Animal, Vegetable, Miracle

   By drodriguez  Jul 24, 2007
30

Best-selling novelist Barbara Kingsolver lived a year of food life and writes about it in the most entertaining way in Animal, Vegetable, Miracle- A Year of Food Life. Kingsolver and her husband moved their two daughters from Tucson, AZ to their southern Appalachia farm once used for summer getaways and changed their lives.

The whole Kingsolver clan set out to farm their land and live off of it. They produced vegetables, fruits, raised poultry, and even made their own cheese. They bought locally when necessary and got to know the farms in their rural community. Their nine-year-old daughter even set up a small egg selling business.

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle- A Year of Food Life is attention grabbing in its narrative. Kingsolver is anything but preachy or pious in her quest to live more environmentally sound. She simply weaves a fascinating and insightful tale of a family’s month-by-month experience producing their own food, which by the way, only costs fifty cents a meal to feed a family of four. The book is further enhanced by the interesting perspective from the first person essays her college age daughter Camille contributes and the commentary on agriculture today by Stephen L. Hopp, a professor of environmental science at Emory and Henry College.

It is a beautifully written personal memoir while being informative and fun. ?Animal, Vegetable, Miracle’ is for anyone who wonders where our food comes from, loves to garden and celebrate life outdoors, or for those of us who really relish the food on our plate. It makes you yearn to get out and start a garden patch of your very own.
 

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iamcclot by iamcclot | Olean, NY
Sep 13, 2010

I plan on reading this book. The suthoer's other book, "Poisonwood Bible" is my favorite book. It's such an incredible story with a sense of adventure. And her style of writing is so good with the way she is conscious of nature and food from the earth. So I know this book should be just as intriguing!

cheerfultulips by cheerfultulips | Frisco, TX
Apr 16, 2010

Looking forward to read this book ! I grew up in a city , but got interested in gardening after getting married and having children. It will definitely be fun to get to read the experience from the perspective of the children.

cmf999 by cmf999 | Scottsdale, AZ
Nov 15, 2009

Kingsolver's Poisonwood Bible is one of the best books I have ever read. She has a new book The Lacuna looking forward to reading it too.

momagarry by momagarry | MILWAUKEE, WI
Oct 10, 2009

This is intriguing I will be reading this book.

mvemother by mvemother | CROCKER, MO
Sep 01, 2009

This is a book I've been wanting to read since it came out...definately will have to pick it up now!

oceangirl1 by oceangirl1 | Waterbury, CT
Aug 15, 2009

Wow, Sounds like a great book! I will have to check it out.

KateK3020 by KateK3020 | Arvada, CO
Aug 15, 2009

Wow, i am a huge Barbara Kingsolver reader, i must be living under a rock. I have never heard of this one. She is a brilliant biologist she can probably offer some pretty valuable information. Maybe i should look into it.

elliebunny by elliebunny | WHITEFIELD, NH
May 18, 2009

Read this book. It was very interesting. I could never do all that work though! The food must have been outstanding. I do try to get to the farmers market in town during the summer. Our market runs from end of June till October. Here in New Hampshire we have a short season.

hscottage by hscottage | MASON, OH
Apr 14, 2009

I would love to be self sufficient. That is what I hope to do one day. Can't wait to read this book. I love reading anyways. But this sounds so interesting. I bet I could learn alot from it.

ashleyadamsgish by ashleyadamsgish | Worcester, MA
Feb 25, 2009

I've been wanting to read this book since it was first published, but have been busy with so many other titles. I hope to get around to it soon!

AYoung by AYoung | APO AP, OU
Feb 25, 2009

I'm ordering it on Amazon right now. I think I'll need the extra boost to keep my first time garden going this spring.

Sanjabay by Sanjabay | Albuquerque, NM
Dec 03, 2008

I've never been able to get into Kingsolver's fiction, but this does sound interesting. Howver, I don't know how feasible this would be for most people.

mplsmom by mplsmom | Minneapolis, MN
Nov 18, 2008

I absolutely LOVED this book and have recommended it to everyone who asks what I'm reading lately. It really influenced my thinking about food production and consumption. Enjoy!

lhobbit by lhobbit | EASTON, MD
Oct 03, 2008

I am so getting this book. This is my dream!!

survive50 by survive50 | Taylor, TX
Sep 18, 2008

A book I am going to look into. We are on a little over 20 acres and I would love to apply some of the ideas.