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Home of the Bruno Groupies! ���

Intention here is to read the series and share some food and beverages reminscent of those so prominently featured in the books. We might have to do a zoom or two ... or just agree on a menu and report back posting photos ... we will work that out.

Reading will start with the first as a couple of us have been living under a boulder and had NO IDEA that Bruno existed!

However others are farther along -- and even awaiting the next to be published. I strongly suggest using spoilers to discuss if you are farther along than Sarah and I are. Warning: I don't binge read so at some point I will fall behind everyone else. It's fine. I'll still join in the fun and food.

And beverage. Let's not forget the beverages.

Also, share anything of interest you find when googling or if you have been blessed with travelling in the Dordogne.

To sum up: Here we share all things Bruno - the books, the food, the drinks, and the location.

I'm kicking this off with my total fangirling and crushing on Bruno! Just loved loved loved the first in the series, and will move on to the 2nd probably in January.

Here are a couple of links I found relating to the series and Bruno's author -- Walker's house described in the NYTimes article sounds very much like Pamela's house in Bruno, Chief of Police.

, but even better this (gifted so no pay wall): .

In honor of meeting Bruno for the first time, I'm going to make an omelet and some potatoes a la that meal he served his buddies at the tennis club at the beginning of Bruno, Chief of Police. It will be inspired by not an exact replica. I have a bottle of white wine already chilling in the fridge - gift from a client. Not sure when this weekend it will happen but it will.

Many of the first books I have as hardbacks the rest I have in kindle, so when the discussion begins, I will try to locate them and if not remember them. I have recently finished book 16, so you can see there is some love there.

Thank you Theresa! Think we'll have a wonderful journey. I've ordered the 1st 2 books and glanced at the articles you graciously provided. I recognized the wine pictured in NYT and can highly recommend Le Fage. Our local liquor store featured it a while back and we're hooked. Only able to try Grenache, Miraflor but love it, even though we're white wine drinkers. Will have to ask them to get this Rose. Interesting they show this wine, though, because it's from the Rousillon department. Nonetheless, I feel like I have a head start!

ummmm-there is nothing like a good French Red-although I am a white drinker too.

All this talk of Bruno and his eggs got my tummy rumble and so I just put quiche in the oven (omelets to tough for me to do with one hand) I wish I had truffles (don't we all?) but what I had was Baby Bellas, so I sautéed them up with some sweet onion brushed the pie crust with some good Dijon added 3 white cheeses to the eggs and cream, some nutmeg and Worcestershire and BAM! into the oven and cooking away-you free for dinner? 😘

Joanne wrote: "ummmm-there is nothing like a good French Red-although I am a white drinker too.

All this talk of Bruno and his eggs got my tummy rumble and so I just put quiche in the oven (omelets to tough for ..."

You're doin' right! Wish you were down the street

That is more than a little impressive with only one working arm, JoAnne!!

I’m in for any Bruno-fest. The Dordogne is definitely on the retirement trip list.

I am looking forward to this. I have been meaning to read this series for a while. I'm quite sure they are all available at my library with no wait, unless there is a very new one.

Have not heard a peep on Bruno lately-Just a heads up, some of his books will fit BWF. I am reading The Resistance Man

Was just thinking about this ... we should get some Bruno love in May!

I still want to do this too, but I like to read a series in order so not all the books will work for BWF.

I'm ready. Whatever y'all decide!

I've only read the first but I can be ok reading series out of order unless there are strong thematic ties between books or the author inserts too many spoilers of prior books in the series. I think I can read Bruno in any order now that I have fallen for him.

So, #4 starts with C - The Crowded Grave. I'll be reading that.

I won't be reading because I'm caught up and waiting for the next one to be released in September, but I will follow along with this discussion.

I think you can easily read The Crowded Grave out of order but I wouldn't go any farther.

Lots of food in this one.

Ordered

Like Robin, I strongly prefer to read series in order. I have the second ready to go and I’m really looking forward to it, but it’s not likely to be this month.

I think I've only read the first one but this should fit the tag just fine and I'd like to read another. I'll check back on this thread to see how things are going. I like to read in order so I'm off to see if I ever read #2!

You need to read in order!! If only because of Bruno's love life

Theresa wrote: "I've only read the first but I can be ok reading series out of order unless there are strong thematic ties between books or the author inserts too many spoilers of prior books in the series. I thin..."

NO!!! 😂😮

Joanne wrote: "Theresa wrote: "I've only read the first but I can be ok reading series out of order unless there are strong thematic ties between books or the author inserts too many spoilers of prior books in th..."

