Love and other Consolation Prizes by Jamie Ford

LOVE AND OTHER CONSOLATION PRIZES by New York Times bestselling author Jamie Ford (also wrote Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet) is set primarily in Seattle and based on a true story. It begins near the turn of the century in China where a poor, half-Caucasian boy is sent by his Chinese mother to America and ends in 1962 where the now aged man reflects on his life.  In between, there is the 1909 World’s Fair (or Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition) where by then 12-year-old orphan Ernest Young is raffled off and goes home with Madam Flora to her brothel.  As the new houseboy, he forms a family of sorts with Maisie, the madam’s daughter, and with Fahn, the Japanese kitchen maid. Ford then moves back and forth in time to relate a complicated love story that spans more than 50 years – all the way to the Century 21 Exposition, another World’s Fair that was held in Seattle from August to October, 1962.

LOVE AND OTHER CONSOLATION PRIZES explores the exploitation of Asian immigrants, especially children, prostitution, temperance, women’s rights and political corruption. In his author’s notes, Ford asks, “Why did frontier cities in the West have the most successful suffrage campaigns while also being hot beds for vice?” That question, or the simpler contrasts between the social mores of the two time periods, will certainly intrigue readers looking for a potential Junior Theme idea.  

For another tragic story about orphans, see BEFORE WE WERE YOURS by Lisa Wingate.

Delancey by Molly Wizenberg

I originally requested Delancey because this book was promoted on Library Reads and because I was looking for a gift for good friends who love to cook AND to read. AND I will be buying a copy for them because I so enjoyed Molly Wizenberg's conversational tone and her amusing anecdotes about the hard work of starting a restaurant with her husband.  In fact, I was reading this book on a road trip and kept laughing and reading excerpts to my husband who laughed along and finally asked me to stop so that he could enjoy the book in its entirety.

Wizenberg's writing is both funny and evocative: "no one said a word as we waited, at least two dozen of us, watching him [the pizza cook] the way a pack of lions watches a grazing zebra." I also loved her descriptions of food, especially since pizza was featured and several recipes are included, such as Tomato and Corn Salad with Shallot Vinaigrette, Chilled Peaches in Wine or Toni's Apple Crisp.  Delancey is certainly a terrific read for "foodies" and anyone interested in opening a restaurant. As a result, I will also be recommending Delancey to teachers and students in our Gourmet and Business classes. Some of our Gourmet students were recently required to read The Soul of a Chef by Michael Ruhlman, but I think that Delancey could be even more engaging for them. 

I look forward to following Molly Wizenberg's blog, Orangette and hope to make a trip to her family's restaurant in Seattle when I am next on the West Coast.  I want to see what she describes as what matters about Delancey: "We get to make people happy. We get to give people a good night. We get to spend our days doing work that we can be proud of, and when we’re done, there’s all the pizza you can eat."