Roundtrip from Texas

From her ranch in Texas Klein, now past her fourth husband, sets out for parts hither and yon recording and recounting the customs, cuisine, and whatever new arcane tidbit of information she can scratch up about cultures as different from Texas hill country as you can possibly get. 'I've traveled to most every place I wished to visit. I've been married enough, went ziplining, rappelling, jet boat riding, whitewater rafting, marlin fishing. I loved it all.' Did you know that Porto Bello, Brazil is the Underwear Capital of Brazil or that a mature lobster carries more than 100,000 eggs? But the real treat in the book is the food. Klein, a self-confessed food fanatic, describes her meals in loving detail. Food has meaning. We learn that sliced watermelon in China signifies the end of a meal. Wherever we go with Klein, the aromas of that culture's cuisine waft from the pages. Part international traveler, part Texas hill country rancher, Sonja leads a colorful life (husband number two was a bank robber and enforcer for the mob) and is always a part of the scenery wherever she goes. And that -when the sliced watermelon is served - is what makes the book such an enjoyable journey.