We all have imaginary lives, and if we are lucky we have a dish to to with them.
You begin by making a cup of strong coffee. I tend to use espresso. I think of that scene in "The Freshman" where espresso is made and lots of sugar is added, and it is implied that drinking it will make you a man. Really it just makes you feel like you are on a speed trip. Maybe this is what the Italians are aiming for? They get up, have that tiny dose of coffee and then race around in their cars, engaging in scandal. Then they cause the government to fall, all before lunch. This is also why every place closes for a few hours in the afternoon. Everyone needs to recover as they begin to come down from the morning espresso/scandal frenzy...
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So begins the title story of Genevieve Jenner's debut short story collection, a ground-breaking anthology of magical realist food writing.
A Russian countess finds herself making borscht for her socialist Parisian neighbours; unknown office colleagues secretly exchange lunchtime delicacies and recipes via the work fridge; steak is cooked at midnight on a Friday to get around Catholic proscriptions; and a thrilling sexual awakening descends into a metaphor of tired sandwiches and squashed fruit.
Chocolate Cake for Imaginary Lives is a book that the sexiest celebrity chef you can think of would take to read in bed, cackling in private recognition-but not just because it's about the role of food at the centre of our lives. It's also about the place of women in the world, the messiness of life, and the joy of snatched moments in the midst of chaos. With a wit and frankness that combines vulnerability and strength, all wrapped up in a package of stories that speak right to the soul, Genevieve Jenner writes about real and imaginary lives with poignance and authenticity.
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This enchanting book of short stories was an absolute joy to read. I anticipate that I will want to dip into this book regularly, even though I have read and savoured each of the stories.
It is a love letter to foodies. Tucked away inside most of the stories is a recipe, but not in the conventional sense. The author addresses the reader directly whilst she bakes or cooks, which elevates these stories, becoming an immersive reading experience.
However, as much as these stories are about food, they are also about people; their relationship with food and with each other. It looks at the way in which we can bond over food, and the delight of using culinary skills as a gift for another.
The prose is beautiful with each word being carefully chosen and intricately placed. There is not a wasted word throughout, and I enjoyed every story for it's own quirky nature.
I highly recommend this book and it will leave you hungry for more, both in a literary and literal sense.
I am delighted to add that Genevieve will be my guest on April's Desert Island Books. Please do pop by the blog next month to find out which books she would take with her to a desert island.
ISBN: 978 1838498726
Publisher: Deixis Press
Formats: Paperback and e-book
No. of pages: 238 (paperback)
When Genevieve Jenner was six years old, she liked to play dress up and write stories, and she wanted to be a mermaid. She has finally accepted that being a mermaid isn't the most secure career option, but the other two things have remained constant. Genevieve lives near Bude in North Cornwall.
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