Average customer rating:
- LA Dead
- Wife or No Wife
- Arrington Barrington
- Audio CD Review; Just 'OK'
- A good read...
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L.A. Dead (Stone Barrington Novels)
Stuart Woods
Manufacturer: Signet
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Binding: Paperback
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Cold Paradise (Stone Barrington)
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The Short Forever
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Swimming to Catalina Low Price
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Worst Fears Realized
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Dirt
ASIN: 0451204115
Release Date: 2001-09-05 |
Amazon.com
Stuart Woods is a master of the glitzy, high-concept, suspense thriller, and Stone Barrington, hero of five previous mysteries, is the kind of private cop who glides gracefully between lavishly detailed dinners, private jets, fancy parties, sexy assignations in luxury hotels, and the occasional murder investigation. Occasionally he gets his hands dirty, but more often it's his sheets. L.A. Dead finds him in Venice, where he's about to marry the beautiful (but seriously crazy) daughter of a high-ranking Mafioso, whose other daughter happens to be married to Stone's best friend--an NYPD cop, naturally. The civil ceremony's over, but the church wedding is only hours away when Stone is called to L.A., where his former lover has just discovered her husband's dead body. The lover is Arrington (an oddity, given Stone's surname; did Woods just run out of imagination here?), the dead husband is a famous movie star, and everyone believes she killed him. Everyone except Stone, who's still in love with Arrington. He has a helluva time interviewing (and bedding) all the women in her circle, including the dead husband's private secretary, Arrington's best friend, her lawyer's mistress, and a number of Hollywood wives. Jackie Collins does the ladies better, but Stone manages to save the damsel in distress, get rid of his nutty near-wife without offending her father, and wrap up all the details except the most important one. No doubt he's saving that for the next book. In the meantime, Woods's many fans will snap this up and spend the interim wondering: if Stone marries the woman of his dreams, will that make her Arrington Barrington? --Jane Adams
Book Description
Stuart Woods is "a no-nonsense, slam-bang storyteller." (Chicago Tribune)
Cop-turned-lawyer-and-investigator Stone Barrington ventures out to the west coast-and out on a limb-in this "stylish whodunit" (Detroit News) filled with romance and murder from the bestselling author of The Run and Worst Fears Realized.
Stone's trip to Venice-with a fiery Mafia princess-is cut short by a frantic phone call from half a world away. A celebrity murder has Los Angeles in an uproar and has a former flame pining for Stone's help-in more ways than one...
Customer Reviews:
LA Dead.......2007-07-24
After reading the newest STONE BARRINGTON series book I have gone back to the beginning to see how it all began. Love reading about Stone's adventures. They all have been good.
Wife or No Wife.......2007-06-10
Stone Barrington is off on another caper in this the 6th installment of Stuart Woods' fascinating series. Murder is high places of his rival for the affection of Arlington Carter, leaves Arrington accused of killing her superstar husband, Vance Calder. Motives abound as the bedposts are not tall enough to notch up all the conquests made by the participants.
Stone leaves his wedding to Dolce Bianchi, the sister of his previous partner, Dino Bachetti's wife to rescue Arlington. A gesture that is resented by the bride. A fast read by a master of detective fiction, Woods leaves no stone unturned to keep the reader guessing as to the outcome.
Nash Black, author of "Qualifying Laps" and "Taxes, Stumbling Blocks & Pitfalls for Authors 2007."
Arrington Barrington.......2006-10-05
Just read Jane Adams' review on "LA Dead" by Stuart Woods.
I'm not accusing Jane of plagiarism, but her "Arrington Barrington" playful dig at the author comes directly out of Mr. Woods' 2nd Stone Barrington novel "Dirt" (Pages 96 & 97), when Stone meets Arrington for the first time.
Quote "This is Arrington Carter" the actor said after shaking Stone's hand, "Arrington, this is Stone Barrington".
"Mr. Barrington" the young woman said with a pleasing southern accent, you and I must never, ever marry" Stone and Calder both erupted with laughter, while she regarded them coolly, "Gentlemen, you make my point for me". End quote.
