Stay Me, Oh Comfort Me: Journals and Stories, 1933-1941

by M.F.K. Fisher

The second volume of reminiscences by one of America's best-loved writers, now in paperback. The book reveals Fisher's "magnificent resilience, the comfort she took from daily writing, her marvelous powers of observation and humor, and, of course, her lifelong attractions to good food and drink."--San Francisco Chronicle.

Genres: Food, Memoir, Nonfiction

366 pages, Paperback

First published November 23, 1993

About the author

Mary Frances Kennedy Fisher was a prolific and well-respected writer, writing more than 20 books during her lifetime and also publishing two volumes of journals and correspondence shortly before her death in 1992. Her first book, Serve it Forth, was published in 1937. Her books deal primarily with food, considering it from many aspects: preparation, natural history, culture, and philosophy. Fisher believed that eating well was just one of the "arts of life" and explored the art of living as a secondary theme in her writing. Her style and pacing are noted elements of her short stories and essays.

Reviews

[Elizabeth Licata · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sadly M.F.K Fisher destroyed a huge amount of her writing—almost everything she had—sometime, I believe, in the 40s, and it would have shed a lot more light on her fascinating and complex life and relationships. However, the 3-volume set of journals and papers, of which this is one, are very helpful in addressing our need to know more about the mysterious MFK. As always, the writing is wonderful. This book covers one of the most turbulent emotional periods for her.

[Alison · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love MFK Fisher and this collection of journals is much more personal than others. It's a lot about her marriage and the health of her husband. I love hearing about what it was like to be in California in the late '30s and '40s before WWII. She talks a lot about different houses that they build or renovate and that is fascinating too.

[Mycala]

I couldn't bring myself to finish this one, so I won't rate it. It was too heartbreaking for me. I do love her writing, but this one I couldn't do. At least not at this point in my life. Perhaps later.

[Suzanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bumping this re-read up to 5 stars from my previous read's 4. I just love MFK's writing, even when the subject matter is sad, as many of the later journal entries were as they recorded details about her second husband's serious illness. But her love of the various places she lived and her relationships with friends, family, and spouses are so vivid and evocative, the language so rhythmic, her thoughts often so relatable, it's a great comfort at 3:00 a.m. when you've got your own problems, but not the level of hers.

[Eden · Rating 3 out of 5]

I preferred reading MFK's books of letters, or stories, separately. I had a hard time getting into the flow of the book. But reading a mish-mash of her work was an interesting idea; seeing how her life at that moment in time affected her art, and how her art seemed to be such a lifeline when time's were tough.

[Fishface · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this one. It explained all the underpinnings of my favorite MFK Fisher memoir ("The Gastronomical Me") and told me so many things I wanted to know about her real life. Lovingly told by her family.

[Libuse · Rating 4 out of 5]

MFK Fisher’s account of the early years of her life, first during her ill-fated marriage to Alfred Fisher, and then to her mortally ill second husband, Dillwyn Parrish, is a brave account of both a privileged and tormented life. Fisher, best known for her work as a travel and food writer, allows the readers a glimpse into her early years, with regard to both her relationships with her family and both of her husbands. Although her volumes of published work speak to her accomplishments as a writer, she spends much of the book detailing the many impediments to accomplishing what she views as adequate enough work. Not the least of these distractions is her marriage to her second husband, who is ill throughout almost all of their short marriage. His passing and her analysis of their life together and her struggle to find happiness and normalcy despite the many trials his illness presents, make for a fascinating thread that holds much of the book together.

[Alan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting, but I found her to be a bit spoiled and quite catty about the people she was describing. Interesting time period at the end of the depression and during the start of WWII. The section about the illness and suicide of her second husband was a bit better. For someone who is renowned as a food writer, she writs remarkably little about food.

[Dottie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fisher's writing simply put is mesmerizing for me -- I love reading her books -- feel as if she's someone who would have been interesting to know -- feel I know her from what she gives the reader of her works.

[Laurie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read more than half of it but couldn't finish it. Overall, I find her an interesting person and enjoy reading about her life and times, but this book got too depressing and seemed disjointed with the occasional stories thrown in.

[Gloria · Rating 4 out of 5]

I purchased this book on impulse, mainly because I have admired her writing, but knew nothing about her.

Quite moving.

[Barbara Rice · Rating 3 out of 5]

So much sadness in one life.

[Kim Fay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Returning to MFK in the course of writing my novel Kate & Frida, which is based on the time in my life when I “discovered” MFK, I was able to read her slowly - rather than with the voracious speed that overtakes you when you're young and first come across a writer you can't get enough of. I was able to reflect on the elegance of her writing in a new way, since back then I was too captivated by the pleasure she took in living - every one of her senses seemed to be alive at the same time - and I was greedy, wanting so much to take that same kind of pleasure in living my own life. Now, I can see the nuance in how she chose to live, especially during her second marriage to Timmy, the love of her life, fated to chronic excruciating pain and a tragic end. In my 20s, I admired her courage, but as I near 60 I'm able to understand what that courage cost her as she struggled to live fully in the face of looming loss.

[Laura Watt · Rating 4 out of 5]

her second volume of memoirs, these following her life from the early days of her first marriage, in 1933, through the death of her second husband in 1941. These aren't exactly memoirs, but rather journal entries (and a few stories) - as I have been keeping a journal myself since the age of 13, it was wonderful to see similarities in how we puzzle over our lives, or chastise ourselves for various misgivings or faults. Her life was so rich, and her writing so evocative, this book inspired me, both to live life more richly and to try to describe it more fully in my writing. (5/98)

[Blythe · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took me a while to get into this book. I thought she seemed very loose with time and dates. I was shocked to realize they were living a lot of their life on other people's goodwill. I can't imagine what she went through caring for her husband and yet, I frequently didn't like her particularly. Interesting situation.

[Robin Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love a good personal journal read, and this was a good one. MFK Fisher's life was interesting and she wrote it down with honesty and beauty.

[robyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

one of the really great writers, in any genre.

[Bridget · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this 15 years ago and found it indescribably moving. Rereading it now and happy to find it retains its power.

[Denise M]

I learned about MFK Fisher through reading books by and on Julia Child, and became a big MFKF fan with the first book of hers I read, the fabulous, The Gastronomical Me. And I have read many more since then, that's how much I like her. She has said wonderful things like (paraphrasing) how cooking is love (you cook for your family, partner, children, with friends and family), and wrote about the foods and recipes she tried in 1930's-1950's France. She had an intelligent sense of humour and was quite a modern woman for her times. While this book is not my favourite of hers, there are some interesting reminiscences that complement my earlier readings. Glad to have read it.