The Best Cook In The World by Rick Bragg

The Best Cook in the World

I love Rick  Bragg, everything about him.  Ever since hearing him speak in Tampa in September at SIBA ( southern independent book association.) I’ve become a huge fan! When I wasn’t laughing out loud I was listening attentively so as not to miss one single word the man uttered. Yes, that good.

Rick’s newest book is a food memoir. It’s part cookbook but mostly a collection of his mama’s mouth-watering recipes that have literally been passed down through generations of family stories. Yes, because recipes tell stories, ya know!

Margaret Bragg never owned a cookbook. Never measured any ingredients, never timed anything. Some of this, some of that.   Good food always has a good story. Always.

I found myself underlining and marking page after page of THE BEST COOK IN THE WORLD. Now I’m on the hunt for cracklin’. God help me, I know not where I shall find it. I am a reader of cookbooks. I’ve been known to take them to bed to read at night. And this one is one of those.

Now, of course, I find myself wanting to own all of Bragg’s books. First I found a used copy of his famous ALL OVER BUT THE SHOUTIN’. Now I’m after the rest. I will not rest until my library is complete. I love hearing Bragg’s voice. I recently heard a podcast Rick did with Mitchell Kaplan of Books and Books in Miami, Florida. And there it was, that wonderful voice I love.  Now I hear his voice in each book I read and I am beyond happy.

Rick Bragg

I have managed to turn a dear friend in New Orleans on to Rich Bragg. Now he’s reading all of the books, too. What I found is that the books are all wonderful. However, I believe Bragg found his voice after the first book. He just gets better and better with age like a fine wine…

I want to know what you, my readers, would think of Copperfish Books having Rick Bragg for an event?

What a great gift this book would make for the holidays. It’s pure joy and wonder!

My review copy came from Knopf Publishers through Copperfish Books. I absolutely adore it and Rick Bragg.  You can pick up a copy of THE BEST COOK IN THE WORLD at Copperfish Books right now and it’s 20% off just for you.

 

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New Non Fiction Books Worthy Of Giving This Holiday

Here are a few non fiction books I’m gaga over this year!

 

The Library Book

Already becoming a classic in the book world Great for avid men and women readers.

Our Prince of Scribes

A moving tribute to my favorite writer in all the world: Pat Conroy, I miss you so.

 

 

 

Autumn in Venice

For the Hemingway addict on your list here is the perfect addition to add to their collection and give them their fix.

BECOMING by Michelle Obama is a great gift no matter what your political persuasion. It’s perfect.

 

 

Home Body

I have loved watching the HGTV series called Fixer Upper for several years now. Joanna nails the architecture of style in her newest book. Great gift.

Cook Like A Pro

Ina is back and with a vengeance.  I cooked her short ribs and we are still talking about them after six weeks!

We have all these favorites in stock at Copperfish Books in Punta Gorda, Florida and they are discounted 20%. Come on up and let’s talk books.

 

Light Christmas Trade Paperbacks To Enjoy During The Season

Christmas At The Chalet

Okay, I admit, this is not literary fiction. Not even close. However, I have begun a tradition of reading Anita Hughes books over the holidays. It helps me relax and keeps me in the holiday spirit. They are all fun, witty, and just pure joy. Light and fluffy.

Christmas In London

CHRISTMAS IN LONDON was last year’s trade paperback selection. Look at that wonderfully atmospheric cover. Contents fit the bill.

 

CHRISTMAS IN PARIS  is probably my favorite.

Christmas In Paris

I was totally swept away to Paris with pristine snow, fabulous shops, and amazing food. Toss in a love story, boom, you’re cooked.

These three books are just for you. You need them. They will call your name. Yes, they’re sweet and light and fluffy because sometimes that is just what we need.

We have them in stock at Copperfish Books.  I would love to put them each right in your hands. Merry Christmas!

Copperfish Books

 

 

 

Wonderful Novels To Give This Christmas

I have hand-picked just a few novels to give as gifts this season.

Southernmost

SOUTHERNMOST by Silas House is my favorite novel this year.

Where The Crawdads Sing

WHERE THE CRAWDAD’S SING by Delia Owens is an amazing first novel from  a new favorite author.

Gone So Long

 

 

 

GONE SO LONG by Andre Dubus 111 is my novel project this year. I fell in love with the writing of Dubus years ago. Local focus.

Becoming Mrs. Lewis

BECOMING MRS. LEWIS was a big surprise hit for me. Fascinating and bursting with energy and truth.

Rush

I love RUSH. Lisa Patton is a new favorite Southern writer for me.

These are but a few of the new novels I’m talking about at Copperfish Books in Punta Gorda, Florida. Come on in and let’s talk books! New hardcovers are always discounted 20%.

