Delicious Foods
by James Hannaham
Award: PEN/Faulkner Winner 2016
Nominations: Carnegie Longlist 2016, Dublin Longlist 2017, LA Times Finalist 2015
Date Read: April 20, 2020
All books have something unique to share, whether it be in the plot itself, the technique or marvelous prose. What I found unique here was Hannahm's use of a drug as a character. Darlene, the mother of Eddie, has a severe addiction to crack which limits her options and her judgement. She finds herself held captive as essentially a farm-working slave. The debts levied against her never measure up to the wages she earns. This is a reality that many of the world's poor find themselves in to this day and a shameful way of keeping consumer costs down.
SPOILER ALERT
What I struggle with in the aftermath, though, is the escape from the farm where the only option deemed viable is to cut off both of Eddie's hands. Why couldn't Jarvis return after Eddie was freed? What was How's ultimate plan for Eddie when he returned? I have a hard time believing that Sextus would allow How to kill or permanently harm such a valuable "employee". To make such a rash and permanent decision like chopping off his hands seemed so extreme.
The other concept I'm left with is freedom, what it means and how we value it. Darlene never seemed that eager to leave the farm, even when she had the opportunity. She was doubly trapped by her continuous access to drugs on the farm. There was nowhere really for her to go even if she left. No surprise that I loved the ending where she was able to set herself free. I'm a sucker for that transformational shit and living in the belief that it's never too late for anyone to change.
Date Read: April 20, 2020
All books have something unique to share, whether it be in the plot itself, the technique or marvelous prose. What I found unique here was Hannahm's use of a drug as a character. Darlene, the mother of Eddie, has a severe addiction to crack which limits her options and her judgement. She finds herself held captive as essentially a farm-working slave. The debts levied against her never measure up to the wages she earns. This is a reality that many of the world's poor find themselves in to this day and a shameful way of keeping consumer costs down.
SPOILER ALERT
What I struggle with in the aftermath, though, is the escape from the farm where the only option deemed viable is to cut off both of Eddie's hands. Why couldn't Jarvis return after Eddie was freed? What was How's ultimate plan for Eddie when he returned? I have a hard time believing that Sextus would allow How to kill or permanently harm such a valuable "employee". To make such a rash and permanent decision like chopping off his hands seemed so extreme.
The other concept I'm left with is freedom, what it means and how we value it. Darlene never seemed that eager to leave the farm, even when she had the opportunity. She was doubly trapped by her continuous access to drugs on the farm. There was nowhere really for her to go even if she left. No surprise that I loved the ending where she was able to set herself free. I'm a sucker for that transformational shit and living in the belief that it's never too late for anyone to change.
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