Hungry

 

Hungry by Grace Dent (2021 Mudlark softcover 292pp)

 

It’s been a week or so since I finished reading Grace Dent’s Hungry – some details of the text have faded already but the main themes remain in my thoughts - food, family and the long road to fame & fortune.

Grace Dent is a minor celebrity in the UK now days. I personally hadn’t heard of her really even though I’d probably already seen her appearances on TV programmes like “Master Chef” etc. She writes a widely-read restaurant review column in The Guardian and is increasingly in demand to comment on matters of food and popular culture. This book was recommended online and then I stumbled across her excellent podcast “Comfort Food” which sealed the deal for me.

There are three main threads to the story told in this book. Firstly, Dent’s somewhat deprived childhood in insular Carlisle and how the introduction of Supermarkets and discount stores changed the local lifestyle. The novelty of previously exotic foods and products - how they didn’t always change things for the better. Intertwined is the story of her family relationships, in particular with her father who she discovers has been keeping several secrets. The father-daughter dynamics are strong and makes her reaction to his later health struggles all the more harrowing to read. The third main topic covered is that of Dent’s writing career. She seems to have done everything from the lowliest tasks on student magazines all the way up to fashion magazines to national newspapers. Many tales of job-related excess and debauchery are told.

She writes with a light touch and a twinkle in her eye. Even during the most serious, dark sections you are only ever a page or two away from something that will make you smile or chuckle. I enjoyed reading this book and can heartily recommended it if memoirs are your thing.