by Nancy,
Stradal’s debut novel centers on Eva Thorvald, the daughter of a chef and an aspiring sommelier, who has food in her DNA.... Eva’s story unfolds more like a short story collection than a novel as each vignette, told from the point of view of a different character, reveals another facet of her personality....a compelling, deliciously flawed character
This is our first novel based around food, it is surprising as we all very conscious of the fuel we put in our bodies for health, environmental and social reasons. I love to cook so I am looking forward to an interesting read. I thought these questions might be interesting to think about.
The recipes prepared in Eva’s feast serve as a walk through her memory. How do foods or recipes play a role in our own memory or life story?
Food takes center stage in this book. How does it bring people together and how does it keep them apart?
Apartment hunting in Melbourne, Nancy? Which lucky person will be living in it? I love Melbourne. Our visits there took place some years ago, but I adored the city. Did your Mum enjoy Greece, Katie? Must have changed since we were all there. Enjoy the beach vacation. You’ll be laying down wonderful memories for the children – and for you and Franklin, of course.
ReplyDeleteI was thinking about your comments on friendship, Nancy. I’m in contact with only one friend from childhood, and sadly she has had an aneurysm that has had an enormous impact on her whole identity. At this stage in life, I find the friends I made in my last job in the U.K. are the ones I’d turn to in a crisis, in the secure knowledge that they’d be there in an emergency and that our perceptions and responses to life will be in sympathy. (Important – you’ve no idea how recent events in the U.K. have made us all very careful about what we talk with those with whom you merely pass the time of day). Already, friends made earlier in life have died, become alcoholic, remarried and become lost to friends from the first marriage . . . My parents, of course, have only family left.
Depressing. Sorry. But the subject is fascinating. With regard to the idea of trilogies, Nancy, I’m all in favour. It would motivate me to read the Pat Barker WW1 trilogy, of which we read the first a long time ago. Hilary Mantel’s Tudor trilogy would be a joy – though the last book is still being written and historical novels set in English Tudor history may not be to everyone’s liking. Could we draw the line at Shades of Grey?!
All that leaves me little room to comment on this month’s book, which (according to the Book Club questions at the back) considers close friends as ‘families bonded by experience’, and queries whether these are stronger bonds than those of family. I don’t think one can make a definitive, universal statement in response to that. What do you think?
Loved your questions, Nancy. I do know that food and recipes have played a huge part in my life. I’m not a good cook and my poor Mum had to cope with the awful stuff we had here after WW2. But tea-time when we were young, first meals out, romantic meals, Christmas dinners, wedding feasts, disasters, my Mum’s skills and loss of them . . . the best and the worst of times. Mostly food brings people together, of course, unless you’re vegetarian when it can be quite a challenge – France and much of Texas requiring considerable negotiation. One could write an entire book about it. Indeed, Nancy, you might have inspired me.
I’m glad I read the novel – I like the idea of a character seen almost entirely through other people’s eyes, though I’m not sure it worked here. For me, Eva got lost in a welter of strong characters who got in the way of my ability to follow her development and life. Sometimes, it seemed as though she was a linking mechanism for a series of short stories. The range of characters was fascinating, though the obsession with food a little over the top. And leaving Cynthia ‘in the world where the two of them existed and nothing more’ makes an obsessive mother out of Cynthia. In the context of Cynthia’s life this seems a little unrealistic to me – but then I’m not a mother. I look forward to your better informed views on this, ladies.
Love to you and your families.
Hello! Hope you both are well. Sue, how was Scotland? My mother loved Greece. She said she ate her way through the country as you did in Melbourne, Nancy. The kids had a lovely time at the beach and it was just so nice to take a break from work. The beach we went to was about two hours away. I have no problems with any of the book suggestions made so far including trilogies. I did read Wolf Hall by Ms. Mantel already so I would prefer to start with the second in the series if we go that route. (Yes Sue, we can skip 50 shades. I’m not sure what type of discussion questions would come out of that. Haha!) I would like to add the following 5 books to our list if they are ok with you both.
ReplyDeleteThe Evidence Against Her-Robb Forman Dew
Guests on Earth-Lee Smith
State of Wonder-Ann Patchett
Bettyville-George Hodgman
What the Dead Know-Laura Lippman
I am, unfortunately, not a great cook. Franklin handles the bulk of our dinners. I've always been more of a baker. As kids, whenever we were bored my mother would tell us to go bake something. I remember so often as a kid making trays of cookies or brownies whenever friends came over. I like to think that maybe I will get more into cooking when the kids get a little older. Family dinners when I was a child were always important. We always sat together as a family and talked and laughed while we ate. I try to make it a priority with my children, but unfortunately tiny attention spans sometimes make that very difficult. Hopefully dinner time will become saner as they get older. I cannot picture a scenario where a shared meal would keep people apart. Do either of you have any thoughts on that? My siblings, parents and I try to have a large family dinner every few months.
I love that sentiment, "families bonded by experience". I have two dear friends whom I've known since high school that I now consider sisters rather than friends. Since Eva had a relatively small group of family that she lost at a relatively young age, it would seem that her friends were necessary to fill in the family void particularly toward the end of the novel. I think that this is a scenario that is true for many people, one of my fore mentioned friends in particular. During her youth, Eva seemed to be pretty self-sufficient and seemed frequently to be raising herself (although Jarl and Fiona seemed to have tried).
