Comments on: Pollan v. Kingsolver: A Food Writer Showdown

By: Kim

Kim — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 02:46:22 +0000

That’s a great point about the order of the books. They definitely take on the issue differently and with, I think, different motivations. Kingsolver’s is more memoir-y than Pollan’s, which would connect it more to your changed thinking on local foods. I think that’s the kind of approach Kingsolver takes to the idea, too, if I’m remembering correctly.

By: Kate {The Parchment Girl}

Kate {The Parchment Girl} — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 17:58:09 +0000

What you said about Pollen’s book being more journalistic and Kingsolver’s book being more experiential is why I think Animal, Vegetable, Miracle is a good follow up to Omnivore’s Dilemma. When I first started making an effort to buy more local foods, it was a political statement. With each beep of the supermarket scanner I was telling big agriculture that I didn’t want its chemical-laced, hormone-enhanced products. But the further I move into a local food culture the less it becomes about making a political statement and the more it becomes about the joy of eating produce lovingly grown by a farmer I know personally. My motivation for eating local food has changed from a hate of big agriculture to a love of small farmers.

By: Animal, Vegetable, Miracle « Ardent Reader

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle « Ardent Reader — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 23:49:29 +0000

[...] Sophisticated Dorkiness [...]

By: The Sunday Salon: Reading “The Happiness Project”

The Sunday Salon: Reading “The Happiness Project” — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 12:56:02 +0000

[...] to live your life. I’ve reading about Millennials in the workplace, techniques for unplugging, reasons to eat locally, other women starting careers, and adventures in post-graduation traveling. I haven’t loved [...]

By: Registering for BBAW

Registering for BBAW — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 13:56:00 +0000

[...] Pollan v. Kingsolver: A Food Writer Showdown [...]

By: Narrative Nonfiction 5: Life Back on the Farm

Narrative Nonfiction 5: Life Back on the Farm — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 14:06:00 +0000

[...] I read this book last fall, and was struck by the way it equates the idea of food with the idea of community. The premise of the book is a challenge — whether author Barbara Kingsolver and her family can go a year eating only local foods, which they define as foods they grow themselves or foods they can get close by (with a few exceptions). [...]

By: Kim

Kim — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 23:41:56 +0000

Jennifer: I’m glad you enjoyed it. I hope you can get to one or both of them soon — they’re a little much to read at the same time, but definitely worth it.

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 03:41:49 +0000

I love that you did this. I’ve read bits and pieces of An Omnivores Dilemma and other works by Pollan and I love his writing style and sense of humor. I’ve also read some Kingsolver, but it’s mostly been her fiction writing. I have both of these books sitting on my bookshelf begging to be read, but I have yet to get around to them. You have definitely re-inspired my desire to read them.

By: Kim

Kim — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 16:26:11 +0000

Colleen: It’s a really important issue, and one that has a lot of facets. Both books do a good job showing just how simple and how complicated trying to change what we eat can be.

By: Kim

Kim — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 16:25:24 +0000

Kailana: Good luck finding the time