By Jim Heffernan
I was attracted to this 12 year old book by watching the PBS series, “No Passport Required”. My wife and I enjoy “food porn” cooking shows and his show is one of the best.
This book grabbed me like a pit-bull and I could not put it down until I finished it. It was a combination of his fascinating personality and the sparkling writing that hooked me.
The author was born in 1971 in Ethiopia to Ethiopian parents. When he was three, his mother walked with him and his 5 year old sister 75 miles to Addis Ababa to find treatment for the tuberculosis they all had. His mother die,d and Marcus and his sister ended up being adopted by a Swedish couple.
He grew up in Sweden and learned to cook from his grandmother. After 9 years of basic education in Sweden, he started his training as a cook and never looked back.
His ability and drive enabled him to reach the highest levels of the culinary world. He takes us along on his chosen road. The road is full of bumps and obstacles. It takes him through Switzerland, France,, New York, cruise ships, and Washington D.C. Marcus always finds his way. Very often, he finds his way because of friends he makes along the way.
Here’s an excerpt from page 229 I chose because it showcases his writing style and I just love the imagery of the bookstore.
“I’ve always loved bookstores. They remind me of my father, Lennart, whose greatest pleasure was to sit in the living room at night with a book in his hands and a cup of tea by his side. Bookstores are a giant present waiting to be unwrapped, full of stories and discoveries and lives.”
I read most books with a sense of duty to further my knowledge and understanding. This book did that, but I found pure pleasure in its pages.
354 Pages, Published June 26, 2012 Available at Cloud and Leaf Bookstore, Manzanita and Tillamook Public Library
As always, discussion welcome at codger817@gmail.com