If a book doesn’t mention delicious amounts of food, I have to ask the difficult and dark question: is this book broken??
Look you all know I am quite fond of cake. It keeps us alive. Books + cake = literally why the planet hasn’t broken down in tears and stopped spinning. So obviously in order for a book to be considered “good”, it needs to appear with copious amounts of pages dedicated solely to food. This is why cookbooks are a cut above the rest except for the fact they have a severe lack of dragons. Which is weird??? I guess they were just edited badly.
“So Cait,” you say, peeling back the wrapper of your cupcake because my blog makes you hungry and you are mad about this, “do you actually have a POINT to this post or are you just going to rant about food?”
YOU KNOW WHAT? WHY DON’T YOU JUST SIT DOWN, AND I’LL DEAL WITH YOU LATER.
Because I actually have GOOD REASONS why books should talk about food. And I’ll list them for you with passionate indignation and cookie crumbs.
Also HI. It’s Top Ten Tuesday again and their prompt is “Top Ten Yummy Foods Mentioned In Books” which is actually brilliant and bless them for doing a prompt just for me. I will also have some book recommendations at the end of this post because I LOVE YOU. *
* No no I don’t say this to all my followers. You are special. Believe me, I am honest once ever 17 working-days.
OTHER FOODIE POSTS YOU MIGHT LIKE
1. FOOD = RELATABLE. AND WE ALL WANT BOOKS TO BE RELATABLE.
Much like napping, everyone has to eat = ergo it’s a very relatable thing to write about in books. But UNLIKE napping, it’s not excruciatingly boring to read about. I mean have you tried reading Rip Van Winkle’s autobiography? I fell asleep in the middle.
Now obviously not everyone eats the same food so you might argue that this makes it unrelatable. BUT NO SIR YOU ARE WRONG, SIT DOWN. Food is pleasure mixed with need and it can be fascinating.
Also it can really connect us to the story. Like no I haven’t been to space BUT I have eaten a sandwich. So camaraderie for the sandwich in space! *
* That moment when you relate to a sandwich more than a book but oh well.
2. IT IS 500% USEFUL FOR WORLD BUILDING.
Introduce me to a fantasy culture and I have questions. I HAVE MANY QUESTIONS. But you can answer at least all of them with food. For example:
- the type of food can indicate wealth vs poordom
- do they culturally eat meat
- the food can show the culture (are they eating spices? rice? dead quail? live quail? their children?? etc. etc.)
- how do they grow the food? if they’re eating a lot of rice you can expect there are rice fields. if they’re eating a lot of children…IDK man what the heck are you reading about.
- how do they take their meals?
- do they believe in picnics?
- are they used to going without meals?
- is it cultural to have a midday nap after meals because 10000% the type of fantasy world I’m moving to, let me just pack hold up
3. IT’S A GOOD THING TO PUT INTO THE BACKGROUND OF SCENES TO MAKE IMPORTANT DISCUSSIONS MORE INTERESTING.
You know how boring long monologues can be so —> PUT FOOD IN THEM. There’s nothing better than a council meeting with the kings of the underworld while they’re also struggling with pomegranate on their crackers and dip. And you’re lying @ me if you haven’t read a contemporary where they all sat down to a FATED FAMILY MEAL that generally involved lasagna and emotional ruin.
Why do contemporaries love lasagna so much??? *
Basically having food carry on in the background makes a scene WAY more interesting.
* SAYS THE ONE WHO PUT LASAGNA IN HER OWN BOOK. I CAN’T EVEN WITH ME RIGHT NOW. IT’S A CLICHE IN PAN.
4. IT’S ACTUALLY A WAY TO DEVELOP YOUR CHARACTERS MORE.
Because everyone has food preferences. Or allergies too! I’m still waiting to see lowkey allergies in books because everyone can eat everything and I PROTEST THE UNREALISTICNESS.
For Example:
- a character can have like a “food quirk” which is always interesting and hey wow my food quirk is cake and I might have fallen out of a novel, CAN ANYONE POST ME BACK IN IT’S COLD IN THIS WORLD
- it can be a reoccurring theme to eat something, like for comfort’s sake
- if they really HATE something it can be a bit comical
- and like allergies, mate
- being a super picky eater (or unable to eat freely) really affects your life too
Like wow let me tell you about the time I went on a youth outing as a teen and put “Gluten Free” down on my form and I’m sure a group of adults put their heads together and asked, “WOW WHAT DOESN’T HAVE GLUTEN IN IT???” And decided to just feed me apples. For 3 days straight.
Well done??? I guess??? I didn’t die??? But I am damaged???
5. IT CAN MAKE READERS DIE OF HUNGER.
This is a positive since the world is over crowded so why not knock a few readers off with the power of your delicious foodie descriptions. I’m not saying go for it, but like…why not.
6. IT GIVES YOU INSPIRATION FOR DINNER.
I’m not saying you’re LAZY or anything — but thinking up meals is freaking hard. So why not let your local YA book gently shove you in the right direction??? Plus then you can collect book-inspired cookbooks and the level of GEEKDOM right there is edible.
FOR EXAMPLE:
- read Crooked Kingdom —> suddenly crave waffles
- read The Hunger Games —> where is your plum lamb stew
- read Words On Bathroom Walls —> you are 500% guaranteed to want interesting cookies
- read To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before –> someone please get you a cupcake
- read Heartless —> you will need lemon tarts immediately
- read Ruined —> cheese bread? I gotcha cheesebread
- read Bone Gap —> s’mores and honey at midnight, like why not
- read Carry On —> the sheer amount of scones in here is divine
- read The Scorpio Races —> 10/10 you will want November cakes
- read Simon Vs The Homo Sapiens Agenda —> you will want oreos
- read Strange The Dreamer —> you will want magical cakes from Lazlo’s brain which sounds weird but like I can explain….no. It’s still weird. BUT HE IMAGINES GREAT CAKES.
- read Ivory and Bone —> you’ll probably eat a raw woolly mammoth or something
Unfortunately you MIGHT die reading the deliciousness before you can make it. But that’s a risk you take. And natural selection of the fittest yadda ya and all that.
