|
July 14, 2026 
|
|
|
 |
| Lydia Ortiz |
Dear readers,
Cannibalism in fiction is having quite the moment. True, people-eating people have captivated readers for millenniums, from the “Odyssey” to Voltaire and Dickens. But now, as my colleague Alexandra Alter notes in her fascinating article on the subject, we can add a glut of recent novels to that long, bloody lineage.
Horror fiction and thrillers are natural homes for it, but cannibalism is also showing up in literary fiction, historical fiction and even Y.A. novels. From a literary standpoint, it is an effective device to convey female rage, highlight inequity or criticize consumerism and society’s perverse messaging around body image. It’s also something of a third rail — the ultimate taboo — and transgression makes for great reading.
“Cannibalism is such a malleable metaphor,” said the author Luke Dumas, whose novel “Nothing Tastes as Good” uses it to explore the central character’s agency and sense of self. “You can project so many different things onto the image of consumption or eating, devouring another person.”
Though Dumas drew on his own experiences in writing the book, he clarified: “Obviously, I have not murdered or eaten anybody.” Noted.
On that appetizing note, I’ll see you on Friday.
In other news
- The historian Kerri Greenidge lost her professorship at Tufts University after scholars began scrutinizing her 2022 book, “The Grimkes,” claiming it misled readers. Greenidge denied any wrongdoing. “The Grimkes” is no longer listed on its publisher’s website.
|
|
LOOKING FOR YOUR NEXT BOOK TO READ? |
|
|
|
|
We hope you’ve enjoyed this newsletter, which is made possible through subscriber support. Subscribe to The New York Times.
Love this email? Forward to a friend.
Want this email? Sign-up here.
Have a suggestion for this email? Then send us a note at books@nytimes.com.
