This was one of those books that I bought because the cover appealed. It sat on my growing pile of books to be read and when a long standing friend mentioned it to me in an email, asking where would I keep it – on my regular bookshelf or with my cook books? I commented that I already had the book and it was a to be read book and I had not made that decision yet.

We agreed we would read together and discuss by email. I struggled with the first few pages and could not get into the structure of the book, but after beginning again I absolutely loved it.

Written between two friends by email when they reconnect for a short time in 2000, the book then turns back to the early 1960’s when they shared a friendship and recipes until the 1970’s when something happens that tears their friendship apart. In 2002 the friends reconnect again when one receives a letter from the lawyer of the father of the other friend, that letter contains an emotional grenade and forces the friends to communicate again. After an hiatus the communications, friendship and relationship begins again.

This is a fascinating book about friendship, love, family and deceit, all interspersed with recipes.

The friend I read the book with I have known for 40 years, We often email, anything between several paragraphs to one line emails and I also have every letter she has has ever written to me from the days before email. And to answer the initial question, I keep my copy of the book in the breakfast room along with all my cookery books!