Garlic and Sapphires

Ruth Reichl (center) at the
Seattle Public Libraries Literary Lions fundraiser,
surrounded clockwise by volunteers:
Kim Unti, me, and Pam Yates

Garlic and Sapphires

The Secret Life of a Critic in Disguise

By Ruth Reichl

I met Ruth Reichl when she generously donated her time at the Seattle Public Library System’s Literary Lions fundraiser Gala as Keynote speaker, and also meeting guests and signing her books for them.  I can tell you, her books were in high demand.  Her fans were delighted to meet and chat with her.  Food is at the heart of her many books.  Great cooking, great cuisine, and people sharing meals together.  She has received 6 James Beard awards. 

This memoir is about the author as the New York Times food critic.  It’s filled with humor along with heartwarming insights, of course incredible descriptions of food, restaurant settings, and also recipes.  A New York Times review was very influential, and had significant impact on a restaurant’s reputation and business.  Restaurant staff would be on the alert to recognize a food critic by her picture, so they could be sure to emphasize their best service and dining.  To avoid detection, Ruth would wear disguises.

She didn’t just go buy a wig and glasses.  It’s so funny to read how she designed and created a full character for each of her disguises, with the help of friends.  She developed a whole back story for each character she became, and the disguise matched the personality she wanted to project.  The clothes, the makeup, the hair were consciously put together, as each character came to life.  Beyond the deliciously funny reactions from friends and family, especially her young son, it was quickly clear that service at some restaurants changed dramatically depending on the disguise and personality the author projected.

It was so interesting to read the stories of her visits to very famous New York restaurants as well as some lesser known.  Her descriptions of the meals she shared with friends and family vividly include all senses, and I could easily imagine myself there with a tantalizing taste on the tongue of restaurant specialties.  After reading about the story behind the review, her New York Times review itself is also included.  There’s so much humor, especially as she establishes herself with her first reviews.  You’ll also see an evolution of her creative reviews, as she comes to deeply appreciate the promise a restaurant needs to deliver as people spend their hard earned money to experience a beautiful, shared event in their lives.  Her honest reviews to guide guests to the restaurants they’ll enjoy had a real importance.

Ruth says, “This book is going to have recipes instead of pictures because I want you to be able to taste what I am talking about.”  Now I’m still cooking and baking my way through the wonderful recipes.

Thereby hangs a tale . . . .

Murder Eclipsed

Dark Nantucket Noon

By Jane Langton

                Katherine, or Kitty as everyone calls her, returns to the island of Nantucket especially to view a spectacular, noon eclipse of the sun.  She flies from her Boston home, time away from teaching, to experience nature’s show in the only place where the entire total eclipse will be visible.  She’s certain she won’t run into her passionate love, Joe Green, or his wife while she’s there.

                Kitty runs far out along the beach, and ends up viewing the dramatic event by a lighthouse on a seemingly deserted spit on Nantucket Sound.  When the daylight returns, the most beautiful woman on the island, Joe’s wife, lies dead in a pool of blood at Kitty’s feet.  Joe and others who were viewing the eclipse from inside the lighthouse run out onto the murder scene.

                Homer Kelly, salt of the earth homicide detective turned Harvard professor, and occasional amateur sleuth, turns up at the jail believing in Kitty’s innocence.  This mystery novel is one of a series featuring Homer Kelly.  During his murder investigation, and defense of this capricious, creative, poet and teacher, Kelly learns a lot about the people living on the island.  He discovers a passion to preserve the precious environment, and also a competing hunger to draw more people and development.

                This author treats us to a very detailed picture of this special place on earth.  Jane Langton is now 93 years old living in Lincoln, Massachusetts.  She was born and raised in Boston.  Her passion for Nantucket shines through in her writing, and also in her wonderful line drawings that are scattered throughout the book.  Langton said she also used her drawing skills to help with the writing itself. “Drawing comes in handy in moments of desperation when a plot refuses to get itself organized,” she said. So early on, she started using a writing technique she calls Plotting with Charts: “I make tiny drawings on Post-it notes and stick them on a long piece of shelf paper. Then, because the glue on the back is forgiving, I can move the episodes around, trying them in different combinations.”

Besides her mystery series, she’s written about a dozen delightful children’s books.  Then, in 1970 she witnessed a solar eclipse in Nantucket, and decided to combine the event with her astronomy studies at Wellesley College in this Homer Kelly novel which came out in 1975.  No wonder her description of the eclipse and its impacts are so fascinating.  If you like discovering beautiful natural environments and animals, if you like meeting interesting characters and suspects, and certainly if you like solving an intriguing cozy mystery that masterfully unfolds, then you’ll want to read a Dark Nantucket Noon.