As for the book, it was a standard Stone Barrington, if you like that sort of thing, which I happen to do. I am working my way thru the Stone Barrington series and really haven't been disappointed yet. I especially like the way the author use characters from other books as minor characters in his other books. I think I'm going to expand my serial reading to all Stuart Woods books so I won't miss how any of his character's develop along the way.
Audio CD Review; Just 'OK'.......2006-07-09
This is the first Stone Barrington novel I've heard by Robert Lawrence; the others were read by Tony Roberts. So for those of us listening to audiobooks, we get to rate the story itself AND it's telling. I find the story to be just 'light reading', or what my book group calls beach trash; mindless, a little mystery, a little sex, a no-brainer. Other Stone Barrington stories have had more depth. Also, Robert Lawrence reads in a flat tone of voice without any real enthusiasm. He sounds as if he's reading a textbook. Tony Roberts reads with much more life.
I recommend Joe Mantegna reading Robert B. Parker's "Spenser" novels, and Tony Roberts reading the Stone Barrington series.
A good read..........2006-05-27
I am surprised at the low star rating on this book as it was truly a good read. However, having said that, I'm still in a quandary about who did it! Who killed Vance Calder? I used to think Arrington wasn't too bad, but in this book I really lost respect for her. She's a weak whiner and doesn't have much understanding for others or a backbone to stand up for herself. Stone, of course, continues to be a whore and sleep with every beautiful dame that comes along. I really hope he's finished with Arrington, but I have my doubts. Is Arrington's son Vance Calder's or Stone Barrington's child? We still don't know, but we have our suspicions because Calder had enough money to get the original DNA tests skewed. I simply love Dino and Stone sure should have listened to his partner about getting involved with Dolce. What a frightening mess that woman is! Truly, it's a fun ride in the life of Stone Barrington...especially if you want to listen to the book on tape.
Customer Reviews:
Return to Middle Earth's clone.......2003-10-29
While the "Iron Tower" trilogy was published prior to publication of the "Silver Call" duology, the duology was actually written first. Was McKiernan's first-written book, "Trek to Kraggen-Cor," better than the ones published before it? In a word, no. It's still a poor clone of J.R.R. Tolkien's masterful works.
Perry is the descendent of the great Tuckerby Underbank, living in the Boskydells. As a rather nerdy scholar, he dreams of battles and adventures -- and his fantasies come true when Lord Kian and two Dwarves show up on his doorstep. They need help reclaiming the ancient Dwarf citadel of Kraggen-Cor from the evil Spawn that have invaded, and Perry has memorized the old maps and directions.
Perry's thrilled, but his handyman Cotton Buckleburr isn't that thrilled. They travel with Kian and the Dwarves, training and learning to fight as they go, and soon meet up with their allies, the Dwarf army and the Vanadurim. But Perry is about to find out that what's ahead is not a glorious battle, but a horrific slaughter...
"Trek to Kraggen-Cor" is the sort of writing generally classified as "fanfic": stories written by fans of a TV show, movie, or book. McKiernan is clearly a huge fan of "Lord of the Rings"; how else could he have taken so many details from Tolkien's masterful epic and transplanted them into a similar backdrop? Look at the Dwarves, the "Watcher" kraken, the death Ghath, every single thing about Warrows, the evil villains, the Elves, the Vanadurim. The whole thing stinks of Middle-Earth. Even small details -- such as the little silver horn or the mushrooms -- were written by Tolkien first and best.
Very little actually happens in this book; most of it is talking, travelling, or both at once. The travelling is excruciating; McKiernan gives us every dull detail. The dialogue is a little better, but there's too much melodrama (and, in Cotton's case, poorly-written country-Brit dialect). The preoccupation with clothing details, hysterical laughter, and to-be-continued sign on the end make it even more frustrating.
Perry is apparently supposed to be a naive yet plucky hero; he merely comes across as a drip who has no contact with reality. Cotton's folksy attitude wears thin, but he's an acceptable character; Kian really isn't very interesting. The Dwarves are all utterly interchangeable, including Borin and Anval.
The first is not always best, and such is true with "Trek To Kraggen-Cor." Only if you liked his excruciating "Iron Tower" trilogy will you like the travesty of Dennis McKiernan's first duology.
