The famous and profitable friendship between Julia Child and Avis DeVoto began rather innocently in March 1952, when Julia wrote a letter to Avis’ journalist husband after his column in Harper’s on American knives. Avis responded in place of her busy husband, and what began as a semi-professional relationship bloomed into a lifelong friendship. As…
Category: Non-Fiction November
Review: I Am Hutterite
Mary-Ann Kirkby is a respected journalist with a secret. She was born a Hutterite, a conservative religious community 45,000 members in 400 colonies in the northwestern United States and Canada. Her childhood could be described as idyllic, with strong friendship and family bonds, work and religion, delicious food, and a sense of belonging. But it…
Review: Nothing Daunted
In the summer of 1916, best friends Dorothy Woodruff and Rosamond Underwood are feeling a little trapped. Their post-college graduation tour of Europe has them chafing at the idea of attending New York’s teas and balls, and angling for eligible husbands. To their parents’ consternation and mild concern, the ladies accept the two teaching positions…
Announcing Non-Fiction November 2011
If you’ve been around for awhile, you’ve probably found yourself thinking, “Does this woman ever read any non-fiction?!” The answer is no, not that often. But this coming month is an exception, because it’s Non-Fiction November here at the blog! I tried this last year as a kind of experiment, and really had fun with…