Eh, his love life I can read out of order.

ETA: Besides, I'm a jealous bitch and don't want to read abouthis lovelife LOL.

Theresa wrote: "Joanne wrote: "Theresa wrote: "I've only read the first but I can be ok reading series out of order unless there are strong thematic ties between books or the author inserts too many spoilers of pr..."

you will miss a lot reading out of order-deaths and other things not just his slutty girlfriends

JoAnne - I am reading one book farther ahead - 3rd in series rather then 2nd. I don't believe it will throw me off. I'll be fine.

I can always put it aside if it bothers me once I start.

Crowed Gravel is 4th,,,just sayin' I know you are not a purist, so off you go ....

The idea of hanging with you ladies is so tempting. But it turns out there are over 15 books that fit tag that I am really excited to read. I just dropped my parents off at the airport and picked up 11 books at the library. so I’m not gonna join buddy. Would’ve loved the wine and zoom fest and fangirling�.

I've got #2 and #4. Ready to cook and Lafage wine has become a regular pour.

I just have cheap Pino Griot, but Bruno makes it taste like heaven.

Well, I missed the party on this one by delaying. And I really don't want to read out of order in order to fit the BWF spelling.

If I didn't have so many F2F book club books to get to, I'd get to the first in this series anyway this month. But there's only so much time...

But I'd still be interested in a zoom session!

Joanne wrote: "I just have cheap Pino Griot, but Bruno makes it taste like heaven."

Understood. What's your favorite cheap PG? I prefer Cavit.

I buy a reasonable priced bottle "Eco Dominion" ( about $11) I believe it is called, a little citrusy and it is good enough for me while I cook dinner-

In the current book I am reading, The Resistance Man, Bruno makes dog biscuits! He uses rendered fat from the ham he keeps hung in his kitchen. I may have to give them a try for my pampered pooch Miss Lola�

Joanne wrote: "In the current book I am reading, The Resistance Man, Bruno makes dog biscuits! He uses rendered fat from the ham he keeps hung in his kitchen. I may have to give them a try for my ..."

You mean you don't already make her biscuits from rendered ham fat?

shame on me!

Finished Bruno #9, Fatal Pursuit and as always a 4 star read. Was disappointed though as there was not too much descriptive food talk, although Bruno and the gang met regularly for wining and dining. Our friend Isabella was back in town (never a good thing for Bruno) and poor Bruno has fallen for another career woman. I am starting to believe that his sub-conscious is wrestling with his heart about him wanting a family and children.

I expect to read the latest #17,A Grave in the Woods later this month when it is released.

So I have begun reading A Grave in the Woods and the first chapter gave me a good surprise and then as I worked my way in a bit there is just so many rabbit holes to go down-
*Zurek -
*Château de Rastignac

*Then there is Ezra Pound and his friend T. S. Eliot, who began writing The Waste Land while the two poets were on a walking tour in the Périgord. - I haven't followed this up for a link but thought it might be interesting for travel
*Josephine Baker’s Château des Milandes

Chateau de Montreal

*Marquis of Biron - fought in the Revolutionary War
LaFayette gave Washington Basset Hounds
Cactus Hill, VA archaelogy site

* and for Theresa -"A small herd of Blonde d’Aquitaine cattle with that year’s calves were grazing on the pasture"

And that is only 12% in.

And a final note Martin Walker is currently doing a book tour in the US which I just found out about yesterday. Yesterday he was in the Phoenix area. He will not be anywhere close to me, but he is going to visit NYC!

*sigh* - thanks to Fran alerting me on FB, I have Walker's visit to the Mysterious Bookshop in downtown Manhattan on my calendar for Oct. 1. It's a work day and on the early side for a lawyer but I am going to try to get there! It's free, no reservations so I will have to get there early to snag a good seat.

Just think, might have to kill some time shopping in a mystery bookstore and even schmooze with author and his publisher, editor, literary agent, and entourage while we all wait for the the 6 PM hour to chime. It's a small shop so there will be mingling. Tough job but I'm up for it!

Unless something critical comes up with work, I'll be there and post at least one photo here.

I've finished A Grave in the Woods and like his last book A Chateau Under Siege he uses a real chateau, with the actual owners in his book. The chateau is Domaine de la Barde.


It is located in Le Buque, so I am assuming that this is the model for St. Denis.

I expect to write a review in the next day or so.

I can see a lot of google rabbit holes in my future...

