Breaking Bread: Essays from New England on Food, Hunger, and Family

by Deborah Spark (Editor), Deborah Joy Corey (Editor), Stephanie Cotsirilos (Contributor)

Nearly 70 famous New England writers and food activists share their writing on food and its greater meaning in our lives

A collection of essays by New England's literary greats, chefs, and food activists, Breaking Bread covers an enormous range of themes from examinations of favorite local foods like scallops and lobster, to broader food related topics including family, class, hunger, intergenerational trauma, nutrition, body image, and more.

Altogether, nearly 70 authors, including major literary figures, including Lily King, Johanthan Lethem, Susan Minot, Rick Russo, Roxanna Robinson, Lee Smith, Jenny Boylan, Christina Baker Kline, as well as nationally known food writers such as Kathy Gunst, Nancy Harmon Jenkins, Sandy Oliver, and dynamic new and established BIPOC writers like Phuc Tran, Alana Dao, Kifah Abdulla, and Reza Jalali, appear in this vibrant collection.

Profits from this collection will benefit Blue Angel, a nonprofit combatting food insecurity by geting healthy food from local farmers to those in need.

Genres: Essays, Nonfiction, Foodie

320 pages, Hardcover

Published May 24, 2022

Reviews

[Georgia Herod · Rating 5 out of 5]

For the past couple of weeks, I've been stealing every spare minute I had in order to read the "essays from New England on food, hunger, and family" in Breaking Bread, collected and edited by Deborah Joy Corey and Debra Spark. I'd wake and read in the middle of the night or early morn; then take a break mid-morning, followed by lunch with book in hand. A nap preceded an afternoon literary repast--and a bedtime story before lights out.

I don't know where I found this title, but the subtitle caught my attention: we had lived in Vermont for six years, and we traveled throughout New England, visiting many of the towns and villages named in the essays. I want to return and indulge in the gastronomical fare as I wander dirt roads and shop in country stores.

Over 70 essays by both well-known and relatively unknown writers served up food for the body and nourishment for the spirit as they shared personal anecdotes relating childhood memories of favorite foods and the significance of the table in their family of origin. Each day's reading was like an invitation not only to sit at the table but also to step into the lives of the writers.

Essays both serious and humorous brought tears and laughter, memories of raucous and somber gatherings, both sublime and ridiculous.

Susan Minot's essay, "On Not Being Fresh," read like a subtext of my bio in the ways that eating has changed over the decades of my life. As an example, as I was growing up, not a day went by that my mother did not pull out the frying pan in order to prepare the day's meals. In contrast, the other day, I had to search for a fry pan hiding in the back of a lower cabinet. When I established my own kitchen and began cooking, I too shifted from canned and frozen to fresh.

I really liked this book.

I just noticed that the title above (New England Writers on Food, Cravings, and Life) is different than the title on the book cover: Essays from New England on Food, Hunger, and Family. Either is fitting, but I like the above title better.

[Genanne Walsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn’t know I was hungry for this book until I read it — engrossing, wide-ranging essays about food from New England writers. The essays are short in length, making for a perfect nibble, but many linger in the mind. A wonderful read for foodies, nonfiction lovers, and anyone interested in finding out how others eat, cook, and share nourishment. Proceeds from book sales benefit a food-focused nonprofit in Maine. Highly recommended.

[Rob · Rating 4 out of 5]

With nearly 70 essays, you’d expect maybe a dud
or two or five, but not only were they all worth the read, there more than a few gems. The cover states “from New England” but most all of them were specifically in Maine and made it all the more enjoyable for me.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. I feared it would just sit on my shelf unread but, once I flipped it open, there was no stopping. The essays are short and diverse. If you're not crazy about one essay it'll be over in a few pages and you'll likely Love the next one. Not only did my socks occasionally get blown off (Georgia Zildjian) but I also found new writers to explore. Shonna Milliken Humphrey's essay about baking pot brownies for a friend with cancer led to reading her book Show Me Good Land - which was Excellent. Thanks to Jonathan and Desmond Lethem I can't stop eating Tomato Sandwiches. And because of Kevin St. Jarre, I'm on a mission to try both Ployes and Cretons. This book truly is a gift that keeps on giving. There's so much food for thought...

[D · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is great, as it tells many stories from many people, based on favorite recipes, and the memories and events that surrounded those recipes. But I did struggle to read it a little. It is not one easily read in one sitting. A few chapters at a time are best to comprehend everything and get the most out of this book. It would look nice sitting out on a table for others to pick up, and great to take to the doctor's office to read a few chapters while waiting. The theme is apparent that food is not just a product to be digested, but a way to try new things, socialize, have fun and more. The proceeds from this book go to a great cause called Project Angel. Project Angel is a charity to combat hunger.

[Suzanne Hamilton · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 really. I spent a few months reading through this anthology, a few pages, an essay or two at a time between other books. The pieces, contributed by just about every well-known 'Maine' writer - except no Stephen King! - were funny, nostalgic, evocative, and thought-provoking. While a few felt disjointed, like the writer was responding to a prompt: write something about food, please! many were just wonderful.

[Connie Ciampanelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Breaking Bread: Essays from New England on Food, Hunger, and Family was conceived as a fund raising enterprise to benefit Blue Angel, a Maine organization that purchases food from local farmers and delivers them to families in need. My copy is a gift from a Mainer friend who lives on the same street as one of the book's editors.

From prosaic to profound, from amusing to poignant, from memories of days past, sweet, bitter, and in between, to reflections on our collective current situations, all of them show how how food is more than a way to sate us. Each reflects food as connection among family and friends, of food as community, of how it satisfies the heart and soul as well as the body.

The essays and stories that comprise Breaking Bread are by lesser known local writers as well as by celebrated authors like Richard Ford, Susan Minot, and Richard Russo. They are to be savored and enjoyed like a fine meal and are guaranteed to touch your heart, with laughter and with tears.

Highly recommended.

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This enjoyable collection made me laugh and cry, something that doesn’t happen often when reading. Our relationship with food is complicated, and this diverse spread of essays allows us a glimpse of that complication in the writers’ lives, and inevitably I found myself likening my own stories with many of these writers’. The homey feel of these foods and stories comforted me, and it was delightful to read while at a large Maine lake surrounded by people I love. I highly recommend for food lovers, Mainers, and anyone who enjoys good writing.

[Kendra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I spotted this at an indie and felt drawn to it. I saved it for a slow November/December read, which was perfect. This anthology is about food and so much more - it's about comfort, belonging, family and love. So many of these essays were so beautiful, and only one or two were meh for me. Although it's supposed to be from all over New England, most of the essays feature Maine, which was extra special. I just really loved this reading experience and I'm so glad I took a chance on it.

[Yang · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally finished this book! Some the essays were wonderful while some were ????? It was fun reading about different people’s lived experiences with food and comparing and contrasting those with the other essays in the book

[Jeanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

A collection of essays about food, bought at Blue
Hill Books on vacation in 2022. Will send this to my cousin Mark.

[Hannah]

Got about halfway through, but it can be a bit of a slog to read and hard to stay interested.

[Kendra Chubbuck · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading for fun. Mostly Maine authors. I liked most of the essays. It was an interesting read. I enjoyed most of them. My favorite one was the one by Desi Van Til regarding The Persian Palate and, of course The Ten-Year Chili was quite funny. Some of them were very sad and heartwarming too. Since I read some of these authors, I found their essay interesting. I'm glad I bought the book because so much of the money went to a nonprofit regarding food and most of them were Maine authors.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book of essays on food and family. May be inspired to write my own story of food through the years.