Daytime Book Club

Meets the 2nd Wednesday of each month. New members are always welcome!


Book Cover, Kitchens of the Great Midwest by J. Ryan StradalWednesday, April 10th at 12:30pm

 

Kitchens of the Great Midwest by J. Ryan Stradal

 

“A sweet and savory treat.” —People

“An impressive feat of narrative jujitsu . . . that keeps readers turning the pages too fast to realize just how ingenious they are.”—The New York Times Book Review, Editor’s Pick


From the New York Times bestselling author of The Lager Queen of Minnesota, Kitchens of the Great Midwest is a novel about a young woman with a once-in-a-generation palate who becomes the iconic chef behind the country’s most coveted dinner reservation. 
 
When Lars Thorvald’s wife, Cynthia, falls in love with wine—and a dashing sommelier—he’s left to raise their baby, Eva, on his own. He’s determined to pass on his love of food to his daughter—starting with puréed pork shoulder. As Eva grows, she finds her solace and salvation in the flavors of her native Minnesota. From Scandinavian lutefisk to hydroponic chocolate habaneros, each ingredient represents one part of Eva’s journey as she becomes the star chef behind a legendary and secretive pop-up supper club, culminating in an opulent and emotional feast that’s a testament to her spirit and resilience.
 
Each chapter in J. Ryan Stradal’s startlingly original debut tells the story of a single dish and character, at once capturing the zeitgeist of the Midwest, the rise of foodie culture, and delving into the ways food creates community and a sense of identity. By turns quirky, hilarious, and vividly sensory, Kitchens of the Great Midwest is an unexpected mother-daughter story about the bittersweet nature of life—its missed opportunities and its joyful surprises. It marks the entry of a brilliant new talent.

 

Daytime Book Club 2024 Book List
January - Endurance by Alfred Lansing
February - American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins
March - Now is Not the Time to Panic by Kevin Wilson
April - Kitchens of the Great Midwest by J. Ryan Stradal
May - A Long Petal of the Sea by Isabel Allende
June - The Echo of Old Books by Barbara Davis
July - The Measure by Nikki Erlick​​​​​​​
August - The Nature of Fragile Things by Susan Meissner​​​​​​​
September - Shadow Over the Heartland by Thomas Annino​​​​​​​
October - How to Say Babylon by Safiya Sinclair​​​​​​​
November - Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann​​​​​​​
December - In an Instant by Suzanne Redfern

 



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Kitchens of the Great Midwest: A Novel By J. Ryan Stradal Cover Image
$18.00
ISBN: 9780143109419
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 Days
Published: Penguin Books - June 7th, 2016