Animal, Vegetable, Miracle - Barbara Kingsolver (2007).Barbara Kingsolver and her family move from Arizona to their farmhouse in Virginia and plan to spend the year growing their own produce and buying the rest from local suppliers. Broken up into each month this is a delightful book. I really enjoyed the idea of eating seasonally ie asparagus is only available in New Zealand from Nov-Dec and strawberries from Oct-January. Unfortunately New Zealand gets a bad rap, as being the evil exporter of apples, kiwifruits and lamb. However I forgave her.
Filled with information about food, the local area and family recipes as well, I enjoyed this gentle memoir that also reminds us of the joys of eating and the labour involved in its production. This would be a perfect christmas present for the foodie in your life at christmas. 5/5
The Almost Moon - Alice Sebold (2007)Helen Knightly narrates this book that starts with the death of her mother, who lives at home and is becoming increasingly demanding and senile. She tells us of growing up with a mother who is agrophobic and suffering bouts of depression, and the father who finding it difficult to cope also withdraws from family life. Helens grown-up life is also full of difficulties, an ex-husband and two daughters and a best friend who are also distant.
Alice Sebold who is also the author of The Lovely Bones - Peter Jacksons next movie project, and Lucky her true life story of her rape while a college student. I enjoyed this book the most out of the three, and although often I found it frustrating I think every daughter can relate to the intense relationship between mother and daughter. Maybe not the best book to buy your mother for christmas though. 4/5
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