Food is probably the first thing that comes to mind when we think of Thanksgiving. The holiday is rooted in American history that goes back to 1621 when the Wampanoag people and the Pilgrims came together for a communal feast celebrating the year’s harvest. Since then, the tradition is celebrated with a big dinner with family and friends and the giving of thanks. Gratitude has always been what Thanksgiving is all about, but the focus in many ways is also about food and eating!
The holidays are usually an occasion and an excuse to engorge ourselves with lots of good and tasty food. Thanksgiving is perhaps the perfect holiday for just that! It’s a time to give ourselves a little break from whatever diet we’re doing or to indulge in whatever food we’re trying to avoid. On the table, there’s the traditional turkey, mash potatoes, casseroles, rolls, pies, and a variety of other side dishes and desserts. It’s all so tempting!
So after filling your belly, many people might sit around and watch TV or chat with family and friends. But maybe you don’t like watching football or socializing or maybe you just want to avoid talking about current affairs. I think the last thing anyone needs after a heavy meal is a heavy discussion about politics, religion, and the end times. If you ask me, the best thing to do after a heavy meal is to find a cozy place and read a good lighthearted book. That might help with digestion!
During the Thanksgiving holiday, give one of these easy reads a try. They’re graphic novels and are about food!
Relish: My Life in the Kitchen by Lucy Knisley
This is a graphic memoir about the author’s life and her memories growing up around food, cooking, and her family. Knisley loves food, in fact she’s obsessed with it. Her recollections are stories about what food means to her. In each of the short chapters, she chronicles an aspect of her life and the food associated with the story. This is a lighthearted and humorous read with illustrated recipes at the end of each chapter.
Anthony Bourdain’s Hungry Ghosts by Anthony Bourdain and Joel Rose
If you’re a foodie, then you know who the author is. Bourdain is not just a food expert, but he’s also a master storyteller weaving a narrative that combines food, culture, and people . In this collection of four “Hungry Ghosts” stories, the premise is a challenge made by a Russian oligarch, who dares a group of international chefs to tell a terrifying tale with a supernatural theme that’s centered on food and the goal is to survive the challenge. Each story is illustrated by a different artist whose talent depicts the frightening and the gruesome in a hauntingly beautiful way. Like many ghost stories, there’s always a twist. This is a book that might help you transition from Halloween to Thanksgiving. Since it’s about food, it also includes some original recipes from Bourdain. It’s sure to spook and whet your appetite at the same time!
Umma’s Table by Yeon-sik Hong
Thanksgiving is very much about cooking and family and recipes passed down from one generation to the next. This graphic novel touches on this theme of family and communal cooking. It’s a beautiful story about Madang (who I think is supposed to be a cat) and his desire to build a happy life with his new family. However, his impoverished parents are old and need his help. He knows that his mother will die soon and rushes to learn her recipes and bring three generations together at the table before she passes away. This is a bittersweet sentimental story about family, food, and cooking, and it captures the essence of the Thanksgiving holiday.
The Secrets of Chocolate: A Gourmand’s Trip Through a Top Chef’s Atelier by Franckie Alarcon
Do you like chocolate and gourmet desserts? This documentary graphic novel is all about chocolate—particularly the French variety—and what you can do with it. It’s a fun and educational read about chocolate’s history and how it’s processed from roasted cocoa beans. It includes a few recipes, and maybe after reading this book you might go back into the kitchen and grab a piece of that chocolate cake you were trying to avoid.
Family Style by Thien Pham
In this graphic memoir, the author shares his family’s story about coming to America as refugees from Vietnam after the war ended. He talks about his experience living in a refugee camp in Thailand and then adapting to a new life in California in the context of food and their significance to him at different stages of his life. Food for Pham takes on new meanings as he associates a particular food with an experience. Strawberries signify struggle, as he recalls his parents picking them in the fields as one of their first jobs in America, and Salisbury steak signifies adaptation because it was one of the first America dishes he tried when he started school and tried to learn English. Each chapter in fact is defined by a different type of food that carries meaning for Pham. This is another quick and heartwarming read and great for a post-Thanksgiving meal.