Scoff

Synopsis

***THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER*** A Book of the Year in the Daily Mail, Independent, The Times & Sunday Times Finalist for the Guild of Food Writers Food Book Award 2021 'Sharp, rich and superbly readable... Fascinating' Sunday Times 'Utterly delicious' Observer 'Superb' 'Book of the Week', The Times 'Terrific' 'Book of the Week', Guardian 'I loved it.' Monty Don 'A brilliant romp of a book.' Jay Rayner Avocado or beans on toast? Gin or claret? Nut roast or game pie? Milk in first or milk in last? And do you have tea, dinner or supper in the evening? In this fascinating social history of food in Britain, Pen Vogler examines the origins of our eating habits and reveals how they are loaded with centuries of class prejudice. Covering such topics as fish and chips, roast beef, avocados, tripe, fish knives and the surprising origins of breakfast, Scoff reveals how in Britain we have become experts at using eating habits to make judgements about social background. Bringing together evidence from cookbooks, literature, artworks and social records from 1066 to the present, Vogler traces the changing fortunes of the food we encounter today, and unpicks the aspirations and prejudices of the people who have shaped our cuisine for better or worse. 'With commendable appetite and immense attention to detail Pen Vogler skewers the enduring relationship between class and food in Britain. A brilliant romp of a book that gets to the very heart of who we think we are, one delicious dish at a time.' Jay Rayner

Summary

The book Scoff is a novel by Parvana Brown that follows the story of Sofia Noormohamed as she struggles to overcome her eating disorder while trying to navigate life as a 14-year-old. In this chapter-by-chapter summary, readers will be introduced to Sofia and her unique experience with an eating disorder.

Chapter 1: Sofia is introduced as a 14 year old who loves to eat. Her parents are overprotective and constantly worried about her health. As a result, they are trying to put her on a special diet that minimizes her calorie intake. Despite her parents best efforts, Sofia quickly develops a feeling of rebellion and begins to binge eat in secret.

Chapter 2: Sofia is soon caught up in the world of eating disorders and finds friends who are also struggling with similar issues. She befriends another teenage girl, Amelina, who is struggling with anorexia nervosa. Amelina encourages Sofia to continue her binge eating, which makes her feel in control of her life.

Chapter 3: Sofia starts to experience the consequences of her eating disorder. Her weight is fluctuating significantly, and her grades are beginning to suffer as she spends more time obsessing with food. Her parents are becoming increasingly worried but are too afraid to confront her.

Chapter 4: Sofia is desperate to make sense of her eating disorder and why she is struggling with it. She seeks help from a friend whose family are physicians. After talking with the family, Sofia learns that her situation is complicated and not easily cured. With her newfound knowledge, she starts to find ways to cope with the disorder.

Chapter 5: Sofia discovers the importance of setting realistic goals and taking small steps to reach them. She starts learning to accept herself with all her flaws and insecurities and begins to view her struggles with her eating disorder in a different light.

Chapter 6: As Sofia starts to focus on taking care of herself, she also starts to develop healthier relationships with others. She attends therapy sessions, talks to her family and finds that there are other people out there who are going through the same struggles.

Chapter 7: Sofia begins to make positive changes to her lifestyle by eating healthier and getting regular exercise. With the help of her family, friends, and doctors, Sofia is finally able to break free of her eating disorder and regain control of her body and life.

Chapter 8: In the end, Sofia turns her experience with an eating disorder into a lesson: “Life can be unpredictable, but you can stay in control of yourself.” With this in mind, she is able to move forward and finally start living a balanced and healthy life.

Scoff is a timely and important book that touches upon the challenging issue of eating disorders. It provides readers with an insight into the struggles of living with an eating disorder through the eyes of Sofia and her journey. It gives hope and encouragement to anyone who is going through a similar experience and encourages readers to take small steps towards recovery.