Some time ago, I read a book entitled Pink Ribbon, Inc. authored by Samantha King. Here's the site form teh publisher of the book. It was a very good book, pointing out the many ways that the breast cancer industry is embedded in a political neo-liberal world. Why else would mammogram machines lead to long walks that raise money for detection (and thus for mammogram machines) and not for . . . . prevention? And, the pervasiveness of pink products, revealed in the book to very little money actually going to breast cancer research at all but gaining the purveyors of the products much good will, well, gets on my nerves sometimes. And, yet, I feel a twinge and buy things. And yet, I walked -- raising money because of people I love. Critical reflection is important, even in the face of this epidemic (or these epidemics). And it needs to be directed at all those rubber bracelets and additional walks, and all those things.
Having said that, this is not a review fo that book (which students found a bit difficult, as they kept having to be reminded that King is NOT saying that we ought not address the problem of breast cancer. Of course that is not her point. Her point is that we may feel like we are addressing it when we are not. And there may be a reason -- or set of reasons -- for that!)
Anyway, this cookbook review is about a book entitled The Back in the Swing Cookbook, subtitled Recipes for Eating and Living Well Every Day After Breast Cancer. Authored by Barbara C. Unell and Judith Fertig (yes, you have seen the latter's name here on Cooking with Ideas recently as she has authored other cookbooks), this book comes form an organization called Back in the Swing USA. Its target audience is those who are survivors (and those who want to buy presents for survivors). And, thank goodness, it is not PINK. The cover shows blueberries, and is reassuringly cookbook looking. The recipes range from a sweet couscous involving dark chocolate and dried fruit to a pomegranate sparkler to oaxacan chicken in mole. Everything sounds delicious and though I am not a breast cancer survivor, unless I succumb to the temptation to pass it on to someone who is, I shall make some of these recipes.
Sprinkled throughout are some reflections -- just on the cusp of mushy, but also not over the top -- which are likely of use to us all -- about grace and gratefulness, for example. Again, thank goodness, nowhere does there verge on the implication that one should be grateful for disease (os dis-ease).
I found this book to be one of the good efforts -- to respond to pain, but move beyond it. And not, at least to my mind, to exploit it.
So, move past those pink bits of candy or pink plastic bracelets, and make some bodacious broccoli salad or island fish tacos -- or that couscous with dark chocolate, which still puzzles me. Read the quotes, think about gingersnap crusted pumpkin pie. And survive -- whatever are your challenges -- with glee.
