Comments on: Mr. Henry gives thanks

By: riona

riona — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 20:39:58 +0000

The Debt to Pleasure is one of my favorite books! I’ve owned three copies now, and they’ve all been borrowed and never returned. Now you’ve reminded me, I’m going to have to go order a fourth.

The narrative voice reminds me of Nabokov. I’m all about the unreliable narrator.

Thanks!

By: la petite chou chou

la petite chou chou — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 16:14:42 +0000

Ah HA. “Arresting countenance.” Superfantastic.

By: Mr. Henry

Mr. Henry — Sun, 16 Sep 2007 07:28:48 +0000

Yes, Judith, Lyle does have an arresting countenance, and yet he won the heart and hand of Julia Roberts.

Think of Lyle perhaps as an astringent morning mouthwash, an antique habit of American hygiene.

By: Judith in Umbria

Judith in Umbria — Sun, 16 Sep 2007 06:55:38 +0000

I was enjoying my Sunday morning in all innocence, waiting for the medium syrup for the Pugliese plums to finish boiling, everything alright, really, with my little Umbrian world, when Lovett’s photo unscrolled across my screen.

You have put me off my food, Mr. Henry. I think that in person an ugly man can be like a dash of bitters in the sauce, but that particular one needs all his other sensual clues to accompany food.

I’m off to seek some desperate mushrooms.

By: Hilary

Hilary — Sat, 15 Sep 2007 20:56:11 +0000

The Debt to Pleasure is one of my favourite books; I loved the mushroom recipe! While I wouldn’t follow the protagonist’s methods to the letter, later in the fall when the mushrooms are springing up in the soccer field across the street and I can drag Hub’s Italian uncle (Zio Beppe) out there to show me which to eat and which not to….I’ll be doing it. Hub’s mum used to toss her ring in the pot with the mushrooms, if it turned black she tossed the contents, saving the ring of course and polishing it up. I realize that this is one of the old wives’ tales, but thus far no one has perished from lethal fungal imbibing.

“Multi-slacking”. Oh Mr. Henry you are a king with words.

By: Twisite

Twisite — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 15:04:23 +0000

A deliciously wicked murder mystery is always a treat, and I don’t know about you but I love many classic English dishes. Just as there’s crispy, golden, delectable fried chicken and there’s greasy, soggy, revolting fried chicken, there’s a solid, flaky-crusted, perfectly seasoned pork pie and one that is clearly a doorstop attempting to fool one into thinking it’s food.

Bubble and Squeak, steak and kidney pie, a light, lucious Victoria sponge…the Brits have given us many a fine culinary pleasure, even if they do think canned baked beans make an indispensible breakfast treat.

By: Julia

Julia — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 00:48:25 +0000

I *love* ‘The Debt to Pleasure’–such a deliciously evil book! It’s worth looking in used bookstores for the hardcover version, which is much more beautiful than the paperback edition above.