Reading and Eating

[AgentPete]

Indulging myself in John Masefield’s The Box of Delights, the sequel to The Midnight Folk, which I read, re-read and re-re-read to destruction when I was about, oh, ten.

Funny thing is, right from page one, I needed to eat! As the pages turned, so my hunger grew. Every session.

This has to be a childhood reflex. And thinking back, with totally immersive books, I would indeed have something handly to chew on. I guess my young metabolism could handle it then… but not now!

Anyone else have this very odd syndrome?

 

[Katie-Ellen]

I read The Midnight Folk aged 10 and gave it to my older daughter to read in her turn and she loved it. I haven't read The Box of Delights.

In response to your munchies, no

I won't eat, but I will delay going for a wee. Not till it's too late, you understand, but also any other resident adult asking me to feed them at this juncture will not be viewed with favour.

 

[Sea-shore]

I like to snack when I read and especially when I write. But sometimes, writing is so immersive, I've missed meals. Guess that balances out my weight.

 

[Paul Whybrow]

I read Isak Dinesen's short story Babette's Feast before it was adapted into a film. The protagonist wins a decent sum on the lottery, using the money to cook an extraordinary feast, with exotic ingredients, for her guests. The book and the film made me salivate!

The Guardian has been running a series of recipes based on food eaten in novels:

The Little Library Café | Books | The Guardian