If you liked Moria in Lord of the Rings..........2000-01-13
If you liked the chase through Moria in The Fellowship of the Ring, then these two books are for you. While the Silver Call duology is not as much of a rip-off of Lord of the Rings as the Iron Call trilogy was, all of McKiernan's books have been a good read and enjoyable.
In the authors defense, he did say in the beginning of one of the books that he could not find anything else as epic as Tolkien and set out to create something similar, albiet a little too similar.
Tolkien.......1999-08-16
A sequel to Tolkien. Not much happens in this one. They head off for some caverns. Lots of travel. Get delayed by floods and storms. At the end they have a battle with a monster. Nothing real creative here.
Simply the best!.......1999-08-13
I got this Book as a gift from a friend and didn't touch it for a month. Then one day while i was bored I picked it up. I only put it done once and that was to pick up The Brega Path(Book 2). Im now Reading both for the second time, and looking forward to reading his others.
A fine work of fantasy.......1998-11-10
Great book. Read it
Average customer rating:
- Return to Middle-Earth's clone
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Trek to Kraggen-cor (Silver Call Duology)
Dennis L. McKiernan
Manufacturer: Roc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
McKiernan, Dennis | ( M ) | Authors, A-Z | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
General | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0451167554 |
Customer Reviews:
Return to Middle-Earth's clone.......2004-09-07
While the "Iron Tower" trilogy was published prior to publication of the "Silver Call" duology, the duology was actually written first and published second. Was McKiernan's first-written book, "Trek to Kraggen-Cor," better than the ones published before it? Not that much. It's still a poor clone of J.R.R. Tolkien's masterful works.
Perry is the descendent of the great Tuckerby Underbank, living in the Boskydells. As a rather nerdy scholar, he dreams of legendary battles and adventures -- and his fantasies come true when Lord Kian and two Dwarves show up on his doorstep. They need help reclaiming the ancient Dwarf citadel of Kraggen-Cor from the evil Spawn that have invaded, and Perry has memorized the old maps and directions.
Perry's thrilled, but his handyman Cotton Buckleburr isn't that thrilled (since he wisely recognizes that war is messy, bloody, and deadly). They travel with Kian and the Dwarves, training and learning to fight as they go, and soon meet up with their allies, the Dwarf army and the Vanadurim. But Perry is about to find out that what's ahead is not a glorious battle, but a horrific slaughter...
"Trek to Kraggen-Cor" is the sort of writing generally classified as "fanfic": stories written by fans of a TV show, movie, or book. McKiernan is clearly a huge fan of "Lord of the Rings" -- how else could he have taken so many details from Tolkien's masterful epic and transplanted them into a similar backdrop? Among things copied are the Dwarves, every single thing about Warrows, the evil villains, the Elves, and the Vanadurim. The whole thing stinks of Middle-Earth. Even small details smack of Tolkien's life's work.
Very little actually happens in this book; most of it is talking, travelling, or both at once. It's even worse when they TALK about travelling. The trek to Kraggen-cor is excruciating, since McKiernan details every dull step of the way. The dialogue is a bit more relaxed, but there's too much melodrama (and, in Cotton's case, poorly-written country-Brit dialect). And McKiernan keeps fixating on hysterical laughter, clothing, and food -- at least one of these shows up regularly.
Perry is apparently supposed to be a naive yet plucky hero. But he merely comes across as a massive drip who has no contact with reality. Cotton's folksy attitude wears thin, but he's an acceptable character. Kian really isn't very interesting; he's a pretty typical benevolent warrior-prince. The Dwarves are all utterly interchangeable, including Borin and Anval.
The first is not always best, and such is true with "Trek To Kraggen-Cor." Only if you liked his excruciating "Iron Tower" trilogy will you like the travesty of Dennis McKiernan's first duology.
Average customer rating:
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Trek to Kraggen-Cor
Manufacturer: Signet
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000GS7RZW |
Average customer rating:
- Return to Middle Earth's clone
|
Trek to Kraggen-cor (Silver Call Duology)
Dennis L. McKiernan
Manufacturer: Roc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
McKiernan, Dennis | ( M ) | Authors, A-Z | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
General | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0451155637 |
Customer Reviews:
Return to Middle Earth's clone.......2004-09-17
While the "Iron Tower" trilogy was published prior to publication of the "Silver Call" duology, the duology was actually written first. Was McKiernan's first-written book, "Trek to Kraggen-Cor," better than the ones published before it? In a word, no. It's still a poor clone of J.R.R. Tolkien's masterful works, full of weird writing and annoying characters.
