For the Love of Meat: Nine Illustrated Stories

By Jenny Jaeckel

This collection combines whimsical and surreal illustrations with engaging, intimate encounters that explore the depths of the human experience. Unique and diverse in setting, and with touches of magical realism, these nine stories will tug at the strings of the wandering, romantic heart, setting it delightfully ablaze. Included is a story about a nun who finds herself stranded in the Mexican desert with nothing but a few cobs of corn and a stray horse, a story of a young Londoner who travels to Vancouver where a handsome stranger entices her to take a leap into the unknown, and a story told from the stunning perspective of a slave who, as a child, witnesses the brutal murder of her mother, and survives through her connection to her brother and the natural world. The compelling storytelling takes readers across the world and through the ages, with remarkable insight and soul-moving moments, when paths cross and time unfolds. The author's language, imagery, and attention to detail plunge the reader into these memorable lives that include adventure, courage, love, loss, longing and all the hope in between.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Raincloud Press
• Release date: Aug 20, 2016
• ISBN: 9781941203163

Book preview

food.

One

The Incident

Dieulivol, South of France 2000

[Interview with Brother Tanh]

We can talk here. It’s always so peaceful in our Meditation Hall. Is it suitable for your machine? Good. Yes, we’ve had quite a few inquiries regarding the incident. Brother Tu has declined to talk about it up to now. It’s a private matter for a private person and we monks do not make a practice of drawing attention to ourselves. He’ll be along shortly.

Five years, that’s right, since his ordination. Vietnam? No, he grew up in Paris. His parents came as refugees from the American War, like many of us here. And he became a lawyer, you know, but once he visited here the energy of his bodhichitta was so strong, he could not resist our monastic life.

No, nothing unusual. At the Monastery we have our practices and our study. We take care of the gardens, host retreats and so on. Brother Tu has found a great peace working in the gardens, but he has also been very helpful in the business office. His experience with the law, you know, and his perfect French and his Vietnamese. He takes care of most of our dealings with la bureaucratie. He doesn’t complain but we know he prefers the garden. And really, a simple errand with Travaux Publics is where all this began.

Maybe you have heard about the building permit? We were in need of a new dormitory. Our Spring Retreats are larger every year. You may have seen the article about our Teacher? It has brought a lot of interest.

Brother Tu prepared the application for the permit last April. He is always careful about his work, but was notified three times that there was missing documentation. I encouraged him just to breathe and smile. This is part of our practice. In July he went to Bordeaux personally, with two of the other Brothers. They practiced waiting-in-line meditation for a day and a half, and they were assured that everything was in order. Brother Tu had arranged a meeting with the builder. Yes, that was Monsieur Bontecou, one of the witnesses to the incident. In any case, they saw no reason to delay. It was by now getting on in the season and growing late to start the project.

The little girl? Yes, she was another witness. That was Mobi, a friend of the community. She was here most of September while her mother was in hospital and her father was in Vietnam. We loved to have her here; she was the pet of the whole sangha. She often helped Brother Tu in the garden, though she spent most of the time looking at insects with her magnifying glass. So inquisitive.

Msr. Bontecou? Yes, we were speaking of him, the builder. He and his crew were very pressed for time since by then it was autumn and the winter weather was on its way. Yes, he has a very good reputation. Actually, he looks quite like you! He could be your father; very similar features. Though I suppose I’m not a good judge. Even after so many years in France I have never quite gotten used to the three-dimensionality of the French face. And the way you shrug your shoulders, very lavish, very amusing!

Brother Tu felt under pressure as well because of the Spring Retreat, already full and a long waiting list besides. He and Msr. Bontecou arranged to have the crew pour the foundation, expecting that the permit would arrive any day. A mistake, of course. All that has been cleared with the authorities, and Brother Tu has meditated upon it a great deal. It is our practice to look deeply at our actions, but of course mistakes cannot always be prevented, especially when one may lead to the next.

Brother Tu told me that when he saw the beams that had been built into the foundation he became very nervous. Msr. Bontecou told Brother Tu that the beams would not add to the cost of the materials. He had salvaged them from an old barn, had nowhere to store them over the winter, and they would make the building pretty.

