Animal, Vegetable, Mineral
Barbara Kingsolver ed (2007)
I didn't think I'd ever find another book about seasonal eating that I would enjoy as much as The Omnivores Dilemma. I was wrong. Barbara Kingsolver is better known for her fiction; the highly acclaimed The Poisonwood Bible being perhaps her most famous novel. In this Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, however, she chooses autobiography as her genre and tells the story of a year in her families food life.
Barbara and her family's adventured in locavarianism (i.e. one who eats local foods) is somewhat different to that of Alisa and James in Plenty; yes they shop at farmers markets and forgo strawberries in January and bananas all year long, but they also endeavour to grow and produce much of their own vegetables and meat in their small(ish) farm in Virginia.
The book is a culinary delight with tales of boundless quantities of courgette (something I can certainly relate to), encouraging turkey mating (something I'm less familiar with) and their trials, tribulations and triumphs in growing, storing and cooking with their own food.
In terms of the writing Barbara takes the helm and it is really her journey and memories of food that we are given insight into. Elder daughter Camille provides short essays on her own teenage approach to seasonal eating and gives a small selection of favourite family recipes at the end of each chapter (which are available online at their website, but which- truth be told - I didn't find particularly inspiring). Husband Steven is not left out and the book is littered with his short, yet informative, knowledge pieces on seasonal eating.
This book was both less sciency and political than the other foodie books I've read recently. I've read some reviews that say it was self-righteous and preachy, however, I completely disagree. I thought it struck the balance between informative discussion and cosy family yarn perfectly.
It was a joy to read and Barbara and her family sound utterly delightful.
Barbara Kingsolver ed (2007)
I didn't think I'd ever find another book about seasonal eating that I would enjoy as much as The Omnivores Dilemma. I was wrong. Barbara Kingsolver is better known for her fiction; the highly acclaimed The Poisonwood Bible being perhaps her most famous novel. In this Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, however, she chooses autobiography as her genre and tells the story of a year in her families food life.
Barbara and her family's adventured in locavarianism (i.e. one who eats local foods) is somewhat different to that of Alisa and James in Plenty; yes they shop at farmers markets and forgo strawberries in January and bananas all year long, but they also endeavour to grow and produce much of their own vegetables and meat in their small(ish) farm in Virginia.
The book is a culinary delight with tales of boundless quantities of courgette (something I can certainly relate to), encouraging turkey mating (something I'm less familiar with) and their trials, tribulations and triumphs in growing, storing and cooking with their own food.
In terms of the writing Barbara takes the helm and it is really her journey and memories of food that we are given insight into. Elder daughter Camille provides short essays on her own teenage approach to seasonal eating and gives a small selection of favourite family recipes at the end of each chapter (which are available online at their website, but which- truth be told - I didn't find particularly inspiring). Husband Steven is not left out and the book is littered with his short, yet informative, knowledge pieces on seasonal eating.
This book was both less sciency and political than the other foodie books I've read recently. I've read some reviews that say it was self-righteous and preachy, however, I completely disagree. I thought it struck the balance between informative discussion and cosy family yarn perfectly.
It was a joy to read and Barbara and her family sound utterly delightful.
I'm a little bit embarrassed I didn't know this but apparently Babs won this year's Orange Prize for fiction with her latest book The Lacuna. Learn more about it here http://newsroom.orange.co.uk/2010/06/09/barbara-kingsolver-wins-2010-orange-prize-for-fiction/
ReplyDeleteOrange prize for fiction and enthusiastic permaculturalist. This woman just made it on the list of 3 people to invite to dinner!