I am a voracious reader. In fact, it’s my favorite pastime; it educates me, entertains me, and calms me at the end of a hectic day. I consume several books per month and I am always looking for my next good “read.”
Carol's favorite book, at the moment!
I like to keep several books ready and waiting on my iPad so I can read anywhere, anytime: bed, airplanes, waiting rooms, or just lazing by the fireplace on a rainy Sunday afternoon.
As you might guess, many of the books I read are about food, but not all of them. Sometimes, I like to lose myself in a good, well-written novel whether it’s about food or not.
So, here is a list of what I have read recently in hopes that some of these books might appeal to you too.
BOOKS RELATED TO FOOD, IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER
Sous Chef: 24 Hours on the Line by Michael Gibney
A look behind the scenes of a busy NYC restaurant and what REALLY goes in the kitchen, from the viewpoint of the sous (second) chef. Eye-opening, for sure.
Caffeinated: How Our Daily Habit Helps, Hurts, and Hooks Us by Murray Carpenter
I am a coffee lover, but I didn’t know about the role of caffeine in coffee as well as other foods and how it affects our bodies. Enlightening….
Steeped in Evil (A Tea Shop Mystery) by Laura Childs
A light, easy-to-read murder mystery set in a tea shop. You will breeze through this one.
52 Loaves: One Man’s Relentless Pursuit of Truth, Meaning, and a Perfect Crust by William Alexander
A chronicle of how one man became obsessed with bread-baking, eventually taking him to a secluded monastery in Europe to learn the secrets. Fun, educational, but not about gluten-free bread…darn!
The $64 Tomato: How One Man Nearly Lost His Sanity, Spent a Fortune, and Endured an Existential Crisis in the Quest for the Perfect Garden by William Alexander
A humorous account of the author’s attempts to grow the perfect tomato in a perfect garden—and how nature, critters, and other obstacles hampered his quest.
BOOKS NOT RELATED TO FOOD, BUT STILL A GOOD READ
Still Life with Bread Crumbs by Anna Quindlen
Despite the title, this book is not about food but refers to an award-winning photograph of food taken long ago by the heroine that made her famous. Now, she’s older and dealing with aging issues and declining fame, plus a little love interest with a younger man to make things even more interesting.
Thrive: the Third Metric to Redefining Success and Creating a Life of Well-Being, Wisdom, and Wonder by Arianna Huffington (Of Huffington Post fame)
A good book to help you get your priorities straight. We don’t all have access to the resources that someone of her position has, but we can learn from her experience nonetheless.
The Wives of Los Alamos by Tarashea Nesbit
Little has been written about the women behind the men who developed the nuclear bomb at Los Alamos, NM, during World War II. This account looks at how the women, especially the wives and their families, fared during this tumultuous and life-changing era.
Finally, here are two books from one of my favorite authors, Adriana Trigiani
Lucia, Lucia: A Novel
The life of the child of an Italian immigrant; it gives us a glimpse of a young woman who wants a career in an era when it was not common after World War II. A love story that goes awry.
The Supreme Macaroni Company: A Novel
Despite its name, this book is not about macaroni at all. You will have to read the book to find out why the author gave it that name. It’s about a young woman who runs a custom-shoemaking shop in NYC and how she meets and then loses the love of her life—all while growing her business.
