whitehead refuses to be pigeonholed into a genre. Previous works include Underground Railroad and The Nickel Boys, both pretty weighty subjects, and a zombie novel? There’s a little more talking than action in this novel, but when the writing is this good I think that’s OK

Rating: 4/5

Recipe: Whitehead’s novel doesn’t directly reference Sylvia’s, but it is known as THE destination for soul food cooking in Harlem in the 1960’s. While the restaurant is now closed, there is a cookbook that allows us to enjoy Sylvia’s cooking to this day! Hard to pick one thing, but cornbread is one of my favorites.

Sylvia’s Cornbread

2 cups all purpose flour

2 cups corn meal

3/4 cup sugar

2 tablespoon baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

5 eggs, beaten

2 1/2 cups mill

1 cup vegetable oil

1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees, and grease a 9 x 13 inch pan

2) Mix all dry ingredients

3) Mix all wet ingredients

4) combine wet and dry ingredients and mix until just combined

5) Bake at 350 for 40-45 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.