Soup of the Day

I loved this book, and all the eccentric but totally believable characters in it. It has a plot lover's plot and a marvelous use of language, especially when food enters the picture. I wish Starn would write another one, but this appears to be her only novel. When she does write another one, I'll be the first one lining up to buy it!

Starn wonderfully portrays Berkeley, CA, as the fictional Clelland City, with all its diverse ethnic and gourmet food offerings; unique interactions between university professors, newspaper reporters, and street vagrants; and, the mysterious fog which blankets the city every evening and morning. As a Berkeley native, I felt magically transported back to my home town while reading "Soup of the Day." Despite the lack of any specific references to real persons, locations, and events of Berkeley, Starn has captured the essence, the flavors, and the very real atmosphere of America's most colorful and tumultuous of communities. Historical feminism, academic conflicts, cultural overflow, and a touch of international espionage intrigue are wrapped in an enjoyable story smattered with very human characters and a narrative filled with intricate details of obscure foods and foreign cuisines. Yum!