Manhattan Monologues: Stories

Book Description

He is our sublime master of manners, our "most astute observer of moral paradox among the affluent" (Arthur Schlesinger, Jr.), and "one of the essential American writers" (Kirkus). Now, in his fifty-seventh book, Louis Auchincloss delivers a brilliant collection of ten new, previously unpublished, stories; once again, he unfailingly "voices truths with elegant precision" (Publishers Weekly).
MANHATTAN MONOLOGUES charts a colorful New York century through a series of personal accounts from the rarefied circle that fills Auchincloss's best short fiction. Here are characters who confidently finesse their way through society's uppermost tiers and yet are just as easily undone by the smallest upset in a day. Like all of Auchincloss's richest creations, they bump up against their consciences, with often surprising results. What, for instance, is a woman to do when she must choose between true love and high society when making a marriage? How can a man stay true to himself, his family, and his country when it goes to war? How can a determined marriage broker salvage matters when the young man she has so painstakingly steered toward a love match becomes charmed by another woman?
These tales, and many more, fashion a glamorous, yet all too human, societal portrait -- from the aristocratic loyalties of the early twentieth century to the complicated twists of modern-day mergers and acquisitions. MANHATTAN MONOLOGUES is Louis Auchincloss at his most clever, his most discerning, his best.

Customer Reviews:

Gifted writer but..........2005-10-05

While its easy to enjoy his work, I cannot for the life of me see any difference between this and the other works of his I have read. He accurately depicts the lives of wealthy New Englanders but I had to press myself to drive through this book once I had read his other works.

All the characters are good at playing bridge........2003-03-23

This is the type of book where all the characters are very good at playing bridge, and the men are mostly either successful lawyers and bankers or unsuccessful businessmen; the women don't work. It is kind of fun to read, and while I cannot take it very seriously, Auchincloss is deeply interested in the characters and society he writes about, and to a great extent he draws the reader into this world. Auchincloss also does very well with the short story form, in that few of his stories come across as mere "trifles". The story about a son who cannot measure up to his father's expectations, and a father who does his best to love his son, is the most meaningful of the stories.

PENNED WITH GRACE AND PERCEPTION.......2002-08-08

One of America's most respected authors, Louis Auchincloss has just given us a gift - his 57th book, Manhattan Monologues. As one expects from this celebrated chronicler of upper-class society, the prose is precise and telling. He reveals rather than explains, writing with grace and perception.

This collection of ten stories opens with "All That May Become A Man," the chronicle of a son who cannot meet the expectations of his daring father, a former Rough Rider who considered Teddy Roosevelt both "god and friend."

Agnes Seward is the heroine and narrator of "The Heiress." By way of explanation we learn that in her day it was accepted "that any ambitious and impecunious young man who elected to enter an unremunerative career......would do well to avail himself of a dowry."

She did have a dowry, albeit a modest one compared to her wealthier relatives. Agnes sometimes wondered if it were not possible to be loved for herself alone rather than the financial stability she might bring to a marriage.

In "Collaboration," a revelation of a couple's differing relationships with the Nazis, our narrator is an only son who finds joy in lonely rambles through the marshland of his family's summer home. It is there that he meets Mr. Slocum, a like-minded gentleman who "...was the first adult who had ever listened to me." Their friendship will deepen throughout the years.

Each story is a mini masterpiece impeccably crafted and imaginatively told.

- Gail Cooke

Auchincloss Monologues Chronicle Our Lives.......2002-06-15

Louis Auchincloss' lateset collection of short stories is a welcome addition to his considerable body of work. Every new contribution helps define Auchincloss as a major force in American literature.

In "Manhattan Monologues," Auchincloss views the seminal events of our last century as they affect and are affceted by characters from his world: upper east side, Hamptons, Mount Desert Isalnd, New England boarding schools.

His characters -- on the surface people of welath, power and priviledge -- slog through their lives just as we common folks do, with much the same results.

As he so often has done in the past, Auchincloss has held up a mirror which helps us better understand the world in which we live.

