Ironically, *The Hunger Games* was the first book I recall reading and really enjoying the descriptions of the food characters ate. Not only was it relevant to the plot and world building, but it sounded fantastic. Like…bread, cheese, and mint tea sound great. Probably not if it’s your only meal most days, but as a well-fed reader who could distance themselves mentally from the story, really appetizing. And that stew with plums that’s mentioned throughout the story (including the prequel) is intriguing.
Also, I’ve been reading *A Song of Ice and Fire* recently, and I have seen a few memes about Martin featuring descriptions of clothing that (according to some) are superfluous. I don’t agree. Some people don’t think it’s relevant, or I know of some people who prefer to play dress-up with characters in their head and so dislike having canonical descriptions to interfere with that. But I love to know when characters are dripped out or looking like a beggar. Knowing the style, the colors, the types of fabric really paint a picture (even if I have to look up some of the terms.
Do you guys like descriptions of these things? Why or why not? I don’t think I’m the only one of course, but I have noticed an increasing number of people complaining about details like this in several online bookish spaces.
by concertbeeflat
1 Comment
Not clothes but I absolutely love food descriptions in books. It’s why I loved the Little House books as a kid.