Artichokes&City Chicken

[fernwehgypsey]

Artichokes & City Chicken: Reflections on Faith, Grief, and My Mother's Italian Cooking was written by Jan Groft. She firmly believed that all of humankind is created at birth with a desire to use his or her own inherent God-given talent. By sharing this talent it is possible to provide a worthwhile experience to others. We are thereby able to give as we are receive. The author believed that her talent manifested itself through writing and storytelling.

Her mother nourished those she loved. She felt emptiness which was translated into her compassion for others. She didn't want them to ever experience the sense of emptiness that she experienced; She fed them, sharing her talent and God-given gift. A standard meal served at a family dinner consisted of Artichokes and chicken, meatball, salads and bread. Although the family would be as stuffed as a holiday meals for the mother it was never enough. The author believed that the mother experienced a calling from God, and this led her mother to the kitchen. Cooking was how Jan Groft's mother shared love.

This author of Artichokes and Chicken is the narrator of this culinary essay combined with family recipes. The narrative focuses upon the relationship with her Italian mother. The mother becomes disabled at the young age of two years old. the author explains the profound influence that the disability has on her mother's life, as well as on her own.

I greatly enjoyed the author recounting stories of her mother cooking and preparing food for her loved ones. I felt as if I was transported into their kitchen and I could smell the artichoke, chicken, meatball soup and bread that was prepared. I was excited to read the family recipes provided in the book, as I love cooking and preparing new foods.

I feel that there was an overemphasis upon religious rhetoric. I believe that some readers may become disinterested by the author's apparent preaching in the story. I expected to hear more about the author and her mother's family and time in the kitchen, preparing delicious Italian foods. Jane Groft appears to be expressing her religious beliefs first and foremost. The story was overshadowed by her accounts about Christianity and her writing lacked qualitative value. The majority of the novel was about her faith and I was left feeling unsatisfied, because I read much less in comparison, about cooking and grief. I believe that the title was misleading to readers like myself. I would have better enjoyed the novel if she had included equal parts in the story about faith, cooking and grief.