Well, the main character in some of these books has a well-seasoned ancient cast iron pan, but that's about it, except when they eat out. But I am half-way thru the series of books by John Lescroart set in San Francisco and featured Homicide detective Abe Glitsky and attorney Dismas Hardy. Great reads, all of them.

Here is a link that might be useful: John Lescroart novels

I am reading a wonderful book by Ray Bradbury. It's not science fiction, it's the story of one summer in the life of a 12 year old boy in Illinois. It was written in about 1946 and is totally charming. Bradbury is a great writer. His imagery is amazing -- I swear you can feel, smell, taste and touch things just by reading his description.

It's called Dandelion Wine. The story is rather light but filled with nostalgia for simpler times. I am loving it so much! Of course, cooking is talked about a lot.

Bradbury describes having a good cry as being reborn. You cry it all out and then you are cleansed to start anew. What a writer.

I am ready to start "The Help" and read the first few pages of "Guernsey Literary etc" and will finish that next.

Thank You sushipup and dedtired for your suggestions. Anyone who owns a well-seasoned cast iron pan would be of interest to me, and a nostalgic story is sometimes very much in order.

I just finished Garlic and Sapphires the story of the New York Times food critic. A good read, and of course all about food, cooking restraunts and cooking.

I'm reading 206 Bones by Kathy Reichs. The main character is Tempe Brennan (the TV show Bones is loosely based on Reichs's books). The meals the characters eat are often well described, though Brennan does not really cook much.

Food is very central to all of Patricia Cornwell's books, but I'm pretty tired of her books.

A really good book I haven't read in a while that has stayed with me is "The Olive Farm: A Memoir of Life, Love and Olive Oil in the South of France" by Carol Drinkwater, who played the first Helen in the BBC series "All Creatures Great and Small". There are several followups to that book and of the ones I've read they have all been wonderfully written.

Jen

I finished Bourdain's 'Kitchen Confidential' - what a great romp - and 'Turning the Tables', by egullet founder Steve Shaw, also about the restaurant industry. Now I'm on 'Service Included' by Phoebe Damrosch, about life as a waitress in one of Keller's restaurants, Per Se (if I EVER post that I made Keller's Cornets, blame this book). It's fun reading about a chef (Tom Colicchio) and then later actually having a meal in one of their restaurants - a few weeks ago - Craft Los Angeles. Nom nom nom nom!!!!

After that its 'The Making of a Chef' by Michael Ruhlman, then I think I'll be done with that genre.

My last two books were very different in style for me - The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold which I just absolutely adored. Then I read Lone Survivor by Marcus Luttrell, a heartbreaking true story of a Navy SEAL team fighting in Afghanistan. Tough read.

Well, I guess I should add something to this. The last really good book I read was called The Night Journal by Elizabeth Crook. It's a story about a woman who traveled to New Mexico to become a Harvey girl, and what happened to her. It's also about her daughter and granddaughter, who discovered some things about her life that had never been explained. Probably one of the best books I've read in a long while.

Thanks for all your suggestions and sharing what you're reading!

If you want to read something rather different, you might enjoy Life Expectancy by Dean Koontz. The main character's family owns a bakery, which is somewhat peripheral to the story, but not entirely peripheral. The protagonist and his family take great delight in food, and it's fun reading about their mealtimes. It was the first Koontz novel I've read, and I've only read 2 or 3 of his, but this book is my favorite of his I've read. It's an odd mix of dark horror and delightful warm fuzzies. I really enjoyed it.

I'm a bit behind the times, in that I recently read Water For Elephants. It's not about food, but I thought it was a very good book. Y'all have probably already read it, though.

Another oldie I've read recently was Jeffrey Steingarten's book, The Man Who Ate Everything. I actually didn't finish it, as it was very long. It was interesting, and I was surprised it wasn't more dated as he wrote it in the early '90's, I think, with most of what he wrote about happening in the late '80's and very early '90's. I had checked it out of the library, and it was taking me so long to read it I decided to return it and maybe pick it up another day to finish. It's one of those books you can read some and set it aside, then read some more later and set it aside again.

Sally

I've got my librarian getting me "Omnivore's Dilemma", but it sure won't happen until after canning season, which is, oh, maybe October.

Hmmm. Maybe I should call Nancy and tell her to get me the book sometime after Thanksgiving! I might have time then...

Annie

Sally? Have you read The Watchers by Dean Koontz? One of my favorites - warm and fuzzy dog story but dark horror as well.

Woodie, 'Watchers' is one of our family favorite books! I had my kid read it when he was in 7th grade, and then had him read Silence of the Lambs, heh heh. Anyhoo...love Dean Koontz...but he is a bit forumlatic. Strangers, Lightning (great twist on time travel), and From The Corner of His Eye (Koontz formula bad guy again, still a good read).

Even though its a kid's book, 'Holes' by Louis Sachar. Ah, the shivers up my spine.

Linda, I really like Ruth Reichl's books and think I've read them all. Also a favorite is Dean Koontz; I've read ''Kitchen Confidential'' by Anthony Bourdain and ''The Making of a Chef'', all of which I have enjoyed.

