Heavy snow and difficult travel expected again, heaviest snow in southern Minnesota

MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding. Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all. 

Turn Up Your Support

Every week, The Thread checks in with booksellers around the country about their favorite books of the moment. This week, we spoke with Jake Reiss from 

The folks at The Alabama Booksmith are big fans of author Rick Bragg — big, big fans. They've hosted the author for more than a hundred signings, according to the Booksmith's owner, Jake Reiss.

Bragg's first book, "All Over but the Shoutin'," is the store's all-time best-selling title.

But Bragg's newest, "The Best Cook in the World: Tales from My Momma's Table," is coming up fast.

"This is not a cookbook," Reiss said. "While it's loaded with blue-collar recipes, we don't believe many folks buying this book are rushing home to break out the lard and bacon grease to prepare a meal. What it really is is one of America's finest storytellers weaving 150 years of poor but proud Appalachian family history into vignettes wrapped around the genesis of each entree's creation.

"This delightful read also contains a little dab of reflection on surviving hard times without starving, and more than a smidgen of humor that will make your tummy hurt from laughing," Reiss said. "But mostly this is good old-fashioned fun from a book we believe will become a classic."

And, Reiss admitted, there is one recipe the bookstore's staff is hankering to try: quick fried apple pie. He might even ask Bragg to bring some for the next signing. 

Arts and Culture

The Thread® - Books and Literary News

Ask a bookseller

Tracy Mumford

Author

Rick Bragg's new book is filled with family recipes -- but the stories behind those recipes are the main event.

The Alabama Booksmith staff has hosted author Rick Bragg more than a hundred times, and his new book is quickly becoming a store favorite.

Ask a bookseller: The Alabama Booksmith, Birmingham, Ala.

'The Best Cook in the World: Tales from My Momma's Table'

Recipes for a good story

Go Deeper.

Like this?