That afternoon, a Friday, when Brother Tu returned to the office, he found that the mail had come, and among the letters was one addressed to him from Travaux Publics. He felt a great relief because surely it was the permit arrived at last. Instead it was a notice advising him that the application had been filed under the wrong class. Further documentation was requested.

When I asked Brother Tu, in our meeting, to reflect on the nature of his frustration, he saw that he had been attached to a particular outcome. I asked, What else? And he said that he supposed he had judged his efforts as wasted. You see, he is a good student. Very diligent.

I said to him, ‘It’s a good thing we monks have no hair.’

‘No hair?’ He looked up at me, blinking.

‘Yes,’ I said, ‘because there are times we would tear it out by the roots!’

(laughter)

Forgive me…

Sunday evening Brother Tu received a call on the office telephone. Msr. Bontecou regretted to tell him that heavy rains were in the forecast, and it would be necessary to create a shelter for the wooden beams. The best way was just to go ahead and put up most of the roof. What was more, he could get a deal on the roof tiles. They were terracotta and would match the other buildings nicely, and he could get them for half the usual price if Brother Tu could give him the word straight away. Msr. Bontecou said that even with the roof it wouldn’t be a building yet, strictly speaking. Of course, we know now that this is a grey area, and for the record we do not believe Msr. Bontecou was being dishonest.

Brother Tu had a most difficult time getting through to the right fonctionnaire at Travaux Publics; so many calls, so long on hold. Finally, when the roof was nearly complete, a voice on the other end of the line informed Brother Tu that the application could not be located. There was no file at all. That’s right, vanished. And what of the stack of letters he himself had in front of him? Well, they were very sorry, but he would just have to apply again.

He walked in a daze over to the building site. Msr. Bontecou paused to point out various features of the structure. He’d had to put in a couple of walls to reinforce it. And it was as he said it would be. With its high arching beams and red tiles, it was pretty. When Msr. Bontecou gave him a friendly slap on the shoulder Brother Tu felt very unsteady on his feet. And this was made much worse by the apparition of the District Inspector whom he met only a moment later in the driveway by the main gate.

There was a building and there was no permit. Unless the Monastery could present the permit in two days he would have no choice but to make a report. There would be fines, and a demolition.

Brother Tu did not appear at the evening meal. I went to his room and found him lying on his bed listening to the rain. Little Mobi and one of the Sisters had brought him some supper. Sticky rice with mung beans, have you tried it? It’s lovely, golden and white. And stewed vegetables.

I believe it is nearly noon. Will you be staying for lunch?

Right, well, Brother Tu and I met again the next day to talk things over. He was terribly ashamed

Reviews for For the Love of Meat

[varielle_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Short stories are not my favorite genre. They stress me out, but this was a pleasant collection. Interesting stories with diverse characters and largely happy endings.

[rachelp1985 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I like short stories for when I'm on the go - reading on the bus or train, waiting for a friend to arrive at dinner, etc. I liked the illustrations that accompanied the stories, and found something enjoyable in each one.

[marcusb01 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I enjoyed reading the book, even though many of the tales felt like you were only seeing a snapshot of a much larger story. The description throughout the book was a pleasure to read, suggestive of an author who enjoys 'people watching'.Something about the style of writing immediately reminded me of Gabriel García Márquez' One Hundred Years of Solitude and I'm left with a similar feeling at the end of this book - as though I haven't quite grasped something - a future reading of the book may well shed new light.I liked the drawings in the book but often felt these were completely out of context with the text and, in my opinion, could be left out of the book without detracting from the tales - even though the book refers to nine illustrated stories...I would certainly recommend the book and I would be very interested to read some longer works by Jenny Jaeckel.I received a free copy of this book from LibraryThing in exchange for a review.

[vpfluke · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is a mixed bag of stories. They range over times and places. It wasn't until I was halfway through that I began to perk up at the stories. I do not always like stories with an O'Henry ending. There was a mystical sense to "Up on a Mountain" to which I resonated. There is a short poem embedded in the story "Yht Little Girl" which has repeating phrases that I found fetching. The Kid is rather attractive about two men in love, with travelers in Spain and a speaking puppet. It made me think obliquely about Coelho's "Alchemist." "The Teteriv was a good, a sort of Rake's Progress; and then the long-awaited snow covers the characters' actions.

