Garlic and Sapphires

Garlic and Sapphires

Ruth Reichl

4 Stars

352 pages

Each year our library system selects a book to features as a book of the year that our whole county will “read.” This year Garlic and Sapphires is that book. I didn’t have any expectations for this book, but once I brought it home and started reading I couldn’t put it down.

Garlic and Sapphires is the true story of Ruth Reichl during her years as the food critic for The New York Times. Trying her best to get honest reviews she finds herself going undercover, literally, and becoming other “characters” to review different restaurants. I really loved some of these characters and my only wish is I could have seen pictures! The book was witty and clever and her reviews were refreshing and fun to read. I found myself hungry just reading many of her food descriptions, but there are recipes also included in the book!

I’m very happy this book has been selected to be featured this year and I am looking forward to attending some of the events later this year. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys nonfiction or food industry and cooking books.

Matters at Mansfield

Matters at Mansfield

Carrie Bebris

5 Stars

288 pages

I was thrilled when I walked in the library the other day and found this book on the shelf! I have read all of Carrie Bebris’s other Jane Austen mystery novels and always enjoyed the fun storylines and turning plots.

Of course, Mr and Mrs. Darcy find themselves in the middle of a thrilling mystery. Lady Catherine, her daughter Anne and Colonel Fitzwilliam are also key players in the series events that lead up to this crime. I think Carrie Bebris did such a superb job at staying true to Lady Catherine’s character. I also enjoyed the romance between Anne and Colonel Fitzwilliam.

Carrie Bebris’s mystery novels are fun easy reads. Some reviews say that they might not be exactly true to Jane Austen’s tone, which could be true, but I do think they are pleasant and hope to read more from Carrie Bebris in the future!