Reading Now . . .

I'm reading the Persephone edition of Farewell Leicester Square by Betty Miller, a novel of anti-Semitism in Britain between-the-wars.   The protagonist is a young man who leaves behind his Jewish upbringing in Brighton, marries a Gentile woman, and becomes a successful film-maker.  The anti-Semitism he experiences is all the more chilling for being so casual and ingrained.  

I've just started Portobello by Ruth Rendell.  I prefer her stand-alone suspense novels (such as this one) to her Inspector Wexford series.  The fifty-year old central character, a resident of London's Notting Hill neighborhood, finds an envelope stuffed with cash one day on his way to the shops, and embarks on an ill-considered plan to find whomever lost it.  

Finally, I'm not so much reading as salivating over The Gourmet Cookie Book: The Single Best Recipe from Each Year 1941-2009.   I do miss Gourmet magazine (which folded in November 2009), so this is a wonderful resource.  Coconut macadamia shortbread, anyone?  Or how about Chocolate Peppermint Bar Cookies?  

 

Comments

[martina]

I am currently drooling over The Christmas Candy Book (http://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Candy-Book-Seibert-Pappas/dp/B000C4SFLA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1289397975&sr=8-1) by Lou Seibert Pappas, which just arrived last night, along with Cold Weather Cooking!! Now, if only I can find the time to actually use the stove this weekend...
-Martina

[Karen]

Hello Martina: I'm glad to hear you rec'd the Cold Weather Cooking book; do let us know what recipes you try! Thanks for stopping by and giving us the link to the Christmas Candy book.

[Odette]

I miss Gourmet a lot, too. Never fully realized how distinct it was from Bon Appetit until it was canceled. The cookie book looks like lots of fun, especially this time of year.

I've been browsing the new Amanda Hesser NYT Cookbook & love it. It's like getting a big family cookbook filled with stories - except the family is the NYT & its food section readers.
Also really enjoying the Jamie Oliver Food Revolution cookbook (which is probably more appropriate for my skills level than the NYT book). I like his healthy eating campaign & the idea of committing to learning a few easy recipes which you then teach to other folks, who teach them to other folks, and so on. (I'm not sure any of the people I know, who are mostly much better cooks than I am, really want to be taught any recipes, but I like the concept.)

[Karen]

Hello Odette: Gourmet is a sad loss. I have a friend who has every issue dating back to the early 80s. What a treasure trove! I've been meaning to get the Amanda Hesser book, although I confess the last time I had the oven on in my apartment was to heat up some prepared food I had purchased on the way home! Not familiar with the Jamie Oliver one, but you have to admire his initiatives about school lunches, etc.