An Epitaph – Punctuate to Suit

From a book that Amanda gave me:

He is an old and experienced man in vice and wickedness he is never found opposing the works of iniquity he takes delight in the downfall of his neighbors he never rejoices in the prosperity of any of his fellow creatures he is always ready to assist in destroying the peace of society he takes no pleasure in serving the Lord his is uncommonly diligent in sowing discord among his friends and acquaintances he takes no pride in laboring to promote the cause of Christianity he has not been negligent in endeavoring to stigmatize all public teachers he makes no exertions to subdue his evil passions he strives hard to build up Satan's kingdom he lends no aid to the support of the Gospel among the heathen he contributes largly to the evil adversary he pays no attention to good advice he gives great heed to the devil he will never go to heaven he must go where he will receive the just recompense of his reward.

Also, remember that “woman, without her man, would be a savage.” Or should that be: “women; without her, man would be a savage”?

Herman Hesse, The Journey to the East

A short book with some interesting ideas. For instance, is it necessary to abandon a group or belief and rediscover it in order to participate fully in it? Hesse calls this despair, and says that “Depair is the result of each earnest attempt to go through life with virtue, justice and understanding.... Children live on one side of despair, the awakened on the other side.” He asks if it necessary to serve in order to live long, in the way that artists give themselves up into their work and mothers into their children. Also, he questions the possibility of discovering the truth of an event of the past. When each participant has their own memories and perspective, can any of them be considered true? I happen to believe that there is indeed one true, objective reality, but I'm not sure that it matters when there is no way of determining what it is. Furthermore, of course, in any sufficiently complex happening, the quantity of detail requires a summarizing and organizing which cannot be wholly objective.

I don't think I saw the same connection between this book and Ken Kesey that Tom Wolfe discusses in The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test. There is the fundamental split between believers and non-believers, but in The Journey to the East we learn almost nothing about the believers, whereas Wolfe goes far to initiating us into Kesey's circle. And there is the mythical journey to the East, but we learn almost nothing about that either. The cult of personality seems weaker in Hesse's novel. Yes, the narrator's companions became divided and bitter without the servant Leo, but there seems more to the League than his leadership. Still, it is an interesting parallel, and I think that I would view The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test more critically if I were to reread it after finishing this book.

Jews Scream for Ice Cream

My dad's collection of ice cream sheet music includes the following dialect for “I Scream – You Scream – We All Scream for ICE CREAM”:

I scream, you scream, ve all scream for Ice Cream, RAH RAH RAH
Ve're not caring if it smells from herring, SHA SHA SHA
It's malicious – in big dishes
Ve like it covered with – gefillte fishes
Iceberg, Lindberg, and Goldberg and Ginsberg, Ice Cream COHN!

Not particulary politically correct, I suppose, but funny, and we're allowed to make fun of our own heritage, right? I have to say, however, that despite my willingness to eat fish from a jar, I hope never to be served ice cream topped with gefillte fish. One right after the other, maybe, but not together.

Julia Child, The Way to Cook

If you only buy one cookbook, and you'd rather learn to cook than look up particular dishes, this is the book to get. The Joy of Cooking has more recipes but won't teach you as much. In The Way to Cook, Julia Child has distilled and modernized the techniques and recipes of her other books. You'll find French classics like Coq Au Vin, Puff Pastry, and French Bread, but the book has an American feel. There's even a recipe for New England Corn Chowder. The pictures are decorative enough to inspire, but with enough shots of Child's wrinkled hands in action to help you through the complicated recipes. The chapter on bread is particulary thorough. As are the directions for a Duck Pâté Baked in Its Own Skin, which Child assures us, is nothing more than a “dressed-up meat loaf”.

The Way to Cook is arranged in traditional chapters (Soup, Poultry, Meat, etc.), but within each chapter, recipes are grouped by method of preparation. Leg of lamb follows roast beef, for example, and all the braised vegetables come together. This arrangement allows Child to spend more time on technique – ideas that apply to more than just the recipes in the book. She also explains many common tricky recipes (like soufflés, hollandaise sauce, caramel, and omelettes) well enough that you'll be able to make them without the book.

The only section where you might find yourself wanting another cookbook is in the desserts. Those chapters seem more French than the rest of the book, despite several recipes from old American cookbooks. There aren't any chocolate chip cookies here, or an apple pie (I don't count the apple tart). Still, you can have fun making truffles, meringues, caramel custard, and, if you're feeling ambitious, a bûche de Noël.

Despite all that, if French cooking is what interests you, I'd recommend Mastering the Art of French Cooking over The Way to Cook. It seems more authentic, and it's more comprehensive. But if you just want to learn to make good food with French flair, The Way to Cook is the way to go.