They Were Horrible Cooks by Allison Whittenberg is a collection of poems about family, life, and the struggles we face. The poems are easy to connect with because they talk about real emotions like pain, love, and even humor. Whittenberg’s words make you think deeply about life and how we handle tough times.
They Were Horrible Cooks is a beautiful book about life, family, and finding hope even when things are hard. Allison Whittenberg’s poems are simple but powerful, and they make you think about what really matters. This book is great for anyone who likes poetry that feels real and honest. It shows us that even in hard times, we can find strength, laughter, and connection—and that it’s okay to laugh at a bad pie once in a while.
What the Poems Talk About
Family and Memories: Many poems in the book talk about family relationships and memories, both happy and hard. In “Truce,” a dad and daughter bake a pie together despite their troubled past, showing how even broken families can have good moments. Another poem, “Coats,” uses old family coats to talk about love and loss over time.
Society and Problems: Whittenberg writes about real issues in society. In “Our Plight,” she talks about how poets are often ignored in America. In “Eat the Indians First,” she looks at unfair treatment of Native Americans. Her poems make you think about what is right and wrong in the world.
Funny and Serious Moments: Even though the book talks about serious topics, it also has funny parts. The title poem, They Were Horrible Cooks, is about making a terrible pie, but it shows how small, funny moments can bring people together. Another poem, Deal, uses silly ideas like “Mr. Pancake” to add humor to life’s deeper thoughts.
Strength and Hope: Many of the poems talk about staying strong during hard times. In “Lag,” a mother’s last words show the love she gave her family. In “Dora Circa the War Years,” we read about someone surviving tough times during war.
My Thoughts on the Book
I really enjoyed reading this book because it made me feel so many emotions. Whittenberg’s poems are short but very meaningful. One of my favorite poems is “Phillis,” which talks about Phillis Wheatley, a famous enslaved poet. The poem shows her strength and the struggles she faced.
I also liked how the book mixes sad moments with funny ones. For example, the title poem, They Were Horrible Cooks, made me smile even though it was about a difficult father-daughter relationship. It reminded me that even bad moments can have a little happiness in them.
Some poems were harder to understand because they had a lot of deep meanings. This might make it tricky for some readers, but it also makes the book worth reading more than once.
