‘The Lowdown’ Is That Show. Plus, ‘Heat 2’ Hype Meter and ‘House of Guinness.’

The Good Lord Bird is an absorbing mixture of history and imagination, told through the meticulous eye for detail and character of James McBride. The novel follows Henry Shackleford, a young slave living in the Kansas Territory in 1857, who is forced to leave town with the legendary abolitionist John Brown after a violent encounter. Believing Henry to be a girl, Brown nicknames him 'Little Onion. ' Over the ensuing months, Henry conceals his true identity as he struggles to stay alive and eventually finds himself involved in the historic raid on Harpers Ferry in 1859, a pivotal event leading to the American Civil War. The book is a rousing adventure and a moving exploration of identity, survival, and the complexities of John Brown's character, portrayed with both sympathy and realism.

In 'Heat', Bill Buford recounts his experiences as he leaves his job at the New Yorker to work in the kitchen of Mario Batali's restaurant Babbo. The book is a blend of memoir, travelogue, and gastronomical history, detailing Buford's apprenticeship with Batali and his further explorations in Italy. Buford learns the intricacies of Italian cooking, from pasta-making to pig butchery, and delves into the history and culture of Italian cuisine. The narrative is filled with humor, insight, and vivid descriptions of the culinary world, making it an engaging and entertaining read.