Book Description

Including not one, but two titanic team-ups featuring everyone's favorite wall-crawler. Spider-Man goes to Japan to rescue a captured Wolverine, and it's up to the duo to solve a mystery in the land of the Rising Sun. Plus: Spider-Man and Daredevil try to save the lives of two kidnapped children, in their own unique styles!

Customer Reviews:

Linguistic Science Fiction.......2000-08-08

Perhaps not Scott's flashiest work, but thoughtful and as always with a perceptive eye on the interaction of technology and culture. A first contact novel worth reading. Various science fiction authors keep tabs on findings in various sciences -- most of them are interested in the "hard" sciences. This novel shows a lot of knowledge about the science of linguistics.

Average customer rating:

Mighty Good Road
Melissa Scott
Manufacturer: Simon & Schuster
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000NUEABW

Average customer rating:

Mighty Good Road
Melissa Scott
Manufacturer: NY: Baen Books, 1990
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000BN0XZS

Average customer rating:

Mighty Good Road
Melissa Scott
Manufacturer: Book Club
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000UPR0OO

Average customer rating:

MIGHTY GOOD ROAD -- BARGAIN BOOK
MELISSA SCOTT
Manufacturer: Baen Publishing Enterprises
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000W41KWG

Book Description

Finally back in print--the definitive volume on Indian vegetarian cooking. Created by a noted author and lecturer, Lord Krishna's Cuisine features more than 500 recipes, filled with fresh produce and herbs, delicate spices, hot curries, and homemade dairy products. All recipes are based on readily available ingredients and have been scrupulously adapted for American kitchens. The recipes are enlivened by the author's anecdotes and personal reminiscences of her years in India, including stories of gathering recipes from royal families and temple cooks, which had been jealously guarded for centuries. Hailed by Gourmet as "definitive," and as "a marvelous source for vegetarians" by Bon Appetit, Devi has created the landmark work on the world's most sophisticated vegetarian cuisine. Repackaged and evocatively illustrated, Lord Krishna's Cuisine unlocks the mysteries of the most healthful and delicious recipes of the world.

* Winner of the International Association of Culinary Professionals Cookbook of the Year Award

"Big and beautiful."--Julia Child

"The Taj Mahal of cookbooks." --Chicago Tribune

"Monumental." --Vogue

"The food on Yamuna's table looks great! It's full of life, full of flavor, vibrant and healthy besides." --Deborah Madison, author of Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone

Customer Reviews:

i love this book.......2007-10-06

my parents are indian and i was brought up in the US. i've had some luck cooking my own food, but it ended up always tasting the same. i've loved this book because it has combinations of spices that i would not have though of before, and a lot of vegetable and daal recipes dont require you to have any skill to make them! i've been pretty happy with most of the dishes i've made from this book over the past month or so.

The definitive source for Indian vegetarian cooking.......2007-09-05

I just purchased this volume for my 21-year-old son at his request. This cookbook has been a standby in our household since he was born. My copy is well worn and full of notes like "fantastic," "quick to fix," "just the right degree of spiciness."
You'll need to stock up on three dozen spices, as there are often more spices in the ingredients list than main ingredients. I'm always surprised at the delicious results. I've never been disappointed in any of the recipes in this 800-page treasury of Indian delights.

Excellent Indian Cookbook!.......2007-08-30

`The Art of Indian Vegetarian Cooking' by Yamuna Devi is an awesome Indian cookbook. Yamuna gives you the history behind the recipe, and her style of writing is extremely interesting, it makes you feel you were there while she tasted the meal for the first time, and decided that the recipe should be in her book! She's extremely knowledgable in Indian cooking although Yamuna Devi is by no means Indian. You would never know that from her knowledge of Indian cookery, and certainly not from her name (she has an Indian name because she changed her name).

Most of her recipes are of North Indian cuisine - which for those who don't know it, is totally different from South Indian cuisine. If you like the spicy curries and other dishes like that, you're a fan on South Indian cuisine. That doesn't mean that you won't like these recipes though, as there's an abundance of South Indian cooking and spicy meals in this cookbook too!

