part four: chuck palahniuk

check out chuck palahniuk’s books by clicking this sentence

collected stories by amy hempel

jesus’ son by dennis johnson

drown by junot diaz

geek love by katherine dunn

into the wild by jon krakauer

hearsick by chelsea cain

the ice at the bottom of the world by mark richard

father and son by larry brown

ill nature by joy williams

the great gatsby by f. scott fitzgerald

house of leaves by mark z. danielewski

tumble home by amy hempel

cold snap by thom jones

Alex A. Alston, Jr., former president of the Mississippi State Bar Association and long time friend and journalist James L. Dickerson will be signing their new book, Devil’s Sanctuary: An Eyewitness History of the Mississippi Hate Crimes this afternoon, Thursday, July 9, at Lemuria.

Having had a chance to peruse this informative and challenging book, I can say personally that these two men have penned an accurate and informative account of civil rights era in Mississippi. For an honest portrayal few could do better with this sordid history than two native Mississippians who have both been in the thick of things for the last several decades. Come get your book signed at 5 p.m. today, read it, and then come back on Tuesday, August 4, at 5 p.m. when the authors will read selections from the book and take questions.

As an added note:
“The New York Post” gave the book a thumbs up this week in a review! This will be a book talked about for some time to come by movers and shakers in Mississippi. An autographed copy should be wanted!

-Nan

I wonder what most people think of when someone mentions New Orleans?

The devastating images of the city ravaged by Katrina? Smelly, sweaty bodies pressed up against each other trying  to grab a plastic necklace that will mean nothing to anyone only moments later if no one catches it? The smells of the quarter or the  lingerie and sex stores that pop up next to restaurants that require a coat and tie? Fuzzy memories of a friends’ bachelor party or waking up with their hotel and room number tattooed on their arm in Sharpie… just in case?

I think of spring in the garden district and walkin’ down uptown’s narrow streets admiring the houses and the old trees littered with faded beads from Mardi Gras past and discovering a new restaurant for the first time. Whether you’re eating at a hole in the wall or the restaurant requires reservations, New Orleans food is unsurpassed.

Since meeting the famous New Orleans chef, Susan Spicer, at her book signing for her most recent cookbook, Crescent City Cooking, I have been dying to go to one of her restaurants. I’ve heard that both Herbsaint and Bayona are fantastic! Until I get back down there, however, I’ve just had to settle for her recipes.

When the book first came out, she suggested I start by cooking her Crispy Turkey Picatta (page 253) saying that it is fairly simple but delicious… I tried it and it was delicious but last night I tried the “Cajun Style” Chicken Breast with Chili Bean Maque Choux and it was easier and even better than the Turkey Picatta; plus it got a five star review from my fiance, Andy, who said, “it’s a keeper.”

All to say, for a little taste of Nawlins, check out Susan Spicer’s cookbook, Crescent City Cooking and don’t be surprised if it’s like finding a delicious new restaurant in the neighborhood! Still not convinced? Try a recipe… this one is delicious:

“Cajun Style” Chicken Breast with Chili Bean Maque Choux

Makes 4 servings
Prep Time: About 30 minutes

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 6 ounces each)
1 tablespoon olive or other vegetable oil, plus 1-2 tablespoons veg. oil for sauteing
2 tablespoons Creole or whole-grain mustard
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon each black and cayenne pepper
2 tablespoons chopped scallion

For the Chicken:
Rinse the chicken breasts and pat dry. Combine the olive oil, mustard, salt, and spices and smear it on the chicken.
Refrigerate for at least 15 minutes, or up to several hours, until you’re ready to cook.
Grill the chicken (you can also saute or broil)

Maque Choux
2 ears sweet white or yellow corn, shucked and silk removed, or 1-1/2 cups frozen corn kernals, thawed
1 tablespoon olive or vegetable oil
2 tablespoons butter
1/2 medium yellow onion, diced
1 jalapeno, seeded and minced
1 garlic clove, minced
1/2 cup peeled, seeded, and diced fresh tomato, or canned tomato (with juices)
1 14 ounce can red beans, kidney beans, or chili beans (for a bit more heat), drained and liquid reserved
Salt
Hot Sauce

For the Maque Choux:
Cut the corn kernals from the cob, being careful not to cut too close to the cob (where the kernals become dry and starchy).
Heat the oil and 1 tablespoon butter in a skillet to foaming. Add the onion and cook for 2-3 minutes, then add the tomato, beans, and 1/4 cup of water or reserved bean liquid and season to taste with salt and a little hot sauce. Stir and cook until heated through, then swirl in the remaining tablespoon of butter. Keep the vegetables warm while cooking the chicken.

To serve, place a scoop of maque choux on each plate, garnish with chopped scallions, and top with a chicken breast.

