Fictional feasts: 5 tasty books for food-lovers

Literary food fiction often brings to mind Proust and his madeleine. Some might immediately think of Like Water For Chocolate. Food fiction offers more than these tropes. It provides a framework for larger-than-life stories and introduces readers to different worlds. This selection covers various genres for the food enthusiast.

Herman Koch, The Dinner

This literary thriller takes place during a three-course meal in Copenhagen. The story is a page-turner that proves entire worlds can collapse at a dinner table before dessert is served. The plot centers on a crime and an act of concealment. Koch uses meticulous detail regarding the service, the table captain and the way characters eat. These details serve as commentary on contemporary dining culture and reveal the horrific psychological state of the narrator.

Anthony Capella, The Empress of Ice-Cream

This historical novel follows Carlo Dimirco, an apprentice in the art of creamed ices. He eventually becomes the ‘limonadier’ at the court of Louis XIV. The book includes historical facts such as ice cream first appearing at a ceremonial feast for King Charles II in 1671. The story involves court romance and political intrigue as Dimirco accompanies Louise de Keroualle to England. Capella built this tale using the private journal of Louise de Keroualle and Dimirco’s recipe book. It is a blend of history and fiction.

Aimee Bender, The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake

This magical-realism tale is told by a nine-year-old girl who can taste the emotions of people through the food they prepare. Through a lemon cake, she discovers her mother’s unhappiness and an affair. The story follows her until age 22 as she manages this gift. Bender integrates the descriptions of food into the psyche of the character. The structure of the sentences carries the taste of the ingredients.

Ruth Ozeki, My Year of Meats

Food serves as a bridge between Japanese and American cultures in this novel. The lives of two women intersect through a Japanese reality show called “My American Wife” which promotes American beef. This is a candid book about the politics of food. It explores the American beef industry, including the use of antibiotics and its effects on fertility. Ozeki mirrors these industrial horrors through the personal struggles and disillusionment of the protagonists.