The Year in Books: November

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In November, I`m reading Cod: A Biography Of The Fish That Changed The World by Mark Kurlansky. Several years ago, I borrowed a copy of Salt: A World History from a cousin, and devoured it (pun intended). Reading the history of salt was so enlightening, since we tend to overlook this cheap and everyday spice/flavouring. Salt is not only the base of the word salary, but also was used to make fish sauce, soy sauce, sauerkraut and pickles. The book itself made me hungry to eat foods cured in salt, and also very thirsty!

I was recently reminded of Kurlansky’s book at work, and ordered all his other books from the library. I am starting off with Cod, which tells the story of, you guessed it, the cod fish. From my first exposure to cod (Peter Pan calling Captain Hook a codfish) to my most recent (learning that cod is the reason Newfoundlanders drink Caribbean rum and Caribbeans eat salt cod, as cod was caught and salted in Newfoundland and traded for rum, which was processed from sugarcane in the Caribbean). I really look forward to this book, as I love books about food and history.

See what other bloggers are reading in November at Circle of Pine Trees.

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