Thereby hangs a tale . . . .             

Coins in the Fountain Reflect La Dolce Vita

Coins in the Fountain
A Memoir of Rome

By Judith Works

You’re invited on a Roman holiday.  You’ll linger over each page of this book, savoring the full-flavored descriptions of all that is seen, heard, tasted, and felt.  Just like all holidays, you won’t want this book to end.  Judith is an adventuresome American who eagerly sought the extraordinary experience of working with the United Nations organization in Italy.  Now we’re fortunate that she’s sharing her expatriate and also her traveler experiences with the rest of us.

Often tourists regret not glimpsing more about the culture and people of the countries they travel to.  Here Judith’s tales setting up a household and then a life in Rome treat you to those insights of what it is to be Italian.  The descriptions of all aspects of la dolce vita are enhanced with the author’s delightful, dry humor.  As with life everywhere, there is the good, the bad, and the ugly, and this book holds back nothing from a well-rounded account for the reader.  Narratives of the Italian meals cooked at home, as well as enjoyed in restaurants are featured.  Meals are events.  Words from the beautiful Italian language are sprinkled throughout the book too, delighting the reader.

There are several dimensions to this memoir.  In addition to life in Rome, another interesting aspect is the description of the work done for the United Nations.  The initial work described is with the FAO (Food and Agricultural Organization).  These situations “presented new problems complicated by the mix of nationalities, cultures, work locations, and legal arrangements.  Adding to the tangle, the United Nations has its own laws as well as individual agreements governing its presence.”  Later the author works for the FAO’s even more adventuresome sister food agency, the World Food Programme.  Stories shared in this book about dedicated people assigned all over the world were touching.

All five senses are immersed in the vivid descriptions of the bountiful landmarks in Rome.  With years of residency to draw from, the author presents the places so many of us have only heard of and also many surprises in Rome as well.  But that’s not all!  For you virtual travelers, Judith also shares extensive excursions taken all over Italy.  But it’s not just the sights, sounds, and tastes in Judith’s descriptions; she includes very interesting historical information to explain the background and then relates it to present day.  The writing flows so easily, it is sprezzatura, the art of making the difficult look effortless.

You’ll enjoy this gracious, artistic view of life in Italy, and you can reread it over again without throwing coins in the fountain.  Have your book signed by Judith Works at The Edmonds Bookshop this Saturday.

Thereby hangs a tale . . . .

Something to Tweet About

Welcome To Subirdia

By John M. Marzluff

The weekend of February 12^th, will be the Great Backyard Bird Count.  Every year Participants are asked to count birds for as little as 15 minutes (or as long as they wish) on one or more days of the four-day event and report their sightings online at birdcount.org. Anyone can take part in the Great Backyard Bird Count, from beginning bird watchers to experts, and you can participate from your backyard, or anywhere in the world.  This book is a wonderful complement to that coming attraction.  Its appeal spans bird lovers, and naturalists who are looking for insights into the evolution occurring all around us.

The author’s other name is James W. Ridgeway, Professor of Wildlife Science at the University of Washington.  The many stories, studies, and examples specific to Seattle and many of its named suburbs, including the Edmonds Ferry line are particularly fun for local readers.  Some of his bird studies spans across the United States as well and also reach into many other nations around the world.  The book discusses the fascinating ways that many varieties of birds, and some other background animals, are adapting to the conditions of the increasingly developed world.  We may know that so many of our actions and decisions affect our feathered friends, but this book explains that cause and effect, and also provides practical strategies that can improve the environment for our nature’s neighbors too.  As the author says, “we learn about each bird’s place in the web of life and begin to see ourselves within that web as well.”

The book includes many beautiful sketches depicting the birds and stories discussed throughout the book.  Jack DeLap is the artist.  His illustrations have appeared in a variety of other books and publications as well.  His appreciation for the lives and souls of these little creatures is apparent in every picture.

What I mostly appreciate in this book that the author laces science deftly between the everyday examples and explanations.  I learned so much because he kept my interest alive.  Instead of lecturing at me, this Professor conversed about a topic so obviously dear to his heart.

