Kitchens of the Great Midwest by J. Ryan Stradel (★★★☆☆)
Print • Owned (Amazon) • Fiction • 2015
Short synopsis: When Lars Thorvald is left by his wife, he becomes the sole caretaker for their infant daughter Eva. As Eva grows up, she develops a passion for cooking, transforming diverse Minnesota flavors into a successful pop-up supper club. Kitchens of the Great Midwest explores the relationship between food, community, and identity.
This is a situation of “Reader, know thyself,” which is a concept from the ladies at Currently Reading. I am not someone who likes to read books that center around food. I just get bored by all of the food talk and I always skim anything involving cooking or recipes. This book comes highly rated by many other people, but it just didn’t work for me. While I thought it was an interesting way to tell a story (every chapter is from the point of view of someone who knows Eva, whether directly or tangentially), I didn’t connect with anyone in the story. It’s very much a character-driven story and I was left wanting more. I wanted something more to sink my teeth into, and this book didn’t really have that. The only reason I didn’t abandon it was because it wasn’t a very long book (under 300 pages). Would I recommend this book? I think so, especially if you love a foodie book, but it will not be going on any favorites lists of mine.
The Spectacular by Fiona Davis (★★★★☆)
Audiobook • Library • Historical Fiction • 2023
Short synopsis: In 1956 New York City, nineteen-year-old Marion is thrilled to join the Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall, but she soon discovers the intense pressures and challenges of the role. When a bomb explodes in the theater as part of a series of attacks by the “Big Apple Bomber,” Marion becomes embroiled in the investigation, urging the police to use psychological profiling.
I really enjoyed this novel! Mostly, I enjoyed the scenes of Marion as a Rockette and her friendships with the other dancers. I loved the glimpse into the audition process, the rehearsals, and life on stage. What an insanely cool world to be a part of! It was also interesting to learn about what it was like to be involved in a creative field like dancing in the 1950s. This isn’t exactly the type of job a well-to-do family wants for their daughter, so it caused a lot of rifts in Marion’s family. The book could really be broken into two parts – Marion as a Rockette and Marion trying to catch the Big Apple Bomber. It feels a little far-fetched that she would be so involved in an investigation of this magnitude, but hey, creative license and all that. (Side note: The Big Apple Bomber is a real person and he really did cause havoc around NYC in the 1950s. He was also finally caught using criminal profiling, but the people in the novel were fictionalized.) I wanted a different ending for Marion in this novel, but all in all, it was a fascinating story and now I just want to go see the Rockettes!
Ready or Not by Cara Bastone (★★★★★)
Print • Owned (Book of the Month) • Contemporary Fiction • 2024
Short synopsis: A surprise pregnancy leads to even more life-changing revelations in this heartfelt, slow-burn, friends-to-lovers romance of found family and unexpected love.
Oh, you guys, I just loved this sweet romance. Friends-to-lovers is my favorite romance trope, and this one did it in such a delightful way. This book was funny, heartwarming, and mostly closed-door. Eve has an uncharacteristic one-night stand with a man in a bar and from that encounter, she finds out she’s pregnant. Enter Shep, Eve’s best friend’s brother who steps up to help her through the confusion and morning sickness and figuring out this new life she never imagined for herself. I’m not normally a slow-burn romance gal, but this one just really worked for me—probably because of all Eve was going through at the time. It would have felt out-of-place for Eve to be suddenly pregnant and having a wild love affair with Shep, you know? Anyway, I loved this story and the whole cast of characters.
What are you reading?
I loved Kitchens but I love character driven and it’s written by a Minnesotan and set in Minnesota! So it was a hit for me but I can totally see why it didn’t work for you. I wouldn’t read his other books most likely!!
I am reading a book called ‘Burnim Woods’ for book club. It’s a book I never would have picked up and I wasn’t excited to read it but I’m liking it more than I thought I would!
I’m with you- I don’t think I’d like Kitchens. But, The Spectacular sounds pretty good. I think the premise is interesting- I would love to hear more about that world. And, you definitely have to suspend some disbelief in mysteries (Wait, why is this person investigating a murder???) so I accept that.
A book about food that you can’t sink your teeth into? Hahah, it does not sound delicious to me either. But wait, the ladies at Currently Reading? Who’d they?
The last book I will check out if I can find it, love a good romance!
I’m currently reading a series of cosy murder-mysteries written by SJ Bennett, where the protagonist is Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth and they’re so damn funny. And I’m not a big love of books centred around food either, they tend to have a lot of filler and very little story.
I was ready for Ready or Not until you mentioned closed door and slow burn LOL! I I do know myself and that is not for me right now (was totally nodding when you said that about the first book).
I just finished a horrible Kindle first reads book and get to start something new. Yay!
I do not want children, pregnancy, or STIs to exist in my romance novels, Stephany. I want a world in which sex is FUN and we don’t have to worry about CONSEQUENCES. Is that too much to ask?
Funny, when I saw that Kitchens book, I thought, didn’t Lisa like that one? And then I saw her comment. I do remember her liking it, and I think I put it on my TBR back in the day, but never read it. I do like food related books though, so it may be up my alley, EXCEPT that I do not really love character driven books so maybe I will skip it after all. Hm. I am reading James and am liking it so far. I also just finished another Louise Penny, which was good. I liked the series before but it is even better now that I am more familiar with Montreal and Quebec City.
Kitchens of the Great Midwest is one of my all-time favorite books 🙂
I finished two books today and need to pick up a new one.
I should finish one I working on since June but it is so tiresome.
I may check out the last one. I am not sure what my favorite romance trope is. No…. I can’t pick one. It depends on the story I tink.