SOUP OF THE DAY

by Frances Starn ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 12, 1990

Bay Area journalist Stern uses food as a connecting theme in her first novel--a not-quite-clever-enough romantic comedy. There's trouble in West Coast university town Clelland City. Peter Clelland--scion of the founding family and Pulitzer Prize-winning author of a biography of English writer Fecundity Lamb (of the Chokecherry coterie)--has run off with Louise, a young restaurant-reviewing journalist. Enough reason to feel guilty, and then former student Urquitt Tribble attacks his book, accusing Peter of insufficient documentation. Abandoned wife Romana, once famed for her Italian cuisine, now cooks macaroni and cheese for the homeless at the Souper Kitchen while wasting away from loss of appetite--much to the dismay of best friend Jane, a cookbook writer, who tries to tempt her with trendy gourmet delights. Meanwhile, Louise's managing editor, doughnut-devouring Tristan Cutter, has become Romana's new tenant and has problems of his own: the Clelland Klaxon is soon to fold. These and other characters meet, eat, talk food and troubles until--following various coincidences and revelations--the proper couples are paired, Peter is vindicated, the paper is saved, and the homeless housed. But, alas, Stern is better at keeping her tone civilized (and in providing charming, old-fashioned chapter headings) than in making her story matter. Displays of social conscience are not enough to overcome stale humor and triviality. Mostly lackluster debut--in part redeemed by Starn's evident affection for her characters, their culinary foibles, and the 19th-century novel.

Pub Date: March 12, 1990

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Delta/Delacorte

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 1990

Categories: FICTION