[marcush_42 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

For the Love of Meat by Jaeckel is a collection of short stories that delves into the human experience--overcoming the various turmoils of life resounds as a common theme. Some stories involve the mundane like complications with traveling, while other stories in the collection take a decidedly more critical turn in dealing with alienation.There is an attempt in each story to create a kind of connection within the collection. The themes revolving around of human experience create a connection. The small illustrations that begin each story and are peppered throughout the pages also try to tie the themes together. Some of the stories fall flat though when it seems like Jaeckel shelves her descriptive talent for a more narrative, conversational type of storytelling.Overall, I didn't love this collection, but I didn't hate it either. There are definite strong points throughout. If you're looking for a challenging collection, you should try this one out, but don't expect to be overwhelmed.

[bearlyr · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

These stories have us hopping around the world, meeting quite diverse characters in each story. We'll get to know Priests, Nuns, indentured servants, gay men, slaves, a discontented woman, as well as a Jewish Mother. "Meme" will make you feel what it was to be a slave, tugging at your heartstrings the entire time... All of the stories are full of emotion, but this one goes just a little further and pulls you all the way in!

[carrie.kilgore · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A collection of nine short stories with a gentle surrealism that draws the reader into very human emotions. Although some end with a bit of a punch, it's always the journey that matters. The stories hop us back and forth in time, taking us all over the world. It's tough to pick a favorite story of the bunch. Each is its own lovely adventure with characters that may strike us as odd but are overwhelmingly human.

[saskiaberanek · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Disclaimer: I received this book through Librarything's advance reader program.For the Love of Meat is a series of unusual short stories about unusual people going about their lives. Initially I found the book as a whole quite jarring - irritating, even, because the stories always ended just as I was getting invested in the characters she had created. On reflection, I think this raises a compelling meta-narrative about why these stories are grouped together. The stories are all about loneliness or being alone (two very different conditions) and ultimately, each story functions to preserve the loneliness of its central character. You want to know these people better, but are forced away from them, and this theme of coming, going, and leaving weaves through many of the stories. If it's an intentional structural device to unite the stories, it's really elegant. It was a short read and I enjoyed it, but I'm not entirely sure I would have bought the book, and I don't know that I'd read it again. That's not a condemnation, it's just that I like to get close to characters, and though I think the preservation of the solitude of the characters is an interesting theme underscored by the books structure, it's not what I'm usually after in a book.

[nk1271 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

LibraryThing Early ReviewersI think I'm just not a fan of short stories. While these were all good, I wanted more.

[tanyatomato · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The worst part is when I turn the page and see that the story ends. Fantastic writing. Great analogies. Real believable people.

[snowcatcradle · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

All in all, this is a well-written collection of short stories. However, I certainly liked some of the stories better than others. I am a huge fan of magical realism and I would certainly classify these stories as such, but I think my love of this literary trope made it difficult for me to really love this book. I like the slightly off putting feeling of magical realism to be subtle, but not too subtle, and I felt that most of these stories didn't quite manage to toe that line. Regardless, this collection has moments of beauty in it that I think many readers would enjoy and would certainly recommend giving it a try.

[robtcm · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

An interesting collection of eclectic tales. Well written and nicely illustrated by the Author. Some of the stories seemed to be 'slices' of a larger story giving one a glimpse at something more involved. Recommended.

[bricker-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

An enjoyable collection of short stories. I especially like how the author set the environment for each tale in such a subtle manner that it didn't detract from the overall story.

[burnit99 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A collection of nine short stories set in a variety of times and locales, illustrated by the author with stylized pen and ink line drawings that occasionally seem relevant to the story. The stories themselves are finely written; there is a definite literary talent here. But the majority of them seem like unfinished vignettes, as though the reader were expected to learn the hidden stories and emotions of a family by watching a home movie. And a week after reading the book, I barely remember any of the stories or characters, which I think in this case says more about the stories than my occasionally unreliable memory. My favorite (and the shortest. Coincidence? I wonder.) is the title story, "For the Love of Meat", set in 1981 Los Angeles, in which a Jewish grandmother is writing a heartfelt letter to her daughter's new love interest, another woman who, as it happens, is a vegetarian. It's a real hoot, especially when you find out in the final line what the grandmother's true objection is to this "unhealthy lifestyle". But for the most part, the other stories were interesting chores that disappointed when they ended.

