Louise Penny, a Canadian author, has a series of books involving the same set of characters. The Inspector Gamache books talk about food and drink in such a delightful way that they make me long for life in Three Pines Quebec. I really don't recall any shame associated with eating fresh baked croissants with cappuccino, glasses of wine, hearty stews and breads, licorice pipes. The women eat joyfully as do the men and the chef of the Bistro is a gay man. Give her a try!
I finished reading the transcript and immediately came on here to recommend Louise Penny for all the reasons you have so beautifully articulated! It’s an absolute joy to read the food scenes in her books.
I absolutely adore Alexis Hall (author of Rosaline Palmer Takes the Cake). But he’s a complicated author around anti-fatness. His earlier books include some explicit, unchallenged anti-fatness. You can tell that he is sensitive to eating disorders in Boyfriend Material. But he doesn’t have a fat neutral or positive perspective and that’s something to know going into reading his books.
Now I’m thinking of movies with women eating. Once comes to mind is To Catch a Thief where Grace Kelly shares a picnic of what appears to bone in chicken and beer from a wicker basket in the car. I remember thinking as a child I wanted to have a glamorous picnic with a man when I was older. And I remember being little thinking she’s eating chicken with her hands in a fancy dress- she’s going to get messy.
The best food novels I’ve come across lately are romances by Jackie Lau. They’re set in Toronto and the characters are always going to this cheesecake shop or that bakery (several of the books have characters who run such shops). Not totally sure about fat representation—definitely some of the characters are presented as not super thin but I can’t remember if any are actually fat.
I think Amy Spalding, who has a bunch of YA books, including The Summer of Jordi Perez (and the Best Burger in Los Angeles), and this February released her first adult contemporary romance, has excellent women/girls-enjoying-food and fat girl rep.
I just had a diet culture surprise cameo over the weekend in a fiction workshop I am taking. The exercise was something like "what does your character do when they and someone else really want the last piece of cake" and I could not, in the 5 minutes we had to do the exercise, come up with something for this specific character that wasn't about denying himself the cake.
Wow, I read that book so many times as a kid but couldn't remember anything about Meg and food, so I googled and YES! http://www.fiction-food.com/2014/04/sandwiches-hot-chocolate-from-wrinkle.html. (Though at the same time, just as a content warning for anyone who has not read L'Engle before, I definitely think her novels include some anti-fat bias here and there.)
Just started Supper Club by Lara Williams so not sure how it’s going to play out but so far it’s an amazing book about female hunger, taking up space, and lots of great food descriptions. I’m cautiously optimistic!
I love all Jasmine Guillory’s books-the best food description I ever saw was when the main character in By the Book discussed making croissants! I read We Are Not Like Them late last year, loved this discussion!
This interview made me think of one of my favorite moments in fiction, one that always brings me peace and delight. It’s the scene in Kate Chopin’s Awakening when Edna decides to eat cheese, crackers and beer alone after dinner. Such freedom!
Sally Andrew has a short series of mystery books featuring Tannie Maria that involve great food descriptions. The initial premise is that she runs a newspaper advice column, and she dispenses recipes with the advice. The books also touch on domestic violence, and I really enjoyed them being set in South Africa.
Louise Penny, a Canadian author, has a series of books involving the same set of characters. The Inspector Gamache books talk about food and drink in such a delightful way that they make me long for life in Three Pines Quebec. I really don't recall any shame associated with eating fresh baked croissants with cappuccino, glasses of wine, hearty stews and breads, licorice pipes. The women eat joyfully as do the men and the chef of the Bistro is a gay man. Give her a try!
I finished reading the transcript and immediately came on here to recommend Louise Penny for all the reasons you have so beautifully articulated! It’s an absolute joy to read the food scenes in her books.
Olivia Dade does a fabulous job writing bigger bodies ❤️ There’s also an Instagram account called @fatgirlsinfiction you can check out
I absolutely adore Alexis Hall (author of Rosaline Palmer Takes the Cake). But he’s a complicated author around anti-fatness. His earlier books include some explicit, unchallenged anti-fatness. You can tell that he is sensitive to eating disorders in Boyfriend Material. But he doesn’t have a fat neutral or positive perspective and that’s something to know going into reading his books.
Agh, that's good to know. (I also fully assumed Alexis was a woman and now feel a little... more meh.)
He writes mostly men characters in his other books and it’s rare for men to have space in LGBTQ+ fiction so overall it’s good.
Now I’m thinking of movies with women eating. Once comes to mind is To Catch a Thief where Grace Kelly shares a picnic of what appears to bone in chicken and beer from a wicker basket in the car. I remember thinking as a child I wanted to have a glamorous picnic with a man when I was older. And I remember being little thinking she’s eating chicken with her hands in a fancy dress- she’s going to get messy.
The best food novels I’ve come across lately are romances by Jackie Lau. They’re set in Toronto and the characters are always going to this cheesecake shop or that bakery (several of the books have characters who run such shops). Not totally sure about fat representation—definitely some of the characters are presented as not super thin but I can’t remember if any are actually fat.
Well this was an absolute delight.
I think Amy Spalding, who has a bunch of YA books, including The Summer of Jordi Perez (and the Best Burger in Los Angeles), and this February released her first adult contemporary romance, has excellent women/girls-enjoying-food and fat girl rep.
I just had a diet culture surprise cameo over the weekend in a fiction workshop I am taking. The exercise was something like "what does your character do when they and someone else really want the last piece of cake" and I could not, in the 5 minutes we had to do the exercise, come up with something for this specific character that wasn't about denying himself the cake.
Somehow, I remember when I was a chubby kid, that I liked how and what Meg ate in ‘A wrinkle in Time’
Wow, I read that book so many times as a kid but couldn't remember anything about Meg and food, so I googled and YES! http://www.fiction-food.com/2014/04/sandwiches-hot-chocolate-from-wrinkle.html. (Though at the same time, just as a content warning for anyone who has not read L'Engle before, I definitely think her novels include some anti-fat bias here and there.)
Yeah, fat-bias was insidious, even there! Sigh.....
And what a fab little article with the recipes! Thanks!! 🙏🏽💛
Just started Supper Club by Lara Williams so not sure how it’s going to play out but so far it’s an amazing book about female hunger, taking up space, and lots of great food descriptions. I’m cautiously optimistic!
I love all Jasmine Guillory’s books-the best food description I ever saw was when the main character in By the Book discussed making croissants! I read We Are Not Like Them late last year, loved this discussion!
This was so wonderful to read! Thank you both!
Ohh Blubber really was quite awful.
I’m so happy this interview exists. Thank you both!!
This interview made me think of one of my favorite moments in fiction, one that always brings me peace and delight. It’s the scene in Kate Chopin’s Awakening when Edna decides to eat cheese, crackers and beer alone after dinner. Such freedom!
Sally Andrew has a short series of mystery books featuring Tannie Maria that involve great food descriptions. The initial premise is that she runs a newspaper advice column, and she dispenses recipes with the advice. The books also touch on domestic violence, and I really enjoyed them being set in South Africa.
Above All
Check out this book on Goodreads: Above All https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40382002-above-all
for your feminist romance club plus there are also croissants and baked goods!
And all Rebecca Brooks books!