Thursday, June 4, 2015

Our June/July Cook the Books Selection: The Wedding Bees



A few years ago, I read the novel Blessed Are the Cheesemakers by Sarah-Kate Lynch and quite enjoyed it. In fact, I featured it in a post on my blog. As a home cheesemaker, I particularly appreciated the descriptions of making cheese and also the musings on life by one of the characters. 

Therefore, when I read Betty's note on our suggested reading page mentioning another novel by Sarah-Kate Lynch, The Wedding Bees (2013) I took notice. My usual readings are fairly dark, as I have a passion for crime novels, but every now and then I enjoy reading a sunny, sweet story. 
Sugar Wallace did not believe in love at first sight, but her bees did. . . .
Every spring Sugar Wallace coaxes her sleepy honeybee queen—presently the sixth in a long line of Queen Elizabeths—out of the hive and lets her crawl around a treasured old map. Wherever the queen stops is their next destination, and this year it's New York City.
Sugar sets up her honeybees on the balcony of an East Village walk-up and then—as she's done everywhere since leaving South Carolina—she gets to know her neighbors.

I don't associate NYC with hives and honeybees, so this introduction got piqued my curiosity. Would you like to know what happens to Sugar, her queen and her motley crew of neighbors? Then get hold of a copy of the book and join the Club this month and the next as we read it. The novel does not include recipes but it mentions a number of dishes and celebrates a precious ingredient, honey, which can be used to make a variety of dishes. I am looking forward to seeing what Sugar's story inspires you to make.

Submissions for this round of Cook The Books are due by end-of-the-day Monday, August 3, 2015. Anyone can join by reading the current selection, preparing a dish inspired by its contents and writing about it. Let me know when your entry post is up by commenting on this post and/or sending me an email at: simosite AT mac DOT com. 

New to Cook the Books? Check out our About and Guidelines pages or leave a question in the comments on this post. 


Simona of briciole

16 comments:

Joanne T Ferguson said...

I have just ordered this book from my local library and look forward to returning to this series this month!
I will update the thread accordingly! Thank you! Joanne

Simona Carini said...

Glad to read you are planning to join us this round, Joanne.

A Day in the Life on the Farm said...

Ordered it up. Looking forward to it.

Simona Carini said...

I'll get us started with my contribution: http://www.pulcetta.com/2015/06/cuchaule-swiss-saffron-bread-pane-svizzero-zafferano.html

Rachel said...

My post is up as well.

http://wheat-free-meat-free.blogspot.com/2015/06/buzzing-around-kitchen-with-wedding.html

Amy said...

What a lovely story!

Here is my post! (Sorry if it's a duplicate)
http://www.amyscookingadventures.com/2015/06/rich-chocolate-ice-cream.html

Simona Carini said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
A Day in the Life on the Farm said...

I loved this book!! Thanks Simona. My post is up at http://adayinthelifeonthefarm.blogspot.com/2015/06/baklava-ala-its-all-greek-to-me-for.html

Simona Carini said...

Thank you, Rachel.

Thank you, Amy. Glad you enjoyed the book.

Thank you, Wendy.

Alicia Foodycat said...

http://foodycat.blogspot.co.uk/2015/07/honey-peanut-brittle-for-wedding-bees.html really did not enjoy this one at all, but I did enjoy ranting about it.

Simona Carini said...

Looking forward to reading your rant, Alicia — though of course I am sorry you did not enjoy the novel.

Claudia said...

Thanks Simona,I really enjoyed this selection. And, my post is up:
http://honeyfromrock.blogspot.com/2015/07/pineapple-honey-pavlova-with-fresh-mint.html

Debra Eliotseats said...

Mine will be up on Monday: http://eliotseats.com/2015/08/03/honey-cookies/ ‎

Thanks for hosting, Simona. I got a bit annoyed with Sugar but I loved all the little plot twists at the end. (And....spoiler alert...the happy ending!)

Simona Carini said...

Thank you, Claudia. I am glad you enjoyed the book.

Thanks Debra. I read a lot of mystery novels that are quite dark, so every now and then I enjoy a happy ending.

Looking forward to reading everybody's contribution.

Deb in Hawaii said...

Sneaking my way in before the deadline as usual. ;-)

My post is up:
http://kahakaikitchen.blogspot.com/2015/08/sipping-summer-burnt-honey-bourbon-sour.html

A fun pick Simona and perfect for summer! Thanks for hosting.

Simona Carini said...

Thank you, Deb!