For those who prefer a milder version of Indian cooking, I have good news for you too! This book contains mild recipes too. In fact, in Indian cooking you can change the "hotness" or spiciness of a recipe to suit your tastes.

A word of caution : Traditional Indian cooks (my grandmother included) didn't use oil to excess like many recipes in this book. Grandma used more oil back in the day when it was ok to do so, but as time went by, and my mom told her about the dangers of using too much oil in her food, she cut down on her use of oil. But by no means did she EVER use as much oil and ghee (clarified butter) as some of the recipes in this book call for. It's absolutely ridiculous to use huge amounts of oil when cooking, and I wish Yamuna Devi had improved on that aspect of Indian cooking. Deep frying - if it's done ocassionally, would probably be ok, but even Grandma learned to use alternative methods of cooking, and her food was as delicious as ever!

So, my advice is cut down on the amount of oil these recipes call for, bake or grill whenever possible, and deep fry ocassionally if you want to enjoy a recipe that requires deep frying. Apart from that, enjoy this cookbook because I certainly do!

One of the best and most exhaustive books on vegetarian cuisine .......2007-08-21

[Review written Jan 2005]

To put this book in it's proper context within the much larger world of culinary tomes ... Yamuna Devi is to Indian Cuisine what Marcella Hazan is it Classic Italian, and Julia Child is to Americanized classic French.

If you want to own only one book on either Indian or Vegetarian cuisine, this is one of the very best choices available anywhere. It's magnificent.

STRENGTHS:
a) Devi covers her material confidently and expertly, in both breadth and depth, and has won her share of prestigous awards in the process.

b) Devi also includes helpful chapters in the back on things like "A-Z General Info on Ingredients" {no photos, granted, but they're well written}, and a "Glossary of Hindi Culinary Terms" {which include definitions and pronunciation guides}. Good stuff.

c) Plenty of excellent instructional detail - including exhaustive and highly educational headnotes. She goes out of her way to mentor the reader, and I appreciate that beyond words.

NITS:
1) Most importantly, this is a VEGETARIAN tome. Indian cuisine is perhaps the most wonderful, varied, robust, and culinarily sensual of all the cuisines in the world when it comes to vegetarianism ... but meat & seafood curries are also culinary joys not to be overlooked, and omitting them leaves an echoing void that partially undermines the ability of this book to serve as a 'all-in-one' source on Indian Cuisine in general. If you're an omnivore like me, you'll need to supplement this book with at least 2 other books on Indian Cuisine - Northern (for sultry slow-simmered meat curries) and Southern (for hot and spicy fruit, coconut & yogurt themed seafood curries). I should clarify, for the benefit of vegeterian readers, that the authoress's particular brand of vegetarianism is "Vedic" ... grossly oversimplified, that means no meat, poultry, eggs, seafood, onions, shallots, garlic, leeks, mushrooms or vinegar, which is a step further than most vegetarians are used to. Not a complaint - just a factoid for the reader's consideration. Personally, I love onions, and I'd be hard pressed to give them up in a good curry base.

2) No photos, and illustrations are somewhat sparse and are all hand drawn. Such things are an optional luxury anyway, so that's not really a major nit.

3) {deleted}

4) If I recall correctly (and I admit it's been a while since I last read it heavily rather than merely raiding it for the occasional recipe or three), the authoress roams freely between northern and southern indian, without really making an attempt to clearly segregate them by style (which makes it a little harder to search for dishes based on region). Minor nit.

5) I dont mind mixing a little philosophy and religion into discussions about food, but the authoress (who's a Krishna devotee) tends to ramble a bit at times. Anyway, that's a minor nit, and does not detract too much from the culinary majesty of this offering - it's just an observation.

CONCLUSION: This is a magnificent tome, and even though I listed a plethora of relatively minor nits, they're not enough to prevent me from giving this a an enthusiastic endorsement. It's one of the best, and most exhaustive, books on vegetarian cuisine to be found anywhere in the English language.

