This month I’m reading a short story collection by a novelist I’ve had a slightly patchy experience with, a memoir combining travel and food – two of my favourite things besides reading – and a prize-winning novel I’d hoped to enjoy more than I am.
The short story collection I’m reading is Tessa Hadley’s After the Funeral which I picked up having enjoyed her first novella, The Party, much more than her full-length fiction. It’s off to a promising start with the dark titular piece about the fraught relationship between two daughters and their mother after their father’s sudden death.
The non-fiction book I’m reading is Caroline Eden’s Cold Kitchen which has already taken me to Uzbekistan, introducing me to winter melons, then on a six-day train journey across Russia which sees Eden eating Russian hand pies, before consuming copious amounts of pork fat and vodka with her compartment mates. Trying not to race through this one.
What about you? What are you reading?
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Well, I’ve reserved the Eden at the library, but decline to order any more fiction for a while because … well, you know the reason. So the builders are still at it? You must be having the house re-built!
I do, indeed. The Eden’s a real treat. It’s been three weeks – we’re on the final couple of days I’m pleased to say.
Phew! Well survived!
Having any kind of workmen in the house is sure to be disturbing. Even if they’re quiet, tidy and considerate you still know they’re there
It’s like being invaded. You sound as though you speak from experience!
Interesting selection. I’m still reading Yesteryear – I am in the like it camp but have struggled to find time to read over the past few weeks. Hoping that will change now
One of the most talked about titles in my part of the blogosphere this year. I’m glad you’re enjoying it, and fingers crossed for better reading time.
I looked at the cover of the Hadley thinking it was familiar… I haven’t read it but I do have Seasonal Associate by Heike Geissler in my reading stack that curiously uses the same photograph!
I see what you mean. It’s almost as if they’ve lifted the image and stuck it on a cream background.
I empathise with builders in the house being not conducive to concentrating on reading. I find it very distracting to have workmen in my home. I hope you either get into it or find another book that is more engaging soon.
I hadn’t heard of Caroline Eden but I very much like the sound of Cold Kitchen – excellent vicarious travel via the pages of a book! My library does not have it but I have reserved Eden’s Green Mountains.
Not easy, is it, but we’re on the last few days so concentration should return, at least I hope so.
Cold Kitchen is a superb combination of food and travel. I’d be interested to hear what you think of Green Mountains. Adding it to my list.
I’m tempted by the Tessa Hadley, having enjoyed The Party. I was interested in Kate’s comment as I’m sure the artwork is on another book cover but I can’t remember which one!
It’s disconcerting when that happens, isn’t it.
Loved the Tessa Hadley stories having had a similar experience to you prior to that, haven’t read The Party so will look out for it. Will definitely try the Eden
I think I’m going to stick with her short fiction in future. Hope you enjoy the Eden. She took me to Riga today!
Like Lauren Groff, I think Hadley is actually more in her element with short stories. I can never remember which of Hadley’s novels I’ve read or not! (The covers and titles are somehow not evocative.) Whereas I’ve read all her story collections now.
Glad you’re enjoying Cold Kitchen. An interesting introduction to countries and food cultures I barely knew. I reviewed it for Shelf Awareness (and interviewed the author).
I do find Hadley’s full length novels much of a muchness whereas The Party stood out for me.
I imagine Eden was an interesting subject to interview. Cold Kitchen is right up my alley. Have you read anything else by her?
No, that was my first from Eden. I think her others are more like straight cookbooks?
I’ll check them out.
Cold Kitchen sounds like a possible, but I’ll wait till you finish it. I’m listening to two books for Paris in July–one fiction, one nonfiction. Reading isn’t going well again. No commute and it is taking me a while to adjust.
I remember commuting being very useful reading time. Hope you make the adjustment soon.
Cold Kitchen’s still going well. Riga yesterday where she visited the amazing markets which made me wish we were self-catering when we were there.
I was in Crimea to adopt my kids way back in 2023. It was Ukraine then. The group I adopted thru forbid us from eating prepared stuff from markets. I laughed. I was in the Peace Corps. I never got sick but my translator had to sneak it to me. Excellent food!. All the other adopting parents ate at Mickie Ds and what they called “Ukraining McDs” or bought supermarket stuff like Ragu Pasta Sauce. I don’t eat that at home. They lady I stayed with made incredible food. Thankfully I stayed there alone so dinner wasn’t the problem lunch presented.
Good for you! Part of the experience of travel is eating local food although I did get pretty sick of dumplings in Czechia and Slovakia.
Ha! That’s what the so-called Ukraine McD’s specialized in!
I enjoyed Hadley’s The Party some months back. I don’t read many fiction short story collections. I veer towards non-fiction essay books moreso and I have been tipping into Rebecca Solnit and Anne Enright in between fiction books. I am getting on really well with a Patrick Gale book (Notes from an Exhibition) in advance of seeing him in Bantry next week. Very good storytelling.
I’m getting on much better with Hadley’s short stories than her novels. Hoping she follows The Party with more novellas. That’s one of my favourite Gales.