Ep. 156 "What I Ate in One Year" by Stanley Tucci; "Held" by Anne Michaels

Transcript: JESSICA:  Hi, this is Jessica Russell. I'm the assistant director of collection services at Sno-Isle Libraries. And welcome to Book Buzz.  Today's two reading recommendations will introduce you to handpicked favorites that have captured the hearts and minds of our staff. We'll give you the inside scoop on titles you may not have heard about.  First, we're going to hear from Paige, librarian at the Edmonds Library, for a tasty memoir. Go ahead, Paige.    PAIGE:  For those of us who dream of and think of food more than writing the grocery list or while looking for a snack, in "What I Ate in One Year," Stanley Tucci's writing on food is "Chicken Soup for the Soul." If you happen to be like me and read during your breaks or late in the evening, I recommend having a snack on hand, and I wholeheartedly recommend listening to the audiobook when able, as this is narrated by the author.  Taking the format of a diary, the reader sees each month of the year of 2023 through Stanley's eyes. Whether this is a work trip to film a new project, and Stanley must sustain himself with homemade pasta while he travels, a trip to Central London as Stanley is at a party for the King of England, or trying to make sure that his young children have finished their breakfast before running out the door for school.   Through a simple bowl of "pasta and cheese" for his youngest daughter, his youngest son showing off every new food he has sampled, sharing a meal with his grown children and with his wife, Stanley brings his larger-than-life world down to our level of the everyday. What we are reminded of through this year of Stanley's life, each day and each meal is an opportunity to connect with your past, present, friends, family, or yourself.  JESSICA:  Thanks, Paige! It's definitely a feast for the soul as much as the palate.  Next, let's hear from Rebekah, library associate at the Camano Island Library, for a poetic story of desire, love, and grief. Go ahead, Rebekah.  REBEKAH:  "Held" by Anne Michaels is not a large volume. It is a scant 241 pages and yet somehow manages to read like an epic. The story begins in 1917 with the romance of a chance encounter between two people, John and Helen, who fall in love in a pub on a cold winter evening during WWI. This chapter was one of the most atmospheric and beautiful pieces of writing that I have ever enjoyed. It sucked me right into the lives of these characters.   Fast forward three years. The war is over, and John and Helen open a photography studio together. He is the photographer, and she paints beautiful backdrops for the portrait studio. Although John tries to lead a normal life, he remains haunted by the things he experienced during the war. Tragedy strikes unexpectedly, and we are transported decades into the future.  The rest of the book is comprised of vignettes spanning over four generations of the family. I was blown away by the lingering poignancy packed into each section. I've never read anything quite like it. The author is a poet, and her ability to craft beauty and truth out of minimal words certainly shines through in her writing. "Held" was the winner of the prestigious Canadian Giller Prize this year and after reading it, I must agree that it is very richly deserved.  JESSICA:  Thanks, Rebekah!  "Held" sounds like a book that stays with you long after you've turned the last page.  Our recommendations this week are: "What I Ate in One Year" by Stanley Tucci and "Held" by Anne Michaels.  Join us next time, when we'll explore more great reading recommendations — interesting books you can find at your favorite local bookstore or at your local library.    Until then, I'm Jessica Russell from Sno-Isle Libraries. Thanks for joining us for Book Buzz on KSER.  [END]