The Whole Fromage: Adventures in the Delectable World of French Cheese by Kathe Lison

(Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!)

about book:

The French, sans doute, love their fromages.  And there's much to love: hundreds of gloriously pungent varieties - crumbly, creamy, buttery, even shot through with bottle-green mold.  So many varieties, in fact, that the aspiring gourmand may wonder: How does one make sense of it all?

In The Whole Fromage, Kathe Lison sets out to learn what makes French cheese so remarkable - why Franc is the "Cheese Mother Ship," in the words of one American expert.  Her journey takes her to cheese caves tucked within the craggy volcanic rock of Auvergne, to a centuries-old monastery in the French Alps, and to the farmlands that keep cheesemaking traditions alive.  She meets the dairy scientists, shepherds, and affineurs who make up the world of modern French cheese, and whose lifestyles and philosophies are as varied and flavorful as the delicacies they produce.  Most delicious of all, she meets the cheeses themselves - from spruce-wrapped Mont d'Or, so gooey it's best eaten with a spoon; to luminous Beaufort, redolent of Alpine grasses and wildflowers, a single round of which can weigh as much as a Saint Bernard; to Camembert, invented in Normandy but beloved and imitated across the world.

With writing as piquant and rich as a well-aged Roquefort, as charming as a tender springtime chevre, and yet as unsentimental as stinky Maroilles, The Whole Fromage is a tasty exploration of one of the great culinary treasures of France.

my thoughts:

How awesome does this book sound?  Cheese, cheese, and more cheese! Delish!  Plus, we get to learn all about it and can finally tell the difference between brie and Camembert.  Oh, and its all about French cheese, which everyone knows is AMAZING!!  So, what more could I ask for in a book, especially during Paris in July 2013?  Suffice it to say, I'm ready to dive into Lison's engaging and funny stories about all the travel and adventure she embarked on to learn about the "Delectable World of French Cheese."   I plan to sit myself down with a nice cheese platter, a huge glass of wine, and this lovely tome.  Talk about a nice way to spend my Saturday.  I can't wait!  And yes, I know that today is that last day of Paris in July, but I figured I could always post about a book that I shall be reading for the challenge, even if I'll be doing so after the challenge is over.  After all, who doesn't love to read about France and cheese?

Here are some blurbs from the back of the book declaring what a wonderful book this is for foodies:

"Reading The Whole Fromage is like enjoying an illicit raw-milk Brie. Kathe Lison follows her nose across France to explore the country's wild obsession with cheese…If Joan Didion had fallen tastebuds over heels for French cheese, then she might have written this book." —Tenaya Darlington, author of Di Bruno Bros. House of Cheese

 "A mouth-watering read."—New York Post

 “Marvelous. Chockfull of humor, story-telling, passion and adventure, Kathe Lison’s cheese journey through France reads more like a novel than a true story. Plus, it conveys such a 'you are there' feeling that by the time you finish you’ve managed to take an entire trip without leaving your living room.”—Laura Werlin, author of Laura Werlin's Cheese Essentials
 
 "France is a cheese-driven country, and this book gets right to its pungent, creamy heart." —Stephen Clarke, author of 1000 Years of Annoying the French

Oh and check out Kathe Lison's, The Whole Fromage on Pinterest here. 

Thank you to Crown Publishing and Broadway Books for providing me with a copy of this book!

Before Ever After by Samantha Sotto

About book:

Three years after her husband Max's death, Shelley feels no more adjusted to being a widow than she did that first terrible day.  That is, until the doorbell rings.  Standing on her front step is a young man who looks so much like Max that he could be his long-lost relation.  He introduces himself as Paolo, and Italian editor of American coffee table books, and shows Shelley some childhood photos.  Paolo tells her that the man in the photos, the man who Paolo says is his grandfather though he never seems to age, is Max.  Her Max.  And he is alive and well.

The information Paolo shares with Shelley sets them on a trail across the globe and through some of Europe's most dramatic history in search of answers.  Along the way, Shelley begins to piece together the story of who her husband was.  As she and Paolo get closer to the truth, Shelley discovers that not all stories end where they are supposed to. 

My thoughts:

Wow. History and a love story - talk about the perfect combination.  Oh, and throw an immortal into the mix and you have got me hooked!  Seriously, I have to admit that I was not expecting what I read.  I mean from the blurb it says that Max is alive and well, but I truly never thought he was immortal.  I just thought he had faked his death or something.  Totally not what I expected.  And, I love Samantha Sotto for that!  This book has got to be one of my favorite reads this year.  It had everything and so much more.  I fell in love with Before Ever After and I'm sure anyone who reads it will, too.

So, what exactly is the story about?  Love.  Its as simple as that.  Max and Shelley meet and fall madly in love with one another.  They experience marital bliss and then suddenly, Max is no more.  Shelley is devastated by her loss and pretty much lives like a zombie - sleeping, barely eating and never leaving the house.  One day she gets a visitor - Max's grandson.  Say what?! Yep, looks like Max was not as truthful about his past, or his age, as Shelley had believed.  Trusting Paolo (Max's grandson), Shelley joins him on a trip that will reveal truths about her husband that will not only shock and amaze her, but also leave her feeling betrayed.  And on this trip we learn all the details surrounding how Shelley met Max.  From road trip guide to husband - lets just say, Shelley and Max had quite a historical and well-traveled courtship.   Its during this trip that we learn everything about Max and who he was - except we don't really know that we are learning about Max's history until we find out that he's immortal.  And let me just say that once you realize Max has been sharing stories from his own past, well, it makes for quite an emotional and unreal read.  Now, I'm not going to share anymore details about this book with you, because you seriously need to read it for yourself! I want you to read all about Shelley and Max falling in love and about the many, many lives of Max.  Oh, and I want you to read about the eggs and chicken and how they are relevant to the story.  Yes, eggs and chicken are enmeshed in this story and its actually pretty interesting. 

All in all,  Before Ever After is an amazing story!  Its filled with great writing, complex and emotional characters, and one unforgettable story.  Its the epitome of  unputdownable.  And, I'll definitely be recommending it to anyone and everyone looking for a truly good read. 

Thanks so much to Broadway Books an imprint of Crown Publishing for providing me with a copy of this lovely book!