Indian Food Galore! Indian Culinary Arts & Secrets - Revealed!.......2007-05-19

The author is amazing! She has spent much of her life mastering the art and science of the Indian Culinary Arts and now is sharing it with the world - her work, passion, and determination is simply admirable! Her inventions and adaptations are strictly vegetarian and Saathwic. The recipes are well laid out and detailed information is given about each of the 500+ recipes. Of course you'll have to thumb through and narrow down on your most favorite recipes to experiment with.. having done that you will find your taste buds mesmerized and your guests impressed with a mild streak of envy :-) "People pleasers", this is your book! The only requisite is that you must really enjoy Indian food and have the time and patience with experimenting. The reward is simply a lifetime of reliable recipes to reference without having to think about them again or hunting for them in mediocre cook books, and online. ...

The recipes in themselves inspires and tickles the chef in us all..

Another good investment! I'm grinning!

Lord Krishna's Cuisine: The Art of Indian Vegetarian Cooking

Average customer rating:

Absolutely fantastic!
A Superlative Work
A centerpiece of your cookbook collection

Lord Krishna's Cuisine: The Art of Indian Vegetarian Cooking
Yamuna Devi
Manufacturer: Bhaktivedanta Book Trust
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Baking | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books

General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books

General | Vegetables & Vegetarian | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0896470202

Customer Reviews:

Absolutely fantastic!.......2007-01-16

As an American who's lived in India and is married into an Indian family, I appreciate Indian recipes that actually taste authentic, but also recipes that are clearly written for non-Indian cooks. We don't all have access to an Indian grocery store around the corner. This cookbook often gives ideas for substitutions that are easy to come by, without lessening the quality or impact of the recipe. The recipes also don't assume you know something that possibly every Indian knows, but most non-Indians do not - the author is great at throwing light on different techniques.

As a vegetarian, I find it indispensable for helping me figure out what to do when I open my refrigerator or pantry, find that I have only enough quantities of two random vegetables, I look in the index and BAM! there are 3 recipes using those two random vegetables, and each is fantastic. I can truly say I've never hit a bad recipe in the entire book, and I've tried very many of them. And her notes on each recipe, which follow her travels in India, are fascinating reading. A must have!

A Superlative Work.......2006-01-31

I grew up with a lot of Indian cookbooks in the house - none of which ever produced things that tasted like what we got in restaurants. This cookbook is fantastic - not only extremely extensive, but with totally delicious (and familiar) results. I really appreciated learning how to make flavorful charred vegetables (like Baingan Bartha), and having recipes for Lassi and Naan that came out just like I craved. I also appreciated the completeness - there are frequently several methods of preparation offered - for instance, there are instructions for wild yeast, commercial yeast, or sourdough Naan. Some of the recipes are a little on the salty side, but the only total disaster I encountered from this book was something where you steam and chill a cauliflower and then slather it in avocado spread. That was a little weird. That's just my palate, though. The only thing missing is a recipe for chai.

A centerpiece of your cookbook collection.......2002-11-28

This book is outstanding in both the quality of the recipes and the description of the background behind the recipes. Don't worry about having no connection to Lord Krishna, this book is a must-have for anyone who just wants to make wonderful dishes based on vegetables and legumes.

The Best of Lord Krishna's Cuisine: Favorite Recipes from The Art of Indian Vegetarian Cooking

Average customer rating:

Superb, tasty recipes from a respected author and chef
The very best cookbook I own
Authentic? Depends on your perspective
not authentic, not very indian
Authentic, Tasty and Healthy

The Best of Lord Krishna's Cuisine: Favorite Recipes from The Art of Indian Vegetarian Cooking
Yamuna Devi
Manufacturer: Plume
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Baking | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books

General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books

Reference | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books

General | Vegetables & Vegetarian | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0452266831

Amazon.com

India's vegetable cuisine is the world's most varied. That was proven by Yamuna Devi's encyclopedic Lord Krishna's Cuisine: the Art of Vegetarian Cooking. Drawing on it, The Best of Lord Krishna's Cuisine presents 172 meatless dishes--detailed, wide-ranging recipes that focus on lightness and cooking ease. Readers seeking an introduction to the vibrant cooking of India's vegetarians (many Krishna devotees) as well as those wishing practical recipes for sophisticated meatless cooking will be delighted.