Nancy's intro talks about how each different character reveals Eva's personality. The only part of that I disagree with is the part that calls her "deliciously flawed". I saw very few faults or foibles in the picture of Eva that was painted for us. She seemed almost saintly at times. She allowed Octavia's lie about the succotash go unrequited. She permitted Will Prager and his new wife to come to one of her dinners. Eva didn't make a big deal after Cindy approached her. I'm not sure that I could be mature enough to allow a catty woman take credit for my recipe or let an ex-boyfriend come to my event or be so nonchalant to a stranger claiming to be an estranged relative. These actions give Eva a level of class and dignity that I would not characterize as "flawed".
(apparently I had too much to say for one post)
ReplyDeleteAs for Cindy, I’m afraid I am very limited in my ability to understand her. From the moment I first felt my children move, I was irrevocably in love with them. I know that sounds so cliché but it is true. I could not imagine, in my wildest dreams, leaving them. I see no reason why a mother cannot be with her children and live her dreams simultaneously. It’s not easy but it’s feasible. While I do not agree with the bulk of Cindy’s choices, I do give her a lot of respect for the way that she introduced herself to Eva. In some novels/real life situations, the negligent mother seems to feel that she is entitled to just waltz back into the life of her abandoned child when it is convenient or beneficial to her. Again, I do not know that I would have the tact or decorum to turn the other cheek as I have seen some of my friends and relatives do. Cindy, however, recognizes that she has no right to demand a relationship with Eva. She puts it out there who she is and knows that Eva could easily reach out to her whenever she is ready or never talk to her if she chooses. That to me is very admirable decision.
I enjoyed this month’s novel. When I was reading Cindy’s section, I thought the book ended as Cindy was handed the menu because the menu list looked like closing novel credits. I almost had a heart attack! Haha! I audibly gasped in the lunchroom at work and had a whole slew of coworkers stop and stare at me! I hope you both enjoyed it that much too! Much love to you both!
Hello Ladies,
ReplyDeleteWell after flying down to Melbourne and back apartment hunting for Gracie we then packed her life up in the trailer and headed off like the Clampets on the way to Beverly Hills. Over 3000 km later we arrived back home to our empty nest again. Wow what a whirlwind !! The trip was really fun though and we all managed to behave ourselves with only one feisty discussion at IKEA. Ivars and Gracie are so wonderfully alike and it makes for interesting travelling companions.[yes this is me being sarcastic haha]
I was happy to hear the seaside holiday was a success Katie, I adore the beach and try to get there as much as I can. Sue, I trust Scotland did,nt disappoint, loved it there also.
I enjoyed this months book and found it nice light reading. I am a little obsessive about food myself so the discussions on tomato varieties and the freshness of corn I found quite normal. I have these conversations with Ivars quite often. Generally it relates to which varieties he is going to plant and what I want to do with them.
My family has always been quite animated in its discussions on food production. My Dad was an amazing market gardener and a great fisherman, as is Ivars so I have always been so spoilt with quality of food. Sam is a Naturopath and his partner Michelle is studying nutrition at Uni, and baby Grace is a vegan, so I find I am constantly involved with talking about, preparing, growing and eating food. I feel this is a different kind of obsessive though to say the baking competition where Pat was harangued for her slice ingredients or the over the top reactions to Eva’s food by some of her diners in the final feast.
I agree with you Sue, Eva seemed at times to be very much a support character in many chapters and while I liked her I really wanted to know her better.
I will add all our new books to the list. Katie, I have read State Of Wonder but am happy to read it again it is a good choice.
Do we want another free choice included?
And perhaps I could add the 2nd book in the Pat Barker Trilogy ?
Please let me know your thoughts.
Much love, Nancy
Hello Ladies
ReplyDeleteInteresting list, Katie. Thank you. Another free choice would be fine by me, Nancy, as would the second book in Pat Barker's trilogy. So much out there isn't there?
Scotland is terrific: the scenery just breathtaking, the history fascinating. The archeological sites on the Orkneys suggested I might have found Neolithic times quite agreeable (No weapons discovered; honey, bread, milk, cheese and beer on the menu; jewellery in evidence; families in separate units protected from the environment). Here in the 21st century, everyone was very friendly, young men in kilts a joy, guides laugh aloud funny - and the museums . . . Kelvingrove in Glasgow is both very beautiful and choc-a-bloc full of an amazing variety of wonderful stuff. They've displayed world class art alongside relevant subject matter: bust of Winston Churchill looking in on a room full of medieval weaponry. There was an organ recital, too. . . Edinburgh is a very attractive city, marvellous views from the Castle, but I'm going back to Glasgow. Now, if I could be a volunteer in Kelvingrove . . .
As it is, it's chucking it with rain and I'm wondering if we've got a nuclear shelter here in Hornsea. Seems unlikely. (Joking ladies. The BBC's analysis tells me diplomacy will win.)
Love to you both
Sue
Hello Ladies,
ReplyDeleteJust wondering which one of us suggested this months book?
I will happily write our intro if we're unsure. I hope everyone's month is going well.
much love, Nancy
Hello Ladies
ReplyDeleteI don't think it was me, but I have just received my copy from Amazon and will be happy to do the intro - I haven't read the book yet, so will certainly be setting uninformed questions! And be very motivated to get on with the reading.
I'm sorry it was my suggestion! Just got a little tied up with making the intro. I will try and get it finished by the end of the day. Please forgive my tardiness!
ReplyDelete