between nourishment, literature, and society. Represented here are some of the world's best known writers, many of whom like Nigella Lawson, Julia Child, Marcella Hazan, and Anthony Bourdain are well known for their alimentary musings, while others, like Charles Simic, Roland Barthes, Umberto Eco, Wole Soyinka and Susan Sontag are better known for their writings in other genres; all speak eloquently on the nature of food, language, and the adaptability of social customs. Bonnie Marranca has cooked up a tempting meal of writings that reflect on how the consumption of food or the lack of it takes on larger social significance. A Slice of Life is a banquet that readers will savor through its many courses. A mixture of cerebral and emotional nourishment A Slice of Life is filled with superbly conceived and compellingly crafted essays. My favorite essay of the bunch I cannot decide. It would be akin to choosing between roast duck and chocolate-chip cheesecake as my favorite food. St. Louis Post-Dispatch

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