"What I Ate in One Year," by Stanley Tucci

I admire Stanley Tucci as an actor; most recently he was terrific in the film "Conclave," which now has extra resonance since the death of the Pope a few days ago. He also has a whole other career as a food writer, TV food program host, and in other food-related projects. I posted here about his earlier book "Taste," which I very much liked, and I have now read his "What I Ate in One Year" (Gallery Books, 2024). The premise and organization of this book, in which Tucci literally tells readers what he ate every day, with one usually short chapter for every day, may sound dull to prospective readers. It definitely is not. The book is in fact a sort of memoir of the year (2023) with a focus on food stories, skillfully and entertainingly woven in with stories about work, family, travels, and friends (some very famous). The stories are engaging, and Tucci's personality comes across as enthusiastic about all of the above. Despite his fame, he appears to be very down-to-earth, even humorously self-deprecating. Tucci is very much a family man, and especially savors cooking for and eating with family members, whether at home or in intriguing restaurants all over the United States and Europe. I suppose one needs to be somewhat of a "foodie" to fully enjoy this book, but only in the way of appreciating good food eaten in good company in interesting places (he especially loves Italy and Italian food). Anyone who loves to eat and, optionally, cook and/or travel, will find plenty to enjoy in this warm and welcoming book.

"Three Days in June," by Anne Tyler

Anne Tyler's novels always feel like old friends. I have been reading her work since the 1970s, and I don't remember ever not loving her work. It is so wise, so humane, so down-to-earth, and also so reliably beautifully written and entertaining. She is on the short list of writers who, the minute I hear that they have a new novel out, I put it on my to-read list and find it as soon as possible. Tyler is now 81 years old, and still writing wonderful novels, including her most recent: "Three Days in June" (Knopf, 2025). This novel is shorter than most of Tyler's. I mention this partly because I have been noticing that some older writers do write shorter novels; see, for example, Anita Desai's recent novels, which I wrote about on my 3/12/25 post. But, as always, as soon as I started reading this novel, I was drawn in, and struck once again by Tyler's knowledge of human nature, as well as by the unassuming, almost conversational tone of her writing. "Three Days in June" is about a family during the days surrounding a family wedding. The family members, like so many, are loving but also have some issues with each other. We recognize both the love and the tension that can and does arise among family members. There are secrets that emerge, misunderstandings, and decisions to be made. Although I am not sure that I was as totally caught up in this novel as I have been with some of Tyler's prior works, this is a high bar; I still loved it, and would not have missed reading it for anything. Tyler's novels are so realistic, so authentic, and they always make me feel that I know a little more about human nature than I did before I read them. And, to be clear, they are enjoyable to read. I would even call them page-turners if that label did not have the negative connotations, the implied lack of seriousness, that it does. What I mean is that once I start reading her work, I cannot stop, because it is wonderful. (Can you tell that I am a BIG fan?)