7. FOOD CAN CAUSE MASSIVE CONFLICT IN BOOKS.
Conflict is good! We all love conflict, otherwise a book will be about as interesting as a vanilla pancake run over by a truck a few times. And there’s SO much food-themed conflict you can have in books, like:
- everyone can get poisoned and DIE
- you can starve people and they also DIE
- eat poisoned berries or whatever and DIE
- someone can steal your chocolate bar from when you were 12 years old and never own up to it even though you know who did it and you’re still traumatised by the fact that ou EARNED THAT CHOCOLATE adn it was taken from you and sometimes you weep at night and sharpen your knives and plot revegenge and–
Um…yes, maybe the last one is autobiographical. DO YOU EVER WONDER HOW VILLAIN STORIES STARTED????? It was because someone deprived them of a particularly delicious piece of food.
Also we all know the #1 conflict of ever is low blood sugar. Mate, all I’m saying is that if characters ate a snack before they went to war, they’d probably work it out without all the death. I mean. Ask yourself these questions:
Q: are you angry?
A: have a snack.
Q: are you still angry?
A: have a nap.
Q are you STILL ANG– oh wait…no you’re not anymore. It’s fixed everything.
It’s perfect reasoning. Absolutely no room for problems. This is why I’ll be a successful dark lord when I take over the world.
8. IT CAN CREATE GOOD FEELSY MOMENTS.
You know when there’s the LAST piece of food and it’s given to the smol poor starving waif and all our hearts go, “AWWWWW!” Because sacrifice! Love! Bravery!
I’m trying to figure out if this gif promotes sacrifice, love and bravery…but also maybe not. But you get my point. We will ALL love the character who gives up life (aka food) to protect the starving.
Unless you’re Bilbo Baggins. Then you just get seriously annoyed when people take your food and like…#Relatable.
9. IT CAN GIVE YOU AN INTERESTING SETTING.
Like people go all out setting their books in broken down warehouses or cold castles or schools — but WHY when you could set it in a bakery?? I ask the real questions here.
I swear, 70% of the last book I wrote took place in the kitchen and I see no problem in this. You can break ups, meltdowns, serious talks, and fall in love with a kitchen — WOAH! WOAH! TYPO! I meant, haha…fall in love while in a kitchen. Not with the kitchen. That’s not…what my book is about…
I also am here asking for more magical bakeries but the world has yet to hear my demands.
10. HONESTLY FOODIE FICTION JUST MAKES ME HAPPY AND WHAT ELSE IS IMPORTANT IN THIS LIFE.
I’m not saying the world revolves around me…but I’m not saying it doesn’t. Look I even have a Goodreads shelf devoted to foodie fiction. And books I read genuinely go up a star if they are full of food. Like recently I read Kids Like Us and the sheer amount of FRENCH PASTRIES AND CAKE AND RHUBARB JAM actually gave me life.
Add food into all the books, I say. Make it relatable and make us hungry and make us FEEL ALL THE THINGS.
And then could someone please open some book-themed restaurants and bakeries because I want to buy November Cakes and butterbeer??? If I’m going to leave the house, ALL I’M SAYING IS, this would be a good idea.
TIME FOR SOME OF MY FAVOURITE FOODIE BOOK RECS!
I’m being pretentiously clever here and these book covers will rotate when you hover over them. Because flipping books is too much fun, OK??? And also click on them to go read my reviews! I’d love you to click on them and — BOOM — the food appears, but my blog isn’t up to there yet. My magic is still growing.
Be patient.
righto, recommend me your FAVOURITE FOODIE FICTION!! because i have need. and what did you think of my list?? any other good reasons to mention food in books? what bookish food would you like to try in real life???
(and feel free to link me to your TTTs!)
I loved the food in The Crown’s Game! I don’t think that I notice food very much in books…but I did make spicy lentil soup and fresh corn cakes for lunch today. I like Chocolat by Joanne Harris because it has a lot of chocolate. All of these reasons are good ones! I love how food can showcase a culture and a character’s understanding of the world they live in. I would love to eat november cakes (actually, Shar made them one time) or maybe just a Harry Potter feast.
Shanti recently posted…Setting in Stone 5: Devilish Details
The Crown’s Game duology like WINS for the amounts of delicious food. Like didn’t Vika’s chapter start in a bakery??? Bless it for its amazingness. And food can make a book so iconic! Like Harry Potter’s butterbeer!
Oooh nice! You went all out on this post! Love how you can hover over the covers and they flip with whatever tasty treat was inside! Totally awesome! Great post too by the way! Found myself agreeing with it. And yes, writing this post made me sooo hungry! And I had been writing it before dinner, so I was starving actually! LOL!
Here’s my Tuesday Post
Have a GREAT day!
Old Follower 🙂
AHh, thanks, Jessica! Super glad you liked it. *flails quietly* And I was writing this like late at night and IT STILL MADE ME HUNGRY.😂
This is such a fun and fabulous list. I love what you did with this week’s topic (I sadly, crumbled under the pressure, cheated and did last weeks topic instead). I would love to read a fantasy book set in a world where they are dead against picnics- I’ve definitely not been to a world like that before! I’ve always loved the food in historical fiction, which is surprising because I thought they’d spent months scouring the countryside for berries, but according to Kate Quinn’s book the ancient Roman’s knew how to throw a feast!
I’m glad you liked it! 😂 Doing foodie-based topics is like my THING so this week was so perfect for me ah hahahha. ahem. But I love books where they know how to throw a good feast. :’)
This was perfect. I often question why there isn’t more food in books. If I am not hungry after eating has the author really done her job? I am now going to immediately get Kids like this just because of the large amounts of food involved.
Exactly right??? It’s so questionable. If I don’t feel like devouring the pages then WHAT EVEN ARE THEY HERE FOR.
The pictures on your blog are beautiful!
https://readerbuzz.blogspot.com/2017/10/baking-bread-fiction-nonfiction-and.html
Aww, thank you so much!
Tim Tams!, You need a tim tam cake. I think all australian writers should put tim tams in their book, imho
This is absolute truth. I mean is it even a real Australian book WITHOUT TIM TAMS.
