Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver

I've enjoyed the other novels by Kingsolver I've read in the past (particularly Prodigal Summer), so when this work of nonfiction hit the shelves, I was curious to read it.

Kingsolver and her family endeavor to spend a year growing/raising their own food, to eat locally, and to write a book along the way about their experiences and knowledge gained. I had a mixed reaction to this book: guilt, for eating out of season produce; annoyance, at some of the preachier passages (I live in Indiana. We grow cow corn and soybeans. Eat that.); envy, that she has 40 acres in which to plant a garden, and I don't even have a yard (yet); inspiration, to be more mindful when I hit the IGA next time. ;-)

This is a measured, well written work, peppered between Barbara's passages with Steven's more "educational" essays, and daughter Camille's perspectives and recipes.

I'll never look at tomatoes or turkeys the same way again. ;-)

Recommended!

Note: I listened to the audio edition, narrated by the family themselves. It felt like it took me twenty seven years to listen - it was particularly difficult during long car trips, when I need something with a bit more...pep. And it was particularly guilt-inducing when I listened while making dinner. ;-) Kingsolver's slooooow delivery took getting used to, but I got there.

Labels: book review