In Memory of Bread: A Memoir

IN MEMORY OF BREAD                        PAUL GRAHAM

When Paul Graham was suddenly diagnosed with a serious wheat allergy at the age of thirty-six, he was forced to say goodbye to traditional pasta, pizza, sandwiches, and more. Gone, too, were some of his favorite hobbies, including brewing beer with a buddy and gorging on his wife’s homemade breads. Struggling to understand why he and so many others had become allergic to wheat, barley, rye, oats, and other dietary staples, Graham researched the production of modern wheat and learned that not only has the grain been altered from ancestral varieties but it’s also commonly added to thousands of processed foods.
     In writing that is effortless and engaging, Paul explores why incidence of the disease is on the rise while also grappling with an identity crisis—given that all his favorite pastimes involved wheat in some form. His honest, unflinching, and at times humorous journey towards health and acceptance makes an inspiring read. 

PAT'S REVIEW

A story about a man named Paul Graham and how he struggled with being ill until he was diagnosed with celiac disease. What I did not know is what can happen if it is not treated. You can eventual have any or all of these happen to you diet is not changed, there can be serious neurological consequences such as diabetes, MS, epileptic seizures, dementia. The author takes you through an honest journey when first given the diagnosis and still tries to eat some of his favorite food but either in small amounts or different bread. This does not work, and when he goes through this part of his journey he had me. I felt here is someone giving you all of the facts and he is even telling you he did not believe what the doctor was saying because he had never heard of it before. Now, of course, we hear of it all of the time and I think some people have changed the diet for health reasons. I don’t think all have the true celiac as is described by this man and what he had been going through. (Not to say it is not true what people are feeling, my personal belief). He shares his feelings about not being able to eat cake, birthday cake, and other things. These are being taken away from him and I could relate because I love food as well. I know what it is like when you can’t eat a portion of food anymore for whatever the reason is. His wife bless her supports her husband and does so by giving up the same items as him and she explains what she went through as well because we do not know that we have certain likes until it is taken away. I found this book to be really helpful since my daughter was diagnosed with celiac and I have started supporting her changing eating, my wife had done so already, I had by cooking and baking different but now our home is like that as the book. A very eye-opening book and very honest look into this man’s journey. I received this book from Netgalley.com I gave it 5 stars. Follow us at www.1rad-readerreviews.com