Kitchens of the Great Midwestby J. Ryan StradalI had read many positive reviews about this title and I was really excited to read it. The reviews were right – this is an excellent book. However, it is definitely not what I expected.When I first started to read the book I thought the book would be mainly about Eva Thorvald – a genius with food at a young age. However, the book is, and is not, about Eva. Each chapter is from a different character’s point of view. Eva is sometimes central to this character’s life, but more often than not, she makes an appearance in a small, but vital way.When I finished the book I thought to myself – what is this book trying to tell me? And I think I could probably have some pretty interesting discussions about what this book’s goal is, but for me it is a subtle reminder about slowing down and enjoying life. Taking each moment, whether good or bad, and understanding its importance. Food is a major theme in this book, and becomes a way to connect people in a variety of ways; for example, a way to meet up with friends and family, to appreciate the simple things in life, to get through tough events, and as a way to show people you care. This book can really be interpreted in several different ways which makes me thing this would be a fabulous book for a book club as there are so many subtle nuances to explore and discuss – all with some yummy food of course.