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Hellooooo! Is anyone out there?!? It's me! I'm back! Helloooo!

And, dearest, darlingest, bestest readers in the universe, I have the most amazing news ever. Ever. EVER EVER EVER.

My Berlin Kitchen is a bestseller!!! On the LA Times nonfiction hardcover list for the week of October 14, it popped on at number 8. Number 8! Number 8! Can you believe it? I cannot. You could have knocked me over with a feather, in fact you still could. Ohhh, and let me tell you, I have only all of you to thank for that, for going out and buying the book, for telling your friends, for showing up. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

We got back to Germany two weeks ago and went straight down to my mother's in Italy to recuperate. At first I was all, pshaw, who needs to recuperate? I need more book signings, more cities, that's what I need! And then Hugo was all, woman you must be out of our mind, I have had enough, take me to Nonna's. So we went and lo, it turned out I did need to unwind, just a little. The first several nights, I did nothing else than replay everything that had happened on the tour over and over in my head, like the very best movie I'd ever seen. Other than that, we did nothing. Besides take one hike, sit in front of the fireplace every night and eat homemade gnocchi at Gabriella's for lunch one day. (Now you know who Gabriella is! Ha! I love it.)

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For those of you who wanted to hear the Leonard Lopate interview I did in New York: here you go.

Here's an interview I did with the lovely Amy Scattergood of LA Weekly, before the first event in LA.

While in Portland, I was on the local morning television network KATU: have a look.

The questions in this interview with Popmatters were really great.

Oh, and remember when, this summer in Italy, I said I had a recipe for pickled eggplant for you? Here it is.

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I took these photos the day after we arrived on the West Coast, exactly one month ago. We rented a car and drove to the Santa Monica beach, where we walked down the pier and gazed out over the Pacific Ocean. Just a day earlier, we'd been in gray Germany. Now there was a wide expanse of blue ahead of us, a huge beach behind us and a pelican sitting in repose beside us. We stood there quietly, snapping pictures, both of us a little nervous about the trip that loomed ahead still. Hugo slept in his stroller and I thought about how funny it was that he had traveled so far already and yet didn't have a clue about where he was, how far from home he was. All that mattered to him was that Max and I were right there next to him. We were his home. We are his home. I like that, so much.

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37 responses to “A Friday Report”

  1. Selkie Avatar
    Selkie

    Bravo bravo; your book is a joy….

    Like

  2. Lisa Avatar
    Lisa

    Just finished reading your book and thoroughly enjoyed it!

    Like

  3. Claudia Silva Avatar
    Claudia Silva

    I’m so happy for you! Beautiful post.

    Like

  4. Michelle Avatar

    I am so happy for you!

    Like

  5. Janet K Avatar
    Janet K

    I just finished the book, and it was Fantastic! I am recommending it to everyone. Well, except for those who are going to receive it as a gift from me!
    Love the pelican photo, too!

    Like

  6. Sylee Avatar

    Nothing less than what you deserve – and so happy to have you back – congratulations!

    Like

  7. Jennifer Hess Avatar

    So, so wonderful. I absolutely loved the book! And I am so sad to have missed you in Brooklyn, but I had to work late and then get home to my little guy… you know how that goes 🙂 Big congrats on your successes – they are so well-deserved. (And I have to mention – I know Brettne! Her agency was affiliated with my law firm many moons ago. So hi to her, too – such a small world!)

    Like

  8. Tori (@eatori) Avatar

    Congratulations! It’s a beautiful book. Sounds like a well deserved break is in order.

    Like

  9. Flavia Avatar

    Ben tornata, Luisa! I have been devouring your book and do not want it to end; it is simply lovely. I will be passing it on to my mother to read when I am finished. So very happy for your success–it is well deserved. Tantissimi auguri!

    Like

  10. Kat Collins Avatar

    Welcome back! (sort of since I live in Pennsylvania and not Germany). 🙂 I’ve only recently discovered your blog and book and am loving it! I made the apple tart and beef ragu from your book. Both were simply divine.
    Congratulations on all you’ve accomplished, including the best seller list!! That’s awesome!
    I posted a review of your book on my website, Kat’s Book Reviews. Here’s the link if you’re interested.
    http://katsbookreviews.com/2012/10/15/review-my-berlin-kitchen-a-love-story-with-recipes-by-luisa-weiss/

    Like

  11. Stacy Avatar

    I love reading your posts all the more now that I’ve met you — which is saying something, as I loved them so much from the outset. Congratulations on the bestseller!!! It is surely deserved.

    Like

  12. dancing kitchen Avatar
    dancing kitchen

    Well deserved…I loved the book!

    Like

  13. Mike Avatar

    I’m happy that your book is selling so well. Question what type of bird is that in the picture you took?