I’m a bird feeder, and I learned so many interesting things about the birds that my feeder is attracting.  The author shows ways that these creatures are not only adapting, but also evolving.  As the author says, “Evolution is not something that happens only in the abstract eons of geological time.  It is happening right now, in your own backyards.  You are a force, as potent as the glaciers of the last ice age, shaping your feathered neighbors.”  This book gave me hope that with understanding and education that people like the Professor is spreading, nature will prevail.

For those of you looking for something with a little more of the naturalist’s scientific information, yet still enjoyable reading, another book by the same author is Gifts of the Crow.  If you’re especially a crow fan, you’ll really enjoy this exposition into the smart behavior of these birds, and the others in the “corvid” family.

Thereby hangs a tale . . . .

He's The Last Policeman

The Last Policeman

By Ben H. Winters

All is not as it appears, right from the start of this novel.  It looks like a suicide, and yet rookie detective Hank Palace isn’t sure of that.  Still, he wonders what the point is to investigate further.  It’s only a feeling he has that it could be murder, and what will it matter when the world is certain to end in six months.  That’s right, the major twist in this novel is asteroid 2011GV which is on a direct heading to earth, and nothing will stop it. The science is undeniable.  The end of the world has been announced.  The only questions left are the date and the precise location.

Life on earth has changed with this asteroid news.  People, including other police officers, are walking off their jobs to pursue their bucket lists and other end of world desperate pursuits.  Is there any reason now for Detective Palace to investigate what by all accounts appears to be suicide?  With the end of the world a certainty, suicide has become sadly epidemic.  Is it really so hard to believe this one?  No one else seems to care, including the dead man’s family.  Is perseverance in this world to do the right thing, despite circumstances, part of human nature?  How important is one man’s death?

It’s a fascinating character study to see questions of motive in this new light, with the asteroid approaching.  The end of the world changes everything from a law enforcement perspective.  The dead man worked in the insurance industry, which is affected in its own way by the world news.  Is there motive there for murder?  Or motive for suicide?  When the detective notifies the man’s family, curious dynamics ensue.

Hank Palace is struggling with his own personal and family issues throughout this novel as well, which brings another dimension to his job and to the chaos around him.  This novel combines the best of detective investigation with philosophical debate and science fiction.

Ben H. Winters is the author of eight novels, including most recently World of Trouble (Quirk), the concluding book in The Last Policeman trilogy.  The Last Policeman was the recipient of the 2012 Edgar Award, and it was also named one of the Best Books of 2012 by Amazon.com and Slate.  As I read, I was working side by side with Detective Palace to uncover clues, follow leads, and to seek meaning in a human life.

Thereby hangs a tale . . . .

Glimpse the Mind of a Great, Free Solo Climber

Alex Honnold is probably the most famous adventure athlete in the world.  He’s a world class free solo climber, known for climbing without the help of ropes, equipment, or a partner.  He’s been known to scale 2,000 feet with only shoes and a chalk bag for “equipment”.  He doesn’t always solo, but when he does it’s truly breathtaking.  This is a sport with a history, but Alex’s new generation has brought a new edge to it.  He climbs up a vertical wall with his fingers finding tiny cracks and spots to hang onto, and just-barely toe holds.  Weaving his way like a spider man, he’s setting not just solo climbing records, but also speed records.

I don’t know anything about the skills or requirements for soloing, mountain climbing, bouldering, or alpining.  I’m just a regular hiker.  Yet this book is so well written I was fascinated throughout, and learned so much about the sport.  The book’s design is well done, with the narrative decidedly split between Alex Honnold’s stream of conscious thought about the climbs he’s describing, and the narrative by the co-author David Roberts.

A veteran mountaineer who's written 30 books himself, David Roberts was the one behind Alex's book project. Alex's primary interest in the book is that he hopes it will push readers in their own climbing ambitions.  The included color photos of spectacular climbs are incredible, interspersed with photos of Alex’s van life and his growing up.  The book recounts seven incredible climbing achievements, starting out immediately on page one with the climb that began his fame, free soloing Moonlight Buttress, which is a 1,200 foot high, nearly vertical sandstone cliff in Utah’s Zion National Park.

I was one of the fortunate in the sold out crowd recently when Alex Honnold gave a talk in Seattle and a book signing.  Alex said this was the biggest crowd he'd ever spoken in front of, and he said that's a tribute to Seattle's climbing community.  And that didn’t even take into account the line of people outside that went all the way down the block hoping for a last minute spot in the sellout crowd.