“dead quail? live quail? their children?”
why must you hurt my lungs in this way XD
~julia <3
I LIVE TO CAUSE SUFFERING. *cackles in the darkness*
Ok, so I have a theory about why contemporaries like to use lasagna so much. Well, it’s not so much a theory as a list of ideas, but yeah.
-It’s something literally anyone could make. All you need are the right kind of noodles, some tomato sauce, some meat, and some cheese and you’re good to go. You don’t even have to use the fancy ricotta cheese if you have the right recipe; my mom makes a lasagna with cream cheese and it’s actually the best thing ever.
-When made right, it’s extraordinarily delicious, but unless you’re a crazy person who dislikes melted cheese, there are no random acquired tastes.
-Because it’s extraordinarily delicious, any meal featuring lasagna should be a joyful occasion . . . which just ups the tension/drama/whatever when the meal is ruined by DRAMA and CONFLICT and ANGST and WOE.
Also, maybe I’m going out on a limb here, but have you read House of Many Ways? Because it’s very much a food centered book. I’m pretty sure there’s mention of some kind of deliciousness every other chapter at least, possibly every chapter (or very nearly). Most of the major characters are very fond of good food and books, sometimes at the same time and sometimes not, so, yeah. The MC can be a touch aggravating at times, but generally- yes.
Finally, magical bakery is going on my list of story ideas. *nods* We shall see what comes of it. I quite like putting food in my books, or at least being specific about what people eat, so there’s a good chance. (I know I have at least two books in which I spend most of a chapter on a particular meal/snack, so . . .)
Great post!
Sarah Taleweaver recently posted…The Plantser’s Guide to Worldbuilding
I TOTALLY LIKE YOUR LASAGNA REASONS. Also I guess mostly everyone has eaten lasagna, right??? So it’s like a “relatable” dish. I mean who doesn’t like lasagna.😂(Ok probably tons of people with allergies BUT YOU GET MY POINT.) I am now absolutely craving lasagna so thanks for that. *tries not to drool on laptop*
I have not heard of that book before actually! I should look it up. I am all here for the foodie fiction. (I actually just finished Night of Cake and Puppets…and I mean the title tells you everything you need to know. CAKE. IT WAS GOOD.)
I’m so glad you’re writing a magical bakery!! I’ve only read one book with it and that’s like not nearly enough??? It needs to be a whole genre: FOODIE FICTION.
Danke. 😀 And I’m sorry. If it makes you feel any better, your post made me crave waffles for some reason, so . . . yeah.
I’m not exactly surprised you haven’t heard of it. It’s technically the third in a series, but the books are rather loosely connected and I think you could enjoy it quite well without reading the rest of the books. I remember seeing on Goodreads that you were reading that, or finished it, and it sounds rather delightful . . . but unfortunately, I never got past book 1 of the series. (Could I enjoy it anyway? Or not really?)
I’m not writing one right this minute, but I will write one sometime. And YES, it totally should. Or a subgenre at least. We should make it a thing.
Not exactly food fiction, but thought you might be interested in this: https://www.amazon.com/Mystery-Writers-America-Cookbook-Wickedly-ebook/dp/B00N6PBELA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1508240840&sr=8-1&keywords=mystery+writers+of+america+cookbook I have a copy somewhere at home.
Jen B recently posted…Recent reads and my reading challenges
Omg that sounds fantastic!😂
Just read this list thinking Robin McKinley’s Sunshine had to be coming up next because there was no way it couldn’t be there. And then it wasn’t! It’s the first thing that comes to mind when the subject of food in books comes up and will definitely leave you craving cake!
I’ve not even heard of that book hahah.😂
The main character’s a baker who specialises in inventing gothic desserts in between figuring out how to deal with vampires! And with a signature dish of cinnamon rolls as big as your head.
so i’m re-reading the eragon series and they have some very nice feasts, and in book two he cooks this absolutely delicious sounding rabbit and look out little sis your pet rabbit might disappear soon.
but probably not, because I’d have to catch it first. 😛
Most crazily, ~Olive
Olive recently posted…Beautiful books 2017
Another reason I should read Eragon, right?!😂
Redwall books have the most amazing food in my opinion. Since they’re animals, they don’t eat any meat, but the wonderful foods they make from other things make up for it. I get hungry every time they mention a food in those books.
I have heard and been recommended them so much!! I’m ashamed for not having read them yet!!😂
I don’t think it’s a book when food is not mention. As you pointed out food is important without it … Nah, I don’t want to think about that. Especially is a must when characters are having a serious conversation or in almost any situation to give it a little bit of color. Almost because I don’t need food in a fight scene because it’s precious, and there is another purpose for it, not to be splat in someone’s face. Even tho that would be kinda funny.
I would be really happy if when I get inspired to cook a meal from a book to actually do it cause my skills in kitchen are really close to 0. That’s sad ;(
And as you said in the last one food in books makes me happy as weel especially if it’s something I love … 🙂
Amazing post as always!!! Loved it 🙂
This is SUCH truth right? Like what is the book even doing if not being super foodie. I ask. it’s like a broken book and it needs help. (Also every scene is 1000 x better with someone eating in the background.)
My kitchen skills are also close to zero but I CAN IMAGINE OKAY THAT’S IMPORTANT.😂
I love books about food. I run a monthly link up for books about food. You are welcome to link up your post at http://www.spiritblog.net/october-2017-foodies-read. We have a monthly giveaway for books about food awarded by a draw from all the reviews posted. It is a great way to find out about all kinds of other books that will make you hungry.
AWw that’s really awesome, Heather! I’ll have to come check it out!
Oh my god, I think I cracked a rib from laughing so much. This post is just excellent. xD
Okay but NO LIE I’ve craved so much food and figured out what to eat next based on what I was reading. Totally devoured some waffles for breakfast after Crooked Kingdom and begged my dad to buy Oreos while I was reading Simon. I also sneakily convinced my parents to make homemade tortillas with our tacos because there are so. many. tortillas. in The Inexplicable Logic of My Life.
