.an old friend...

Back to books. Let's discuss.

As someone who reads, I'll go with, constantly, I am always excited to find a new author or topic to sink my teeth into. But what I often conclude is more fun than a new author, is rediscovering an author that, for whatever reason, I had put on my brains back-burner. My usual route is to find an author I enjoy and devour everything they have ever written. Sometimes that is not possible. The bookstore is out of something,  I am waiting for it in the library, there is a glitch in the shopping cart at Amazon-whatever...something happens where there may be a book or so that I miss in a collection of work.  I move onto something else and temporarily forget the book I meant to read.

Well, that happened the other day and I am so excited! I discovered a book at the library I had been meaning to read and now I am...well, reading it!  Have you read Calvin Trillin? He has been a fixture at The New Yorker for decades.  He is well known to the general public for his best seller Tepper Isn't Going Out, and while comic and creative, it is not what I go to Trillin for.  My favorite Trillin books, and I imagine the ones preferred by his legions of fans, are the ones about eating.  They are amazing. He takes you on his travels, whether around the corner to his favorite bagel spot or to Galicia, Spain, for a pepper festival, where his wit, knowledge and lust for life make you yearn to be his closest dinner companion. And he makes you feel like you just might be.  You don't even have to love food to appreciate his love for it as his writing is just delicious. I am currently savoring Feeding a Yen, but my absolute favorite is About Alice, a loving tribute to his wife of more than 35 years. Alice is a fixture in every book I had ever read by Trillin. She passed away in September, 2001 and I dare you not to feel grateful to have known her after this loving tribute, all based around food as well.  Another thing I enjoy is each chapter is generally between 10-15 pages, great for a 15-20 minute break from the world. You can always pick up where you left off, even if it is a week or so. If you are looking for someone to take along on a trip this Summer, I highly recommend him for any journey! He is a friend I have missed.

Now you.  Any favorites you can pass my way?  Do tell.