ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times

DATE: Sunday, January 7, 1996                TAG: 9601050079
SECTION: BOOK                     PAGE: F-4  EDITION: METRO 
                                             TYPE: BOOK REVIEW 

SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY. BY EMYL JENKINS. CROWN. $30.

With striking color photographs by Walter Smalling Jr., Emyl Jenkins' new book continues in much the same vein as her earlier books with emphasis on the South. Jenkins' position as contributing editor to both ``Southern Accents and Art'' and ``Art and Antiques'' magazines also gives a glossy, magazine-like look to her book.

She writes in her first chapter of the inspiration for writing ``Southern Hospitality.'' Driving from Richmond, Va., to Raleigh, N.C., Jenkins asked herself a question, ``Wouldn't it be fun to travel through the South to savor the tradition of Southern hospitality that since long ago was the standard of kindness and unreserved friendliness?'' That imaginary journey takes place in these pages.

Here are the people and the places that still epitomize the legendary hospitality of the South. As to places, Jenkins includes Richmond's Jefferson Hotel. ``Southern Hospitality'' also contains recipes which Jenkins considers typical of the venerable tradition of hospitality. Among these are peanut soup, Cajun catfish, mountain apple and vidalia onion soup and Sally Lunn.

- HARRIET LITTLE

THE ODD JOB.

By Charlotte MacLeod. Mystery Press. $18.95.

"The Odd Job" is Charlotte MacLeod's 21st mystery novel, and once again she features the husband and wife team of Sarah Kelling and Max Bittersohn, her two super art sleuths.

On this occasion, Max is in Argentina tracing two stolen Old Masters from the Walton Museum Collection. Sarah is left on her own to solve the puzzle of who killed Dolores Tawne, the feisty administrator of the Walton. The whole affair has all the elements of a typical farce, which is one of the hallmarks of MacLeod's many novels, and can be very entertaining.

This is not one of MacLeod's better mysteries. She has the irritating habit of presuming that the reader is familiar with all her other novels of the same genre and frequently refers to events and people that have appeared in previous mysteries. This may be fine for her dedicated fans, but for those who have either not read all her books, or have a short memory, it becomes more than a little aggravating.

- JILL BOWEN

Harriet Little teaches at James River High School.

Jill Bowen lives in Blacksburg.

LENGTH: Medium:   52 lines
ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO:  The Jefferson Hotel.|