Before you judge him as crazy, Alex would remind you that there's 20 years of practice and dedication behind his climbing choices.  "If I thought I was going to die I wouldn't do this."  He chooses what he climbs and does a lot of both mental and physical preparation.

His physical preparation includes lots of gym training.  He also often does a climb roped first in order to see how hard it is, and also to determine how tired he will get.  His mental preparation includes detailed thinking through the whole experience and visualizing.  He also does heavy thinking on the ground about his approach.

He insists that it's all well thought through in advance, and then on the wall it's an enjoyable experience.  On specific tough “pitches” he'll be intensely focused.  As an example of the proportion - for most climbs the easy, relaxed part of the solo, for Honnold, could be about 1,500 feet and the hard solo requiring 100% of his focus could be about 500 feet of it.

As far as dying, Alex insists that what matters is what you do before you die - thought provoking, as is the book.

He splits climbing into consequence and risk.  The consequence - if fall, die.  The risk - he can control some risk. He judges the risk by how confident he feels from the preparation he did.  What’s optimal?  Alex aims for high consequence, with managed risk.

Alex formed the Honnold Foundation after his life altering experience on a climb in Chad in 2010.  It's an environmental nonprofit that helps raise the standard of living around the world.  Proceeds from his book go to his Foundation.

Did you know that Alex's support was instrumental in saving our nearby Index for climbers?  A world traveler, he’s a native Californian through and through.  His very favorite climb and his original training ground are Yosemite and Half Dome.  He also loves Rainbow Wall in California.

Alex’s favorite thing is feeling like a tiny dot on a huge expansive rock all by himself.  Soloing gives him a deep satisfaction, especially because it's such a slow, methodical process.  He’s committed to continually improving himself and his performance.

Despite his amazing accomplishments, Alex is a very humble person.  His nickname is Alex No Big Deal Honnold, stemming from his nonchalant demeanor.  His book will surface your appreciation for nature, and for people who passionately follow their dreams to wherever they lead, whether to the next granite wall, or to the next Honnold Foundation goal improving the lives of others.  Don’t pass up this book and the chance for a glimpse into the mind of a great free solo climber.

Thereby hangs a tale . . . .

Alone on the Wall

By Alex Honnold with David Roberts

Hooti Couture Memoir Delights

Alligators, Old Mink & New Money

By Alison Houtte & Melissa Houtte

All avid readers delight in good books, but to unexpectedly discover a gem when you’re not expecting to is a special treat.  I was doing fashion research; yes there is such a thing, and this book I had selected for research turned out to be a delightful read.

This memoir begins with the author’s life growing up in Miami.  Alison is co-author of her memoir with her sister, who is a journalist.  Highlighted from the start is the embarrassment her mother was to Alison and her siblings, because of how her mother dressed.  She dressed in vintage, shopping at Goodwill and church rummage sales.  The family experiences are precious and full of good natured humor.  As her adult life progresses, Alison ends up embracing vintage and even owning her own, famous shop in Brooklyn.  Don’t you just love irony?  Alison’s life takes such interesting turns from Miami to Brooklyn.

As she grows up in Miami, she is able to do some modeling.  That leads to a surprising opportunity to live and model in Paris.  The descriptions of her life in Miami are vibrant, and her descriptions of the modeling life in Paris and later in Europe are exciting and fascinating.  The humor intertwined in her reflections on her family life in Miami continues throughout this book of her life’s adventures.

After the runway and fashion magazines in Paris, becoming owner of a vintage shop, Hooti Couture aka Hooti’s, in Brooklyn is an intriguing turn of events.  Reading about her evolution as a small business owner is compelling.  And how her knowledge of her product, vintage, grows!  She sums up her business philosophy so well, “I’m a little secondhand shop in Brooklyn, but I cater to each client like she’s in Bergdorf’s.  I think the success has come with the service and price points. It’s great, fun stuff in a fun environment and we get new merchandise weekly.  I buy with love, what I love.”  And don’t let this quote mislead you, she did carry men’s vintage as well and had some very loyal male customers.

Getting back to fashion research, there is plenty of good advice, solid designer knowledge, and interesting history for fashion lovers, flea marketers, and thrift store addicts.  If you haven’t explored vintage before, this book will open a whole new world to you.  If you are already a vintage fan, you’ll learn even more.

Alison has an eye for style and a keen sense of value, and many tips to pass along.  Her business philosophy is simple, “keep it fresh, cheap and chic!”

Thereby hangs a tale . . . .