Dinner & A Book - The Sun Also Rises

 The Sun Also rises is considered the first great novel by Ernest Hemingway. Set in France and Spain, a group of American and English expatriates, scarred by the effects of World War I, follow the action of the bull fight festival in Pamplona, Spain. The novel has undercurrents of suppressed emotion and hidden values.

The aimless expats serve as metaphors for society's lost innocence after the war. Jake is the central character surrounded by a group of companions floundering in boredom and alcohol. The style is Hemingway - clean to the bone. My guest is Tuck Langland, noted sculptor, and we will prepare tapas, a selection of small hors d'oeuvre dreamed up in the state of Andalusia in southern Spain. Tapas are small portions of foods, both hot and cold, served in bars to accompany dry Spanish Sherry or draught beer. Tapas were invented in Andalusia. the word means "cover." In these bars a saucer is placed over a glass of wine to keep the little fruit flies from swarming in. Superb ham, famed Seville olives, a salad of oranges and olives, fried fish, meatballs in almond sauce sauteed mushrooms, lamb stew make up tapas.