TRUTH AND BEAUTY
Ann Patchett
This is a beautifully written tribute to the author’s close friend Lucy Grealy and is the story of a complicated friendship. When Patchett was in Toronto speaking at Luminato, the references to this book by audience members made it hard to resist reading.
THE COOKBOOK COLLECTOR
Allegra Goodman
Not as much about cooking or cookbooks as it is about hunger, loneliness, sisters, family, relationships and IPOs. But there’s enough about food and cookbook collecting to interest foodies. Very old-fashioned in a modern kind of way.
TELL IT TO THE TREES
Anita Rau Badami
Subject of our book club at Amaya Restaurant in October. This book is the story of the secrets and isolation of an east Indian family living in a small town in northern British Columbia. Disturbing and powerful, it is what Badami’s fans have been waiting for.
THE DOVEKEEPERS
Alice Hoffman
How can I love a book so much when I already know the dramatic ending? This is the historical fiction account of the fall of Masada, the site of ancient palaces and fortifications built by the Roman King Herod on a plateau in the Judean Desert overlooking the Dead Sea, in 70 CE. Don’t miss it.
BLOOD BONES AND BUTTER: The Inadvertent Education of a Reluctant Chef
Gabrielle Hamilton
This book is a great read. People in the food business have been waiting years for this memoir from Gabrielle Hamilton, the chef/owner of Prune in New York, who has her Masters of Fine Art in fiction writing. While I give the author so much credit for overcoming so many obstacles while growing up, and I definitely was engaged while reading it, in the end, for me, there was something missing. She was very open in many regards but left me hanging in other places. It is definitely worth reading especially if you love food and like to explore relationships around it.
SORCERER’S APPRENTICES: A Season at el Bulli
Lisa Abend
Although I have never really been a big fan of molecular gastronomy after reading Lisa Abend’s adventures following the 2009 stagiaires at el Bulli, I came away with a new found appreciation of the importance of Ferran Adria and his world famous restaurant. If it wasn’t closing this year, I might even have thought to go. Abend does not offer her opinion outright but often, if you read between the lines, you may find her feelings about how the stagiaires were treated, the lengths to which Adria goes to create a new dish, and what it takes to be the best restaurant in the world. Not to be missed if you are in the food business.
STATE OF WONDER
Ann Patchett
Bel Canto was one of my favourite books – Utopia in a dangerous setting and so much more. State of Wonder, Patchette’s new novel, is a bit of Utopia in a very dangerous setting as well, but involves science rather than music. Bel Canto is a hard act to follow but if you loved it, you’ll want to read this one. (Ann Patchett will be in Toronto for Luminato.)
THE GUILTY PLEA
Robert Rotenberg
It is really fun to read a mystery novel set in your own city, in this case Toronto, where you recognize all the restaurants, neighbourhoods, streets and buildings and can speculate about the celebrity food family the book gets its inspiration from. It’s a quick and fun read with great characters and gives a great insight into our legal system. If you loved Old City Hall you will love this too.