Theresa wrote: "I can see a lot of google rabbit holes in my future..."

His books invariably lead you down some. In his author's notes he verifies all the history which he has noted in the book.

His books are like a mini course in history, cooking and other things.

I decided I am going to try finding Bruno's Cookbook: Recipes and Traditions from a French Country Kitchen and spend the winter cooking and eating-and reading of course

Joanne wrote: "I decided I am going to try finding Bruno's Cookbook: Recipes and Traditions from a French Country Kitchen and spend the winter cooking and eating-and reading of course"

I would love to have that.

I have it on my Amazon gift wishlist that family and friends access for Christmas gift ideas.

On way home from the Martin Walker signing his latest Bruno at The Mysterious Bookshop. I don't have time to give a full report, and likely won't for a couple days. But here are a couple photos of this dynamic engaging man.

The pre-show signing stacks of books.

He's a dynamic physically active talker

So cool!

Some more tidbits before I have to spend a couple more hours working...

When I arrived at the shop, I bought a copy of the book for him to autograph for me of course, even though I am only at the beginning of the series. While I was checking out I noticed that a man who had just arrived was being greeted and led to the table where the authors sit and sign books. I'd already parked my bag on the audience seat right in front of it knowing from past author signings that he would address us from there. Hence the great closeup photos!

My friend joined me as I was checking out - and I made her buy the first in the series in paperback! I wandered the store a bit more as Walker was still talking to the manager and they were setting up the stacks of books he was to sign. Unlike many of the authors who come to these signings, he had no entourage - just one person was accompanying him and she was either his agent or from the publisher - I think the publisher because she was checking just how prominently displayed Walker's newest book was placed and just how much of the series was on the shelves. It's a small shop so there isn't room for massive quantities of any one author or book.

Once Walker was settled in his seat and started signing books, my friend and I settled in ours and started to chat, knowing from experience that we would be able to have some chat with the author before the event started in 15 minutes or so. And we did!

He's very outgoing, chats comfortably and it was frankly effortless to engage with him - that's not always the case. He's got wit and humor on display. It started with some joking comments about the skill and speed with which he was signing those books and that led to his sharing a tidbit about his advance degree days at Oxford and having over 2 days to hand write 38 different essays. Signing a few books is child's play after that. He also shared with us as he signed the last book that he still writes all first drafts of his books in longhand. He says that in part is because the letters on his keyboard have worn away and he doesn't trust his memory on knowing where the keys are. That all led to a conversation about computers and how his is old and suits him and he doesn't want to trade for a new one. Even I looked a bit askance at that.

He made some comments about his years as a journalist and taking notes by hand, and how his hand actually feels naked without a pen.

We had his undivided attention for about 5 minutes before the event started and it was all so easy. As I said that's not always the case. We talked about this promotional tour - his US schedule was brutal - crisscrossing the US multiple times Phoenix to Seattle to Illinois I think then back to Texas - all starting in Washington DC. Next he's headed to Germany - listing several cities, plus Prague. He also mentioned he'll be in Australia after that -- and I think he mentioned NZ too. i"m sure this is all on his website. His publisher arranges all this -- and he didn't seem too happy with how they lined up US. I mentioned that a friend in CA had alerted me to his being in NYC and was pea green with envy that I was getting to do this. He said that Since COVID California doesn't fall into the tour as often and was skipped this time He's not sure why but he also said that the promotion tours are much shorter fewer stops since pandemic. I suggested it is like everything else, not fully back up to the level of pre-pandemic, nothing is.

The final comments just before the formal program took over and the obnoxious store manager (very snotty guy - more on him later) did the formal introduction and the private time ended - as he summed up the tour info and all the travel over the next few months, I commented on how tiring that is and on top of it all he had to find time to write as well. His response:

"Next year's book is done and with the publisher. But yes, writing needs to be done, it's like riding a bicycle - you have to keep going".

Surprisingly I thought there was not a large turnout at all. Maybe 2 dozen people at most. It could just be because it wasn't well advertised (the store manager again), and he had no entourage which fleshes out some of these signings. Who knows.

And with that I have to stop and get back to work... but there will be more.

One good thing about Covid for writers was the ability to do book interviews from home. It was probably not good for new, unknown authors, but famous authors could Zoom all over the world and avoid the horrible travel schedules.

Thanks, Theresa, that sounds lovely and so nice that you were able to chat with him a bit.

I've already preordered the next book, by the way.

Sounds like a wonderful evening, Theresa...yet I see no mention of the Bruno Fan Club here!!