There is an ancient Chinese proverb that says, “An invisible thread connects those who are destined to meet, regardless of time, place, and circumstance. The thread may stretch or tangle. But it will never break.” In 1986 that is exactly what happened when Laura Schroff passed by an eleven-year-old beggar on Broadway, and then turned around. In her book, AN INVISIBLE THREAD, Laura Schroff and Alex Tresniowski tells the story of her 25-year friendship with Maurice, a young black kid living with his addicted, drug dealing family in a 12 x 12 room. He and Laura meet every Monday for dinner for the next four years, and hundreds of times more as the years go by. Their eyes are opened to each other’s world: one with no future except jail or death and the other full of promise. What we learn is that Laura’s family was no prize either and they have more in common than at first glance. This is a heartbreaking story, yet full of hope and a mutual love that change both their lives.
MISS ELIZA’S ENGLISH KITCHEN by Annabel Abbs is the novelization of the real-life Eliza Acton (1799-1859), spinster poet who was the first to write actual cookbooks including the measurements of ingredients and cooking times. Reminiscent of Jane Austen’s style, Eliza and her impoverished kitchen maid, Ann, dare to break with custom and their status in society to envision an independent future for themselves. Each delicious chapter is full of mouth-watering descriptions of what’s for dinner and the inner turmoil and secrets of their individual lives. This is a cozy read best read at the kitchen table by a warm fire.