Eat Your Feelings With Three Fictional Feasts

By now, most of us would be chucking our belts in the donation bag and investing in stretchy yoga wear, but this holiday season might be particularly tough on the appetite. If you find yourself unable to grab the other turkey leg, take another slice of Yule log, or carve off even one slab of Field Roast, I have a few books to give you a sense of feasting (and, hopefully, restore your appetite).

Gourmet Rhapsody by Muriel Barbery
Otherwise known as the mother of all feasting books. A revered and infamous food critic spends his final days in a Paris hotel and in his head. While Pierre Arthens’ family and close friends remember their time with him, good and bad, the critic travels back through his memories to identify one enlightening flavor to surpass all others. Every description from Arthens’ culinary history predating his celebrity contains some of the best food writing I’ve ever read, from the simple act of eating a fresh tomato, ripe and enjoyed fresh off the vine, to a lavish meal featuring an anthology of courses. “Sea urchin royale with Sansho,” “Pastis of Gauthier pigeon with mace, dried fruit and foie gras with radishes,” and “Madeleines with tonka beans.” I have no idea what half of that stuff is, but this book made me want it all.

Listen, Slowly by Thanhha Lai