I’m doing my best to keep lots of food in my books but sometimes it’s hard when they’re, you know, fleeing bad guys and trying to stop the apocalypse. But there’s always Chinese takeout along the way.
Kate @ The Magic Violinist recently posted…The Untitled NaNoWriMo Novel of Paranormal Insanity
EXCELLENT. I APOLOGISE TO YOUR CRACKED RIP BUT ONLY SLIGHTLY.😂
I want waffles and ice cream SO BAD after reading Crooked Kingdom.😂 Nina is also me when they ask her to share food and she gets so freaking offended. Bless Nina. She is the person we all need. (And I’m still working on my family with the tortillas because of Inexplicable Logic. BUT I WILL PREVAIL).
I think it’s definitely important to mix things like takeaway with mass world destruction. *nods*
Great post as always! In my debut YA book, The Secret to Letting Go, my heroine is staying with the hero’s grandmother. The hero comes by every day to help his grandmother with mowing the lawn, etc and keeps popping in the kitchen to check out the heroine’s baking. It’s a very sweet part of their relationship. In my latest WIP, my main characters have a running theme with Skittles. It’s a slow burn relationship, They keep talking about how they shouldn’t be friends, but then somehow a bag of Skittles is exchanged:) And the reader knows there’s more going on! So, yay for food in books!!
Katherine Fleet recently posted…Meet My Pitch Wars Mentee (Part Two)
oh I LOVE that!! It sounds amazing! And Skittles are awesome, I love that.😂 I have a character who sorts M&Ms when he’s anxious and my NaNo wip is going to feature coffee cupcakes.😂
My copy of The Scorpio Races has a recipe for Novemeber cakes in the back and I made them last November and they are delicious. You have to eat them hot, though, or they get all weird and soggy, but that just means you can plow through the entire dozen cakes in like an hour alone. The perfect excuse!
And I like using food in fantasy novels to help show what countries and cultures my kingdoms are inspired by: My NaNo novel has a lot of croissants and black coffee and bread and cheese, so France, in another one I’m outlining, one of my MCs adores egg custard tarts, and another one always has a stash of little rosewater shortbread cookies and these almond-filled pastries called qottab. Delicious and world building at the same time!
Omgg I’m so jealous.😂 I want to make them but I’m allergic to honey (trying to figure out if you could use like rice malt syrup or something instead?).
I am already IN LOVE with your NaNo novel, I have to confess. Like it makes it more special when it’s not like just all typical food. Like rosewater shortbread cookies sound so aesthetic and delicious?? I’M A FAN, AINE.
You can make fake honey! You use unrefined sugar and mix it with a 2:1 ratio of sugar to water, add like a half tablespoon of corn syrup or glucose to prevent It from crystallizing, and cook it until it reaches 200 degrees (I dunno what that is in Celsius…like 170?)
I DID NOT KNOW THIS…the world has just opened up…
Keeper of the Lost Cities. I mean, ALL THE FOOD.
THAT DOESN’T ACTUALLY EXIST.
THAT I WANT TO EAT.
*cries in a corner*
THAT SEEMS UNFAIR TO OUR POOR STOMACHS.
Love it! I so agree that food scenes help make characters more relatable and therefore I will like the entire book more… it’s strange reality… I mean when I get together with my friends there is always food, or at least a drink, so it makes sense that my books should understand this need for food as part of the picture.
I know right?!? Humanity’s whole CULTURE is generally built around food. There’s like never a gathering of people without food.😂
(Somebody actually did write a cookbook for the recipes mentioned in The Hunger Games. Just so you know, that one does in fact exist.)
Yes I know! Did you know there’s a Game of Thrones cookbook too?!
Food in books just makes me hungry. So does food on TV. And food at the grocery store. Basically, I’m just hungry all the time. I love the Oreos in Simon Vs because Oreos are the best.
Aj @ Read All The Things! recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday: Foods I’d Eat If I Was Fictional
Ya I relate here. I mean grocery shopping is just rude. All that food and we’re so hungry omg.
i’m laughing because food has become quite a major thing in all my novels by now.
also your point about low blood sugar, oh gosh. i read a tiny bit of research that said “researchers have possibly linked hypoglycemia to murder” so now my assassin character has it for my own amusement. aLLERGIES IN FICTION YES. the #1 source of petty conflict in one of my WIPs is “yes i’m allergic to peanuts but i am iNVINCIBLE’ and this causes Assassin Friend to be Angry Mom Friend because no.
we 10/10 need more delicious food in books because it makes me so hungry and it’s delicious.
THIS IS GOOD. I AM PLEASED AND PROUD.
And omg I literally have a character who is SO cranky and they feed him and it’s like *SNAP* he’s such a nicer person after that.😂 I think we need to acknowledge things like low-blood sugar and allergies more!! Hahah.
Hi! So funny! I had to edit out lasagna in my last book because I use it every time! I wondered if I had some sort of hidden obsession with lasagna. lol. Love this post. And love food! 🙂
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Leslie
Omg I’m the same though! I’m making a point not to use lasagna scenes anymore because I did in one book and I’m like: ok they can think of more meals here.😂
I love this post! As someone who loves to cook (and eat) I find food in my stories a major plus! Although, I did have a love/hate relationship with the Stephanie Plum books by Janet Evanovich for many years… mostly because TastyKakes were unavailable on the West Coast. Although I’d never had a Butterscotch Krimpet, I knew I needed one!
Here is our Top Ten Tuesday. Thanks!
Ahh thank you!! Honestly food is life (LITERALLY THO) and books need to make us hungry.😂
I thought this post was going to be just you screaming “CAKE IS LIFE PUT IT IN BOOKS”, which I would not have argued with, but this was actually a very lovely, convincing post. I’ve already added some food to my books, but after reading this, I am adding ALL THE EATING. Plot? Who needs plot. MORE TIME IN THE KITCHEN.
