The Taste of Memory: Food and Gardens Have Taken Marion Halligan to Some Surprising Places . . .

by Marion Halligan

In prose as sensuous and seductive as a beautiful flower and a tasty dish, Marion Halligan embarks on a wandering journey into her novels, between past and present, across continents and laboring in gardens and kitchens. This inviting memoir celebrates the great oral tradition of cooks who pass on recipes out of the love of friends, food, and gardens.

Genres: Food

288 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2004

About the author

Marion Halligan AM was an Australian writer and novelist. Born and educated in Newcastle, New South Wales, she worked as a school teacher and journalist prior to turning to full time writing.

A long time resident of Canberra, she was a member of a group of women writers based in Canberra known as the "Canberra Seven" or "Seven Writers" (1980-1997).

She has won and been shortlisted for numerous significant awards, notably for The Point, Lovers' Knots, Spider Cup and The Golden Dress.

In 2006 Halligan was made a Member in the Order of Australia (AM), General Division, for services to literature and for her work in promoting Australian literature.

Reviews

[Kirsten · Rating 2 out of 5]

For me this was beautiful but boring. I'm just not enough of a foodie to enjoy all those food descriptions. Mind you I would recommend this to the foodies out there. It's a very gentle book, a bit like reading poetry.

[Philippa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable but a few turns of phrase felt problematic and made me cringe. I know it’s not exactly fair to read a book published in 2004 with 2022 glasses on but still. On the plus side, I know that no editor would let such things through now! 😬

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the concept for this story as tastes and smells definitely resonate with my memory of past times and places. I also loved the cover. Reading it though was like being party to Ms Halligan's stream of consciousness. This was not unpleasant at all as she seems like someone I'd like to know. Like listening to an old friend reminisce about their life and travels. You don't need to keep track of who is who, or how they are related - these details are mostly irrelevant. I won't be making any of the recipes but then, while I love to eat, I'm not much of a cook.