HKFE

In lower Manhattan, one will find Duane Park Cafe. This happy little book contains nothing but recipes for sorbets (which must be made in an ice cream machine) and granitas (which can be made in a home freezer) from this cafe. I have never been there, but I am glad to have their recipes for these icy, fruity, delightful treats (especially the coffee/chocolate one).

Basically, these things are nothing more than fruit juice/puree, sugar, ice, and maybe a bit of flavoring (liqueur, vanilla, etc.). They have no fat, although they are rather caloric due to the sugar.

There are 15 sorbet recipes, 14 for granitas, 11 for matching sauces, 10 for matching cookies, and 3 garnishes. It is a classic example of single subject cookbook that covers its subject extremely well; it is quite unique, as I do not know of another one that is exclusively devoted this subject.

The granita and sauce recipes I tried were all very good. I cannot tell you about sorbet, because I do not have an ice cream machine. Some of the granitas are a little too sweet for me, so I had to cut back the sugar a couple of times. The section that reviews ice cream machines is too brief. The sabayon recipes are not the traditional, but ones containing whipped cream; they are rich and delicious, but also very high in calories and fat. One of author's names is misspelled on page 9.

The list of great anthologies has increased by two. Not only has the anthology list expanded, it has made a giant leap forward with the Stories From the Blue Moon Café: Anthology of Southern Writers series. Blue Moon Café I and Blue Moon Café II, edited by Sonny Brewer, a Fairhope, Alabama, resident and Bama native, knows how to pick a jam-up good story, essay, or poem when he sees one. No question there. And the craziest, nuttiest thing, I believe, is that he gets these big guns of Southern literature-Larry Brown, William Gay, Jill Conner Browne, Cassandra King, and Fannie Flagg-to hand over their cash cow honorarium as a donation, proceeds to benefit the non-profit organization called Fairhope Center for Writing Arts. Now that's the amazing way of Dixie!

So here we are, handed a double portion of the very best writing from the South, stories that serve down-home sweet tea fiction, as well as Southern Gothic literature with more than a hint of bourbon and bloodshed.

If this book is anything, it is an event. That's an E-V-E-N-T! The writers, some twenty out of the thirty-three included, go to Lemuria Books in Jackson, Mississippi, and then on up to Oxford at Square Books for readings and signings. It's a veritable Southern Writers' conference, now two years running. They even have free beer and live music, thanks to Publisher David Poindexter and his MacAdam/Cage Publishing Company over yonder in California (MacAdam Cage just printed the wildly popular The Time Traveler's Wife, a Today Show Book Club pick). I went to Jackson and Oxford this year and got a copy of Blue Moon signed, listened to the authors read. And I'll go back next year too. And the year after that.

The book is diverse and rich. One poem throttled me with its economy of language, the boiling down to the essence of things. I have thought about the children's book author Charles Ghinga's "The Bowman's Hand" almost every day since I read the poem. It's a description of boys playing the "Cuss Game" at a Birmingham school, how one boy's punch leaves his young buddy dead.

There's the short story originally published in the Southern Review by Beth Ann Fennelly and her husband Tom Franklin, perhaps one of the finest short-shorts I have ever read in any literary magazine. Michael Morris provides a lively story in his "Just an Old Cur." I thank the editor for introducing me to Morris's work. There are lesser known authors in this volume that you won't want to miss: Joe Formichella, Suzanne Hudson, Frank Turner Hollon (one of my favorite authors), Jamie Kornegay, Jack Pendarvis, Lee Gay Warren, and Sidney Thompson, among others. They offer a treat for the careful reader that will not go unappreciated.

Let me say this, too. Mr. Brewer is one darn heck of a risk-taker. Case in point: He published Eric Kingrea, a freshman at the College of Charleston, an English major, 18 or 19 years old, who writes a World War II story inspired by the late historian Stephen Ambrose's Citizen Soldiers. My guess is that the editor is some kind of Seer. He sees both the value of Kingrea's great little story, and he sees that Kingrea is going to take his big foot and kick an awful lot of fictional tail in the near future if he keeps on writing.

So, if you want to read something outside the power circle of frozen, infested, and incestuous Southern literary hacks, grab a copy of Blue Moon Café II, and see what I am talking about. I know you'll like what you read. Oh, man, I like it!

----------Reviewed by Dayne Sherman

This is a story of connected events which involves life and death situations in a world of blackmail, drugs and big money. In this corrupting world people begin to owe others but sometimes the price becomes their own life. When you get involved in criminal activities like these you pay a high price. The author Winona Sullivan has very well coincided two plots in one story. This mystery is a vow of chastity, a vow of sanctity and a vow of silence.

The publishers of this book are to be congratulated. It's simply funny! No sophomoric leers or vulgarity, just good writing. It's not a new approach in literature, just one I haven't seen in a while. "Checkerboard Cafe" is a book anyone can enjoy. It's about young and old alike. My interest was piqued by the description of the literature it contains--gently written.

Other humorists beware! You have a publisher who attracts good writers who know what it is to simply be funny. The publishers also have a secret weapon-Carolyn Flint, their artist. Her pen and ink drawings illustrating each work bring a broad smile to any face. "Checkerboard Cafe" is one of those kind of books you finish reading and immediately think of someone else who will love it.

