Kitchen Yarns: Notes of Life, Love, and Food

In her previous works, Hood (The Book That Matters Most) has tackled subjects as diverse as books, knitting, and grief. This latest collection contains 27 essays about food and how we often mark pivotal moments of life via special recipes. From Grandma Gogo's gravy to Hood's perfect carbonara, readers will travel with her through life's vicissitudes. Many of the essays will bring a smile to the face and jostle long-forgotten fond memories, while others gently tackle losing a child or a beloved brother. The recipes that accompany the essays are not fussy, tending toward comfort food. The lack of access to the printed recipes is a significant downfall; there is no table of contents indicating where each recipe could be found, meaning listeners will either have to write the recipes down as they hear them, or do a lot of skipping tracks back and forth through six CDs to find the recipe they wanted to try. Narrator Nina Alvamar brings a wonderful, cozy warmth to the book, perfectly complementing the essays.