Eating the Landscape Evaluation

Emily Lincoln

ENGL102-042

Prof. Santos

21 March, 2018

Eating the Landscape

The book being reviewed is called Eating the Landscape: American Indian Stories of Food, Identity, and Resilience by Enrique Salmon. This nonfiction book is full of personal stories that open up into the culture that takes place in a farming family out in the southwest area of the United States and northern Mexico. Salmon talks about how not only food itself has a special meaning to indigenous people but how the roots of where their food comes from has a significant meaning. He educates readers by showing a different perspective of food, where most people look at the meal on the table but he shows more of how it is brought to the table and why it is important to see that significance. To these farming families, food is highly valued and meaningful and it truly ties his family together. He takes pride in carrying on these traditions and writes about how important food is to his culture.

The book has numerous strengths. What stands out to me is the tone he uses throughout the whole book. Readers can tell he is deeply dedicated and loyal to the way he has been raised, but he does not come off as too serious or harsh. It gives off a calm and friendly feel, which is important in describing a different type of lifestyle. Salmon also does an incredible job of describing, explaining, using photos to support his text, and giving background information about unfamiliar scenarios, places, or things. Salmon writes, “Cultural history and biocultural lessons are woven into the daily fabric of Raramuri activities. Raramuri stories are about how the world began, how the animals emerged, and how the first Raramuri found their way this level of the universe. Their history also explains how the plants are direct relatives to the people.” (Salmon 13) This quote is an example of how the author thoroughly explains a part of his culture but keeps it simple enough for readers to understand. He also provides a photo at the top of the page that the text is on of a Raramuri family walking to Norogachi, Chihuahua, Mexico. It helps readers to physically visualize and get a feel for the environment in which he is addressing. Like many books, there are some weaknesses. Something that stood out to me is that he provides so much information in one single chapter, sometimes it can be off topic. This can make it more difficult for readers to understand so it is definitely a book you must carefully read to understand well. Also, even though the author provides an immense amount of information and background, he tends to sometimes write in short, choppy sentences as he is explaining. This could be to make things clear and simple but it rather seems to come off as confusing as the multiple sentences repeated words create an unbalanced flow. The sentences could be somewhat more organized or thought out. For example, “Kyril is not Navajo. He is one of the many Newcomers to the region, who, in most cases, come to escape the fast pace and stresses of city life. Kyril came at first for similar reasons, but he has since dedicated his life to help revitalize sustainable Navajo agriculture on the reservation.” (Salmon 90) Often times, sentence patterns like this break up the flow and ease while reading.

Overall, Enrique Salmon offers a wonderful read that educates and sends a wonderful message. Book depository reviews, “ Salmon shows that these collective philosophies provide the foundation for indigenous resilience as the farmers contend with global climate change and other disruptions to long-established foodways. This resilience, along with the rich stores of traditional ecological knowledge maintained by indigenous agriculturalists, Salmon explains, may be the key to sustaining food sources for humans in years to come. As many of us begin to question the origins and collateral costs of the food we consume, Salmon's call for a return to more traditional food practices in this wide-ranging and insightful book is especially timely” This review perfectly describes Salmons goals in writing this. I agree that traditional food practices are important in his eyes, as many of us barely even know where the food we consume comes from. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone as it guides one to open their mind about different cultures, and the way food is perceived. It also helps readers to understand that there is so much more than what goes into food before it is brought to the table. Another reason as to why I would recommend this book, is because it reminds all that people are different, come from different cultures, and do things differently. It is important to remember that we are all different and that we should respect one another for their differences. No way of living is right or wrong, and Salmon shares his cultural experiences in a kindly manner. This book may be beneficial for those studying American Indian cultures. Eating the Landscape truly opened my mind and changed my views on food, culture, and traditions. It has influenced me to be more thoughtful in those terms and reminded me that sharing ideas is something so important that we practice more often.