Laura Wright (6) (1970–)

I've been a vegetarian for 18 years, and was vegan for about two years. The thing that caught me completely off guard at the start, and still manages to confound (and irritate!) me, is the negative reaction from family, friends, and complete strangers. I am continually amazed at the vitriol, thinly disguised as "humorous" sarcasm, that I endure from some people. While I don't criticize people for eating meat, many seem perfectly comfortable criticizing me for my choice not to eat meat.

Given that background, I was thrilled to come across this book. I was hoping for insight into why certain people become angry, while others feel the need to avoid me, particularly in regards to sharing meals. I was also interested in the lifestyle choices that often come with the choice to be vegetarian or vegan, and society's assumptions regarding those choices. This book does offer that information, to some degree, though getting there requires patience.

First, the 'introduction' is excessively long, about 25 pages. This in itself isn't as much the problem as the content. It reads like a dissertation proposal, with language that is dry and academic.

Then we move on to the book's content. I was looking forward to a kind of broad cultural exploration. But much of the book's focus is quite narrow. Multiple chapters cover specific TV shows and movies in regards to what is sometimes an obscure portrayal of vegan diet and lifestyle. The author dissects these shows, finding, within them, issues pertaining to vegans that many of us might not even have picked up on. I have not seen most of these shows and movies (True Blood, The Year of the Flood, etc.). Without that context, and with absolutely zero interest in these programs/movies, I found the discussion difficult to get through. The writing remains dry and removed, academic rather than narrative, making it harder to find footing without context.

I read a lot of nonfiction, and I'm rarely bothered by academic-style writing. But, while this book has a few nuggets of information, the whole of it feels more suited to a college classroom as part of a specific discussion. That might well have been the intention, in which case the content will inspire some interesting debates. However, I don't see this book crossing over into the mainstream, which is disappointing.

*I was provided with an ebook copy by the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for my honest opinion.*… (plus d'informations)