Tis the season… to stuff our faces 😉 Okay, that’s probably not the point of the season, but that’s what I’m going to be doing 😉 And since I’m thinking about food, I thought I’d share some of my favourite foody books!
The Hobbit– because Hobbits reallllly understand the importance of tea… and breakfast… and second breakfast… and elevenses… It doesn’t hurt that one of the first scenes in the book is a party, where poor Bilbo’s pantry gets raided, either!
Chronicles of Narnia– because it gave me a craving for Turkish Delights… I guess the White Witch would’ve had me eating out of the palm of her hand 😉
Alice in Wonderland– more tea? Okay, admittedly, the food in Wonderland often comes with a cost… but that doesn’t mean it’s not tempting 😉
Heartless– I’ll admit this book didn’t blow me away quite as much as Meyer’s other books or the original- but gosh darn it, I got pretty peckish reading it!
Harry Potter– I mean, I wouldn’t be a real millennial if I didn’t mention Harry Potter 😉 And let’s be real, Rowling definitely got me started on my craving for fictional food! I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again- I wish all the food in this series was real!! Everything from Bertie Bott’s Every Flavoured Beans to Fizzing Whizzbees to Chocolate Frogs to Butterbeer to Pumpkin Pasties… I want to try it all!
Carry On– as a parody of Harry Potter, it certainly didn’t hurt that Rowell kept up with the foody descriptions. Sure, the foods were all a bit more real-world-y (cherry scones… yum!)– but that’ll only serve to make your hunger pangs worse!
Night of Cake and Puppets– this was yet another delectable read from Laini Taylor. Her writing is always scrumptious and her romance was super sweet, yet here she excels in the foody descriptions as well!
To all the boys– there are so many things to love about this adorable series. One of my favourite parts is all the wonderful treats Lara Jean bakes over the course of these books- not to mention other food along the way- this is definitely guaranteed to make you hungry! 😀
Chocolat– I can barely think of this book without salivating! This book about a confectionary shop in a remote French village is the kind of book that titillates the senses in every way!
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory– this is a classic for a reason- and I bet I’m not the only one who had dreams of getting my very own Golden Ticket to Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory when I was young! (though admittedly, I’d probably have failed very early on, because how does one resist a chocolate waterfall?! 😉)
And that’s all for now! What are your favourite foody moments in books? Let me know in the comments!
Confessions of a Justified Sinner– this takes me back so much. As you may (or may not know) I went to uni in Scotland, so was lucky enough to study a lot of Scottish literature. This happens to be one of the most striking, underrated gothic stories I have ever read. I really don’t want to spoil anything- only give you a taste- there’s murder, there’s madness, there’s mystery and there’s potentially even devils… (it also makes me laugh, which I often forget and catches me by surprise every time)
Picture of Dorian Gray– I have loved this book ever since I first read it. Then I read it again and again and again. It never gets old. This book has a little taste of everything- romance, tragedy, wit, moral questions, an intense plot… and all of that packed into a short space. This is actually something I’d recommend to virtually everyone, because I see something in it for every sort of person.
Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde– this is just a great story. Sure, I know there’s a lot of depth to it, yet what gets me every time I read this one is how dramatic the story is– which is great if you have to read it loads for uni 😉 No matter how many times I read it, I was never bored.
Turn of the Screw– I’m really not into creepy books, yet I’m glad I had to read this at uni. I love books that pit madness against the supernatural- so you’re never quite sure how reliable the narrator is and there’s a surprise at every turn. Admittedly, I’m easily scared and had to turn on *ALL THE LIGHTS* half way through, just so I could get to the end.
Frankenstein– I know a lot of people aren’t keen on the writing style for this but OH MY GOODNESS I LOVE IT. It’s no surprise since it is rumoured to have been edited by Percy Bysshe Shelley himself and naturally I am a huge fan of the Romantic poets (especially the later set). The language is succulent and exquisite- it’s exactly the kind of lyrical prose I enjoy most. On top of that, the story is engaging, I was invested in the romance (I know, me and no one else) and I frankly love the moral questions it deals with. Incidentally, that leads me onto…
The Golem– the myth of the Golem is the said inspiration for Frankenstein’s monster- yet they are very different stories. Where the drive for creation in Shelley’s story is hubris, the myth focuses on love and fear. Bashevis Singer perfectly adopts those elements in one of the most beautiful and heartfelt books I have ever read. It’s short and poetic, tying history to legend. I adored this book and it led me straight into the arms of one of my mother’s favourite writers.
Dr Faustus– not only do I love the language in this play, I love the ideas at the heart of it. The puzzle of Faustus’ pride and the question of ambition have been something that’s fascinated me for half my life. I love the tussle here with literal devils, as Marlowe plays out the inevitable rise and fall of hubris.
Macbeth– since we’re talking of hubris, what better play than Macbeth? I read recently someone saying they didn’t like it cos Macbeth’s an unpleasant human… well duh. The point is that it captures the fallible human nature in us all- the part which strives and the part which falls short. I love this play, partly because it captures that struggle in us all and partly because it’s got plenty of sheer entertainment.
Lorna Doone– speaking of entertainment, I love this book. I know it’s not a technically perfect book and I doubt it’ll blow people’s minds given how obvious some of the plot points are- but back when I encountered this the first time, I’d never read anything like it and thoroughly enjoyed the story (incidentally, the BBC adaptation is no masterpiece either, but it sure is fun!)
Armadale– this is also a lot of fun. Like most of Collin’s work, it does have a slightly mysterious, dark feel, though it’s not supposed to be his best. It is, however, one of those books which has stayed with me for one reason or another- it could be the adventurous, exciting spirit, it could be the complex plot, or it could very well be that it has a villain beyond compare!
Peter Pan– if you want to talk about staying power, this book is pretty unforgettable. At this point, the character and story have slipped into common parlance, so I really have no need to explain the appeal of a boy who never grows up and who can fly! I will say that I happily admit to suffering from just a teensy bit of Peter Pan syndrome- and I make no apologies for that 😉
Alice in Wonderland– ahh one of the wackiest books in history- I adore it! As nonsensical and eccentric as can be, it’s also highly imaginative and oddly relatable. I think I’d have to be “mad, mad, mad as march hares” not to love it!
the orang-utan librarian 