Book Club Food Novels & Stories

She had two different types of burger buns and my mouth was watering. Along with the mac' n cheese, Daniel's sister, Gloria, made baked beans. A towering carrot cake sat on another counter for dessert. We made a little line around the kitchen and put food on our plates, buffet style. Julia had opened up the sliding doors and had put up a large round table there for us to eat together.

There was no resemblance but that didn't mean they didn't belong in the same family tree. He motioned to everybody present. "Now that we've all said our names, I welcome you all to this humble bookclub. May you all find what you need." He smiled, showing teeth. "Now that you are all here, let's get this party started. And before I forget," he waved at the cookies, "Feel free to refresh yourselves with the buffet presented herein." "What are those white thingies?" Spark asked pointed to the other tray. "You mean milk?" "I don't eat or drink anything white." The two silver loops on bottom lips glittered as she spoke. "White and death are counterparts."

My parents went way overboard. I pick up one of the menus, fearing for the worst. It's bad. The menu is like an itemized list of all of the boys' favorite foods. We'll be starting with an Irish potato soup and beer bread, which Lyall famously said on The Tonight Show he couldn't live without. Followed by Ben's favorite – poutine and cheeseburgers, with sautéed truffles on the side, no doubt inspired by Alastaire's love of truffles. Dessert is homemade cherry pie – Elliot's dessert of choice – served with Felix's preferred gelato flavor, which every Fable fan knows is bittersweet dark chocolate.

"Alright, enjoy your book club, Aunt Amy!" "Noona, Mommy agreed with it! She even gave me extra money, see!" Ecklis showed me his wallet. Oooh, thick. "That's good, did you prepare your bag already?" I asked him, "Yup! It's all good now. So eat up, I'm going to wait outside with Achilles." He showed his favorite Avengers backpack then ran off towards the doors. Cute. "My Lady, the Chef has prepared Tomato Toast with Macadamia Ricotta, Ham and Cheese Quinoa Cups, and Berry and Yoghurt Smoothie. Please, enjoy." Mr. Ambroise lifted the lid and I was very pleased. Good job, Chef. Yummy!

“Are you serious? Matt, did you hear that?” “Next question!” announces Nico. “You have no food in the larder. Where do you head for a spontaneous meal out? Gentlemen, please answer again. First, Couple One.” “Er … fish and chips?” says Matt uncertainly. “Fish and chips?” Melissa glares at him. “Fish and chips?” “Well, it’s quick, easy.…” Matt quails at her expression. “Why, what did you put?” “I put Le Petit Bistro!” she says furiously. “We always go there when we want a quick bite. You know we do!”

“You’re Daisy Wilson, aren’t you?” “Yes. Have we met before?” I didn’t remember Cara, but maybe it was when we were young. “No,” she replied. “I saw you on TV when you spoke about the progressive dinner and how your Beta friend was treated. I thought it was great.” “Thanks.” I grinned, now sure I would find many like-minded people here at Frampton U. Cara came out from behind the counter. “Let’s find your books.” With Cara’s help, I soon had an armful of textbooks I was loading inside my new backpack that she also recommended.

I can understand how much hard work that must be. JAZ: Thank you! LO: We should celebrate. Can I take you to lunch? JAZ: Sure, but how bout we don’t go out somewhere super public? Maybe get takeout? I grinned at my phone. LO: Ever eaten in the pack archive? ** “How much food did you order?” Jaz mused, hauling in three bags of Chinese into the break room a the archives. I laughed. “I’m not afraid to eat. Reading makes me hungry.” “If I had your metabolism, I’d read all the time,” Jaz laughed, dumping styrofoam containers all over the table.

The cowbell sounded as the front door to Selby's Downtown Books opened, letting in the chill March breeze. Selby didn't have to look up to know who had entered. It was lunchtime. It could only be one person. "I hope BLTs are okay. Do you have drinks in that broken down fridge of yours in the back?" "Diet?" He started for the back, leaving the stack of books he was putting away on the floor. "Do you have any grape left? I feel like being different."

He shifts back; putting a seat between us and truly looking horrified. Bibah simply shakes her head at our childish shenanigans and takes a sip of her iced latte, metal straw clinking in the Hydro Flask. “The Awoo Book Club’s pick for this week is H.P Lovecraft.” She pats the voluminous book atop the pile and I notice it’s the library copy of H.P Lovecraft’s Omnibus 3. “I’m so excited to roast his ass.”

Yet here I was, in this room full of people who had chosen me, not because they had to, but because they wanted to. I smiled, a real one this time, and sat at the center of the circle. April clapped her hands together, bubbling in excitement. “Okay, enough of the emotional display. Let’s get to work. Book Club is officially back in session!” Laughter filled the room. We started tossing around ideas for the next reading list, but the discussion quickly turned into a chaotic mess of inside jokes and playful teasing. Maya insisted we include something “dark and brooding,” while Sammy argued for something “funny, because God knows we all need to laugh more.” April rolled her eyes and wrote both