Perry is the descendent of the great Tuckerby Underbank, living in the Boskydells. As a rather nerdy scholar, he dreams of battles and adventures -- and his fantasies come true when Lord Kian and two Dwarves show up on his doorstep. They need help reclaiming the ancient Dwarf citadel of Kraggen-Cor from the evil Spawn that have invaded, and Perry has memorized the old maps and directions.
Perry's thrilled, but his handyman Cotton Buckleburr isn't that thrilled. They travel with Kian and the Dwarves, training and learning to fight as they go, and soon meet up with their allies, the Dwarf army and the Vanadurim. But Perry is about to find out that what's ahead is not a glorious battle, but a horrific slaughter...
"Trek to Kraggen-Cor" is the sort of writing generally classified as "fanfic": stories written by fans of a TV show, movie, or book. McKiernan is clearly a huge fan of "Lord of the Rings"; how else could he have taken so many details from Tolkien's masterful epic and transplanted them into a similar backdrop? The whole thing stinks of Middle-Earth. Even small details -- such as the little silver horn or the mushrooms -- were written by Tolkien first and best.
Very little actually happens in this book; most of it is talking, travelling, or both at once. The travelling is excruciating; McKiernan gives us every dull detail. The dialogue is a little better, but there's too much melodrama (and, in Cotton's case, poorly-written country-Brit dialect). The preoccupation with clothing details, hysterical laughter, and to-be-continued sign on the end make it even more frustrating.
Perry is apparently supposed to be a naive yet plucky hero; he merely comes across as a drip who has no contact with reality. Cotton's folksy attitude wears thin, but he's an acceptable character; Kian really isn't very interesting, nor does he seem very bright. He's basically on it for the adventure. The Dwarves are all utterly interchangeable, including Borin and Anval.
The first is not always best, and such is true with "Trek To Kraggen-Cor." Only if you liked his excruciating "Iron Tower" trilogy will you like the travesty of Dennis McKiernan's first duology.
Book Description
For the first time the lay public can benefit from the anti-aging secrets discovered by the Life Extension Foundation, the world’s largest, most respected organization dedicated to anti-aging research. Working with the Life Extension Foundation, renowned anti-aging physician Philip Lee Miller shows you how to retain your physical health and vigor, mental clarity, and youthful appearance–for life.
This groundbreaking book translates cutting-edge anti-aging advances into a practical, easy-to-use program that will maximize your chances of living not only a long life–but a healthy, vibrant life. Drawing on his own clinical experience as well as the latest research from the Life Extension Foundation, Dr. Miller demystifies the aging process and provides you with:
•Detailed strategies integrating the most advanced mainstream therapies with nutrients, hormones, and holistic approaches from around the world
•A comprehensive plan to protect yourself from cancer, heart disease, arthritis, and Alzheimer’s disease at the cellular level by controlling inflammation and oxidation–two degenerative processes that cause us to age prematurely
•A guide to individualizing this lifesaving program, including the Longevity Diet for maximum vitality and effortless weight loss and a unique supplement regimen–plus how to use medical tests to monitor your progress
•An inspiring vision of the future of life extension science and what your future will be like without disease, premature death and aging–with novel strategies to help you get there
This far-reaching anti-aging program will change your life forever. Like many of Dr. Miller’s patients, your physical and mental health will actually soar as you age chronologically. Your new longer, healthier life begins now as you embark on The Life Extension Revolution.
