caribbean

Thank you Ann Vanderhoof for taking me out of my winter slump with
"An Embarrassment of Mangoes". Ann and her partner Steve made a life decision to kiss their clock-driven lives in Toronto good-bye so they sailed south for two years on their 42 foot boat, Receta. The good news for us is that "An Embarrassment of Mangoes" makes it possible for us to share in their journey: the sun, the food, the humor, the food, the water, the food, the good times, the food (complete with recipes). The scary parts happen when the weather steps in. "An Embarrassment of Mangoes" exudes the warmth of the Caribbean. We meet extraordinary people: the Minister of Rum, Dingis and her family and Mr. Butters in his garden of Eden. All of this is why you'll cry your eyes out at the end of the book as Ann and Steve head back north, leaving behind their new friends and a part of their hearts. And a part of mine.

I don't write a lot of reviews, but thought this book deserved more attention. Since reading it, after American Airlines thought enough of it to include excerpts in their magazine, I was intrigued by the stories of the islands, the people, the culture, the food and sailing the Caribbean (good weather and bad). First off, I love to travel to off-the-beaten path countries and I love to cook (and eat!) different cuisines. This book is perfect if you have these interests. It doesn't hurt that the author is a travel writer, but this is much more than a travelogue or cookbook. I don't like fiction so much, thus this is perfect non-fiction. Ann could not have possibly made up more interesting stories about the people and conducting life on the islands and the boat. I now have a yearning to visit Grenada, Trinidad and some of the other colorful islands. The author must have been concerned she was going to make Grenada more popular, but it probably was well on its way before her book. Good luck Ann! Thanks for sharing your adventure. Your storytelling and descriptive style paints a warm picture of wonderful people and places.

I am not much of a sailor and, in fact, spent my last sailboat ride hanging over the edge chumming for fish, so why did I read this book? Ann Vanderhoof's wonderful story was so well written and so descriptive I couldn't put it down. The pure adventure of it all, the people and the FOOD are fabulous. I also thought including the recipes was a great idea. After all, who doesn't want the recipe when they read about something that sounds so delicious?

Thank you, Ann, for making sailing sound so lovely. I just wish I had better sea legs!!