The Butcher and the Vegetarian: One Woman’s Romp Through a World of Men, Meat, and Moral Crisis by Tara Austen Weaver. © 2010 Rodale Books. ISBN 0743289689. Hardback. Memoir/Non-Fiction. 240 pages. $23.99 US. [ Purchase ] Source: purchased at University of Washington bookstore
I suppose it is only appropriate to offer the caveat that having followed Ms. Weaver’s blog for the past year, I was overjoyed at the opportunity to support her writing (and food-loving) efforts by purchasing this book and attending her first reading. Hearing some of the background and side stories whetted my appetite to indulge in the book itself, and I was not disappointed (although I am inclined to agree with the author and her agent that a question mark would have better suited the cover in place of the heart between the butcher and customer).
Having read my fare share of trite literature lately, Weaver’s stylistic approach to language was refreshing. As a hybrid of food-writing and memoir, she skillfully combined facts and research about the production of meat with stories and then wove them back to relate to her own life. The book begins with the premise that she grew up a vegetarian but later, suffering from health problems, undertook the addition of meat to her diet upon her doctors’ recommendation.
A number of topics are covered in the book. I hesitate to say too many, but perhaps some of the emphasis she might have liked the reader to pick up on got lost in the shuffle of ideas. Between the morality of eating animals, pursuing health, abiding by or resisting social norms, the residual effects of a vegetarian upbringing, and various personal struggles, I sometimes felt certain anecdotes were introduced merely to reconnect the reader to the author on a human level. Since it is a book about one woman’s journey through various dietary restrictions and liberations, personal stories are to be expected. However, the amount of research that went into her process of searching for a healthy, sustainable diet was substantial and spills onto the pages.
As someone who often takes food for granted, I took great interest in the information regarding how the animals are raised and the different ways cows can be raised humanely. Perhaps my focus was not directed as Weaver would have intended, but that is something that should have been considered in the drafting.
Regardless, the book provoked further interest into what exactly I am supporting when I buy beef from Safeway, and any book that prompts the reader to re-evaluate a situation should be considered a success. I only wish she would have included an appendix of the mouth-watering recipes she frequently mentions!
ETA 3/3/10: I found out via Twitter that there is a page on her website to download the recipes! Cook on, book lovers. I haven’t had the opportunity to try any out yet, but if they’re anything like what the book describes, your tastebuds are in for a treat.