Divided into chapters exploring dals (legumes), pilafs and vegetable dishes, salads, and snacks and desserts, among others, the book beautifully balances accessible recipes with lively investigation. (Devi examines, for example, the place of dals in Indian culinary tradition, their kinds and uses, nutritional value, and various preparation methods, including pressure cooking.) Equally useful are the recipe head notes, which offer extensive tips on techniques; flavor information; ingredient profiles and serving suggestions. Worth trying immediately are Devi's Curried Potatoes with Eggplant; Baked Bananas with Tamarind-Flavored Coconut; and Zucchini Pakoras with Crushed Peanuts, one of many delectable fritter recipes. Among the chutneys, the sweet tomato with fennel and the golden papaya chip would make exciting accompaniments. The desserts, including Cardamom Shortbread Cookies and Pistachio Milk Fudge, challenge the usual Western indifference to Indian sweets. The author also offers chilled drinks like the intriguing Perfumed Sandalwood Crush. Concluding with a comprehensive glossary, the book provides a window on an ancient culinary art made modern by Devi's inquiring spirit and practical know-how. --Arthur Boehm

Book Description

A new edition of this classic cookbook is now available in a handy "best of" format.

A decade ago Yamuna Devi's Lord Krishna's Cuisine was named Cookbook of the Year by the International Association of Culinary Professionals (IACP). The James Beard Foundation then recognized Devi's second book, Yamuna's Table, as the Best International Cookbook of the year in 1992. Now this beloved author, lecturer, and teacher returns with her favorite dishes from the definitive Lord Krishna's Cuisine. Featuring 172 recipes like Sweet Saffron Rice with Currants and Pistachios, Savory Chickpeas in a Tangy Tomato Glaze, and Pear Chutney with Dates and Pecans, this book brings together the exotic flavors, delicate spices, and superb nutrition for which Indian cuisine is known and loved. Today's time-pressed cooks will appreciate both the simplicity of Yamuna Devi's approach and the dishes she has chosen. And fans of vegetarian Indian cuisine will appreciate the authenticity, the healthfulness, and the exquisite taste of these great recipes.

"Wide-ranging, detailed . . . the product of a spiritual and culinary journey." --The New York Times (on Lord Krishna's Cuisine)

"Definitive." --Gourmet (on Lord Krishna's Cuisine)

Customer Reviews:

Superb, tasty recipes from a respected author and chef.......2006-10-29

A couple of the reviewers who have said here that the recipes are not authentically Indian are completely misinformed about what authentic Indian food is like, and what Indians do and do not eat. The recipes in it come out great and are meticulously explained. As an Indian, I can assure you they are authentic. There are large numbers of Indians who do eat food like the recipes in this book. This is exactly what authentic Indian food was until even fifty years ago, across large parts of India.

Unfortunately, Indian cuisine has become polluted by ideas on nutrition borrowed from the west - more sugar, onions, meat, eggs - and not by coincidence, this has been followed by the introduction of diseases that were absent in India till recently - diabetes, heart disease, obesity.

Specifically about the recipes presented in this book: if you follow them, you will find the resultant food is bursting with flavor and health, but not with the oily, heavy, hyper-spicy fullness that characterises a lot of so-called Indian food in many restaurants and 'Indian' cookbooks across the world. You will not be disappointed if you buy this book or her larger, original cookbook.

The very best cookbook I own.......2004-08-14

This is not just a collection of recipes, it is a full-fledged education in the ways and means of indian cooking, replete with cultural background. The ancient and authentic recipes she shares are carefully detailed and easy to follow. Many are easy to prepare. It is a fascination and delight to read.

Authentic? Depends on your perspective.......2003-09-01

If you are more concerned with adhering to Vedic principles than in creating interesting Indian food, then by golly, this is the cookbook for you. Probably you don't consider other Indian food to be authentic (just the way Texans don't consider Kansas City or Carolina barbeque to be REAL barbeque), but let's face it: most Indians no longer adhere strictly to the Vedic principles when it comes to food preparation. No onions, no garlic? I don't think so.