[seeword · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A good collection of stories. The settings are diverse in time and place. The characters are also diverse--a nun, a monk, immigrants in Canada, Sixteenth Century Polish nobility, African Americans in 1940s Philadelphia. The stories have gentle twists and are illustrated with whimsical drawings, though at times I wondered what some of the drawings had to do with the accompanying tales. A fun book to read.

[aquariusnat · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is a wonderful short story collection . The author has nine interesting stories, some are funny and others are thought-provoking . She also did all the little illustrations in the book . I would definitely check out more from Ms. Jaeckel in the future .

[ldvoorberg · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I'm not a huge short stories fan, but I liked this collection reasonably well. I like the variety of characters, settings (geographically and historically), motifs, and plots. The stories are relatively short, easily "consumed", and interesting enough to say "Huh." at the end of each one. They do have a more "Canadian Short Story" feel to me than American -- just peeps into people's stories that don't necessary have a story arc or a "message." Yet they're still interesting and quirky. The conclusion of the first story even made me laugh. I'd read something else by this author if it came my way. (ARC Received from LibraryThing's ER program)

[bookdoc16 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Received this ARC from LT as an Early Reviewer.I enjoyed some of the stories in this collection, found others less involving, and found a couple of them too "magical-realism" for me to comprehend. Ms. Jaeckel writes well overall, with some truly fine, original phrases and word choices. Several of the stories were touching (esp. The Teteriv," Me'me'," and "The Kid"), some were simply funny (esp. the title story), and some, notably "Stumble and Fall," were both. The magical realism worked in some of them, esp. "The Incident" -- which reminded me of the true story of St. Joseph of Cupertino. Look him up sometime. In others, particularly "The Two," it left me just wondering what I was supposed to take away from it. "The Two" is a lovely short piece about cousins closer than sisters and a tragedy involving them, but the ending left me unsure of its point. All in all, the stories took me in and held my interest, and I would recommend the book for those interested in a change of pace from their usual reading.Now about the illustrations: They are whimsical, simple, and well executed. But I frankly could find no connection between any one of them and the story(ies -- some were repeated) to which it was connected. It was as if the author had merely decided to toss examples from her sketchbook into her collection of stories. This may have been intentional, but I for one found it only distracting. It also kept me from adding another half-star to my overall rating.So with that caveat, I wish Ms. Jaeckel the best of luck on the future of this book!

[raignn · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

So I received an early reviewer copy--which means I went in with no expectations. The thing is, I applaud the idea (illustrated short stories), but the execution just felt halfway there.Let's start with the stories. There were some really good ones. Really. But then they would just abruptly end (like Wander in Desert). Any good fiction, including short stories, should leave you wanting but not unsatisfied. Unfortunately, everything in this book left me wanting. I think the most complete story of the collection was The Two.The illustrations were also... well they felt tacked on. I realize I'm biased living with an illustrator, but I expected them to at least compliment or add something. They didn't do that and they weren't particularly good. Ultimately, I actually would recommend giving this book a shot. There are some really great moments and I appreciate some of the leaps she tried to make with magical realism and perspective.

[acvickers · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I wasn't the biggest fan of this collection. The title and story descriptions made me want to read it, but I should have known better. I'm not a big fan of surrealism or magic realism and that is basically what this is. I didn't think it was well-written, which may could've helped save it for me, and I just didn't find the stories that interesting. I hate leaving negative reviews, especially when the genre just isn't my thing, but honestly I was just completely underwhelmed.

[kesterbird · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

received as a early review giveaway from librarythingI was pleasantly surprised- this book is full of little gems. Some of the stories are stonger than others, of course, but every single one is worthwhile

[mykl8s · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Jenny Jaeckel writes nine short stories, each one simply told, carrying me on, demanding I finish it. The stories are deceptively simple, hinting at complexities behind the scene. They seem insubstantial at first glance but stay with me after reading.

