In the summer I find myself reading more than usual. Maybe it’s because all of my fave shows are on hiatus. Maybe it’s because summer reading is a routine I fell into as a young person, but whatever the reason I will typically finish 12 books or so across the length of the summer. I have passed that this summer. I am really enjoying reading outside on my deck in the super heated air, smelling the herbs in the garden and dipping into the pool when I get too warm.

First off I want you to know that I almost exclusively read from the same genres when I am not perusing cookbooks. I USUALLY read horror fiction, crime fiction or urban fantasy. I do have faves that are NOT in those categories (Moment of Truth – my fave books of all time are The Three Musketeers and The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas). Yesterday I noticed something interesting about the characters, not necessarily the books or authors, that I like the best. The authors write them eating and/or cooking.

There are several series out there about chefs who solve crime or caterers who get into mishaps with the events. There is even one series out there where the author includes the recipes from the story as an addendum at the end. Almost all of the books in my genres have the leads drinking something (wine, booze, blood, etc.). But my faves are the characters who cook and eat because it is part of being human. And I love reading about WHAT they are eating or cooking. The food is rarely integral to the stories, but it makes a more round backdrop for me. A few of my faves:
• Lawrence Sanders’ “Archy Mc Nally” books – our intrepid protagonist regularly goes into a local dive and drinks and eats himself into oblivion
• Lawrence Sanders’ “Deadly Sins” books – Captain Ed Delaney makes a mean sandwich
• Jennifer Estep’s “Elemental Assassin” series – Gin Blanco is a lot like me (no, I am not an assassin) in that she takes college cooking classes for personal enjoyment, not to pursue a degree. She also runs a BBQ joint as her “cover”.

I get inspired to try new things by reading what fictional characters are making in their kitchens. Silly? Perhaps. But I can only read so many cooking mags and watch so much cooking TV before I start to feel inadequate, or jealous or both (jealous of the travel sections and the fact that I don’t have my own show). These characters are in the kitchen because it is part of normal life, not because their life revolves around food. Just like the rest of us. It makes them seem more true, more real, and just fuller.

Here is a partial list of what I have read so far this summer, but they don’t all have good food scenes:
• Jennifer Estep’s series above
• Chloe Neill – Biting Cold
• Laurell K Hamilton – Kiss the Dead
• Jaye Wells’ entire Sabina Kane series
• Vicki Pettersson’s newest book – The Taken (with a great shout out to Frankie’s Tiki Room)
• And 10 others…

My Food Memories this week include a birthday dinner for Friend Sami, a visit from High School Friend Dave and his LA Posse (so much fun in the pool!), and a spicy Chicken Paprikash with my 2 favorite guys.

Until next week, go out and make your OWN Food Memories!