This is a cookbook more concerned with Vedic hair-splitting than with creating decent recipes. I found that most of the recipes I tried were unnecessarily complicated, if not downright unworkable, and the results, more often than not, were totally bland and uninteresting. After several unsatisfying attempts, I abandoned this cookbook as a hopeless case, and it has gathered dust on my bookshelf for the last 7-8 years.

Keep in mind that the author (the former Joan Campanella) is a convert to what we commonly define as the Hare Krishnas, and that the followers of this movement comprise a tiny fraction of India's population. They are like Vegans, as compared to your average Vegetarian, and their food cannot by any definition be called the food of the average Indian.

It amazes me that the recipes of a western convert are called more authentic than the recipes of native Indians, but then again, it is most likely only other converts to the Krishna Consciousness movement saying that.

If this belief system appeals to you, then by all means, use this cookbook with great relish. There is plenty of Vaishnava musing to be found within this book's pages. The rest of us prefer not to die of boredom or frustation from unworkable recipes.

not authentic, not very indian.......2000-09-01

That book that:

"A decade ago Yamuna Devi's Lord Krishna's Cuisine was named Cookbook of the Year by the International Association of Culinary Professionals "

was given that award when it was practically the only indian cookbook on the shelf back in the late 70's. Back then people didn't know what real indian cuisine tasted like.

As an indian I will tell you, these recipes are NOT authentic indian at all. Although they follow strict VEDIC indian food guidelines, in that there is no garlic, onion, meat, eggs etc., they could be much, much better.

This is more like very bland (remember no onion etc.) AMERICAN FOOD that follows VEDIC indian GUIDLINES with a few indian spices thrown in. What a mess!

Unless you are a really following vedic guildlines for religious reasons and have tried everything else, there are much better books to buy.

If you ARE following vedic guidlines I would suggest you do a search on the internet for vedic indian cookbooks (from India) because this is the only one I've come across here and its really bad. I mean really bad :(.

If you are just looking for indian cookbooks buy a Muthu Jaffrey's cookbook (indian)to get started or Neelam Batra's (fusion indian) are really delicious too!

Authentic, Tasty and Healthy.......2000-08-29

Quite frankly I'm baffled by other reviewers who find this cookbok to be difficult or disappointing. Someone who finds the taste of oily, non-descript, and "curry" flavored foods you find in many Indian restaurants as excellent examples of Indian cooking might be confused by Yamuna Devi's presentation of subtly spiced and well balanced dishes. I grew up in India and traveled throughout much of the country. I can attest that the author has beautifully captured the wonderfully deep culinary tradition that India has to offer. On a side note, I quite enjoy the personal way Yamuna Devi relates her culinary voyage to her readers. She writes thoughtfully of sources and inspirations for recipes. It seems that her spiritual awakening is tied to her cooking and therefore it seems natural that she would relate these personal reflections to her readers.

The Best of Lord Krishna's Cuisine: 172 Recipes from the Art of Indian Vegetarian Cooking

Average customer rating:

Indian cooking at it's best

The Best of Lord Krishna's Cuisine: 172 Recipes from the Art of Indian Vegetarian Cooking
Yamuna Devi
Manufacturer: Bala Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books

General | Vegetables & Vegetarian | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0896470296

Customer Reviews:

Indian cooking at it's best.......2001-01-25

I originally bought this book at Govinda's, a Hare Krishna restaurant in downtown Prague, Czech Republic. I had spent a semester abroad and learned the joys of Indian food from Govinda's. On their shelf was this book, and it was the book that closest fit the food I had been eating there for the last four months. Now that I am back home in the states, I always get a taste of Govinda's when I cook one of the many true Indian dishes such as Sesame Yogurt Potatoes or Mung Dal soup with tomatoes. Here are a few suggestions if thinking about buying this book: make sure you have availability to unique, ethnic grocery stores or you can find close substitutes because many foods and spices used in this book are very unique. In addition, each recipes calls for many many ingredients so don't get this book if you are hoping to make quick, painless Indian meals. Look elsewhere. Having said that, if you want true cuisine of India, this is the book.

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