by Barbara Poelle
The first time I ever ate a brussel sprout I was 19. This was not due to some stunning Polish ritual where all the relatives gather in costume and I was presented with my first mini cabbage, although that… Would. Be. Awesome. Like a Sprout Mitzvah. I am so throwing a Sprout Mitzvah for myself. You are all invited. All gifts must be cruciferous, which as much as I want that to mean something we all learned at Hogwarts, it actually means all gifts must be edible plants, like kale. Although since I am making the rules, when you present the gifts to me, you must yell, “Cruciferous!” like Harry Potter. And as far as costumes you must dress as a famous dead person. Listen; don’t question the rituals of Sprout Mitzvah. Just show up dressed as a famous dead person bearing broccoli and you’ll be allowed in. I should start pricing DJs…hmm; maybe my cousin Dave's band would do it for cheap.
Oh jeez, what was I talking about? Ah yes, the first brussel sprout. The real reason I never had a brussel sprout until I was 19, is that my father despises them. DESPISES them. This is a man that would pretty much put walnuts and peas in an omelet but cannot abide a tiny cabbage. My mother was fairly indifferent to them, so we never, ever had them in the house. I cannot remember why I ate the brussel sprout when I was 19, but I can remember almost screaming in ecstasy, because I loved it so much.
I love brussel sprouts. I buy them at least twice a week now. I think about them when I am not eating them. I wish I could carry one in my pocket and rub it with my thumb when I am scared. Anyway, the point is, in the first few decades of life, we form a lot of our opinions based on the general inclinations of our family and friends, but as we get to be our own human, we kind of branch out a bit and try different things. For example, I had never read a Tom Robbins book until I met Husband, and he had never read The Stand, so we each tried a little nibble and voila! I have devoured Robbins’s list and Husband can’t sleep if I ask: “Babe? Who would win in a fight, Pennywise or Flagg?”
I think it’s really important to listen to what other people are reading, and take a risk every now and then and pick something up that maybe you wouldn’t have. I mean, I can think of several mystery brussel sprouts right now that people should be slathering in butter and devouring, and it confuses me why we aren’t all laying on a hammock and enjoying their delightful flavor.
One that comes to mind is author Misa Ramirez and her mystery Living the Vida Lola. This is the first book in a series featuring detective Lola Cruz, a sassy, voicey Latina who is really a girl just trying to get ahead in love, life and career while stumbling around dead bodies. It is a fresh and biting read, like that first chipful of homemade salsa, and I can think of ten people who should be reading this over the summer and then standing in line next to me to get Hasta La Vista Lola in January. You know who you are.
The next one that makes me crazy is why isn’t everyone standing in the streets screaming for the next Duffy Dumbrowski novel? I loved ON THE ROPES and TKO so much, that I may or may have not threatened author Tom Schreck to keep me at the top of his list for his WIP or I will unleash a hell of feet and teeth on him. I do not care that Tom is a boxer and a black belt. What he has in training I have in white hot blinding rage. I can take him. Anyway, in this mystery series Tom’s protagonist, Duffy Dumbrowski, is this raw everyman boxer with a heart of gold and a head of rocks and his supporting characters are like an orchestra backing a death metal lead singer. And of COURSE there is a dog; is name is Al and he is Muslim. Don’t you HAVE to check this out?
I have this client, we’ll call her Lauren Destefano, because that’s her name, and she and I will get in these five exchange long e-mails about what we’re reading and who we think had a better second book than first, etc etc, and I LOVE this. I find myself reinvigorated after these exchanges to go out and BUY NEW BOOKS!
Hey, let’s single handedly stimulate the economy and order something new today. Tell me something I should order TODAY to read this summer.
But be forewarned: anything I buy today I won’t be able to get to it until August, because I am just slammed trying to finalize these Sprout Mitzvah details….
