Leon Hale (1921–2021)

I love Leon Hale. I do. I really do. He knows people. In fact, he knows my people. That's who he interviews. People I wish I had met in my life. These are real people, too. Not namby-pamby folks, but people who have definite ideas about the world and people who live. Not stick figures, but real blood-and-guts people. This is a whole book of his interviews with such people.

Leon Hale, longtime columnist in various Houston newspapers, can sure tell a story. John, our main character, seeks out Bonney (who is, despite what you'd expect, male). Bonney has swindled John's elderly father out of fifteen thousand dollars and has used the money to buy himself a pool hall. John plans to get Bonney to own up to his crime and to pay the money back. At least, that is John's intention.... Bonney and the other characters are nicely drawn and very compelling to this fellow show more Texan. I'm very glad I finally got around to reading this book. show less

Leon Hale is a columnist for the Houston Chronicle, and believe me, a very popular one. He is celebrated for his self-deprecating humor, wit, and grace. PW wrote, "This collection of seventy-six of his best peices... is a taste of his wry wit and homely wisdom.

Another well-loved Texan, John Graves, write "his voice in writing is the voice of the man himself. Colloquial, wise, caring, closely observant and - mostly at his own exepense - wryly and powerfully humerous. And instead of fading show more with the years, these qualities have been intensified and refined.

This cookbook is a tour through the kitchens of his life and memories of good food, times, and friends.
He only writes one column a week now, but we look forward to it eagerly. show less