City of the Beasts (P.S.)

First-timenovelistKarenStolzhascreatedacozy,poignantandexquisitelywrittenepisodictaleoffamily,food,andlove.SetinasmalltowninTexasinthe1960's,where"therewasn'talottopickfrom,summer-wise:counter-girlatJerry'sDairyKing,shampoogirlatBarb'sTintn'Clip;themaidjobattheBluebonnetMotel,"ayounggirlnamedRoxannecomesofage.Whetherit'sapie-bakingcontestthatbecomesalessoninracialpoliticsandcourage;acrushonthenewmailman(whoisawoman);ordealingwiththedeathofherbelovedfatherandhermother'sremarriage,Roxanneneverfailstotouchourhearts.Andifthatweren'tenough,therecipesfollowingeachchapter--whichrangefromChristina'sLemonMeringuePietoDoreen'sFrozenFruitSalad--evokeacozysweetsensationthatmakesitseemasthoughtherecouldbenobetterplacetolivethantineAnnette,Texas.