Steven Raichlen

This is delightful escapist fiction that manages to tug at the heartstrings even as it entertains. It centers around a romance between two compellingly flawed, wounded souls who meet on Chappaquiddick Island. The relationship develops slowly and sweetly, without cliché, around both parties’ love of food and cooking. It’s not a bodice-ripper kind of romance; Claire and the Hermit are drawn to each other intellectually before the physical attraction is ever sparked, and I think this is show more what makes the novel so refreshing and real. Claire's character is at once sharp, witty and vulnerable with a unique narrative voice.

The biggest strength of the novel is the incredible sense of setting. Bits of Chappaquiddick Island history are interspersed throughout the story, and the writer paints such a vivid picture of the island that one feels as though they’re living the story with the characters. It was a delightful escape to an almost mythical world, with multi-faceted characters the reader can’t help but root for, culinary enticements, and even a nice little mystery to generate some plot tension. If you’re looking for a beach read with depth, I’d recommend this. show less

ISLAND APART has been on my wish list since last year, and when I saw the audiobook at the library, I snatched it up. The cover screams “light beach read,” but I was thrilled to discover that it went much deeper. Colorful characters, a magnificent setting, and an unusual love story made this book a memorable read. Oh, and the food! I can’t forget the delectable descriptions of dishes that kept me drooling page after page.

Claire is a likable character and easy to sympathize with. show more She’s a smart, strong woman going through a very rough time in her life. She’s just divorced a deadbeat, cheating husband, she has a strained relationship with her college-age daughter, and she’s battling a serious illness. Claire’s closest friends offer her the use of their summer home on gorgeous Chappaquiddick Island while she recovers. Who would say no to that? Not me!

Not long after moving in, Claire meets a strange, reclusive man known as the Hermit. The way they met and how their relationship developed was so unique! (Here’s where all that scrumptious food comes in, but that’s all I’m going to say.) The Hermit has a tragic past of his own, which caused him to withdraw from society, that is until Claire comes into his life. When Claire discovers his secret, their fragile new relationship is threatened.

I enjoyed how the author wove the history and local lore of Chappaquiddick into the story, from the colonial days, to the tragedy on the bridge in 1969, through the island today. I consider myself an armchair traveler, and the rich descriptions of this place made me feel like a local.

ISLAND APART is a bittersweet tale I won’t soon forget. I got misty-eyed a few times, especially at the end. No man is an island…

I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Susan Boyce. I enjoyed her performance. She captured Claire’s persona beautifully, and her male voices were good too. show less

There is way too much here to ever get to, but every time I cook baby back ribs on the grill, I have to thank Raichlen for his recipe for the Memphis rub I use. This book is also a pretty good overview of barbecue around the world. Raichlen is a lot better writer and a lot smarter than you might expect of someone who has dedicated his life to barbecue....

The food descriptions in this novel are lush and exciting, and I would love to eat each and every one of them! Even the doctored-up oat bran insisted upon by a food faddist sounds tasty.

The rest of the novel was not as good. The characters are flat at best, and the plot melodramatic and very coincidence-driven, rather than feeling like it emanates naturally from the characters in the set-up. I also very much dislike the trope where one of the people in a romantic relationship does all the show more changing to meet the other, and it's not reciprocated. I don't like it when the woman does all the changing for the man, and I don't like it the other way, either.

Still, it's a fast read, and worth it for the food descriptions if one is into that sort of thing! show less