Saturday Issue Review: Relish: My Life in the Kitchen by Lucy Kinsley

The Saturday Issue focuses on the more visual books read here at In Libris Veritas; ranging from graphic novels to manga to game companion guides.

Source: Library
Publisher: First Second
Series: –
Edition: Paperback, 173 Pages
Genre: Food Memoir Graphic Novel
Purchase: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Book Depository*
*I receive a small monetary kickback from Amazon purchases
Rating: 4/5

A vibrant, food-themed memoir from beloved indie cartoonist Lucy Knisley.

Lucy Knisley loves food. The daughter of a chef and a gourmet, this talented young cartoonist comes by her obsession honestly. In her forthright, thoughtful, and funny memoir, Lucy traces key episodes in her life thus far, framed by what she was eating at the time and lessons learned about food, cooking, and life. Each chapter is bookended with an illustrated recipe—many of them treasured family dishes, and a few of them Lucy’s original inventions.

A welcome read for anyone who ever felt more passion for a sandwich than is strictly speaking proper, Relish is a book for our time: it invites the reader to celebrate food as a connection to our bodies and a connection to the earth, rather than an enemy, a compulsion, or a consumer product.

Do you enjoy graphic novels? Are you a fan of food of all kinds? If a resounding yes was the answer to that question then Relish is the book for you!

Some people relive memories after smelling a certain smell or hearing a certain song, Lucy’s deals with food. All of the memories shared in this memoir are connected through the food she ate or shared with other during that time, which I am a bit jealous of because my memories tend to be linked to music and smells which I’ll be honest and say isn’t anywhere near as yummy. But never the less reading this book brought back some great food memories for me as well; picking blackberries and blueberries in the woods with my cousins,creating muffin/brownie monstrosities with my boyfriend (still strangely good), learning to make corn bread and biscuits (though slightly flatten by over zealous patting), and holidays where eating takes up 90% of the gather no matter what we’re celebrating.

I love that even though she had an upbringing from foodies, she still loves all food from the fanciest meal to the cheapest fast food…and that is totally something I relate to. I really loved that she included several recipes (even though I’m a terrible cook) which were drawn in a really fun way. The art is bright and simple, but really captures the story quite well and while it’s not my favorite style I think it has a great vibrant personality to it.

I’m really glad I took a chance to put this on hold at the library! I don’t think I’ll ever be able to read a book without eating something, but I practically raided every nook of my kitchen for food while reading this one and I don’t even regret it.