To Begin Again: Stories and Memoirs, 1908-1929

by M.F.K. Fisher

The first volume of reminiscences by one of America's best-loved writers. "Vintage Fisher. . . . (Her diaries and stories) bathe her youth and beauty in a golden light like the stuff of Gustave Dore engravings, the light of a better place and a better time when people were still made out of heroics."--Washington Post Book World.

To Begin --
1. Native Truths (1908-1952) --
2. On Coveting (1912) --
3. Tree Change (1912-1929) --
4. A Few Notes About Aunt Gwen (1912-1927) --
5. The First Kitchen (1912-1920) --
6. An Innocence of Semantics (1912-1915) --
7. Grandmother's Nervous Stomach (1913-1920) --
8. I Chose Chicken a la King (1914-1920) --
9. Mother and "Miss E " (1914-1945) --
10. A Sweet and Timeless Shudder (1915-1953) --
11. The Old Woman (1915-1916) --
12. Gracie (1915-1921) --
13. My Family's Escape Hatch: A Reminiscence (1915-1926) --
14. The Broken Chain (1920) --
15. Consider the End (1920) --
16. Hellfire and All That (1922) --
17. The Jackstraws (1922) --
18. Tally (1923, 1928-1953) --
19. Ridicklus (1924) --
20. Mirrors and Salamanders (1927) --
21. Figures in a Private Landscape. I. Laguna, 1927: Journal. II. Uncle Evans (1927). III. Examination Books: Biology 9 (1927-1928). IV. Oxy (1928-1934).

Genres: Memoir, Food, Nonfiction, Biography Memoir, Food Writing

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1992

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

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Parts of this book shimmered. I think what I enjoyed best was the child’s view of the world—her sketches and reminiscences focus on her youth in Southern California and capture vividly that time of discovery and expanding awareness. And she’s a great writer—I’d catch myself re-reading an evocative description or phrase with appreciation. At the same time, while her style and tone are droll, witty and entertaining, something about that fell a little flat for me—perhaps it seemed too worldly, too much of the adult, and at odds with her subject matter. I think I wanted more earnestness. But that’s a personal preference. It’s her style that makes this book what it is.

[Jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a collection of lovely short autobiographical essays and diary entries which sharply bring forward details of the author’s childhood and young adulthood. Reading MFK Fisher I always feel like I’m with an exceptionally aware and intelligent friend. She is known as a “food author” and this book has many vivid descriptions of meals. But it’s the intelligence of her writing as a woman, an observer of people, and conveyer of lessons learned in her full and graceful life that most makes me appreciate her. For instance, she tells of her uncle’s admonishment after she told him she didn’t care whether her omelet be made with mushrooms or asparagus. ‘He said “You should never say that again, dear girl. It is stupid, which you are not. It implies that the attentions of the host are basically wasted on you. Let him believe, even if it is a lie…that it matters to you…and even that he does. All this,” my uncle added gently “may someday teach you about the art of seduction, as well as the more important art of knowing yourself.” …And I don’t believe that since then I have ever said, ‘I don’t care’ when I am offered a choice …as Uncle Evans pointed out, I either care or I’m a dolt, and dolts should not consort with caring people.”

[Anna Bond · Rating 4 out of 5]

I still can't figure out why I've become an M.F.K. Fisher fan. Her style is pleasant enough: almost defiant in her lack of subtlety, but with an unfazed sheen that makes all her autobiographical writings oddly unrealistic. I do think it's all intentional, because she seems to recognize both her own privilege and the equal validity of all other life stories, not admitting anything remarkable or notable about her own beyond the very fact of its recording.

And cliché as it may be, as a displaced Californian I love memoirs of California childhoods that capture the glorious nostalgia my dustily beautiful home state inspires in its wayward offspring. Though I wanted more of this from Fisher, that is undoubtedly my failing, not hers.

This collection was fine, but relatively ho-hum - I'd recommend anyone starting with Fisher to get the fat compendium of her food writings, 'The Art Of Eating', as they represent the bulk of her impressive wit.

[Cheryl]

Not sure how this got on my list. I've not read anything else by Fisher, nor even heard of her. To me this read like vanity press memoir, what I tried of it.

[Lanette · Rating 2 out of 5]

I suppose if I was a super huge fan of MFK Fisher I would have enjoyed this book. But I'm not, so I didn't. Felt more like old-lady rambling to me.