My interest was also piqued by the name of the publisher, Brazos River Pie & Railroad Publishing! With a name like that on their masthead, these people just have to be good. I got two copies---one for my dad and one for my daughter. They'll both love it as much as I have! I have also checked two marks off my Christmas shopping list.

Reserve some easy chair time. It's truly the kind of book which makes you remember why you love living so much.

I am starring as "BB" in an amateur production of "Terminal Cafe" in October 2002. This play is written exceptionally well. I love the way Tuttle makes even the stage dialogue sound Southern. The play starts off happily, and they way it grows worse is fantastic. I recommend this for anyone to read, and try to find a way to purchase the rights if you're interested in putting this play on. It is VERY good.

este libro es fantastico, para las personas que necesitamos un poco de espiritualidad en nuestra alma, cada que leo una pagina me invita a toma un cafe con dios y a platicar con el de mis cosas, cada vez me pongo en contacto con el y siento que lo que estoy leyendo es exactamente lo que me pasa.....
es verdaderamente fabuloso.. los invito a tomar un cafe con dios.

ESTE LIBRO, ES UN EJEMPLO, DE REFERENCIA PARA LOS AFICIONADOS AL BUEN CAFE Y TODO EL QUE DISFRUTE LEER UNA BIBLIOGRAFIA FAMILIAR, SOBRE COMO SE CREA UNA EMPRESA, CON ESMERO, MUCHO ESFUERZO, Y UNA GRAN VISION, COMO SOLO EL SENOR, FERNANDO MENDES-CHUMACEIRO Y LOS OTROS MIEMBROS DE DICHA EMPRESA, PUDIERON HACERLO.

When on vacation in Martha's Vineyard I saw this book sitting among many other interesting books. The title and the Prologue intrigued me to read more. After the first chapter I knew this book would be a blessing and the encouragement I needed striving for righteousness as a single Christian woman.

I recommend this book . . . To those in search of a good story. To those that wish to share the experience of laughing, crying and praising God. To women and men of all ethnic origins. To discussion groups or bible classes. Each chapter ends with wonder discussion questions and action items. To those that love and praise the works of Jesus Christ.

Many thanks to Kandis Heckler for sharing her book with me through Claudette.

I am so impressed at how detailed and well researched W.Scott Haine's book is on the cafe. You will find all the information you are looking for on this subject, whether its historical details or the social aspect of this French institution. Great for research projects or just for an increased knowledge on Parisian life and culture. Definitely recommended for anyone interested in the social life of the people of France.

This novel is a fine historical view of The South. Fannie Flagg introduces two women in the Mid 1980's. One is an overweight housewife named Evelyn Couch. The other is an elderly woman in Rose Terrace Retirement Home named Mrs. Cleo Threadgoode. Mrs. Threadgoode enthralls Evelyn with the tales of life in the small railroad community of Whistle Stop,Alabama.In so doing, we are introduced to colorful characters like Idgie,Ruth,Sipsey, and Big George. We hear about their lives, and adventures through several ways. Flagg either tells their tales from a firsthand point of view, or uses the local "Newspaper" called THE WEEMS WEEKLY, published by Busybody postal worker Dot Weems. Either way, the tales are wonderful, and well-written. I suggest this book for anyone who wants to be swept away into a great work of Southern Literature.

'Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe' is one of my favorite books. I just finished reading it again and I love it more than I did the last time!

There are many characters in this novel and you will love 98% of them! This book takes place from the 30's to the 80's and is packed full of stories!

You will learn things about racism that you don't want to know. I am ashamed of how some white people used to behave and how some still behave. This is a novel, but Fannie Flagg acurately depicts how cruel racism was back then and even can be NOW.

The most memorable characters are Idgie Threadgoode & Ruth Jamison and Mrs. Ninny Threadgoode & Evelyn Couch. These women will teach you about true, real and honest friendship. Take note and you will have healthier and happier relationships.

Fannie Flagg is an amazing author. She has a great sense of humor and weaves a story like you wouldn't believe! If you don't become completely engrossed in this novel I will be amazed. I can never read it fast enough!

Fannie Flagg is also great at character development. As I stated before there are many characters in this book and yet, Fannie Flagg writes in such a way that you will feel as if you know each and every one of them personally.

I am always kinda sad when this book ends because I don't want to leave Whistle Stop. I think that is why Evelyn is so sad in the end... she not only misses Mrs. Threadgoode, she misses Whistle Stop and all the people she met there through Ninny.

Read this book ASAP... I believe you will enjoy yourself! Thanks Fannie!

It sounds cliche to say, "I laughed, I cried--two thumbs up," and all too frequently that phrase is applied to books and movies that don't deserve it, but in this case I can't help it. I DID laugh, cry, and give it two thumbs up!

Wonderful characters, wonderful plot, and true heart-felt genius, this is a book AND a movie not to be missed. If your're a fan of Southern literature along the lines of DIVINE SECRETS OF THE YA-YA, TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD, or McCrae's BARK OF THE DOGWOOD, then you'll love this book.

Also, read all of Flagg's books, with WELCOME TO THE WORLD being her second best effort!