By Barbara Kingsolver, and I can already tell I’m in for a thoughtful and
thought-provoking treat.

The book tells how Kingsolver and her family moved across country to live in a place where they could grow much of their own food (they couldn’t do so in Arizona, where they lived previously). They garden, buy from local farmers and generally spend a lot of time examining American foodways and philosophies.

The few pages I’ve read so far are peppered with shocking facts and beautiful prose. On the first page, Kingsolver writes, “The tall, dehydrated saguaros stood around all teetery and sucked-in like very prickly supermodels.” What an apt and evocative description — I can’t wait to read more.

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Former contributor Suzanne Podhaizer is an award-winning food writer (and the first Seven Days food editor) as well as a chef, farmer, and food-systems consultant. She has given talks at the Stone Barns Center for Agriculture's "Poultry School" and its...