If you have the time and inclination, you might enjoy a chick novel called Hll Towns by Anne Rivers Siddons. It's lightweight but quite engaging, and the central theme reminds me of your "case of jam tomorrow but no jam today." The setting of the book is lovely and captivating. There was so much talk of earthy food, walking, weather, old buildings, and yearning that I felt compelled to go out at 10 p.m. in search of yeast so I could bake several loaves crusty, homemade bread to eat with cheese, minestrone, and fresh strawberries.
