When I moved overseas, it was without benefit of the four major food groups: microwave, frozen, delivery, and instant. When I went to the market, I stood in awe of the bustling women with their shopping bags full of fresh produce. They knew what to do with it! They knew good from bad! For me, anything that wasn't brown, moldy or crusty had the potential to be good. I had no idea what I was about when in a farmer's market.

I am going to be straight here and state flat out, that while I love cooking, eating, and life full of great friends, cook books in general put me to sleep. Not this one, not this one by far. Being a lover of garlic, I became educated what a true garlic lover should know. My own education was pre-school level compared to what I learned from this book. This is no Betty Crocker cookbook full of picture perfect dishes, nor is this some nearly religious foodie bible. It is as it states: Garlic Kisses: Human Struggles with Garlic Connections with twelve enduring stories about and around the life of a garlic farmer. A life that is far from boring. I just might go out, fetch a pot or two, and try to grow some of my own.