Wednesday, September 4, 2019

The Lager Queen of Minnesota

The Lager Queen of Minnesota / J. Ryan Stradal, 353 p.

A worthy second novel from the author of the much-loved Kitchens of the Great Midwest.  Sisters Edith and Helen Calder grow up in 1950s small-town Minnesota.  Their lives diverge sharply when their father dies and leaves the farm to only one of his daughters.  While one struggles to make ends meet baking fantastic pies for a nursing home, the other establishes a successful brewery.  Of course, the fates won't allow the two to remain estranged forever.  Much of the novel's plot feels contrived but that's more than offset by the strong and likable characters.  The in-depth knowledge of brewing techniques on display is surprisingly interesting and the conclusion satisfying.

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