“We’re here to talk about books we love that have to do with food,” says Morgan Rose Pershing, a reference librarian. Also present was Jenn Ramage, a district sales manager for Random House.
Pershing introduced some publishing lingo.
“Food mysteries are a huge genre. These cozy mysteries don’t have a lot of gore, sex or violence,” she says. “A graphic novel has words and pictures. Relish [by Lucy Knisley] is a food graphic novel.”
Pershing and Ramage also shared a number of their favorite non-fiction books spotlighting food. When it came to food memoirs, both women recommended Bill Buford’s Heat, a book about a man’s missteps during his entry into the culinary world, and Peter Mayle’s A Year in Provence, a book detailing the author’s experience living in France.
“For a food memoir, the essential ingredients needed would be something I haven’t read before, an engaging character, and sumptuous descriptions of food and cooking,” Pershing shares after the presentation.
“For me, a good food book shows clear enthusiasm for the experience, the discovery of the new, whether it’s the discovery of a place, a recipe, or the historical significance of a dish,” Ramage says.
“I’m excited about reading the food books [discussed tonight],” says Alicia Curci, an attendee. “I want to read Heat. My favorite chocolate from tonight was the salted chocolates.”
The event ended with a chocolate and book raffle. Random House generously donated the books.
