Full size book cover of Bite by Bite: Nourishments and Jamborees}

Bite by Bite: Nourishments and Jamborees

Aimee Nezhukumatathil

4.06(1563 readers)
From the New York Times bestselling author of World of Wonders, a lyrical book of short essays about food, offering a banquet of tastes, smells, memories, associations, and marvelous curiosities from nature

In Bite by Bite, poet and essayist Aimee Nezhukumatathil explores the way food and drink evoke our associations and remembrances—a subtext or layering, a flavor tinged with joy, shame, exuberance, grief, desire, or nostalgia.

Nezhukmatathil restores our astonishment and wonder about food through her encounters with a range of foods and food traditions. From shave ice to lumpia, mangoes to pecans, rambutan to vanilla, she investigates how food marks our experiences and identities, the boundaries between heritage and memory, and the ethics and environmental pressures around gathering and consuming food.

Bite by Bite offers a rich and textured kaleidoscope of vignettes and visions into the world of food and nature, drawn together by intimate and funny personal reflections, with Fumi Nakamura’s gorgeous imagery and illustration.

Publisher

Ecco

Publication Date

4/30/2024

ISBN

9780063282285

Pages

224

Categories

Life & Leisure

About the Author

Portrait of author Aimee Nezhukumatathil
Aimee Nezhukumatathil
author of WORLD OF WONDERS: IN PRAISE OF FIREFLIES, WHALE SHARKS, AND OTHER ASTONISHMENTS (Milkweed 2020), and four collections of poetry, most recently, OCEANIC (Copper Canyon, 2018). Professor of English and Glitter, University of Mississippi.

Questions & Answers

How does the author, Aimee Nezhukumatathil, weave together her personal experiences, family history, and cultural heritage through the lens of various foods and ingredients, and how does this exploration contribute to a broader understanding of identity and belonging?

Throughout the book, Nezhukumatathil highlights the communal aspects of food, from family gatherings to cultural festivals. How does food serve as a catalyst for connection and community, and what does this say about the universal nature of food's role in human life?

The book is filled with vivid descriptions of food and the emotions and memories they evoke. How does Nezhukumatathil use food as a vehicle to explore themes of nostalgia, loss, and the passage of time, and what does this reveal about the power of memory?

The book touches upon the environmental and social impacts of food production, including issues of sustainability, labor, and cultural preservation. How does Nezhukumatathil address these complex issues, and what does she suggest as possible solutions or changes in perspective?

Nezhukumatathil's writing is both poetic and narrative, blending personal anecdotes with broader food-related themes. How does her approach to food writing enhance the reader's understanding and appreciation of food, and what does this say about the potential of food writing as a genre?

Reader Reviews

Loading comments...