If you are a Greg Iles fan you will be pleased to know that this novel is set in Natchez and Penn Cage is now the mayor.  In his quest to improve the Natchez public schools and bring jobs back to Natchez he has turned to casino gambling like other Mississippi towns.  There are now five floating casinos along the river but one boat, The Magnolia Queen, is not the same and has a lot to hide.  There have been rumors that big players from Vegas have been coming to the Mississippi backwater on private jets to gamble and to participate in various “blood sports” such as dog fighting.  When an old friend of Penn’s brings him evidence he feels the completely guilty for not being able to protect his home town from these wicked ways.  Soon Penn realizes that if he is going to fight this corruption he is going to be on his own.  Not knowing who to trust in his own administration or on the police force Penn calls in some old friends for help, Caitlin Masters, Danny McDavitt, Tom Cage and Walt Garrity.  These friends and some new friends made along the way realize that is no ordinary enemy but one who has the ability to anticipate and counter their every move.

This book is nonstop action–full of plot twists–so if you have a long “to do list” do not start this book before everything is done because you will not want to stop reading until you are finished with The Devils Punchbowl and then trust me you will want more.

Greg Iles will be signing at Lemuria on July 11 at 4 pm and then reading at 5:30 pm.

One of my responsibilities at the bookstore is the Presidents section. I have always loved history and Lemuria has quite an extensive history collection but this section is given over to just presidents. Among others, we have books on Bush, Carter, Ford, Clinton, Obama, all the Roosevelts, Hoover, Truman, Reagan and of course, the Kennedys. Our fascination with THIS family seems to be unquenchable! There are several new Kennedy books out right now that are certainly worth mentioning.

Brothers in Arms: the Kennedys, the Castros, and the Politics of Murder by Gus Russo and Stephen Molton caught my eye. With Cuba back in the news, learning more about our connection with this small but strategic country seems very important. The “brother component” on each side also fascinated me. At this particular point in time (the 1960s), you have John and Robert Kennedy, who represent American privilege and a renewed youthful sense of hope and on the other side; you have Fidel and Raul Castro, reformers whose grand scheme of a utopia was slumping into violence and betrayal. In the middle of this, strangely enough, is Lee Harvey Oswald, whose ties with Cuba will cause immense interest in the days to come. This book looks primarily at Kennedy’s assassination and how these five people each play a defining role and are bizarrely inter-connected.  The authors wrote out of 30 years worth of intense research. What they uncover about Oswald’s motive in killing Kennedy and the role that the Castros played is really quite fascinating and the book is a must for anyone who is a history/Kennedy nut!!

Joseph P. Kennedy presents His Hollywood Years by Cari Beauchamp is another book that looked really interesting and fun to me. If I once knew it, I had forgotten, but the foundation of the Kennedys wealth came from Joseph Kennedy owning and running three movie studios in Hollywood. He made his fortune by masterminding the creation of RKO and it profited Kennedy millions. He was only 31 and was very hands on in the running of these studios. It was rumored that he had an affair with Gloria Swanson during this time and was instrumental in the making and the ruination of many Hollywood stars. He was a shrewd businessman and seemed to know a good risk. He was a contemporary of William Randolph Hearst, Cecil B DeMille and David Sarnoff. Kennedy was smart, greedy and believed that motion pictures were a gold mine and he was proven right. A great book for anyone interested in movie history, the Kennedys or both!!

Edward Klein’s latest book is entitled, Ted Kennedy: The Dream that Never Died. Obviously, this is not the first book written on Ted Kennedy but it is up to the moment and really tries to reconcile the disparities in this incredibly complicated man. The book examines his life ranging from Chappaquiddick; his marriages, his increasing prestige within the Senate all the way up to his niece, Caroline’s, almost run for the New York Senate. The author deals pretty sympathetically with Kennedy and doesn’t get mired down in so much early history that has been written on ad nauseum. He shows Kennedy as an American patriot whose real devotion was to serve his country. Chappaquiddick has always overshadowed every accomplishment of Ted Kennedy’s forever after but Klein is insistent that what he did after that disaster should weigh just as much and be seen just as clearly. With Kennedy being the last remaining brother and knowing that his health is very fragile, it would seem that we are coming up on the closing of a family history that has intrigued people for so long.

Lastly, Matthew Algeo has written a new book called, Harry Truman’s Excellent Adventure. It chronicles the road trip that Truman and his wife, Bess, took right after he finished his term as president. He decided to load up his Chrysler New Yorker and with only Bess along for the ride did what no other president, before or since, has ever done. They drove across America! There were no Secret Service along and their plan was to visit old friends, see a Broadway play, celebrate their wedding anniversary and blow a bit of the money he had just received to write his memoirs. Algeo meticulously recreates their route and has wonderful stories and antidotes that he uncovered along the way. We are selling quite a few of these and it looks like so much fun. Way to go Trumans for doing something novel and exciting as well as believing that they could somehow get away with resuming a normal life.