Also, I’m super hungry after reading this post. #6 was just cruel, listing all those foods. XD
WHY THANK YOU. See I’m actually a bit intelligent under all the cake. *nods to convince self it is true*
Honestly less plot = more food. Nothing can go wrong. My NaNo project currently has a very pivotal scene where a boy gets stuck on a roof in the rain but won’t come down because he won’t leave his cupcakes behind.
YASSS THIS ENTIRE POST YASSS. LIKE CAN YOU EVEN IMAGINE WHAT HARRY POTTER WOULD BE WITHOUT THE BUTTERBEER? WITHOUT THE CHOCOLATE FROGS?? WITHOUT THE MAGICAL DINNER OF FOOD THAT APPEARS DURING THE GRAND FEAST????? IT WOULD BE MADNESS AND MY HEART CAN’T TAKE THESE THOUGHTS. *cries*
HARRY POTTER WOULD BE WEAK AND FEEBLE IF IT DIDN’T HAVE ALL THE DELICIOUS FOODIE SCENES. THIS IS FACT.
Sean Kendrick just needs to show up in every book armed with a loaf of bread. Bread + cute horsey Irish/Scottish/ish boy = happy readers everywhere. PROBLEM SOLVED.
Also, I’m reading Crooked Kingdom at the moment, so thanks for the heads up about the waffles; I shall adjust my breakfast plans for the next week accordingly.
Also also, that midday nap after lunch thing is real. It’s called a siesta and it’s alive and well in Latin cultures. I think Middle Eastern cultures also have a similar equivalent, but I don’t know what it’s called. Basically, if you’re hanging out somewhere and it’s flipping hot around lunch time, chances are everyone believes in nap time, to sleep through the hottest part of the day. I just think Latinos took it to an art form, like everything else they do. I mean hello, have you seen their cemeteries? ART.
And there’s nothing wrong with lasagna. Garfield’s life was saved many a time by the miracle of lasagna.
I CAN ONLY AGREE VERY PASSIONATELY ABOUT THIS FIRST STATEMENT. Basically just put Sean Kendrick everywhere. The world will be a better place.
(Also omg Crooked Kingdom also has muCH cake appreciation. And they try to make Nina share and she gets very upset and I’m like…wow I am Nina.)
And yes, haha, I do know about Siestas.😂 I wish the world would take it though, like why isn’t that something we can all adopt??? I WANT TO NAP WHEN I WANT.
I’m not going to lie-my books all have about 200% more food in them now that I’ve been reading your blog. I used to be one of those sad, sad people who didn’t really give food too much thought when it came to reading, but now?? Now every scene I have to sit back and wonder, ‘Can someone be eating right now?’ It’s quite scary. It’s also quite delicious.
Seriously?! Omg this maKES MY DAY.😂My work here is done. Bahahah. But like it’s so important. If we’re not asking ourselves: can this scene be improved with food? ThEN WHAT ARE WE DOING.
Foodie Fiction should totally be a genre in itself.. Or maybe it already is?? Like, I can’t be trusted to know these things.. And when it comes to reading books with crazy amazing food in them, my go-to is ALWAYS Harry Potter!
Shanu recently posted…Harry Potter and Magical Food | Top Ten Tuesday
IT SHOULD BE. It should be like a whole section in libraries/bookstores.😂
I love how you made a really convincing argument for this! I agree all books should have food, it only ever makes me love them more.
When it comes to food arguments…omg wow I can be so convincing.😂
Have you read All that She Can See by Carrie Hope Fletcher? I haven’t yet but from what I’ve heard it’s like magical realism set in a bakery so it sounds right up your alley 😉
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OMG THAT SOUNDS AMAZING!! Why haven’t I heard of it before now?!
My favourite foodie book is The Indigo Notebook series. It’s so full of all this delicious sounding food.
I agree, I also want butter beer and November Cakes! They just sound so GOOD!
Iris @ Hoard of Books recently posted…Book Review: A Curse Dark as Gold – Good Natured Bickering + Incoherent Rambling + Larkin
Ooh I definitely want to look that up now!!
All of Brian Jacques’ Redwall series (cute mice fighting rats and etc in their own castle and etc, so good) has a MASSIVE load of food that never gets boring cause its all brand new stuff and ingredients like dandelion tea with sugared somethings. EVERYONE in the books is good at putting food together. Of all the books with food in it, I’d say the Redwall series and the Heartless book make me the hungriest FOR SURE.
I keep getting recommended the Redwall books and I NEED TO READ THEM.
Okay, I’m not a foodie, but you’re totally right about all the benefits of having food in fiction. It gives the story dimension. (I need to remember this for NaNoWriMo.)
You’re also totally right about the lack of food allergies in fiction! Quick story of my life: I’m not allergic to any food, but my husband is allergic to tree nuts. So I’m all like, that’s fine, I hate nuts anyway. No big deal. Except that wallnut shell is in my lotion, almond oil is in my shampoo, hazlenut is in my nutella, and oh that ice cream place uses the same scoop for chocolate AND butter pecan, and oops that brownie had surprise macadamia in it and now I can’t kiss my husband for a week. UGGHHHH.
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I’m so pleased you agree. *flails in happy circles*
And it’s kind of a HUGE thing right?! Like I think big allergies are important to mention (I’ve read several books with characters who have severe nut allergies) but also I think lowkey allergies are important to talk about. (ALSO NUTS ARE IN EVERYTHING UGH. I’m slightly allergic, so not anaphylactic but I break out in rashes and buying ice cream and stuff is ridiculous.)
This might just be me but I want to read characters who are picky eaters but aren’t judged for it because I’m a picky eater and we get judged for it SO MUCH. The only time I’ve seen anyone talk about picky eating in fiction was there was an episode of Arthur where DW is a picky eater and they treat her like a brat for it and show it as being the worst thing ever 😐
And I don’t know what it is about Italian food that contemporary writers love. Everyone eats either spaghetti or lasagne all the time. Not that I’m complaining because I like both 😂
YES I THINK THIS IS IMPORTANT TOO. I also actually like the freedom of reading about a lot of food I wouldn’t usually want/choose to it.😂 I can love voraciously through someone else thanks, haha. (And less judgement for picky eaters! Also I have a book with an extremely picky eater because they have sensory difficulties and IT WAS SO GOOD TO WRITE.)
