There is a special art to writing about and describing food in literature. Carole Barrowman says fictional food should make your mouth water as you turn the page; plus it should be part of the story in three important ways. Carole joins us to share those three ways and her picks for delicious food books!
For more information on Carole and her literary musings, visit CaroleBarrowman.com. And see below for her food book picks!
1. "The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake" by Aimee Bender - Rosie is nine when she discovers she can taste people’s emotions in the food they make. When her mother makes a lemon cake, Rose learns some things she shouldn’t. This is a lovely novel, sweet with just a hint of melancholy.
2. "The Hundred Foot Journey" by Richard C. Morais - This was an Oprah/Spielberg produced film featuring Helen Mirren a few years ago, but the adaptation left scraps on the stove. The book follows the family from India to the village in the alps and then on to Paris. The food is memorable and the characters are just as robust.
3. "The Coincidence of Coconut Cake" by Amy Reichert - The cover alone is mouth-watering. This is a charming story about a food critic and a chef and the battle they wage until like yeast their love rises. And a bonus side– it’s set in Milwaukee.
4. "Fictitious Dishes: An Album of Literature’s Most Memorable Meals" by Dinah Fried - If you only want to read about the food in literature and skip the rest of the book (aargh…. My heart weeps….) then this book is for you. It’s a compilation of the best bits about food and their re-creation in photographs, including Alice’s tea party. It’s a yummy book to read and look at. Plus with this last name, she had to write a book about food.