[lisadeniscia-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I enjoyed these carefully crafted stories that take place in a variety of settings in different time periods. The voices of the stories are unique; the illustrations made me smile, and the magic realism is delightful.

[ennedroc · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I think in literature we often establish this hierarchy of reading. We call stories "good" and so tell our friends who tell their friends until there is no longer subjective meaning, only the best seller. It's largely a generational thing. What writing we think is "good" now is written entirely different than before. Somehow we've created a lit pop culture and I don't think it's quite healthy. We don't allow ourselves to explore the unknown and we keep reading the same books, the same authors, over and over.This collection of short stories is "good" for its style alone. It's not what we're familiar with, but it works all the same. The stories themselves talk to you rather than a character or outside narrator. Short stories are never allowed to be boring. They're far too short to rely on any excuse. And although, my one critique is that the stories could be a bit more intriguing, they never let me out of the loop.

[shadow123_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was a really great book, with some minor reservations. The writing is excellent - I had never heard of Jenny Jaeckel before this, but sign me up to read anything she writes. The biggest issue I had was that each story seemed like only the beginning of a story. Any one of these short stories could be the first chapter of a full-length novel and I would be hooked from the first page. I really hope the author chooses to flesh some of these out in future works. The biggest problem with this book were the illustrations. They were unnecessary, and they distracted from the power and the beauty of the text. The depictions were completely random and had no relation to or bearing on the actual stories they were paired with. So that was weird and a distraction. But I would wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone I know.

[caalynch · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This very quick read of nine short stories was well written and, for the most part, engaging. The stories took place in different times and locales around the world which was quite unique. Some stories were too abrupt in their ending and I felt were not fully developed. However, the majority really drew me in and I really connected or empathized with the characters. The love story that takes place in 15th century Poland and the 1990's story in Spain were my favorites where I felt invested in the outcome. I will definitely pick up another book by this author.

[marcuskb-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I enjoyed reading the book, even though many of the tales felt like you were only seeing a snapshot of a much larger story. The description throughout the book was a pleasure to read, suggestive of an author who enjoys 'people watching'.Something about the style of writing immediately reminded me of Gabriel Garc?a M?rquez' One Hundred Years of Solitude and I'm left with a similar feeling at the end of this book - as though I haven't quite grasped something - a future reading of the book may well shed new light.I liked the drawings in the book but often felt these were completely out of context with the text and, in my opinion, could be left out of the book without detracting from the tales - even though the book refers to nine illustrated stories...I would certainly recommend the book and I would be very interested to read some longer works by Jenny Jaeckel.I received a free copy of this book from LibraryThing in exchange for a review.

[angela.richards · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This delightful collection of short stories traverses both time and the globe. Spanning from 1570 to 2000 and from Poland to California, Jaeckel’s narratives take readers not on nine small journeys but on one long one. With a hint of magic and an abundance of love, each story shows an important part of the human condition. Jaeckel’s illustrations are beautiful in their simplicity, enhanced by the stark contrast of black ink on white paper. The illustrations are well placed and only serve to enhance the narrative. Only a few have the possibility of detracting from it. From supernatural occurrences at a monastery in the South of France, to a dry desert in Mexico, to Vancouver, to Los Angeles and Berkeley and Spain. To 14th century Poland, the racially-tense Philadelphia of the 1970’s, and Haiti, these stories will have something to engage any reader. With a touch of history, one of contemporary, and a dash of magic, Jaeckel’s stories are some that you will not soon forget. Though hard to choose, I'd have to say that my favorite story is 'Stumble and Fall.' The prose is breathtaking and I felt as if I was there - watching the narrative unfold.

[zoes_human · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A collection of shorts which seize moments of life and display a glimpse of the human soul. The stories tend to live on the the boundary of that which is completely realistic and faintly surreal at the same time. The illustrations perplex me. If they have some connection to the stories, it is simply to subtle for me.I received a complimentary copy of this book through the Goodreads First Reads program.

[rachelramirez-523558 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I like short stories for when I'm on the go - reading on the bus or train, waiting for a friend to arrive at dinner, etc. I liked the illustrations that accompanied the stories, and found something enjoyable in each one.