The Book Lover's Cookbook: Recipes Inspired by Celebrated Works of Literature, and the Passages That Feature Them (Paperback)

~ (Author), Janet Jensen (Author) "Combine all the ingredients, except fruit, together in a large bowl and beat the batter until it is nearly smooth..." (more)
Key Phrases: coffee with the meal, teaspoon fresh garlic, The Book Lover's Cookbook, Miss Effie Belle, Barbara Kingsolver (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

For anyone who has ever wanted to taste the food that plays a role in their favorite books, this charming volume provides the recipes. Wenger and Jensen, both chefs and avid readers, have pored over volumes from Little Women to The Importance of Being Earnest, found food-related passages and devised recipes for each. For example, Catch 'Em to Eat 'Em Chicken and Dumplings was inspired by this passage from Frannie Flagg's Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Café: "Even at 11, they say she could make the most delicious biscuits and gravy, cobbler, fried chicken, turnip greens, and black-eyed peas. And her dumplings were so light they would float in the air and you'd have to catch 'em to eat 'em." Scattered between recipes and passages are quotations from authors about food and writing. At times, Wenger and Jensen may stretch to link some of their recipes to literature-Baked Stuffed Mushrooms follows a passage from Alice and Wonderland-which seems rather unnecessary given that there are so many books with appropriate food descriptions. Nonetheless, their volume provides a fun read for any bibliophile-cum-foodie.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

“Rich in good food with a lively variety of literary links.”
–Associated Press

“Add a delectable new element to your next book club gathering.”
–Trenton Times

“A cornucopia of authors who have a knack for getting the salivary glands going. . . . you’re sure to find something to satisfy the senses.”
–Chicago Tribune




From the Trade Paperback edition. --This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Ballantine Books (March 29, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0345465466
• ISBN-13: 978-0345465467
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.9 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #47,072 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A little gimmicky, but nevertheless quite endearing, December 4, 2003

By	Joanna J. Young (newport beach, ca) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Book Lover's Cookbook (Hardcover)

I would recommend "The Booklover's Cookbook" as a perfect present for a bookworm who happens to cook (but perhaps not for a cook who happens to read occasionally).

It features 170 recipes with excerpts from various books mentioning that specific food, as well as quotes from authors on writing and books. Some of it seems to be a stretch, but over all the authors did a great job compiling it into this lovely book.

It is very amusing, if anything just to flip through on a slow Saturday afternoon with your friends and reminisce about stories you all read once upon a time (you will definitely hear a lot of "Oh yeah, I remember that book! I read it years ago, when I was in elementary school/just after whats-his-name broke up with me/in college for that horrible lit class/etc, etc"...).

The authors feature a nice variety of different foods spanning eras and book genres - from Ichabod's Slapjacks (The Legend of Sleepy Hollow) to Mr. Casabon's Chicken Noodle Soup (Middlemarch) and Tamales (Like Water for Chocolate). Two recipes I was especially tickled by were the Turkish Delight (The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe) and Not Violet, but Blueberry Pie (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) - it brought me back to my frustration with Edmund's greediness and of course the excitement shared with Charlie.

"The Booklover's Cookbook" is indeed an endearing book, meant to be shared in order to be truly enjoyed.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Delightful and Delicious!, October 31, 2003

By	Anne L. Cloward "knittingmaven" (Woodbury, MN USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Book Lover's Cookbook (Hardcover)

This volume combines two of my greatest passions, cooking and reading. With contributions from many famous authors, these two talented women have assembled some great recipes as well as unforgettable descriptions of meals. ... My mouth waters at the descriptions and I am itching to try some of these wonderful recipes. This is a wonderful book to curl up with and then when so inspired, start getting out the pans and and recreating the feel as well as the taste of these wonderful meals.
This book is on my Christmas list to share with others who share my passions and want some good reading as well as eating!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A good read, and good food, too!, April 28, 2004

By	A. Korelc "surfinmom" (Texas) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Book Lover's Cookbook (Hardcover)

Who would have thought that actually reading a cookbook could be so much fun? My personal preference leans toward cookbooks that offer more than a collection of recipes and this book delights both readers of the classics and contemporary literature, as well as the enthusiastic cookbook collector. I had the good fortune of meeting authors Shaunda Kennedy Wenger and Janet Kay Jensen in a live chat. I was taken by their lively sense of humor and the fun they expressed they had in assembling the recipes to match the excerpts and quotations used throughout the book.

You'll find plenty of comfort food to enjoy while you read some great stories, or revisit old favorites.