Crossing to Safety by William Stegner

Crossing to Safety 

This book is amazing. It slowly unfolds before you in a way that many writers fail to do effectively. The beginning of the book was confusing but two chapters in, I could understand the format of flashbacks. This book is one of the few books that I have ever read that talks about disability. I won't say why or how because I don't want to spoil, but I deeply admire Mr. Stegner for never pitying characters who are ill. They have equally interesting character and descriptions. Mr. Stegner also does a fantastic job of following characters from young to old which leaves the reader with not only a complete timeline but also an attachment to the characters as well. This book is truly amazing and it really allowed me to reflect on myself. The narrator in the book quotes Chekhov saying, 

"My own experience is that once a story has been written, one has to cross out the beginning and the end. It is there that we authors do most of our lying."

This quote resonated with me very deeply. We want endings and beginnings to always mean something, or to be perfect, and they rarely are. I though a lot about myself and how I'm in the middle of a journey and I can't predict the beginning or the end and that is what is most terrifying. William Stegner makes you prod deep into your consciousness while reading the tantalizing story of two intertwined families. 

Overall this book is amazing. The characters are vivid and interesting. The relationships are deep and complicated. And most of all the writing is so amazing that one really begins to relate. 

Garlic and Sapphires by Ruth Reichl

Garlic and Sapphires

Ruth Reichl's Garlic and Sapphires is an exquisite novel. Not only does Ms. Reichl have fantastic descriptions of food but she combines them with the humor surrounding her various disguises she wears to restaurants. Ruth Reichl makes you want to be her best friend. She is rebellious, yet kind and best of all her food sounds absolutely amazing. My favorite passage was about a raspberry foie gras which made me feel like I was tasting it with her.  This book is fun and great for anyone who loves to eat and cook.

Overall, Garlic and Sapphires is an amazing read. It has dimension and humor which both work together to accentuate the passages about food. 

On Rue Tatin by Susan Loomis

On Rue Tatin

On Rue Tatin begins with a delightful description of Susan Loomis's time in Paris when she was young and learning to cook. It was shockingly similar to the beginnings of Jacque Pepin's, The Apprentice. Susan Loomis, however, is missing something when it comes to her descriptions of food. She repeats obvious information several times throughout the book. For example in one passage about purchasing a rug for her new quaint home in Louviers, she mentions how she couldn't afford the rug approximately 4 times. This is a lot of repetition for a short passage. Loomis doesn't seem to give the reader much credit and rarely lets one discover the facts for themselves. If you are reading this book for descriptions about food, as I was, read the italicized parts that are above the recipes. These short paragraphs are filled with beautiful descriptions of goat cheese, herbs, and fresh produce. Without the rest of the book to interfere, these passages stand alone perfectly and make one excited to dig into her recipes. The recipes do match chapter content which makes a reader feel more integrated in the story.  Loomis's chapters are all over the place. Just as she begins to really craft and excellent description she jumps to a different topic. Although the writing is spotty and repetitive, it is an entertaining easy read.

Overall, Susan Loomis's On Rue Tatin was lacking in the one thing that I desired: excellent descriptions of food.