(I love Italian food so I understand this.😂)
dang it, girl, where is your like button?
i have a fantastic follow button.😂
I genuinely don’t understand why books don’t mention food more, for all the reasons you mentioned and more! Heartless was probably my fave “foodie” type book I’ve read because I finished it feeling so hungry! The Crown’s Game was also awesome for food, so I’m glad to hear The Crown’s Fate continues that. I actually did my entire list this week about food I wanted to try from books, although it took me a while to remember which books actually have food. I honestly think I should just live in Madame Fanina’s bakery.
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I absolutely wanted to eAT Heartless omg the level of pastries and pies and like??? Cath, I love you.😂 And The Crown’s Fate was A+ with continuing the foodie glory (I MEAN SHE MADE AN EDIBLE CHRISTMAS TREE THAT BOOK IS LIFE).😂
THIS POST MADE ME SO HUNGRY, so I just casually moved my bed to the kitchen and now all it’s right with the world. And yes with the greater food restrictions diversity, because what’s more fun than making your character look at other people eating the most delicious food while having to eat celery. Fun fun fun (no I’m not still bitter about the time this happened to me). So thank you for pointing out all of theses, well, points…meaning while I’m having a fun time DYING OF LACK Of CUPCAKES..but no worries, I’m baking some as we speak.
Omg I want that too right?! Like if we have to suffer, characters should suffer too.😭 I’ve like spent my life watching people eat cool stuff while I had…yes, like the carrot stick or whatever because I can’t eat a lot of foods.😂
November cakes. OBVIOUSLY. It’s coming to that time of year where I look at the recipe Maggie Stiefvater has up, want to make them, and then look at all the ingredients I would have to buy that I would probably NEVER use again… *Sobs*
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I soooo want to make them but I CAN’T EAT HONEY. WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO. 😭😭
You must read The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult!!!!!!!! One of the motifs is literally bread. IT. IS. AMAZING.
I have that one on my tbr for one day!! BREAD IS GREAT.
Loved this post! Food should be in books more often. I would like to see more vegetarians in books though. 🙂
Oh yes it’d be good to see vegetarians more too! I have a total vegetarian culture in one of my fantasy books because I think it’s something that needs to be in books more!
AFTER I FINISH SCHOOL I AM PLANNING ON OPENING A FANDOM-BASED BOOKSTORE AND I NEED YOUR HELP
IT’S PROBABLY NOT GONNA BE IN AUSTRALIA
BUT LIKE
HALP
SOUNDS FUN GOOD LUCK.
THANK YOU BUT AHHHH IM GONNA NEED BOOK SUGGESTIONS FOR WHAT TO STOCK I HAVENT READ ENOUGH IN MY SHORT LIFE
OH GODDD, NUMBER 4!!!! Is it possible that I can relate to something THIS MUCH? I’m gluten intolerant as well, ad EXACTLY the same thing happens to me all the time on school trips. During the first time after I had just found out about my allergies, I was fed potato and apples all throughout.
I have fruits for breakfast, and also for basically anything else accompanied by other stuff because I love them.
FRUITS ARE ESSENTIAL.
The only thing I had asked for was a goddamned apple. I didn’t have breakfast for two days straight until they were able to find a freaking apple and banana. My snacks all consisted of this tree fruit because all they had for the other kids were chocolate and caramel cookies. My teachers had to pay for the apples instead of the service providing them, and they only bought ONE AT A TIME because they didn’t want to waste their damned money.
And I was like, guess what? I don’t eat only one apple a day. DO YOU EAT ONLY ONE FOOD A DAY? No no, I don’t think so.
I didn’t die either, but it was all thanks to a glass of water every morning and almonds that I, MYSELF had taken.
I’m going to write about a gluten intolerant main character living in a fantasy world with dragons, cake, victory, magic AND also introduce the world to the wonders of rice flour, quinoa, millet, and all the beautiful foods that I love. Not only potatoes. We do not only eat apples and potatoes.
My main character will sit to have dinner and I will describe all of their glorious food with the most detailed of details. PREPARE TO DROOL!
PS: I wrote for the first time a segment of my WIP and I’m really liking it. I participated on this feature called 15 Minute Ficlets hosted by The Literary Phoenix where you have to write something under 15 mins (doesn’t even really have to make sense) and be related to a random word you come up with. You should participate to share more of your gorgeous writing / WIPs !!!
Sophie Alex recently posted…Fifteen Minute Ficlets
I FEEL SO HEARD AND UNDERSTOOD RIGHT NOW, SOPHIE. OMG THAT IS LIKE EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED TO ME. No we can’t just exist on like…an apple a day. What are these people even thinking?!?? And like I couldn’t eat dairy at that time too and they’re like: “Oh we’ll make you scrambled eggs” and I’m like “um yeah but don’t put milk in” adn they’re like “??????????????” OH MY GOD PEOPLES. THIS IS NOT SO HARD.😂😂
I’m glad we didn’t die, Sophie. Even if we are damaged. (This is probably why I like food in books so much. My poor starved youth.)
And omg yes please do put gluten intolerant people in fantasy worlds!!
(Also I freaking LOVE drooling over fantasy feasts. It’s amazing!!)
Oh I know the Literary Phoenix! I shall check out the linkup!
CAIT YOU ARE THE FOODIE LIT QUEEN. And honestly it’s… lit? I???? NO BUT REALLY. Swoon, I should have just tweeted you and been like HELP ME FIGURE OUT FOODIE FICTION because apparently me + paying attention to food in books is not always a good combo. I mean, who let my brain poop out on me???? Real talk though, this list is great. You’re great. You know what else is great? The cake that I just made for my friends birthday.
Basically:
-Good list.
-I am hungry.
-Carry On makes me want SCONES.
-I AM THINKING A LOT ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF FOOD IN FICTION NOW.
(and in life)
-Also… lasagna.
-Can Cath in Heartless give me her recipes.
That’s it that’s my comment.
