Our first month we read general fiction. Then, young adult. Next month, I want to dip a toe into nonfiction. An Everlasting Meal by Tamar Adler is not a food memoir. It’s a collection of essays and instructions on instinctive cooking: cooking without recipes, making do with the odds and ends in the cupboards, and eating well. Or at least that’s what I’ve heard.
So far, everything I’ve heard is great, despite this book being a modern revival of the culinary favorite, How to Cook a Wolf by M. F. K. Fisher, a book published in 1942 to help home cooks make due with wartime food shortages. It’s a bold and risky move to base your book on a classic, and it says something that so far it has been well received.
I took this blurb from the dust jacket:
Through the insightful essays in An Everlasting Meal, Tamar Adler issues a rallying cry to home cooks.
In chapters about boiling water, cooking eggs and beans, and summoning respectable meals from empty cupboards, Tamar weaves philosophy and instruction into approachable lessons on instinctive cooking. Tamar shows how to make the most of everything you buy, demonstrating what the world�s great chefs know: that great meals rely on the bones and peels and ends of meals before them.
She explains how to smarten up simple food and gives advice for fixing dishes gone awry. She recommends turning to neglected onions, celery, and potatoes for inexpensive meals that taste full of fresh vegetables, and cooking meat and fish resourcefully.
By wresting cooking from doctrine and doldrums, Tamar encourages readers to begin from wherever they are, with whatever they have. An Everlasting Meal is elegant testimony to the value of cooking and an empowering, indispensable tool for eaters today.
I’m a good home cook, a fair utilizer of resources, and a poor planner. My hope is that An Everlasting Meal inspires and teaches me to cook with economy and grace. It’s in the title, so I don’t think it’s an unreasonable expectation.
I bought my copy of the book on Sunday, but I also contacted the publicist at Scribner/Simon Schuster and asked for copies to share with those who are unable to purchase a hardcover new release at this time. I haven’t heard anything, yet. Fingers crossed they take interest! If you know someone who works there and can put in a good word for our book club, I’d be forever grateful. Of course, it goes without saying that you should try your library. I couldn’t find it at mine, but maybe yours is better stocked with new releases.
Tamar Adler, the author, is young, hip, has a gorgeous website, and uses modern media to her advantage. She’s produced several videos to summarize a few of the chapters in An Everlasting Meal. These videos are for Chapter 3, How to Stride Ahead. I hope you like them, and I hope you join me in reading the book.
ooh, this sounds interesting. I watched the videos and caught myself gaping at the giant American oven and the giant American refrigerator, finding myself in awe of how much bigger they are than my German counterparts, ha! Honestly, why does this always surprise me?! However, this then lead me to wonder if I even had the space to cook like this… Still, it sounds interesting!
Oh, that will be interesting to see how you can adapt this book to your lifestyle! But, cooking ahead is only one chapter, so I think you’ll get something out of the rest of the book. At least I hope so!
I’m quite interested and am off to Amazon to look into it. I’m all about trying to figure out how to turn what doesn’t seem like a meal in my pantry and fridge, into something yummy and wonderful – using up all the odds and ends. :-)
I could do a lot better on that front.
This sounds great! I’ve never been an instinctive cook (I do better with baking) and maybe after all these years I will “get it”. If not, I will have read a good book. :)
I want to suggest something but would rather do it by email – I can’t seem to contact you through your blog so would you email me when you get a chance? [email protected]. Thanks!!
Done. But what’s the problem you have emailing me through my blog? I want to get that fixed. I wonder if anyone else is having that problem.
I’m working on a new laptop so something may just not be installed or something. When I click on the contact link it changes color but nothing happens. Seriously could be on my end.
Hmm. A cooking book. Oh joy. (sarcasm)
I might skip this one. I’m still only half way through the Book Theif thanks to teaching schedule (a single night a week that turned out to have endless hours of prep time attached, hence me being up and working before dawn.)
Also, my book budget has been severely compromised by Bob giving his notice yesterday. Yes, you heard me right, Bob is out of his hateful job with horrible boss (I know you appreciate the significance of this). And now he’s my employee, time to learn how horrible a boss really can be (sinister chuckling).
This made me laugh (can you tell I’m an English major? I feel compelled to write everything out: ‘I am laughing out loud.’). Anyway, the thought did cross my mind. However, in the book’s defense, I have, in moments of weakness, read a few foodie/cooking memoirs, and truly enjoyed them. It’s just . . . well . . . I’m not sure I want this to be the first book I buy after months of a spending freeze. You see, I’ve missed out on the last two due to a severely compromised book budget–thinking it would right itself in time, I also missed out on checking them out at the library.
I’m a book club failure. Sigh.
BOB QUIT HIS JOB?! Whoa. I can’t believe it after all these years! We need to get together and have lunch.
Yes. Somewhere where I have a gift certificate.
Hah! Email me. :)
Love MFK Fisher, and I’m really excited to read this book. Sounds like an excellent pick!
I’ve never read MFK Fisher. If this book is good, I might have to check her out.
Love non-fiction and writing about cooking. My 15yo wants to be a chef, so we have both been reading books by chefs. Also, I sent the author’s link to my friend in NYC, perhaps she’ll get to go to a reading and report back.
I can see Mikey being a chef, so I’m interested in this book for that reason, too. Plus, I just love reading about food.
I’m really excited to read this book! We’ve been trying to do more with less, especially regarding food. I’m not a very good instinctive cook and rely on recipes for everything. I love learning new skills. Thank you for a great pick! I’ll be heading to the library to see if they can get it.
It seems like it’s in quite a few libraries. My library must suck.
