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4.1 AVERAGE
4.1 AVERAGE
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
In this book, Kingsolver describes the first year that she and her family of four lived as locavores on their Virginia farm. the family raised (and still raises) the bulk of their food; those things that they do not raise they obtain from local sources.
Kingsolver, her husband, and her older daughter all contributed pieces to the book; the bulk of the writing was done by kingsolver, while her daughter contributed recipes and brief perspectives. Kingsolver's husband (whose name I do not recall) is a science professor and writes about nutrition, GMOs, politics, the environment, and so on, with URLs for follow-up studies.
I could easily imagine, as I read the book, that growing food for my family would be both worthwhile and doable. The challenges inherent in eating locally are decreasing, with the availability of farmers' markets and locally-grown foods in grocery-store produce sections. As I shop at the store, I find myself thinking back to what I read in this book and considering how I can incorporate local-eating practices for my family. I've begun a garden and I make every attempt to avoid California peaches, Florida oranges, and so on.
As a vegetarian, I disagreed with Kingsolver's assertions that raising animals for food is responsible and appropriate; she calls the process of slaughtering animals and preparing the meat "harvesting," as if the animals are no different from the pumpkins she grows in her garden. I disagree with the premise that diets must include animal proteins, but this is my own personal point of view and doesn't change how I view the book overall.
Even those who don't have the time, energy, space, etc., for their own garden can shop farmers' markets and CSAs. At the very least, we can all make a larger effort to eat foods in-season from local growers, improving our health and the environment in the process, not to mention enjoying delicious, fresh foods. This is the argument Kingsolver makes very well, and it's certainly worthwhile to consider.
Kingsolver, her husband, and her older daughter all contributed pieces to the book; the bulk of the writing was done by kingsolver, while her daughter contributed recipes and brief perspectives. Kingsolver's husband (whose name I do not recall) is a science professor and writes about nutrition, GMOs, politics, the environment, and so on, with URLs for follow-up studies.
I could easily imagine, as I read the book, that growing food for my family would be both worthwhile and doable. The challenges inherent in eating locally are decreasing, with the availability of farmers' markets and locally-grown foods in grocery-store produce sections. As I shop at the store, I find myself thinking back to what I read in this book and considering how I can incorporate local-eating practices for my family. I've begun a garden and I make every attempt to avoid California peaches, Florida oranges, and so on.
As a vegetarian, I disagreed with Kingsolver's assertions that raising animals for food is responsible and appropriate; she calls the process of slaughtering animals and preparing the meat "harvesting," as if the animals are no different from the pumpkins she grows in her garden. I disagree with the premise that diets must include animal proteins, but this is my own personal point of view and doesn't change how I view the book overall.
Even those who don't have the time, energy, space, etc., for their own garden can shop farmers' markets and CSAs. At the very least, we can all make a larger effort to eat foods in-season from local growers, improving our health and the environment in the process, not to mention enjoying delicious, fresh foods. This is the argument Kingsolver makes very well, and it's certainly worthwhile to consider.
On my second read of this book, I enjoyed it even more than the first. Kingsolver writes about food, vegetables, cheese, meat with an almost reverent admiration. A true and unfussy locavore.
funny
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
Lots of things in the book were interesting, and the descriptions of the meals had me licking my lips, recipes included in the book. See my complete review here: https://whatmeread.com/2025/04/08/review-2564-animal-vegetable-miracle-a-year-of-food-life/
I avoided this book for so long because I thought it would be too classist. Actually, it was thoroughly interesting, especially since I eat pretty locally these days, and touched on a lot of great points. I was rather aching with jealousy for her farm.
I got this book out of the library several months ago but returned it unread. Second time, I flew through it.
Very engagingly written, and not preachy considering the topic. Kingsolver's family of four undertook to just eat locally grown, raised, processed (e.g. wine, flour) foods for a year. It's a combination of a food diary - what's available in Virginia when and analysis of the mass-produced food that most of America eats. The family lives on a farm which made the experiment a little easier - they raised turkeys, chickens for eggs and meat, and had land on which to grow vegetables (as well as established fruit trees). The main body of the text is off-set by scientific-bent articles by her husband on the issues (like a really disturbing one on the American beef market's unwillingness to test for mad cow disease - something that Europe and Japan do with EVERY COW!). Her daughter offers some more practical advice with recipes and menus as well as a young person's point of view (she's 19 at the time).
Made me think about what I eat. Some changes I'll make, like buying more oranics, more local foods, having a garden this season and shopping the farmers markets when they open in CT. Others it won't, necessarily. But now I better understand where our food comes from (although I'm not one of the people in the book who don't realize that chickens are living animals not pieces of meat in styrofoam packaging and that potatoes have a plant attached) and how it gets from there to our tables.
Very engagingly written, and not preachy considering the topic. Kingsolver's family of four undertook to just eat locally grown, raised, processed (e.g. wine, flour) foods for a year. It's a combination of a food diary - what's available in Virginia when and analysis of the mass-produced food that most of America eats. The family lives on a farm which made the experiment a little easier - they raised turkeys, chickens for eggs and meat, and had land on which to grow vegetables (as well as established fruit trees). The main body of the text is off-set by scientific-bent articles by her husband on the issues (like a really disturbing one on the American beef market's unwillingness to test for mad cow disease - something that Europe and Japan do with EVERY COW!). Her daughter offers some more practical advice with recipes and menus as well as a young person's point of view (she's 19 at the time).
Made me think about what I eat. Some changes I'll make, like buying more oranics, more local foods, having a garden this season and shopping the farmers markets when they open in CT. Others it won't, necessarily. But now I better understand where our food comes from (although I'm not one of the people in the book who don't realize that chickens are living animals not pieces of meat in styrofoam packaging and that potatoes have a plant attached) and how it gets from there to our tables.
This was one of my first ebook purchases and a good example of the dangers of instant gratification. I'm not sure if all the negative reviews on Goodreads ruined it for me, or whether I would have gotten tired of the smug, preachy tone on my own. I'd love to spend my days farming and writing, but they pay me to sit at a computer and drive around to meetings. In this case, I'm pretty sure the grass really is greener on one side of the fence.
Great, book. It really inspired my love for urban farming and sustainabliity. I even made my finalize my plans to raise chickens inmy backyard.
This book provides great detail about the current and impending food economy and crisis. I found the "family tone" somewhat pedantic and irritating. As a journal, I found Kingsolver's tone superficial. That may sound like an unfair judgment, but even though she and her family did the duty and supported themselves and shared interesting tidbits along the way, I somehow found myself bored and wanting more.
DNF. I got through more than 75% and I gave up. What Kingsolver and her family did—moving to Appalachia and living off only what they could grow, make, or buy w local products—is admirable. They don’t cheat, either. For vacation, they go on a cheese-making retreat and bring their own snacks for the road.
Kingsolver narrates most of the book, but intermittent chapters come from her husband and adult daughter. Some of the chapters describe experiences, but many are vignettes that introduce a larger issue, such as the problem w drinking bottled water.
There is nothing that compels a reader (or, at least this one) to keep moving. I felt like a subdivision brat after a while, just not able to hang.
Kingsolver narrates most of the book, but intermittent chapters come from her husband and adult daughter. Some of the chapters describe experiences, but many are vignettes that introduce a larger issue, such as the problem w drinking bottled water.
There is nothing that compels a reader (or, at least this one) to keep moving. I felt like a subdivision brat after a while, just not able to hang.