Book Reviews

By Vaishnavi Patel 4/26/22 478 pages $28 Redhook

‘Kaikeyi’

Retellings of epic tales have become a genre of their own, and I am here for it. In this sparkling, sad, brilliant debut novel, Vaishnavi Patel takes on the ancient Hindu story, The Ramayana, and all its magical twists and cosmic turns, and builds a unique, powerful take on the classic that had me absolutely spellbound. 

Kaikeyi is often considered the villain in the traditional tale of Rama. Here, she’s something much more nuanced — a powerful queen and magically gifted person who just wants to make the world a better place. Telling her story in her own voice, Kaikeyi describes her lonely childhood and the decisions that lead to her using her power to strive for better treatment of women at all levels of society.

This is an immersive and powerful story, and I can’t wait for more from this talented author. This would be an excellent gift for anyone with a love of mythology, epic stories and really good writing. n  

— Review by Julie Goodrich

By J. Kenji Lopez-Alt
3/8/22
336 pages
$50
W.W. Norton Company

‘The Wok: Recipes and Techniques’

I should start by noting that I’m a huge J. Kenji Lopez-Alt fan and have been for years. His remarkable, award-winning book, “The Food Lab,” changed my life. Much like that earlier book, Lopez-Alt has filled “The Wok” with science, advice and his trademark passion for food. This isn’t a traditional, recipe-style cookbook in many ways. It’s more of an instructional guide and cooking adventure, focused on the most versatile and useful pan in any kitchen — the wok. It may seem odd to many cooks in the West, but there is surprising value in having wok skills for many types of dishes and cuisines.

This book introduces not only a great set of techniques and recipes, it also deepens and expands how to think about meals and dishes from a new angle. The title may seem one-note, but, I promise, this book has so much to offer both experienced and novice chefs. This fantastic book is an ideal gift for anyone looking to up his or her game in the kitchen. n 

— Review by Julie Goodrich