Customer Reviews:
want to stay young?.......2007-02-01
hits pretty hard on the medical community but has some really innovative ideas on supplements to keep you young. Well worth having as part of your "medical" library
A scientific approach to the fountain of middle age.......2006-03-11
Herein lies the biochemistry of aging and the steps you can take to slow it down. It isn't simply a matter of finding a multivitamin, exercisiing and hoping fate keeps at bay. It's a matter of premeditatedly taking action to keep your systems running at full efficiency and carefully monitoring your bloodwork to make sure you're on target. In terms off all you spend to stay healthy, and will spend for medical intervention - this information is virtually free. I put a lot of energy into my health and found this information life changing.
bogomaka.......2006-02-27
the only scientifically pliable book on the market. shure the topic of anti aging is complex. but get over it. the author tried hard to explain the "process" of anti-aging in as least encyclopedical terms possible. thanks. the other way aroung wuold be a magic bullet or some sort of miracle. but i guess you are a grown up. miracles dont happen. we have to do our part.
For a longer, healthier and happier life.......2006-01-01
This brilliant book from the cutting edge Life Extension Foundation reveals the promise of anti-aging medicine and provides a complete programme of lifestyle, supplements etc. to stay biologically young and healthy.
Anti-aging medicine takes an approach built on the principles of functionality, prevention, holism and integration. The authors discuss the reasons for aging, like cellular programming, biochemistry, environmental influences, heredity and lifestyle factors.
The good news is that we can now correct, reduce and compensate for metabolic and biochemical changes that take place as we age. Some of the treatments include the use of bio-identical hormone replacement, the use of a wide array of nutrients, herbs and pharmaceuticals, plus lifestyle and dietary changes.
This book provides practical and user-friendly programmes whereby you can easily benefit from the spectacular advances in anti-aging medicine in order to live a longer, fuller and happier life. It includes detailed information on how to protect yourself from heart disease, cancer, arthritis and Alzheimer's disease through the control of inflammation and oxidation.
There is also plenty of advice and information on retaining and increasing brainpower and mental clarity. Diagrams and charts enhance the text and the book concludes with extensive references and appendices to the latest research.
The Life Extension Revolution is very thorough and detailed and makes the latest research findings accessible to the average person. I also recommend Renewal by Timothy J Smith, The Superhormone Promise by William Regelson, The New Anti-Aging Revolution: Stopping The Clock by Ronald Klatz and Mind Boosters by Ray Sahelian.
Growing Older Does Not Mean Aging.......2005-12-25
In LIFE EXTENSION, Dr. Philip Miller explodes the notion that good health means simply the absence of clear disease. To Miller, good health means optimal health, a condition which ought to allow each person to defy the belief that advancing age must be accompanied by those infirmities that historically have accompanied advancing years. Dr. Miller suggests that the desire to live long and prosper involves accepting the notion that an extended and joyously healthy life must involve some serious tinkering with one's hormonal system. He recommends that most would be Methuselahs not only know which supplements to take (DHEA is a favorite of his), but also which ratios of bodily chemistries hold significance. This is a daunting task, but a necessary one. Miller further spends much print on how to slow disease on the cellular level. It is here that he goes into detail about those antioxidants with which most reader are familiar: vitamin C and E, Alpha Lipoic Acid, CoQ10, and the like. One gets the feeling that Miller intends the reader to grasp the concept that an extended life span is a multi-faceted affair requiring an almost encyclopedic knowledge of the intricacies of the human body. And it truly is. Still, as comprehensive as his text is, he necessarily had to focus on the hormonal and nutritional supplement aspect of long life. His chapter on diet is bedrock but brief. For readers who wish a more detailed discussion on dietary advice, I recommend RENEWAL by Timothy Smith, who approaches life extension from a dietary viewpoint. Dr. Miller in his LIFE EXTENSION has set forth a no nonsense but highly attainable regimin that, when followed closely, will truly allow the reader to accomlish in real life what is promised in print.
Average customer rating:
- Smokestack Lightning Strikes Gold!
- Excellent reading and so much more than just a food book !
- Great read.
- Barbeque
- A delight - great food, adventure, wonderful pictures and recipes
|
Smokestack Lightning: Adventures In The Heart Of Barbecue Country
Lolis Eric Elie
Manufacturer: Ten Speed Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
South
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ASIN: 1580086608 |
Amazon.com
Through vivid descriptions of restaurants and barbecue joints around the country, stirred together with legends and bits and pieces of barbecue history, Lolis Eric Elie profiles the largely American pastime of barbecuing. Traveling from Texas to the Carolinas, the author chronicles the lore and traditions of the barbecue belt and collects recipes, descriptions and photographs of everything from barbecued cows' faces to pigs' snouts, on his quest to determine barbecue's role in American culture.
