Bite-size, movingly rendered essays from some of the most beloved and celebrated writers of our time: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Anthony Doerr, Colum McCann, Lev Grossman, Carmen Maria Machado, Alexander Chee, Porochista Khakpour, Claire Messud, and many, many more These essays read like conversations among friends over the kitchen table, or nostalgic memories shared over a late-night glass of wine; they are intimate, vulnerable, nuanced, and deeply relatable. It's a remarkable look into our favorite writers' lives (even the messy, dark parts) So many of us, be we foodies or avid readers (or both), have memories rooted in our senses of smell and taste; Eat Joy is comfort food for any reader With beautiful paper over board packaging and 19 full-color illustrations throughout the book, Eat Joy makes a beautiful gift for readers, foodies, and cooks alike Eat Joy ’s loving approach to comfort food of every variety taps into the growing self-care trend; this book is a window into the comforts of writers we know and love An older but perfectly apt comparative title is Roast Chicken and Other Stories by Simon Hopkinson (9781401308629), published by Hachette in 2007 Bookseller Praise for Eat Joy : "Food is intrinsically linked with our memories. This book is a wonderful collection of how food affects us, how it forms our lives and memories and gives us a sense of place and self." — Lee Virden Geurkink, Monkey and Dog Books (Fort Worth, TX) «Some of these stories are so heart-wrenching; some are funny—this book has something for everyone. Be careful, though; some will need a box of Kleenex.» — Jason Kennedy, Boswell Book Company (Milwaukee, WI) «A delightful and wide-ranging collection.» — Emily Crowe, An Unlikely Story (Plainville, MA) «Such a satisfying collection of essays about our connections to food and experiences. Just like a wonderful meal, you'll devour this collection and lean back 100 percent satiated and content.» — Nicole Cousins, White Birch Books (North Conway, NH) " Eat Joy is a thoughtful collection of stories from writers about the food and recipes that have comforted them most in their lives. Sometimes sad, sometimes hopeful, these stories remind us how much of the human experience we all share. With recipes for everything from basic white rice to more in-depth meals, this collection will feed your soul. Perfect for anyone who enjoys food writing, essays, and the ideal gift for a friend who has gone through or is going through a difficult situation. The book itself is a comfort and joy." — Beth Seufer Buss, Bookmarks (Winston-Salem, NC) «Loved all these short stories about comfort food and the recipes these authors used to get through tough times in their lives. Unexpectedly emotional, sweet, and touching.» — Allie Gilliland, The Bookworm of Edwards (Edwards, CO) "There are moments in our lives that imprint on our souls, and often when we recollect them, our memories entangle with sensory information. The visceral quality of food as it relates to memory is unparalleled—sometimes we eat our favorite foods as comfort during grief, or a dish prepared by a friend becomes healing food from then on. Eat Joy is a lively collection of autobiographical stories in which food plays a starring role (recipes included—and they are lovely!). A diverse selection of celebrated authors tell stories of growth and loss, healing and homecoming, and the resulting collection is nothing short of magical." — Mary Wahlmeier, The Raven Book Store (Lawrence, KS) "Humans have an intimate relationship with food. Eat Joy gives us the stories of some of our most beloved writers as they share big moments in their lives and the recipes that were a part of them. Covering big topics like growing pains and loss to healing and homecoming, these stories are delicious. Eat Joy is a perfect host/hostess gift." — Rachel Watkins, Avid Bookshop (Athens, GA) “ Eat Joy is a fantastic collection of short stories and recipes. Some of the stories are funny, some are heart-wrenching, but all are personal and pay a wonderful tribute to how food links us to our memories. I loved it.” — Sarah Cassavant, Subtext Books (Saint Paul, MN) «This book combines two of my favorite things: essays and food. The essayists here haven't written cookbooks but are writing about how food has sustained them in challenging, often heartbreaking times. Readers will be eager to make the recipes that inspire them and will relish the personal stories told by an eclectic mix of gifted writers.» — Cindy Pauldine, The River's End Bookstore (Oswego, NY) «LOVE this cookbook. I tend to read them like novels, and this is perfect for that —the stories are unique and engaging, the recipes range from a boxed brownie mix to more in-depth foods, and it's a lovely book overall. I enjoyed it so much that I added it to the Powell's What I'm Giving table at the airport for the holiday season.» — Elizabeth Cummings, Powell's Books (Portland, OR)