Brody and Jen, thanks for the suggestions!

Woodie, I wondered about The Lovely Bones, but haven't ventured into the book yet. Sally, I'm checking out Life Expectancy from the library, so thanks for the recommendation.

Jessy, I haven't read Holes, but saw the movie. I can relate to the shivers up the spine!

Annie, if it's a good book, please let us know. I'm not sure I really want to read Michael Pollan, but maybe I'll get over myself some day!

Claire, I was hesitant also about The Lovely Bones, but when I found it at the thrift shop for 25 cents, I knew it was fate. I think it's beautiful.

"Lovely Bones" is an excellent book and you shouldn't miss her first book--non fiction--called "LUCKY". She's an outstanding writer from Southern Cal!

One of my more recent favorites was "Snow Flower and the Secret Fan" by Lisa See. I'm currently reading "Peony in Love" also by her. This one is very complex, but she's a marvelous storyteller and there's always so much to be learned about Chinese culture from her books.

LindaC- I liked Ruth Reichl's other two books more than Garlic and Sapphires".

I hope you enjoy it, Claire.

I've read Garlic and Sapphires and one other of Reichl's books, but I don't remember it's title. I enjoyed Garlic and Sapphires but found the other one less interesting, because it spent so much time with her affairs and sex life. I guess that was a big part of her life, but enough already.

I read Snow Floewr and the Secret Fan and thought it was okay, but not great. It started out better than it ended up. I guess I don't like books with unlikable main characters. I felt the same about that Geisha novel that was so popular. I just didn't care for the main character. Yes, she went through a terribly hard time, but once her life improved she became way to whiney.

Sally

I just read In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan. It made me look at food in a whole new way. I actually signed up for our local CSA about halfway though the book because I was so inspired to change my ways. It was a real easy read. I just started Omnivore's Dilemma and I picked up Botany of Desire at Costco the other day.

I read "Botany of Desire" last summer and found some parts fascinating (apples), and others drawn out & a bit boring (hemp). I learned a lot from it, and though I wouldn't recommend it to a general reading audience, if you are interested in learning about food and like physical science it will probably appeal.

I read "Shanghai Girls" this summer and I really enjoyed it. I knew little about Chinese history and culture in the timeframe featured in the book, 1937-'53ish. I learned a lot and found the characters' stories compelling.

I began Julia Child's "My Life In France" right before I was hit with an avalanche of stayover guests. Still hoping to finish it before I see "Julie & Julia." The movie might leave the theatres before I do, as more folks are coming for Labor Day weekend.

DH & I both read "The Tender Bar" in July, and we both loved it. That was one from last summer's list.. Despite all the rain we had, this didn't turn out to be much of a "reading summer" for us.

Two wonderful books

1. In the Woods - French
2. The Historian -Kotava

I may have the last name spellings a bit off.

Best,

Adele

I just finished "The Help." Loved it. Hard to put down.

Just started Comfort Me With Apples/Reichl. - a birthday present. Enjoying the first few pages.

I just finished the first James Patterson that I have EVER not liked. I haven't loved all of his books, but I actually disliked this one very strongly - Cross Country. I usually don't like to share my dislikes, but sheesh!

dedtired, I grew up in Greentown! Spent many hours in Bradbury's haunts when I was growing up. Loved Dandelion Wine. Hub, kids and I reread it periodically. And, I have an autographed copy of Dandelion Wine! AND I met him IN PERSON at a dinner. We're practically best friends, don't you think?

Also: Reichl's books (Tender at the Bone), The Lovely Bones, Light on Snow, Memoirs of a Geisha, Still Alice, Life of Pi, The Namesake, The Miracle Life of Edgar Mint, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime, My Life in France, A Thousand Days in Tuscany. I'm halfway through my second reading of Gone With The Wind and loving it again!

That's neat! I am so glad to find someone else who loves that book. I had suggested it for book club and most of the people gave up on it. I think they wanted another book with a true beginning, middle and end. I borrowed the book from the library but will buy my own copy so I can read it again and again.

Yes, you and Ray are now BFF.

I think we have close to the same taste in books, since I have read and enjoyed a number that you listed. I am looking forward to reading Edgar Mynt. I am half way through Guernsey Literary. It is a good read. Next up is The Help.

I am on vacation at the moment and since the weather isn't so good, I will be doing a lot of reading!

I also liked Comfort me with Apples and Tender at the Bone. I forgot to mention that I really liked "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nightime". What an insight into the autistic mind! A Thousand Days in Tuscany was also a good read.
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Among others, the most recent spot lights James Elroy and Ann Kidd Taylor, author of the "Red Tent", another favorite book.

The Red Tent is a favorite of mine too, Compumom. I could read that again.

I just finished Anna Karenina. All 5 lbs of it (at least!). It was a new translation and I have to say, it was very readable. I enjoyed it, but am glad I finally finished it. Now I will mull it around for awhile.
Jo

Yesssss! Anna Karenina! And Dr. Zhivago! I love those books.

I'll have to look into The Red Tent.