Book Description
It was while eating a big ol' plate of steaming ribs that journalist Lolis Eric Elie and photographer Frank Stewart decided to traverse the country to investigate America's obsession with smoked meat. Their quest took them from all-night barbecue binges on Chicago's south side to barbecue competition circuit events like Memphis in May and Big Pig Jig in Vienna, Georgia, where people drop thousands of dollars to spend a sleepless night smoking meat. In SMOKESTACK LIGHTNING, Elie and Stewart profile the down-home devotees of the barbecue world, painting an anthropological portrait of one of our nation's favorite pastimes. Featuring 50 mouthwatering recipes for such meats, sauces, and side dishes as Oklahoma Joe's Brew-B-Q Ribs, Moonlight Mutton Dip, and Lady Causey's Overnight Cabbage Slaw, SMOKESTACK LIGHTNING is a unique culinary chronicle that'll make your stomach rumble.
Customer Reviews:
Smokestack Lightning Strikes Gold!.......2007-05-30
LOVED IT! I purchased the book for research purposes and couldn't put it down. What a marvelous education about the history, evolution and pure love of barbecue! The pictures are excellent and Lolis Eric Elie really made the stories come to life, as if I was traveling along with him. It certainly sparked a new-found interest in barbecue for me and I couldn't wait to read more. Check out Cornbread Nation II - another brilliant book edited by Lolis.
Excellent reading and so much more than just a food book !.......2007-03-27
I bought this book after reading John Thorne's comnments on it in his excellent book "Serious Pig".
Barbecue means something very different in Australia so the draw of a book on great American BBQ was a seller and yet this book is so much more than a book about food - its a travelogue, bursting with characters, stories and some superb photographic work which illustrates what is obviously a labor of love for the author - its a fascinating and superb read if you enjoy reading about food and the people who make it, its well worth the purchase price and you will enjoy the ride.
This is a book that makes you want to eat BBQ, it makes you want to see the places hes talking about and meet the people, he does a superb job of evoking an image in your mind which draws you in and entertains and its a superb travelogue to boot that makes you want to eat where he's eaten and seen where hes seen.
Not its not a cookbook, and he's a purist who disdains the chain cleanliness of mass produced BBQ shacks preferring the old fashioned traditional methods but you could argue thats the whole point of setting out to find the best BBQ - its going to be subjective and thats alright - its a hell of a read and a great ride to boot.
Great read........2006-08-13
First off, if you are buying this book expecting a cookbook, don't. Buy it because it is a hell of an entertaining read instead. The book itself is one man's story of traveling the backroads of the US searching for and eating a lot of good barbecue. It is also his opinion of what makes good barbecue - some folks take exception to what his opinions are. This is almost always the way with barbecue. As with religion and politics, an almost certain way to start an argument at a party is do discuss what makes "good barbecue" with others who have their own opinions. If you cannot handle reading another man's opinions, don't bother with this book. For me it proved to be interesting if not educational, and I certainly don't agree with all or even many of his opinions.
Also, as others have said, he often mimics the speech of locals when quoting them. "Under it" becomes "Un'er it" etc. I don't personally see this as making fun of them or ridiculing them at all. To the contrary, I feel it is done to give the audience a little insight into what it was like to interact with these folks. Many of the quotes in question would have seemed downright bizarre if written in proper English rather than dialect. Again, if you can't stand to read quotes that include semi-gibberish because you find it offensive, this book may not be for you. I found it entertaining.
This book was OOP for several years. Personally I'm glad to see that it's available again. In my opinion it's one of the best of its breed.
Barbeque.......2005-09-05
I have not finished reading the book yet but thus far the author is doing a very thorough and detailed accounting of the origin of barbeque, various styles and some places with good barbeque.
The author seems to be a little harsh on those that do not barbeque in the most primative and rustic way. A well run place like 'Corky's' in Memphis, which I've been to, is downrated as being too slick. Too clean and organized. He prefers shacks where the meat is cooked for 12 hours in a pit and served in a place with just the basics. I prefer the comfort and good food and service of a Corky's style restaurant.
All in all it is well written and contains a lot of good information.