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HAHA I’M SO GLAD YOU LIKED IT.😂 I mean I full on have a Goodreads shelf for foodie books so…I MAY BE VERY ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT THIS TOPIC FOR SURE.😂
all the food please.
I honestly can’t wait to build the cultures in my book for NaNoWriMo so I can put so much mouthwatering foods int them.
Is anyone else excited for NaNoWriMo? It’s in 13 days, guys, ONLY 13 MORE DAYS!!!!!
I’M EXCITED FOR NANO. I have SO much food planned from my book haha. It’s a contemporary but fantasy-food-cultures are WAy more fun to build. So I hope you enjoy yours!!
I’ve missed your Top Ten Tuesday posts. I’m glad you’re back. I can totally relate to the stolen chocolate incident. I still won’t let my best friend live down the time we went camping and she put herself in charge of rationing our food and water only to consume it all herself, leaving the rest of us to die of thirst and hunger. I mean, it really wasn’t a bit deal, but it totally was!
I’m pretty sure I’ve been doing the TTT posts every week?😂 But thanks for reading! I really appreciate it!
Omg I will NEVER forgive my sisters for taking off with the chocolate. They could’ve at least replaced it?! I’m a damaged adult now.😂
This is such a fun post!! Though now you’ve reminded me of how much reading Always and Forever, Laura Jean gave me a major chocolate chip cookie craving, and now I really need a chocolate chip cookie…
I haven’t read the last two Lara Jean books yet BUT I NEED TO. And obviously I need to stockpile snacks beforehand.😂
One big reason – taste is a sense. Describing what characters are eating can make a reader actually feel like they’re eating what they characters are, making it easier to put themselves in their shoes. Good fiction is a feast for all the senses, not just the eyes.
Recommendations – any book set in Italy. It seems to be a requirement that it’s characters eat a copious amount of gelato.
Yes absolutely! It’s about the visual, sensory, and textural experience too when it comes to books!
You made me hungry after this delicious post!(see what I did there?) But seriously food in books makes everything in the book better. As for #4, Frank in Percy Jackson was lactose-intolerant and was nice to here briefly about his bad gas issues… sorry that was weird. Thanks for the wonderful post Cait!
Emmy
Omg I forgot that about Percy! That kind of IS great though?!? It’s nice to know our epic heroes have the same problems we can have.😂
Ahh I actually love your flippy book covers so much. The jealousy is real *concentrates really hard to see if my own blog with magically evolve*. ALSO YES TO THE WAFFLES IN SIX OF CROWS. I just finished Crooked Kingdom and I was like, my god, there are waffles in every chapter, I’m sure. Whenever I lovingly re-read Tiger’s Curse the cravings for Indian food are SO REAL. It is always so utterly disappointing when characters don’t eat in books – all character should be like Ron Weasley and eating all the time. it is the only way to be.
It’s just a widget actually!! haha. I cannot like code or anything. It’s a widget or it ain’t happening around here.😂
And omg there was so many waffles in CK and like when Nina got made that she had to share food? RELATABLE.
Cait, can I have your brain?! This post was weird in the most beautiful way possible and also I can’t even. sooooooo good. 😂😂
I’M GLAD YOU LIKE IT.😂
I have to admit that when I read that this was this weeks top ten tuesday meme, I immediately thought about your blog! I thought; how many times will she mention the word “cake” in one post!
It was a great post (like all your posts)! Now I’m hungry because of this post and I’m probably of to a bakery to get me some cake for myself!
Hahah I have made a name for myself haven’t I?!?😂 Everyone associates me with cake these days. NOT COMPLAINING.😂
This post made me smile, Cait! But I’m not really that bothered if food is in books or not. I’m a very fussy eater, so most of the time when food is mentioned, I scrunch up my face in disgust. There is never enough chicken in books. Lol. But yeah, I don’t really pay much attention to food in books, so I can’t rec many. Though there is always food in fantasy novels. Robin Hobb has a lot of food in her books.
Oh, and you wanted a cookbook with dragons? Here you go. 🙂
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I really need to read Robin Hobb’s books! I keep saying that but I SWEAR I WILL. 😂😂 Probably next year at this rate though.😂
There actually is a complete official Game of Throne cookbook: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13329738-a-feast-of-ice-and-fire
by people who are basically nerds in cooking, because they extracted they recipe from the little information GRRM gave and then made complete recipes out of them. It seems like, food is mentioned a lot in A Song of Ice and Fire, if you people stabbing each other for fun. I heard say (by which I mean, “I read on a blog”), when GRRM heard about this, he went like “Huh?” and admitted that he liked to eat but actually had no clue about cooking at all. Also, some of the recipes are “medieval style” so they only contain food that would have existed in the middle ages.
And then he went on to make it the official cookbook. Though, there’s and inofficial too, also an inofficial Hunger Games Cookbook (that has the plum stew mentioned right in the goodreads synopsis!). This one: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11206339-the-unofficial-hunger-games-cookbook
I still remember the time when I went completely addicted to chocolate and couldn’t stop anymore (since back when I was seven I haven’t stopped being addicted, I guess) after I had read “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.” We went hiking and there were foodstands all over the mountain (like it is in popular hiking areas) and my grandfather had to feed me at least one bar at every one of these. Dove chocolate.
Do you still remember the stupid, awkward comment I once wrote on your goodreads about Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince? If it just vanished between tons of other internet stuff, skip the following question, if yes: do you still feel anger about that? I still feel anxious and guilty about it. It was regarding psychopaths that came out of not really knowing what psychopathy was and then believing it was something rather harmless. Which, you told me angrily, it is not. I don’t remember the rest. I think I already left a cheesy apology back then, that I don’t know anymore if it was worth anything. I think it’s definitely wrong to not do at least basic research on a topic before having a too strong opinion about it (I don’t think it’s wrong to have a vague opinion in the least ot at least HAVE an opinion about the little things you know) and that’s what I did. I guess if you look it up again it will cringeworthy a lot. I admit, I’m not doing this completely without an agenda or out of blue, because I’m thinking about participating at “Beautiful Books”. Are you okay with letting a very stupid person who always wants to be Matilda, or Hermine or Eowyn but sometimes questions if she also has some Peter Pettigrew and Joffrey inside her- anyway, if you’re okay if I participate in your link-up? It doesn’t feel right to just paste the link in (as of now, I haven’t published anything yet either). I love your blog and the questions in beautiful books are part of the reason why my short attention span came back to NaNo again, also my mind burst because of the ideas it gave me -may I?
