Two days ago I finished reading John Irving’s novel The Cider House Rules, and it really had me craving apple pie like you wouldn’t believe. The majority of this post is going to be novel-oriented, but we’ll start by assembling the following rustic apple galette:
another reason to love autumn.
“In other parts of the world” (if you’ve read ‘The Cider House Rules’, you will recognize this phrase!) the word galette could refer to a crepe, a cake, or a sweet or savoury filled pastry, but in Canada (French Canada, no less) I usually hear it in reference to a round, flattish type of pastry or tart. In this case it is simply a smaller and more manageable version of a regular apple pie, or tarte aux pommes. I didn’t follow any particular recipe to make this. I had butter in the fridge but didn’t feel like eating an all-butter pastry, so looked up a recipe for an oil pie crust instead. I found this one at VegWeb. It turned out really well for me, which was fortunate because my galette was light on the apples and pretty heavy on the pastry! I was out of whole wheat flour, so I used white for the whole amount. For the oil I used half olive oil/half rice bran oil, and I didn’t find the olive taste too strong at all. The recipe calls for a tablespoon of salt, which is nuts–I used just a pinch. C and I agreed the pastry turned out to be surprisingly good. I filled it with 2 peeled and sliced McIntosh apples, tossed with a little flour and nutmeg, then drizzled with honey and sprinkled with sesame seeds. I recommend that you, Dear Reader, use 3 or 4 apples (2 is too few) and omit the sesame seeds, as they didn’t really add much. If you aren’t a nutmeg fan, by all means use cinnamon, vanilla sugar, or whatever flavour you like with your apples! You just roll out the crust, pile on the apples leaving an inch or two bare around the outside, then you fold the outside up over the apples, and voila! I baked it at 400C for about 20mins. It was delicious, and was the perfect amount for two people– C ate all of his for dessert, but I saved my second piece for movie-watching, several hours after dinner. Yum!
Now on to the second part of this post:
and it really does rule.
I started reading this book because I wanted something a) lengthy, since the cooler weather has me reading more again and b) not too heavy–I was in more of a cozy feel-good-book mood than a rethink-your-values-and-life-purpose mood–but this managed to be both of those, and did them both well. Perhaps since my expectations weren’t that high for this novel, I was surprised by how much it made me feel. I always read a lot, and I generally enjoy what I read, but this book made me realize that much of what I’ve been reading lately is a bit devoid of feeling. There has been a lot of great technique, literary device, didactic-ism, ideas and sometimes even a great story–but not enough emphatic feeling in what I’ve been reading lately. And then, John Irving came along.
This book has been around for awhile. This surprised me, but it was written in 1985! It’s only two years younger than I am. I first started reading this book several years ago, but ended up putting it down for some reason or another, and didn’t finish it. I can’t remember why–I was studying English Lit. at the time, so likely had more pressing reading to do. While going through some books my dad had stored for me awhile ago, I found this book and had the foresight to bring it back to Montreal.
I have seen the film ‘The Cider House Rules’ several times, and really like it, but the book is much more involved, and has a lot more to say. I was impressed with the depth of medical detail and knowledge of obstetrics and gynecology that went into writing this book (Irving’s grandfather was an obstetrician and appears to have written a lot on the subject) and by the thought and care with which they are treated–I haven’t read a novel that deals more thoroughly with the issues of abortion or unwanted children, and found the warmth and understanding that the unwed mothers (and potential mothers) were given to be really refreshing, especially considering the fact that abortion is still such a contested issue, and that women who have chosen abortion are still so often condemned or ignored altogether.
Anyone who is unsure or ‘on the other side of the fence’ about abortion would perhaps not enjoy this book as much, since the woman’s right to choose is wholeheartedly supported throughout. But, even aside from the abortion issue, this is really a lovely story. It was heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same time–though the characters didn’t make the choices I might’ve made for them, I was still able to understand and respect their decisions. This book is extremely character-driven (which is not to say that the plot isn’t intriguing) and I can empathize with almost all of the characters–they are all very human and flawed, but still seem to be trying to do what they can to be “the heroes of their own lives” (as was oft quoted from Dicken’s ‘David Copperfield’ in this novel). I won’t say much more because I don’t want to spoil the story for anyone who might decide to read it. Suffice it to say that I recommend it highly, especially as a fall read; I loved the descriptions of apple picking and pressing cider, etc. Also, as one of the more accessible and genuine novels that I’ve read recently, it made me feel like trying to write a novel again–it reminded me of how simply pleasurable a great story can be, without any sort of gimmick or artifice. I’m often distrustful of bestsellers, but in this case anyway, John Irving is worthy of his wide readership. I remember loving ‘A Prayer for Owen Meany’ when I read it in high school, as well.
Honestly, I didn’t want the book to end. And when it did end, I considered turning right back to the first page and starting all over again–I still might. Do read it, if you love a good story. I’m sure you can easily find it in a used bookshop, or online.
Happy end of September, and Happy Birthday to Ms. Jennie-in-Wonderland!
What books are you reading this fall?
The Cider House Rules rules! This dish looks very yummy! I am craving some now.