Review by Matthew Nielsen
Relish: My Life in the Kitchen by Lucy Knisley is an autobiographical journey of the author’s relationship with food. Knisley has enthusiastic high quality food lovers for parents and has spent a great deal of time and family connections working in or around the kitchen, and the author provides a wise and experienced account of her interactions.
Knisley is able to deliver a powerful range of memories, including sight, taste, and smell — very richly portraying food and locations. Her life stories are interlaced with the occasional random facts and recipes, the latter of which add a high level of practicality to the book. Knisley enthusiastically tells her tales, not just with selected positive highlights, but also with an admirable degree of honesty. The art style is simple, stylized, and consistent, aside from extra detail where necessary. For example, there was one scene showing a very nicely drawn croissant to emphasize the taste, texture and smell. I quite like it!
If you’re up for a journey into and beyond the kitchen with friends and family along the way, told by a positive and energetic artist, then you might want to check this graphic novel out.