You are most welcome to join in the Beautiful People link up of course! It’s open for anyone.
my head is so burning red now, I swear. I feel I’m much too attention grabbing (ditto 😏🙊)
okay 🙂
I’m reading To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before and I am loving all the food (also kind of hating it because it makes me really really hungry and now I want Korean food). I want all the food from Harry Potter. Please just take me to one of their feasts. And load me up with butterbeer. Yum
I know right?! That book made me SO hungry it was ridiculous. 😂😂
I am literally gonna show up at your front door one day and hand you cake, then hopefully talk you into letting me read all your books. PLEEEEEEAASE!!!!!!!!
ACTUALLY I HAVE NEWS FOR YOU.😂 –> I just got to announce my book coming out in 2018. 😉
I remember you bringing this up in a blog post a couple of years ago and every single time I read a book and there’s no mention of food I’m reminded of you asking why no one is eating. I mean, if you’re adventuring and battling dragons, you gotta be hungry, surely?
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Oh wow I can’t believe you remember that post!😂 I totally plagiarised myself a bit here but I figured no one would notice haha. (I should’ve known you guys would have a better memory than me.😂) And absolutely yes: food makes everything more realistic. Like how am I supposed to believe they’re doing all this epic stuff with no snacks.
Food in books is always wonderful. I don’t need pages describing rolling hills or the weather… just tell me what all the food looks, smells, and tastes like and I will be able to picture the scene perfectly lol
ISN’T IT JUST?!? Like who cares about scenery…what are they eating for dinner.😂
Damn now I am hungry and craving some… woolly mammoth I guess? Er no, cake and waffles and nachos, Idk why because you didn’t talk about nachos, but I really want them, Sorry if I made you want them too. These are VERY good arguments for food in books, I must say. I’d never have thought about them. This is probably why you are the SOON TO BE PUBLISHED DEBUT AUTHOR WHOSE BOOK I JUST BOUGHT and I am just a person who wants nachos a lot. See how I worked that in there? Nachos AND your book? I thought about food but let’s be real, I mostly want to flail about you. You deserve the fails. ♥♥♥
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I’m SURE you’re actually craving a woolly mammoth. C’mon now. Seems tasty. I really want nachos too actually… I’m trying to convince my family we need them in our life. They aren’t very receptive so I might be leaving home, idk.
Omg I’m still DYING that you ordered it Shannon. Did I mention that you’re my favourite.😂😂❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ (And you better believe that there is food in my book. CAKE, PARTICULARLY.)
OMG I JUST SAW YOUR POST ABOUT YOUR BOOK ON TWITTER AND I’M TOO EXCITED TO CONFORM TO THE STUPID 140 CHARACTER LIMIT SO I’M COMMENTING HERE!!!
I WANT TO SCREAM FROM THE ROOFTOPS I’M SOOOOO PROUD OF YOU AND I’M SO EXCITED I’M USUALLY THE QUIET ONE BUT NOT TODAY!!!!! 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 I usually take forever to get around to books and I almost never read new books but as soon as your book is out I’m GETTING IT and going to READ IT and I’m NOT missing out on the hype this time because YOU DESERVE IT!!!!!!!!! 😀 😀 😀
I’ve only been reading your blog since February and I’m just so happy for you and you have been such an inspiration to me this last year and I love reading snippets of your writing and I just can’t wait to have a whole book!
I’m so encouraged to go into Nano next month after finding out about this! 😀 😀 😀
Although I find it a little ironic that your first book that’s getting published isn’t fantasy. XD Is there going to be a dragon shaped cake? 😛 XD
And hey I finally conquered my anxiety after five years and I finally passed the test for my driver’s learners permit today so I guess we both had good days, huh? 😀 😀
THANK YOU, HEATHER!! I’M SO FREAKING EXCITED I CAN’T EVEN.😂And I’m like beyond honoured that you want to read it! YOU’RE AMAZING. I’LL GIVE YOU ALL THE CAKE.
Also I really hope you do NaNo! I will be here to cheer for you ahhh!!!
And it is VERY ironic that I’m a contemporary YA author.😂Life is hilarious. But there is cake so like…at least we still know it’s still by me.
OMGGGG CONGRATS ON GETTING YOUR LICENSE!! THAT IS SO HUGE I’M SO PROUD OF YOU TOO!! 🎉🎉🎉
Awe thanks. 😊
I SO agree that more food needs to be included in YA!! I never thought about how it could relate to the worldbuilding of the novel??? BUT IT DOES. I think having food in it just makes everything more relatable and interesting and actually REALISTIC… because people really can’t survive on just one chocolate bar a day. (Altho chocolate bars sound very nice.) I’ll definitely have to check out some of the foodie books you recommended, especialluly The Scorpio Races!
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IT SO IS GOOD FOR WORLD BUILDING TOO!! and like….it does hurt a bit. I get so hungry.😂 And sci-fi books kill me when the characters eat like 1 energy bar the whole novel and I’m like…no.😂
I love food in books!!! Except that it makes me super hungry and whatever they are having in the book is almost never something I have in my house, but whatever, I make do. But yes! All the reasons you mentioned are amazing reasons to have food in books. Plus, it’s just realistic. People don’t necessarily spend a ton of time just sitting and staring directly at each other while they talk…but people do spend a lot of time talking over coffee, talking while they make dinner, getting lunch together…so, yay for being realistic!!
And I always get so so hungry whenever I read the Harry Potter books probably because it seems like they are having a FEAST or some other great magical snack like every five pages.
And then we like accidentally eat the book. GOOD TIMES.😂😂 And yes it makes like “boring” scenes more realistic/interesting if you have like a meal in the background. I’m way more invested in those scenes when I’m reading.
Omg I want to eat those Hogwarts feasts so bad.