A delight - great food, adventure, wonderful pictures and recipes.......2005-07-24
I had a wonderful experience of things and places I never knew while reading this book. When a book can provide that, I don't know what more you could ask for. My first experience of eating ribs was as a boy at my father's union picnic. When they told me I could eat some ribs, I did not want to eat them. Once I tasted them, I could not get enough. For a while, I looked for every opportunity to find more of this magical delicacy. Then I ran into some tough, dried out, vein laden stuff that put me off it for quite awhile.
Even so, I am not sure that what I ate was barbecue even though that is what it was called in the world of my youth. I suspect that for many people if you cook something over an open flame or charcoal and put sauce on it, that is barbecue, barbeque, BBQ or whatever else you want to call it. It wasn't until I read Calvin Trillin's wonderful writing on his favorite food in Kansas City, Missouri that I realized there was a difference between my cooking out back over charcoal in a Weber Smoker and the slowly cooked, low temperature, super tender barbecue. It was not until very recently that I have tasted whole hog barbecue cooked in a pit over wood and it makes all the difference in my appreciation of this great food.
I bought this book at a special barbecue evening at Zingerman's Roadhouse here in Ann Arbor and one of the authors, Lolis Eric Elie, was there to talk with us about what he had found, what we were eating, his book, and his DVD. It was such an impressive evening that I wanted to read what he had to say.
The authors took me on a wonderful adventure. I got to follow them from Memphis and meandering through Arkansas, Texas, Missouri, both Carolinas, Chicago, and others. They found a lot of bad cooking along the way, but they found some good to wonderful barbecue as well. The interesting thing to me is that there is no real predictor of when they were going to find something great. Some of the tiny places out back were good, most were bad. Some of the larger establishments were good, most were not.
What you had to have was a pit master who cared, who knew what he was doing, and who was willing to do the time consuming work to make it happen. The authors also show us a wide range of preparations of meats. Mostly it is pork, except in Texas where it is beef. In some places it is just ribs and brisket, others it is the whole hog.
A few still cook it in a pit in the ground, most have above ground pits of brick and sand and some with steel. One pitmaster argued that steel wrecks the meat, but most cook that way. There are those that use indirect heat and smoke. There are others who want the flame and the burning of the grease drippings. The most successful use good wood or charcoal. Although they did find one place that barbecued with electric heat and a strip of wood for smokey flavoring. The worst whole hog was a place that used gas and nothing to put any flavor in.
There are places that specialize in different things. Some do the pork shoulder, some are ribs and brisket, and some cook the whole hog. Some even do chicken and shrimp, but the authors dismiss these as not being barbecue because the only thing they have in common is the sauce and a touch of flame. No slow cooking or smoking.
I can tell you that I wished I were with the authors at a few of the places to sample the food with them. However, I do not believe I am quite adventurous enough to want to seek out snoot sandwiches or ear sandwiches. And while I have had pork rinds, I have not had cracklins. I assume they are different. It was also very interesting to me how much of what you ate as a child biased you as to what barbecue is. Frank loved the ribs from Chicago even though they weren't cooked like traditional barbecue, weren't as tender as "real" barbecue, but were nonetheless tasty as all get out.
Among the many delights of this book are the fabulous pictures taken by one of the authors. They show so much. Wonderful people who are full of character and life. Frank Stewart caught so much of the atmosphere of the places the authors take us to that I felt in some ways that I have been there.
The book also supplies many recipes that were acquired in the travels and hard won sampling of the nation's barbecue. These are the good stuff. Frank and Lolis also provide us with the addresses of their favorite places.
Books:
- Larceny and Old Lace (Den of Antiquity)
- Love for Sale (Grace & Favor Mystery Series, No. 4)
- Man in the Queue
- Moth and Flame: A Benjamin Justice Novel (Benjamin Justice Novels)
- Mrs. Jeffries Weeds the Plot (Victorian Mystery)
- Mrs. Pollifax, Innocent Tourist (Mrs. Pollifax Mysteries)
- Murder at Ford's Theatre
- Murder in Grub Street (Sir John Fielding)
- Murder on the Prowl
- Murder, She Wrote: Dying to Retire (Murder She Wrote)
Books Index
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