Friday Reads is a new weekly feature here on
Cityline.ca, where we give you a behind-the-scenes look at what
Cityline guest experts and staff members are reading. Each week we’ll
put the spotlight on the “Friday Reads” of two of our crew. This week,
we’re taking a peek at the bookshelves of Suzanne Ellis and Gail Pelton.
Suzanne Ellis, Cityline.ca editor:
I love food – cooking it, eating it, and yes, even reading about it. Most of the time that means perusing my dozens of cookbooks, but occasionally I add a chef biography to the mix. I’ve read a number of books by Anthony Bourdain – love his acerbic style – and more recently I plowed through Gabrielle Hamilton’s excellent Blood, Bones & Butter. Now, I’m about to give Marcus Samuelsson’s Yes, Chef (Random House) a whirl, courtesy my friend Olga, who recommended it.
Samuelsson has quite a story – born in Ethiopia, his mother died when he was three, and he was subsequently adopted by a Swedish family. He developed an interest in cooking, and quickly made a name for himself as a chef in Europe and then the United States. Now based in New York City, the uber-talented Samuelsson is a household name (in the foodie world, at least) and his Harlem restaurant Red Rooster has served everyone from neighbourhood residents to U.S. President Barack Obama. Best of all, Samuelsson strikes me as a really decent guy, who appreciates his roots and simply loves to feed people. I can’t wait to dig in to his story.
Gail Pelton, Cityline editor:
I loved Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers) and found it thoroughly entertaining but I have two warnings for you. It’s super long (592 pages which is pretty long for a young adult book), and it’s the first of an ongoing series that, at present, is at five books with the sixth coming out in October. It’s the story of Lena and Ethan. Lena is the new girl in town and is immediately branded the outcast by the cool chicks because she is the niece of the town shut-in. Ethan is the cool jock who is still in mourning over his mother’s sudden death and is instantly attracted to the new dark haired, goth girl.
So her family happens to have some secrets and so does his family. Although it’s a young adult read, I urge you to give it a try. If you have teenagers or tweens (it’s totally PG – Lena and Ethan only make out), they will love it. The small southern town has a rich civil war history that is woven into the plot and adds another dimension. You’ll also love the supporting characters who I’m sure will be stars of the next five books.
What are you reading this Friday? Tell us in the comments what books are currently residing on your bedside table!