THE BOOK OF DIFFICULT FRUIT

A richly researched food history gentle memoir and left field recipe book i newspaper A dazzling thorny new essay collection Samin Nosrat New York Times A beautiful fascinating read full of surprises a real pleasure Claudia Roden Inventive and charming profound and deeply felt Buzzfeed Inspired by twenty six fruits essayist poet and pie lady Kate Lebo expertly blends the culinary medical and personal A is for Aronia berry member of the apple family clothes stainer superfruit with reputed healing power D is for Durian endowed with a dramatic rind and a shifty odour peaches old garlic M is for Medlar name checked by Shakespeare for its crude shape beloved by gardeners for its flowers Q is for Quince which fresh gives off the scent of roses and citrus and rich women s perfume but if eaten raw is so astringent it wicks the juice from one s mouth In this work of unique invention these and other difficult fruits serve as the central ingredients of twenty six lyrical essays and recipes that range from deeply personal to botanical from culinary to medical from humorous to philosophical The entries are associative often poetic taking unexpected turns and giving sideways insights into life relationships self care modern me