[Jackson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Parts liked very much and others were rather horrifying ... this was published in 1992, and it seems that the way people referred to POC might have been more enlightened -- or do I just not trust people to tell the truth the way they saw it then without pondering on it from a different future? hmmm

[Reyna Eisenstark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mary Frances Kennedy Fisher, where have you been all my life? So smart, so witty, so exactly what I want to be reading. She details little moments from her childhood so perfectly, always with a surprising bite, as it were. The last section, which is actually from her diary, aged 19, is also smart and witty. Already, she was remarkable. Now I must read everything.

[Jenn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautiful descriptions of Southern California in 1910s-20s. Made me miss my childhood home. Well written but also wasn’t the most engaging recollection of childhood - oddly mismanaged at times. I do want to read her food writing now though.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm sorry it took me so long to read something by this author whose name I've known since college. She can write and she can remember and she had something rare it seems in the world of memoirists: a happy family.

[Briana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Did not expect myself to like this so much but I did! I finished it in one day!?

[Laura Watt · Rating 5 out of 5]

memoirs of her childhood in southern California. Not quite as centered on food as her other writings, but still a wonderful read by a fascinating woman. (10/97)

[Tara Woodward · Rating 3 out of 5]

The stories on food and feasting were great but some of the others felt like random memories strung together to make a book but didn’t seem relevant to her growing up years (and also hard to follow.)

[Lynne-marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Determined to read everything that M.F.K. Fisher wrote outside of her cookbooks, I went on-line to our county catalog and ordered up what I could. What I received at my local library was indeed humbling. Not only is Fisher a great writer, but she is a great human being. This book, the first volume of her memoirs paints her early years and limns them with the colors of quietest glory. It is the life, I trust, we would all like to have lived and having lived, would have come out as Fisher did: an exceptional individual. The picture of that long-ago life is roundly painted as is the inestimable and inescapable outcome for one person. What a treasure!

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

I enjoyed stepping back in time with MFK Fisher's collection of remembrances from her childhood in Southern California at the beginning of the last century. A longtime fan of Fisher, I found her family stories and accounts of places and people now long gone fascinating. My one disappointment with To Begin Again was the decision to include as the book's last chapters entries from the journals she kept as a young adult. (Likely no one of this age should have their private journals published.) Fisher's vanity, self absorption, and ennui were more than tiresome and fortunately in very sharp contrast with the person and writer she went on to become.

[Jeanne · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mary Frances Kennedy Fisher is known for writing about food. But before she chronicled the world of gastronomy, she was just a kid growing up in Whittier, California.

This memoir focuses on her younger years. Written in essay format, Fisher’s memoir covers everything from her mother’s friendship with the town librarian to her grandmother’s nervous stomach to MF’s very last spanking. Quirky, indeed!

The topics are random, and the writing is very conversational and odd. It very much reminds me of Kate Hepburn’s memoir, Me. This was definitely not what I expected.

[Mycala · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adore MFK Fisher's writing. She could be tender and thoughtful, snarky and irreverent, always entertaining. She loved to tell a good story and I love these, mostly from her childhood. I was fascinated to learn that her love of all things sensual (by which I mean the senses, including the experience of eating) was in spite of her stern religious grandmother who seemed to think that there was some virtue in choking down boiled, mushy, tasteless food. I love memoirs, especially those told with such talent. I laughed quite often throughout.

[Betsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first read of Fishers work. Bits of these essays are repetitive, but they are reflections of a woman in her 70s and reworked diary entries - who wouldn't get repetitive? Regardless, I'm hooked. Totally in love with how this woman describes an egg sandwich in wax paper. Can't wait to get my hands on more of her food writing.

[Christine Feiner · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was the first MFK Fisher I had read and although I would like to read more of her food writing, I was less than enchanted with this memoir. Although it was an interesting insight into her dynamic personality and unique voice.

[Fishface · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one drew me in and and kept me reading until the last page. This is more a collection of childhood and schoolgirl reminiscences than her usual food writing, focusing on recess-yard politics and dating in college. Beautifully written and very satisfying.

[Rita]

1992
I'd probably enjoy these California childhood memoirs of someone who in her time was loved for her food books. See other goodreaders reviews.

WRB 'Feasting on life' by Brenda Wineapple March 1993

[Sandy Barnes]

I enjoyed the essays about life in Southern California in the early part of the 20th century. I had never read this author before and now more interested in her other works. She does a great job of relaying her experiences as a child

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think the most fascinating part of this book were the parts about Los Angeles as a small town with no traffic.