The most famous and probably the first
apple story that anyone hears is the Garden of Eden. International
bestselling author and poet Gioconda Belli has a beautifully written
rendition of the story in Infinity in the Palm of Her Hand: a novel of Adam and Eve. (M) Belli is
a Nicaraguan poet, writer and political activist. She has won the
Casa de las Americas Prize in 1978 and the Best Political Novel of
the year in Germany in 1989 and many other awards. In February 2008
this novel won the prestigious Spanish prize, Biblioteca Breve.
Most of us are taught an abridged version of the story. Belli
expands on the story in a beautiful somber and thoughtful treatment.
Even the serpent is given a more in-depth treatment. No matter what
your beliefs are, this book will make you think and would be great choice
for a book club.
The
next most famous apple is the one that bonked Sir Isaac Newton on the
head! While this event is not the focus, Philip Kerr has written a
wonderful historical thriller in Dark Matter, the Private Life of Sir Isaac Newton. (M) I love
historical fiction that features real people that have you puzzling
on whether or not the story could possibly have happened. Fact is
that Newton was the Warden of the Royal Mint and Christopher Ellis
was his assistant. The novel reads like a Sherlock Holmes novel,
with Newton as the cold puzzle solving Homes and Ellis as action
seeking Watson. While investigating a series of counterfeiting, the
men discover a series of murders in the Tower of London. The clues
are esoteric and include alchemical references, which are right up
Newton's alley. This novel has a mix of everything, including
politics, science and history.
Professional apple growing always
brings to mind the novel, Cider House Rules
(M) by John Irving. Irving writes very “real” characters and pulls
no punches. This novel is no exception, getting into subjects of
race, abortion, class divide, orphans, incest, adultery, drug abuse
just to name a few. Taking place in the first half of the 20th
century, Homer Wells is raised from birth at the orphanage in St.
Cloud's, Maine. He becomes a student of Dr. Wilbur Larch, Director
and physician to the orphanage. Larch is a compassionate man who
cares for troubled mothers with respect and care. He lets the mothers
choose whether to deliver the baby, putting the child up for
adoption, or performing illegal abortions. Homer helps with the
deliveries but refuses to help with the illegal abortions. You may be
wondering what all this has to do with apples but the novel's other
“story within a story” involves the workers of cider press.
Frankly I found this story more intriguing than the main plot line.
But I will leave that up to you, dear reader, to decide for
yourselves.
To end
off this blog I am going to include a couple of “light weight”
novels that are quick and easy. The first is Belle in the Big Apple (M) by Brooke Parkhurst.
In her chick lit debut, author Parkhurst brings in her own life experiences.
She has hosted ABC and the James Beard Foundation's television and
online cooking series, Eat & Greet. She and her husband Jamie
have published the cookbook Just Married and Cooking. This
novel is pretty autobiographical as it tells the story of a southern
belle who makes her way in the Big Apple as a journalist. Along with
her story, she presents 30 recipes which have names like “Bribe your
Coworker Pound Cake”.
Mom, Apple Pie and Murder (M) edited by Nancy Pickard, is
a perfect introduction to sample a “bite” of some familiar, or
maybe not so familiar authors. While the stories can be diverse, the
one thing they hold in common is they all feature a good (or bad)
ole' mom as the main character and a number of them feature apple
recipes. I could not help but be reminded of Snow White and her
“mom” while reading these stories. I hope your apples are
nothing but healthy!
I don't know if an
apple a day keeps the doctor away but I do know that I need to read a
page (or more) a day to keep my mind healthy and entertained. Enjoy.
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