    Like

  14. Katharina Avatar
    Katharina

    Wow, that’s really wonderful news. I love your blog and the book is an absolute page-turner. I felt like there is so much I can relate to. Especially your description of the Berlin winter was so realistic. (I live there, too! :-)) Oh, and I’m actually from the small Bavarian town of Passau, that you seem to know as well. And my baby boy is Hugo’s age, so if you want to meet up for a playdate some time…

    Like

  15. devon Avatar

    Congratulations!!! Having seen your darling face in person, it is all that much easier to imagine you grinning as typed this news.

    Like

  16. Sophie Avatar
    Sophie

    Congrats Luisa, I checked your book out of the library and loved it so much ( I couldn’t put it down when I started reading it) I purchased it through Amazon. I can’t wait to try the recipes.

    Like

  17. teryll Avatar

    Duh, of course this book is a best seller! 🙂

    Like

  18. Hannah Avatar

    Congratulations Luisa! So well deserved. I hope that Hugo always feels at home wherever you and Max are – what a thing, the permanent home of our parents and their love. Wonderful post, glad you are ‘back’!

    Like

  19. Jessika Avatar
    Jessika

    Sure you might have seen it already but you should read the last post by david Lebovits, http://www.davidlebovits.com, all about plum cake and other things.

    Like

  20. Julia | JuliasAlbum.com Avatar

    Congratulations on your success! You deserve it! And beautiful pictures of the West Coast! Love the blue color!

    Like

  21. Stephanie Avatar

    It seems like a dream come true for you — I am so happy for you. And it’s inspiring for the rest of us, with all our budding dreams . . . Thank you!

    Like

  22. Carmen Avatar
    Carmen

    Congratulations!!!!!!!!

    Like

  23. Charlotte Avatar

    Of course it is a bestseller. It is a lovely, lovely book and I read it a second time last weekend. So happy you are taking a break in Italy and what a lot of travelling Hugo has done so far in his young life. Congratulations on your book’s success.

    Like

  24. dervla Avatar

    Yay so excited that it hit the bestseller list. Beautiful photos of CA. Hugo is so well traveled already!

    Like

  25. molly Avatar

    Oh, Luisa. You sweet, dear thing.
    Welcome home. Homes. Plural might be best, under the circumstances.
    Congratulations on completing not just the book tour, but the whole shebang. Baby, included? Geez, woman, indeed!
    And that last paragraph, well, I like THAT, so much. I think it might be your very best love story, yet.
    xo,
    M

    Like

  26. jandi Avatar

    Congratulations! i have just discovered your blog- yay! And yes we are our childrens”home’- they don’t care as long as we are with them.

    Like

  27. la ninja Avatar

    as soon as i finnish and hand in all my essays for this blasted course i’m doing, i’m getting the book. not a minute before or i’ll be doomed… shouldn’t be reading/writing this. back to work, you procrastinating ninja.
    i have always very much enjoyed your blog. fear not, your faithful readers will go with, whichever the path you choose to follow. should they not… well, ultimately it is your blog, right?
    big hooray to you xx

    Like

  28. Beth Druce Avatar

    I have been meaning to buy the book for 3 weeks and everything as is often the case gets in the way and then I read the post and realise that you all know who Gabriella is and I don’t – and I have to buy it. It’s ordered – can’t wait xxx

    Like

  29. Betsy Avatar
    Betsy

    Hi Luisa, I’m LOVING the book. I dragged it with me all over the east coast on my business trip this week. It injected some much needed civility into my myriad airport delays.
    I made Poulet Saute a la Paysanne Provencale for dinner last night. It was a big hit. Thanks!

    Like

  30. Viridiana Avatar
    Viridiana

    Congratulations!!
    I’m mexican and I love many of your recipes!

    Like

  31. buckwheattobutter Avatar

    Congratulations! So exciting and eagerly awaiting my copy in the mail.

    Like

  32. Jess Avatar

    I can’t say I’m a bit surprised – beautiful stories and writing. Congratulations, and enjoy some much deserved quiet!

    Like

  33. Nuts about food Avatar

    Congratulations Luisa! I am so happy for you (and a little happy that I contributed to making it a best seller hehe). Loved the second-to-last sentence of the post. So true.

    Like

  34. orcagna Avatar
    orcagna

    …and yes, I loved your book, too! Your description of Pflaumenkuchen, Krautwickel and some of the funnier German traditions brought a lot of childhood memories back. What struck me most – you made Germany actually sound like a nice place to live. Doesn’t happen that often – so thanks a lot for this as well!
    All the best, and please continue!

    Like

  35. Margo Avatar
    Margo

    Of course it’s a best seller: you made the Approval Matrix!!
    http://nymag.com/arts/all/approvalmatrix/approval-matrix-2012-10-1/

    Like

  36. Dorie @ BrooklynSalt Avatar

    I just finished your lovely book on the train this morning! I got it from the library, but I’m going to buy it today because I can’t resist making all those wonderful recipes. I’m especially looking forward to the Meatballs in Chipotle Tomato Sauce, oh my.

    Like

  37. Jess Avatar

    LUISA!! As it should be, of course. But how on earth are you supposed to take a deep breath and relax with news like this bouncing around in your brain?? I’m thrilled for you, friend. xo.

    Like

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