The Paris Wife: A Novel
Author: Paula McLain

Did you know Ernest Hemingway was married 4 times? And at the end of his memoir, A Moveable Feast, he wrote of his first wife “I wish I had died before I loved anyone but her.” 

The Paris Wife: A Novel is the story of Hadley Hemingway, first wife of Ernest Hemingway, and the woman that loved him before he was famous. It is a tale of love, fame, betrayal and scandal set amid 1920’s Paris.

Did I get your attention? I hope so. It’s quite a good read. Discuss The Paris Wife with your book club, and share these tasty treats.

THE HEMINGWAY COCKTAIL

Ingredients:
• red grapes
• 1 part Pernod Absinthe
• 1 dash sweet vermouth
• squeeze of lime
• 1 dash simple syrup
• orange juice
Preparation:
• Muddle six or seven grapes.
• Add ice and spirits.
• Shake and strain into an ice-filled highball glass
• Top with orange juice and garnish with fresh grapes

FRENCH ONION SOUP

Ingredients
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter
• 4 onions, sliced
• 2 garlic cloves, chopped
• 2 bay leaves
• 2 fresh thyme sprigs
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1 cup red wine, about 1/2 bottle
• 3 heaping tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 2 quarts beef broth
• 1 baguette, sliced
• 1/2 pound grated Gruyere
Directions
Melt the stick of butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onions, garlic, bay leaves, thyme, and salt and pepper and cook until the onions are very soft and caramelized, about 25 minutes. Add the wine, bring to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer until the wine has evaporated and the onions are dry, about 5 minutes. Discard the bay leaves and thyme sprigs. Dust the onions with the flour and give them a stir. Turn the heat down to medium low so the flour doesn't burn, and cook for 10 minutes to cook out the raw flour taste. Now add the beef broth, bring the soup back to a simmer, and cook for 10 minutes. Season, to taste, with salt and pepper.