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A review by kairosdreaming
The Complete Language of Food: A Definitive & Illustrated History by S. Theresa Dietz
4.0
*This book was received as an Advanced Reviewer's Copy from NetGalley.
When you think about the vegetables and fruits in your local grocer, understand that those are just a fraction of the edible plants out there. Variety and regionality offer so many areas to explore and discover, and what might be common for one person is not so common for another. Or maybe they are the same, and just go by a different name.
This book goes alphabetically (by the scientific name) of the majority of edible plants out there; including vegetables, fruits, herbs, and some medicinal plants as well. Each entry has the commonly known names of the item, symbolic meanings of the plant, possible powers (going into the spirituality and ritual realm, and folklore and facts, which often includes the known taste of the item and/or how it has been used through history or in story. Many entries have a full-color drawing to accompany as well. After this section, it moves on to 'culinary finds', where types of food are explored (i.e. alcohol, condiments, etc.). These sections have a common listing of type (again, absinthe, rum, etc.), symbolic meaning, possible powers, and a new one, pleasant dreaming which elaborates on dream meanings. It's followed by a much lengthier section on folklore and facts.
This is not a book for just reading in a sitting. It is a reference book and is better-consumed piecemeal (unless you really just enjoy that sort of thing). For those that don't know the scientific name, the index utilizes the common name for lookup. I thought overall it was a nice reference book, informative without being too dry, very comprehensive, and just a fun addition to reading about food. Although I will say my continued fight with trying to procure and grow Illicium Verum made me a bit sad when I reached that page (just kidding, well, sorta). At least it gave me plenty of new plants to try to get ahold of to add to the garden.
Review by M. Reynard 2022
When you think about the vegetables and fruits in your local grocer, understand that those are just a fraction of the edible plants out there. Variety and regionality offer so many areas to explore and discover, and what might be common for one person is not so common for another. Or maybe they are the same, and just go by a different name.
This book goes alphabetically (by the scientific name) of the majority of edible plants out there; including vegetables, fruits, herbs, and some medicinal plants as well. Each entry has the commonly known names of the item, symbolic meanings of the plant, possible powers (going into the spirituality and ritual realm, and folklore and facts, which often includes the known taste of the item and/or how it has been used through history or in story. Many entries have a full-color drawing to accompany as well. After this section, it moves on to 'culinary finds', where types of food are explored (i.e. alcohol, condiments, etc.). These sections have a common listing of type (again, absinthe, rum, etc.), symbolic meaning, possible powers, and a new one, pleasant dreaming which elaborates on dream meanings. It's followed by a much lengthier section on folklore and facts.
This is not a book for just reading in a sitting. It is a reference book and is better-consumed piecemeal (unless you really just enjoy that sort of thing). For those that don't know the scientific name, the index utilizes the common name for lookup. I thought overall it was a nice reference book, informative without being too dry, very comprehensive, and just a fun addition to reading about food. Although I will say my continued fight with trying to procure and grow Illicium Verum made me a bit sad when I reached that page (just kidding, well, sorta). At least it gave me plenty of new plants to try to get ahold of to add to the garden.
Review by M. Reynard 2022