Book Buzz: Aftertaste by Daria Lavelle
Food has always been an obsession of mine, but I had never written it really into my fiction, aside from, occasionally describing what somebody was eating, describing a flavor somebody remembered. But this was the first time where, I think years of reading cookbooks, of watching cooking shows, of watching my parents cook, of cooking myself, and experiencing different flavors and different cuisines, and being really tuned into that…I think this was when all of that sort of manifested. This was my first try at writing something that felt like eating. And there were even moments where I would try to eat the foods that I was describing to get the mouth feel right…I completely invented recipes for for several of the dishes in Aftertaste that wind up being these sort of spiritual connections that can bring a spirit back. And in some cases, I would attempt to make the flavors, but in most cases, I just knew in my head what it would taste like from from just experiencing cooking and experiencing flavors. I would use that sort of intuition, also paired with what that character needed at the time. So I think one of the things in Aftertaste that happens is that the food is never just the food. The food is really evocative of a particular flavor of memory. So is it they’re sweet? Is it? Is it something that really disturbs the spirit that’s trying to come back? Is it something warm? Is it something that they’re excited to taste again? Is it a recollection that buoys them, or is it something that crushes them?
― Daria Lavelle, Interview, Table Talk
What booksellers are saying about Aftertaste
- If you could have one meal, just one more perfect special meal, with anyone who has passed on from this world, what would it be? Granny’s mashed potatoes? The cheezy fries you used to have with your college roommate? In Aftertaste, a fun cautionary tale that reads a bit like a mash up of The Bear meets the Sixth Sense, you just might get the chance to order up. Fast paced, fun, and a little fantastical, Aftertaste is delicious delightful.
― Angie Tally, The Country Bookshop in Southern Pines, North Carolina | BUY
- The richness of the following recipe is enough to make any reader’s mouth water. One part NYC high pressure kitchen culture, one part communing with the Dead, two parts learning to love and be loved, one half part mobster madness, one half part spice. Whisk together with a heavy dollop of grief over low heat until heartwarmingly creamy. Best served with a side of cheeky comedy.
― Mandy Martin, Novel. in Memphis, Tennessee | BUY
- I was debating on whether to shelf this book in Fantasy, Mystery, Food or Fiction, as each of these elements are strongly represented in Aftertaste….but, my recommendation would be on the front table. This was a delightful book with plenty of twists and turns. I always enjoy a book with multiple likable characters and this book certainly does just that. The author does a great job of building a story while never quite letting you know what is around the next bend.
― Jim Clemmons, Sundog Books in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida | BUY
- What if you could have one last meal with a lost loved one? What if your lost loved one could come back for one last conversation and the closure you both need? Daria Lavelle combines ghosts with international cuisine and explores the power of food, how it tells stories, holds histories, heals us, connects us, and lets us express ourselves. It’s equal parts heartwarming and heart-wrenching. There’s loss and grief and regret, but there’s also friendship and joy and love. And let me tell you – Lavelle knows how to write about real love… You will drool, your chest will ache with loss, you will hold your breath, groan with frustration, swoon, and close the book full of hope. You will also look up a hundred new foods you’ve never heard of but will immediately want to try!
― Emily Lessig, The Violet Fox Bookshop in Virginia Beach, Virginia | BUY
About Daria Lavelle
Daria Lavelle is an American fiction writer. Born in Kyiv, Ukraine, and raised in the New York metro area, her work explores themes of identity and belonging through magic and the uncanny. Her short stories have appeared in The Deadlands, Dread Machine, and elsewhere, and she holds degrees in writing from Princeton University and Sarah Lawrence College. She lives in New Jersey with her husband, children, and goldendoodle, all of whom love a great meal almost as much as she does. Learn more at DariaLavelle.com..
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