Great Books To Give This Christmas!

Here are a few gift ideas for everyone on your gift list this year!

THE AVID READER ON YOUR LIST WILL LOVE:

Jane Mount

I bought myself a copy of BIBLIOPHILE. I got it  from Copperfish Books just before Thanksgiving. I knew I wanted it and could NOT bear to wait and see if it would be under our Christmas tree.  The photography is stunning. You have my personal guarantee and seal of approval! Purrfect.

Mimi with Book

 

 

 

1000 Books To Read Before You Die by James Mustich is a tome I’m giving to my 13 year-old grandson who’s reading far beyond his years. He makes my reading agenda look ridiculous! This is a great book he can keep forever…

1000 Books To Read Before You Die

I’d Rather Be Reading

I’d Rather Be Reading by Anne Bogel is just the right size to stuff into the book lover’s stocking.

 

 

 

TWO GREAT BOOKS FOR SMALL CHILDREN:

Construction Site on Christmas Night

We are giving our 2 year-old grandson who LOVES all things trucks this amazing book along with a  tough Tonka excavator to go with. Can’t wait to see his happy face.

Pearl

 

 

 

Pearl is a gorgeous picture book fit for a little mermaid. This one will be kept forever.

More suggestions will follow.  You can get most of these favorites at Copperfish Books in Punta, Gorda, Florida.

Copperfish Books

The Friend by Sigrid Nunez

The Friend

Recently THE FRIEND by Sigrid Nunez won the National Book Award. I decided to take a close look at this book with a Great Dane on the cover. I’m a sucker for books with animals.  I ended up reading the entire book in a little over one day. Very readable for a big award winner.

What is this book about? It’s about much more than a dog. But the big dog is a good part of the story. The protagonist is a woman who lives in a tiny apartment in NYC. Her friend has recently committed suicide and she has inherited his beloved great dane Apollo. What’s a woman to do? How on earth can a dog of this size survive in such a cramped area? And this pet is grieving for his master. So is this woman who has lost her best friend.

THE FRIEND is humorous, witty, and so well written that it won the National Book Award as I mentioned earlier. That’s a huge feat for such a small book. I was tugged into the novel because of the relationship between the dog and the woman. But I stayed with the story because of the quality of the writing and the references to writers. And, of course, I had to know what would become of the dog. You see, dogs were prohibited in this apartment building and this dog certainly could not be hidden.

This is a poignant story about grief. I am convinced that animals certainly do grieve. And this book just cements my belief.  This novel is being read in book clubs. And discussed. Rightly so.

I borrowed my copy of THE FRIEND from the library. I look forward to reading other books by Sigrid Nunez. I hear all her books have animals in them. I love that!

Writer’s Remember Pat Conroy

Our Prince of Scribes

This photo of Pat Conroy speaks volumes to those of us who have loved him and his beautiful novels for many years. He had so many friends and so many of them wished to write a tribute to him. After all, Pat Conroy was one of the greatest writers of all time. Period.

I discovered Conroy one Saturday morning many years ago when I was at my local library in Bonita Springs. I was perusing the cart with new books being prepared for shelving. Spotted BEACH MUSIC.

Beach Music signed by Pat Conroy

Never once looked back. I devoured that book. Could not believe I had not read other books by Pat.  More than ten years later I was trying to decide what book to take with me on a trip to Italy.  It had to be a book I could be assured would be great. BEACH MUSIC came to mind.  Rereading it for the second time was even better.  Then a couple years later Pat spoke before a huge crowd at the Miami Book Fair. I was in the audience with a dear friend who is also a huge Conroy fan. We were the lucky ones getting to meet Pat Conroy and have our books signed. He was and will continue to be a giant in the book world.

This wonderful book has a foreword by Barbra Streisand and an afterward by his wife Cassandra King Conroy. If you are a fan you will want to include this book in your Conroy library.  I pick mine up almost daily to read one of the essays written by friends and family who loved Pat. Some of the stories are funny. But they are all worthy of reading over and over again.

Pat Conroy will live on in his reader’s hearts and in his many heartfelt and amazing novels and even a cookbook.

Rick Bragg says,” I never met anyone like Pat. He could write with an elegance that made most writers either envious or hopeless, yet was generous and encouraging, a champion.”

Barbra Streisand says,” Pat Conroy was a force for good in our world. with courage and grace, he brought the gifts of the devastating beauty of his writing and his transcendent vision of the human heart to the lives of the readers he touched and the writers he inspired.”

We’re about to jump into the gift-giving season. Perfect present for the reader on your list.

My review copy came from UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA PRESS. Thanks, guys!