DEATH BY PAD THAI: AND OTHER UNFORGETTABLE MEALS -- Douglas Bauer, ed

Three Rivers Press -- tpb
New York -- 2006 -- 239pp
ISBN: 0-307-33784-7

"20 Great Writers on Romance, Disappointment, Family, Celebration, and the Meals That Inspired Them."

Introduction (Ramos Gin Fizz) -- Douglas Bauer
"Foodums" (Pears Poached in Seasoned Wine for Two) -- Sue Miller
"La Divina Commedia" -- Amy Bloom
"Fried Peppers" -- Michael Gorra
"Full" -- Elizabeth McCracken
"Home" -- Andre Dubus III
"Food Envy" (Dori's Mom's Tuna Fish) -- Aimee Bender
"Stir Gently and Serve" -- Jane Stern
"Surf and Turf" (Surf; Turf) -- Richard Russo
"Beach Food" (Clams with Garlic and Wine; Seafood Soup; Lazy Blueberry Cobbler) -- Michelle Wildgen
"By the River Cousin" -- Claire Messud
"My Dinner with Andy Warhol's Friends" -- Michael Stern
"How I Learned to Eat" -- Peter Mayle
"My Life in Food" -- Ann Packer
"Dinner With Seamus" -- Henri Cole
"The Longest Hour" (My Stepmother's Fish Cakes, with Some Variations) -- Margot Livesey
"A Feast of Preparations" (Nougat Glace with Raspberry Sauce) -- David Lehman
"The Handsome Tutor at Lunch" (Robaire's Chicken Liver Omelet) -- Michelle Huneven
"Yes" -- Lan Samantha Chang
"The Place We Came From" (The Best and Simplest Yogurt in the World) -- Diana Abu-Jaber
"Death by Lobster Pad Thai: A Counter-Phobic Paena to Friendship,Crustaceans, and Oral Transcendence" -- Steve Almond
About the Contributors

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For the most part, nothing here was particularly memorable, with the exception of Steve Almond's bit of comic relief, and Michael Stern's tale of perhaps one of the worst dining evening ever.

None of the essays were bad. While reading them I was usually moderately engaged, but except for the two mentioned, they didn't stay with me.

DEAD MEN TAPPING -- Kate Yeomans

Dead Men Tapping: The End of the Heather Lynne II
International Marine/McGraw Hill -- hc
Camden, ME -- 2004 -- 403pp
ISBN: 0-007-138034-5

A thoroughly researched account of the wreck and attempted search and rescue of an ocean fishing vessel.

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I was mightly impressed with the research and writing of this book. Though a hefty 400 pages, it read smoothly.

Occassionally, early on, I was disappointed with the side-tracks ... the reporting on other vessel wrecks or seaches or the history of some of the people, but as I got further into it I realized how it helped create a complete picture of the incident in question.

A good read of a disappointing loss of life.