Can’t wait to read this! I love food and cooking, so this book is bound to be an enjoyable read. Thanks for the interesting choice.
I love food and cooking, too. I would totally participate in a food book club.
At this point I will hang my head in shame and admit that I’m a total fair weather book club member. I was interested in the previous picks, but not enough to go out and buy or check out and read any of them. I’m just lazy and I don’t do well reading something within a specified amount of time. However, when I saw the pick for April, I perked up in my chair and got a little excited. I love a good, informative nonfiction and since it has to do with cooking, I’m in. Well, ‘in’ in the sense that I’ll probably read it at some point, maybe not on schedule with everybody else.
I waded around in M.F.K. Fisher’s The Art of Eating because a chef friend of mine loaned it to me, but I just couldn’t follow. I had to give it back without finishing it. At least, I think I gave it back to him? ;)
Well, let’s see if this one sticks! :) I am excited about every pick, but then once I assign it, I struggle to start reading it! Isn’t that weird?
I am so excited about this pick! My library does have it, but there are quite a few people ahead of me for the copies that are available. We’ll see how quickly the line moves. I’m off to check out her website now. I found myself so engrossed in the videos you posted.
I will have to look for this as it’s right up my alley. I read cookbooks as general reading (as if I needed more things to read!) One of my goals is to use what I have in my kitchen for meals and I’ve made great headway in that direction the past few years. This book could be just the push I need to go further with it.
I was also wondering if I missed your discussion of Book Thief already? I didn’t read it along with you as I’d already read it about a year ago, but I was interested to see what everyone thought.
The discussion will take place on Monday, since the end of the month falls on a weekend. I’ll do a separate post announcing that, since I’ve had quite a few questions about that today.
I am so not a foodie, I hate to cook and am not the least bit able to just pick up food and make something of it. Therefore I’m not completely excited for this pick … BUT, I requested it from the library and I’ll give it a shot. Who knows, maybe this could be the turning point in my kitchen aversion.
I’m curious to see if you actually read it. Out of the comfort zone, Kendra! I’m pulling you out of your comfort zone whether you like it or not. ;)
Duly noted. :P
Holy crackers, I am ridiculously excited about this book!! I have actually not heard anything about this book (not that that’s overly surprising- I haven’t heard of any of the books we’ve read so far, hahaha!), and not to get all “WOO-WOO” up in here, but this is EXACTLY what I am looking for in my life right now. I am SO EXCITED to get started!!!
Me, too! I know I should wait until the end of the month to start reading it (I don’t want to forget key points to discuss) but there is no way I can hold off.
I love that by participating in The Phenomenally Indecisive Book Club (best name EVER), I’m delving into books I never would have picked up otherwise! A book about cooking? Yeah, I would have typically passed that one up easily. My library does carry it, and has 4 copies to share with the 30 branches in the district. I’m #8 on the hold list so I might get it in time to discuss. I work fantastically with a recipe but I’m horrible at looking at what’s in the cabinet and throwing something together. My hope for this book is that it be an enjoyable read but educating as well!
I’ve been reading books I don’t normally read, too, and that’s what I love about this club. I’ve also been reading books I want to read, but never would because I wouldn’t make the time. It’s been good for me!
I’m excited to read this one, too! In addition to cookbooks, we have another shelf just dedicated to food writing, so I think it will be just the kind of thing I like. (Oddly, having no accountability is making me more willing to participate in this book club. Or maybe I just like your picks, Jules!) I requested it from a nearby library and I don’t think it will take too long. I just checked out The Book Thief (luckily there was still a copy on the shelf), so I’ll read it this week. I read Rules of Civility too early in the month and my mind was blank when it came time to discuss it. Sad, but true. I enjoyed following the discussion, though!
Oh, I’m the same way. I need to read the books close to the end so everything is fresh in my mind.
I saw that another blogger was reading this and have put it on my Amazon wish list because it sounded interesting. Might be an Easter present to myself!
Who is the blogger? If she is reading this, it might be a blog I would be interested in following.
I had to think where I saw it for a moment, but it was Kristen at The Frugal Girl.
She has a 365 photo blog too, and it was on there that I saw the book.
Hope you enjoy it.
I am thoroughly intrigued! Plus, my library has it.
Dang, my library sucks!
I want to read this book so bad! It looks amazing. It would be a bit of a splurge for me to buy it tho, so I’ll have to wait for my library to carry it :( But good pick Jules!!!! I love the concept, the beautiful prose, the flawless images and the earthy videos!
Oh, yay! I’ve been known to curl up with cookbooks to read and love, love food writing. I’m in!
What?! I meant to write something when you first posted about reading a memoir- I thought you were going to pick Jeanette Winterson because of the cover shot. Not that I need an excuse to read her books or anything… I did get inspired by all the comments and recommendations for food memoirs. I think I’m excited, once again, about a book I wouldn’t choose otherwise. Yay for reading!
BTW- with my old local book club, we always talked about having a cooking/cookbook book club. We would choose a cookbook and everybody would pick a recipe from the book. At the meet up, it would be one big potluck. I’m sad it never came to fruition. Doesn’t it sound awesome?!
Discovered your bookclub while looking for talking points and menu ideas for my book club’s review of Rules of Civility. I am so impressed with the level of conversation, and was hoping I could join your group. I would be excited to read a cookbook for a book club! Please let me know
how I formally join, if possible. Thank you!
Jacqueline, all you have to do is show up! We discuss the books hear in the comment section on the last day of the month unless it falls on a holiday, weekend or Thursday. So we’ll be talking about this book on Monday, April 30th. See you then! :)