Seedling reviewed Forbidden Fruit by Kerry Greenwood
Review of 'Forbidden Fruit' on 'Goodreads'
1 star
I really wanted to like this book, the author has an engaging, witty way of writing, and seems quite intelligent, so for a while I did enjoy it. Until the extremely silly plot and over the top bias against vegans became overwhelming, that is.
I began to wonder if this miserable story was set in an alternate universe. That is the only possible excuse for the inaccuracies in the story.
The main character states that there is no research showing that a vegan diet is helpful in preventing breast cancer, for example. 10 minutes on Google would have led the author to at least one huge research study (The China Study - www.thechinastudy.com/)showing a connection between animal product consumption and many cancers, including breast. The same study also shows a link with diabetes and obesity. I would have thought that authors typically did some research when writing a book, perhaps …
I really wanted to like this book, the author has an engaging, witty way of writing, and seems quite intelligent, so for a while I did enjoy it. Until the extremely silly plot and over the top bias against vegans became overwhelming, that is.
I began to wonder if this miserable story was set in an alternate universe. That is the only possible excuse for the inaccuracies in the story.
The main character states that there is no research showing that a vegan diet is helpful in preventing breast cancer, for example. 10 minutes on Google would have led the author to at least one huge research study (The China Study - www.thechinastudy.com/)showing a connection between animal product consumption and many cancers, including breast. The same study also shows a link with diabetes and obesity. I would have thought that authors typically did some research when writing a book, perhaps I am mistaken in that assumption.
Another irritating statement in the book was "it helps to think of it (veganism) as a religion". Religions are faith in something that is impossible to prove. There is a huge pile of evidence that a vegan diet is healthier for humans, more sustainable for the earth, and certainly better for the animals who would be killed for food. Um, not really the same thing. Except, apparently, the author doesn't like either one.
And then there was the plot. Several times Corinna and her mad cap friends, including her boyfriend, took actions that were completely ridiculous. The final plot point was just completely ludicrous - they were all accomplices to a fairly serious crime when the police were not notified of her grisly "discovery" (which was really more of a guess).
The characters began to seem cartoonish after a while. Ethical vegans are criminal religious nuts. Freegans, however, are jolly, positive, saints. Wiccans are all helpful and wonderful. Melbourne appears to be populated by nothing but criminals, drunks and religious nuts, except for Corinna's building, of course.
The boyfriend, an Israeli ex-soldier seems to love the nonsense Corinna spouts continuously. Her main thoughts seem to center around how much she hates the weather in Melbourne, baking bread (to be fair that is her job), and eating/drinking.
No more of this for me, thanks. Many, many better books to read.
