Read any good books lately?

[Nicko]

Hey Mezzaluna,

I am really pumped about the new LOTR movie coming out, but there is a big question as to whether director Peter Jackson can pull it off. His track record of movies had been rough to say the least (Meet the Feebles, Bad Taste, Evil Dead, and Frightners to name a few). It may be though that his quirkiness will lend to make the movie a success. There have been several attempts to try to adapt the novel to the big screen, and all were utter dissapointments to most Tolkien fans. I don't want to get my hopes up like I did for Star Wars epidsode I only to end up walking out of the theatre saying "what the heck was that?".

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Thanks,

Nicko
nicko@cheftalk.com

Thanks for the info Satchmo I will check out. I am not an overly religous type, but I always enjoy a good read.

[cape chef]

I recommend, Becoming a Chef by Andrew Dornenburg and karen Page. Written by Chefs for Chefs. The book will make you smile with pride

[Chef David Simpson]

"The Soul of a Chef" Michael Ruhlman is a very good book that I highly recommend for for all.

[Chef David Simpson]

Oh, I forgot one, "If You Can Stand the Heat"
I can't remember who wrote it. But it's a good one.

[Chef Mark Hayes]

A PIRATE LOOKS AT FIFTY-JIMMY BUFFET

I am a major parrothead, any one else?

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M.W.H.

[Nicko]

Judy,

I just saw your post about reading Sarum, and no I haven't. Have you, and is it good? I thought London was a great book it reminded me very much of Irving Stone's Agony and The Ecstasy in terms of being a novel based on historical facts. Actually I found that the Agony and The Ecstasy was a very inspiring book for me as a chef. Reading on the life of Michael Angelo and his pursuit of perfection in his art was incredible. It really had meaning for me when I travelled to Italy and saw the Sistine chapel first hand for myself.

Love to hear about Sarum if you have read it.

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Thanks,

Nicko
nicko@cheftalk.com

[Chef David Simpson]

Has anyone seen a book called "All The Truffles I've Seen" by Lang?

Sarum is terrific; I preferred that to London as well. "Stonehenge 2000 BC" by a fellow name Cromwell (I think) is really good - violent, but good.

I'm reading the Dune series now; I thought I'd read the first three years ago, but I either didn't or I did and the memories of the second two elude me (hey, it was the 70's, ok?) "House Atreides" by Frank Herbert's son is really good, too.

"Tender at the Bone" by Ruth Reichl is fantastic. I heard her a couple of years ago on an NPR program called "What do you Know?" and she discussed the part of the book in which her mother gives her father something to taste . . . those of you who've read the book know what I'm referring to! Earlier this year she was on again talking about her brother's engagement party . . . hysterical!

To improve my feeble mind (and maybe recover some of those 70's memories), I'm reading a lot of yoga books . . .

[Mezzaluna]

I read House Atreides, too, and I hear House Harkkonen is out now. Nicko, I think Peter Jackson will succeed because he and so many others attached to the project are devotees of Tolkien. I believe it made the top 100 books of the century, and is one of the most widely read in the world. As for Phantom Menace: a sixth grader could have written a better story than that. I'm sorry, because I loved the early Star Wars films. Hope the next one is better. (Say, wasn't I talking about books??!!)

[lynne]

I have a tendancy to read to escape the real world and just finished a wonderful book by Harry Turtledove, The Two Georges. Turtledove writes alternative histories; pretty neat, the world if different powers had come into play in the world wars, or how it would be different if the south had one the civil war, or if Canada and the US had different relationships (the 2 Georges). One of his series has an army legion that somehow got transported to ancient Rome. Really interesting food for thought.

I love sci-fi and fantasy and love the books of Mercedes Lackey--I can really disappear into her Valdemar books. Enjoyed Anne McCaffreys Pern books and enjoyed the early Xanth books by Piers Anthony.

My favourite book of all time is A Tale of Two Cities .

[Isa]

The Winner by David Baldacchi. A good escapism book. Nice thriller, very entertaining and at time hard to put down.

Sisi

[Isa]

Opps that's David Baldacci...

[judy]

Yes Nicko I read Sarum and as Stonehenge is near the part of England I come from I was fascinated. I liked the way it focused on the same families all the way through the ages. My only complaint was he seemed to get tired of it and to rush the latter part of the book. You have to experience the power standing in the circle of Stonehedge gives out. As a child I was taken there a few times but now I believe it is cordoned off and you can only view from a distance.That is a great pity.

Judy, that is a shame about Stonehenge; I've always wanted to go there. When I was in England (jeez, SO many years ago it seems) we went to the Rolwright Stones (I'm sure the spelling is wrong). What an eerie place! When you think about how old these henges are, it makes them seem even more powerful.