Recent Reads

Two books I've read recently. One for kids, the other for adults.

I picked up This is San Francisco in a Borders bookstore in, you guessed it, San Francisco. Apparently there is a whole series of books in the This Is Collection (Rome, London, New York, etc). The book is full of vintage art that looks like it should be in books from our parents' childhood bookshelves. The narrative voice throughout leaves something to be desired. Still, I thought it made an excellent memento from the city.

Nicole Mones', The Last Chinese Chef, was our most recent book club selection. Mones tells the story of Maggie, whose husband was killed one year before, as she makes her way to China to research a paternity case filed against her deceased husband. Maggie, a food writer, interviews Sam, a Chinese chef, and undergoes a food education, second to none. I thought it was a simple story line with interesting characters. The shining gem in the book was the description of various foods: everything we know about Chinese food, here in America, is false.

I seriously need to make my way to China to try the real deal.