Lucy Knisley's Relish is a fun graphic memoir about growing up in a household surrounded by good food and good fun. With a mother who is a chef and a father who knows how to appreciate fine dining, Knisley had a special relationship with food from an early age. As a cartoonist, Knisley recounts various food-related moments from her life through amazingly rendered illustrations that vibrantly bring her love of food to life. Unlike other books about food, this one bears a positive message about food that I really appreciated — the notion that all foods (from junk food to gourmet dishes) should be celebrated rather than shunned. Food-themed books can be a hit and miss at times, as some (whether directly or indirectly) often come across as "preachy" and can take on a tone that feels like it is reprimanding readers for eating certain types of food. Knisley's memoir does the opposite in that it does not pass judgment on the merits of the food we decide to eat, but rather celebrates all food for its connection to life and environment.
I don't consider myself a foodie (despite the fact that I love food and love to eat), but I enjoyed this charming, funny memoir about food and definitely recommend it. I'm not much of a cook so the recipes at the end of each chapter didn't do much for me, but it was still a lot of fun to read through them and see Knisley's witty spin on dishes both traditional and outlandish. Seeing that this will likely be the last book I read this year and the last review before my year end recap, I'm glad it will be on a positive note with such a feel-good, delightful read!
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