"Southshire Pepper-Pot," which
includes "Lost Among The Tuna Trees, a 2008
SPECTRUM AWARD NOMINEE, is the
anthology of a
Vermont writer's group, known as
Southshire Roundtable. This
collection consists of short stories, essays, and poetry written by members of this regional guild. The unifying theme is food. Recipes abound in this anthology, generously slathered atop stories of murder, motorcycles, and environmental ruin.
The authors and their stories are:
Shawn MacKenzie s two entries,
Thorn Soup and
Lost Among the Tuna Trees, testify to her range: the former is a landmark in anthropomorphism, while the latter expertly combines science fiction and fantasy. Both stories are splendid examples of Shawn s wry, gently satirical work.
Marie White Small contributes two selections as well. Told with the sensory detail and hard-earned wisdom of the best kind of regional fiction,
Charting the Lake of the World and
They Were the Unwinged Travelers, blend nostalgic moods and sober truths.
In
Ode to a Hostess Cupcake, Adriana DiGennaro details the impact of a homemade confection. Impressively even for poetry,
Ode to a Hostess Cupcake builds to a surprising but apt final line.
Stefano Donati's
I d Have Rescued You Sooner, But Seinfeld Was On is a return to his music-rooted short fiction. No sweet melody here, this tale strikes with a chilling end.
The Day Before the Killing Frost, by Bob Williams, originally appeared in the 1970s. Though clearly reflective of its time, this essay about a changing Vermont in general, and Bennington in particular, rings as painfully true now as when it was first written.
Justine Metzler's
Duck's Harbour is a poignant, spare account of sacrifice. Readers who have watched loved ones suffer will particularly connect with this wrenching story.
A deftly told kitchen-sink comedy with a con-temporary twist, Jane Chamay's
Good Company is perhaps the most food-focused story in the entire anthology.
A second non-fiction piece,
A Bittersweet Land by Ed Cyzewski, offers a striking perspective on religious tension. Certain to stir strong emotion,
A Bittersweet Land chronicles the fragility of reason in the Middle East conflict.
Also set far from Vermont is K.D. Norris
Dancing With Crawlin' Billy, with the conversational tone and ghostly atmosphere of a classic Weird Tales story.
Like a leisurely breakfast, Bruce Lierman' s travelogue,
Dutch Mess, is to be savored. Wise and graceful, this piece has much to say about contemporary America.
As you will see, "Southshire Pepper-Pot" is a veritable stew. With tones ranging from melancholy to biting to whimsical, and settings ranging from a bygone Vermont to an alien planet to the contemporary Middle East.
The recipes included in"Southshire Pepper-Pot" offers a dish for every palate, including such delights as Hazelnut Praline Torte, Italian Eggplant Caponata, Roasted Perfidious Hen with New Potatoes & Peas, Tuna-Tree Molé, Whole Wheat Focaccia with Roasted Garlic & Pesto, Khoresht-e Ghormeh, French Beignets with Frangipane and Apples, Potato and Goat Cheese in Pastry, Sex-A-First-Bite Cupcakes, Cappuccino Semifreddo, and many more....
Stock up your pantry, tie on your apron, pull a chair up close to the fireside, and enjoy..
Price:
$15.00
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