Supper Club by Lara Williams

WEEKEND READS BY CHERIE COOPER

BOOK REVIEW

It’s probably clear by now that I love writing by women. And I especially love weird books written by women.

I saw Supper Club by Lara Williams secondhand (at my fantastic local tip shop) and was instantly captivated by its seductive cover – a hand clutching a handful of blackberries resembling a heart.

Supper Club is the creation of Roberta and Stevie, best friends who long to rebel against societal norms by EATING – eating meat, with juices dripping down their faces, drinking to excess, vomiting, and doing it all again.

Only women are allowed in this secretive club that’s devoted to feasting. Members are interviewed before they are allowed to join, and every woman has experienced trauma – infidelity, assault, sexism, and heartbreak.

Williams’ writing is elegant and restrained…until she is writing about food. Then the descriptions are lush, seductive, incredibly delicious. Occasionally the narrative is punctuated with long passages detailing how to caramelise onions or make the perfect souffle, transporting the reader from the story into the pages of a cookbook.

The ups and downs of Roberta’s emotional world are closely tied to her body size. As she moves through the world, she is acutely aware of how the fat content of her body changes the way society treats her.

This book is about female rebellion, about women being rightly angry about the control exerted on their bodies by a society obsessed with women’s appearances. Every mouthful of rich food, every orgiastic supper, and every pound gained is a triumph against the patriarchy in this book.

It’s a truly delicious read, and you can easily consume it in a weekend – or faster!

Cherie Cooper

Cherie lives, works, and reads in beautiful Tasmania – the green island gem below Australia known for its gorgeous landscape and beautiful wildlife. She holds multiple academic qualifications in English, journalism, and fine art theory, and has worked in writing, editing, and communications roles for more than a decade. Most importantly, she has a deep love for books that began as soon as she learned how to read.

Old, new, any genre – for Cherie, reading is about as vital as breathing. She is interested in sharing books that move, excite, and compel, so others can share the joy of a truly great read. While she reads across most genres, her favourite is literary fiction. Particularly anything by Margaret Atwood, Ottessa Moshfegh, Kate Atkinson, Elizabeth Berg, Ann Patchett, and Anne Tyler.

Cherie frequents Tasmania’s beautiful boutique book shops as well as scouring secondhand shops for books to add to her extensive home library. Catch up with her on LinkedIn and on Instagram.