The Lady, the Chef, and the Courtesan
by Marisol
List Price: $21.95
Pages: 256
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 0060530421
Publisher: Rayo
According to a Latin American proverb, in order for a woman to discover her power over men, she must learn to be a lady in the living room, a chef in the kitchen, and a courtesan in the bedroom. After perfecting the grace and elegance of each, a woman will ultimately understand her own potential in life, and the command she has over everyone around her, including herself.
When Pilar is left her grandmother's legacy books, she not only discovers what she is missing in her own life but also discovers the secret life her grandmother carried with her to her grave.
Bound in black silk, the three books teach the sacred beauty rituals that South American women have followed for centuries, the rules of social etiquette every young woman must master, and delicious recipes to seduce men -- recipes that can teach the strong-willed Pilar how to be the perfect lady, wife, and lover.
As Pilar reads through the diaries, she slowly begins to discover the importance of tradition and how to incorporate the secrets into her life as an independent, professional woman. And finally, perhaps -- with her grandmother's wise words floating in her mind -- she will find the courage to follow her heart, wherever it may lead.
Weaving together the story of a modern woman with that of a grandmother's time-honored traditions, The Lady, the Chef, and the Courtesan is a compelling novel of history, seduction, love -- and what it truly means to be a woman.
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1. The book opens with the South American proverb: "A woman must be a lady in the living room, a chef in the kitchen and a courtesan in the bedroom." Can a woman possibly be all three?
2. Although Pilar and Gabriela were extremely close, what differences do you think exist between the Americanized granddaughter, and the South American-born grandmother?
3. How do you think Pilar would have reacted to the secrets revealed in the journals, had her grandmother told them to her in person?
4. Do you believe South-American women have it easier, in their courtship with romantic suitors, than do Americanized women?
5. In the end, do you feel Pilar chose the right man to love?
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"Uncommonly lyrical."
—Kirkus Reviews
"Musical and sensually written."
—Publishers Weekly
