Likely Stories - Aftertaste by Daria Lavelle

Hi, everyone, and welcome back to Likely Stories. I’m Paige Connell, and I teach English at Midway High School, reviewing a book with an appetizing premise: what if you could be temporarily reconnected with a deceased loved one through a meal that is meaningful to you both? What meal, drink or snack would be the one that summons them back to you? What would you discuss during your recaptured moments together? What would you be willing to give to make it happen?

In Aftertaste by Daria Lavelle, one very special chef has the ability to prepare a meal or drink for someone so that the ghost of their loved one will appear to them for the duration of their meal. But here’s the (dry) rub: ghosts have agendas too, so summoning them and interfering in the afterlife with aftertastes isn’t as pleasant as it may seem.

Konstantin Duhovny has been blursed—cursed with the loss of his father at a young age, blessed with a sensitive, refined palate that can decipher flavors and concoctions instantly. When he receives an aftertaste, it’s as if every flavor, herb, and spice appears to him so clearly, and it also means a ghost is near, and he must unlock the flavor combinations of this special food through trial and error and recreate the meal to reunite dear with departed. This proves very gratifying for Konstantin, who has been working as a line cook in various restaurants in New York, and who sees this gift as a way to provide to others what he missed out on with his father. But once he connects with Maura, a fortune teller by day, she helps him see that what’s beyond the veil may be more than just tantalizing morsels. Konstantin is dabbling with the great beyond, and those who have passed on aren’t happy to be reminded of what they can no longer have.

Aftertaste is a foodie’s delight. Set in the bustling restaurant scene of New York and filled with sensory descriptions of food and drink, this debut novel is such a unique way to blend ghost story with cookbook with mystery with love story. It’s unlike anything I’ve read before, and while the sauce may have gotten a little thin in the middle, it’s worth a read simply for the mouthwatering details you’ll uncover. This one will leave you with an aftertaste long after the last pages.

RECENT EPISODES OF LIKELY STORIES

Likely Stories - A Short History of a Small Place by T.R. Pearson

"Some books stay with you for decades. For me, that’s A Short History of a Small Place by T.R. Pearson. First published in 1985, it’s a funny, Southern tale of Neely, North Carolina, told through the eyes of young Louis Benfield, Jr. From quirky townsfolk to a chimpanzee companion, the story blends humor and heart in unforgettable ways. I first heard it on The Radio Reader in 1986—and I’ve never forgotten it."

Likely Stories - The Madwomen of Paris by Jennifer Cody Epstein

Imagine being punched in the ovaries to bring on a fit.This is The Madwomen of Paris by Jennifer Cody Epstein, which was inspired by the dark history of the Salpêtrière asylum in the 1880s.

Likely Stories - Killers of a Certain Age

I am a huge James Bond fan, and never missed an episode of Charlie’s Angels as a pre-teen growing up. A story about women my age who could still fight, run, plan, take action, and do all the things they did in their early years really appealed to me.

Likely Stories - My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell

The book that I'm reviewing today is challenging. It was an unsettling read, and I thought about it for weeks after I finished it. I hesitated to recommend it on Likely Stories. But these difficult books catch our attention for a reason, they are important to talk about and examine.

Likely Stories - American Road Trip by Patrick Flores-Scott

War is hell. And what comes after war, when soldiers return home, is often its own version of torment, one that takes exceptional patience and grace from everyone--those who love the soldiers as well as the soldiers themselves.

Likely Stories - Lorne: The Man Who Invented Saturday Night Live by Susan Morrison

I’ve been reading a lot about Saturday Night Live lately, for a couple of reasons. First, I talk about the show when I cover the history of television in my Introduction to Mass Communication class at Baylor, and I like to keep up with what’s going on with SNL. Second, Saturday Night Live just celebrated its 50th anniversary, so there’s been plenty written about it in the last year or so.

Likely Stories - The Celebrants by Steven Rowley

In nineteen-ninety-five, five college friends, distraught over the suspected suicide of their friend and haunted by the question “would Alec have died had he known how much he was loved?” enter into a lifelong pact to hold living funerals.

Likely Stories - Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir

Many times on public radio, you hear folks say, “Long-time listener, first-time caller.” Well, that’s me! I’m Maggie McCarthy—a long-time listener of KWBU—bringing you my, hopefully, first book review on Likely Stories.

Likely Stories - Spencer's Mountain by Earl Hamner Jr

A true story of a family’s deep love and incredibly difficult struggles in rural Virginia during the Great Depression becameone of the most beloved television shows of all time.Welcome to “Likely Stories.”I’m Diane Kemper.

Likely Stories - The Colonel and the King: Tom Parker, Elvis Presley and the Partnership that Rocked the World by Peter Guralnick

‘The Colonel and the King: Tom Parker, Elvis Presley and the Partnership that Rocked the World’, sheds new light on the infamous Colonel Tom Parker and his sometimes questionable choices in managing Elvis Presley's career. I'm Kevin Tankersley, and this is likely stories on KWBU.