Shelf To Table
Food Spotlight: Jollof Rice
The perfect food pairing for this novel is Jollof Rice. Jollof rice is mentioned several times throughout the novel as one of the dishes the family enjoys together on Saturdays. I loved how this detail tied into the story—it felt like more than just a meal; it symbolized home, comfort, and connection. The dish perfectly complements the novel’s themes, as Death of the Author centers on Zelu, her life, and the intricate relationships within her family. Jollof rice becomes a warm reminder of where she comes from, even as she struggles to define who she is.
Death of the Author by Nnedi Okorafor
Death of the Author by Nina Schuyler follows Zelu, the black sheep of her Nigerian family—disabled, unmarried, and more passionate about writing than pursuing a “respectable” career. During her sister’s lavish Caribbean wedding, her life unravels when she’s fired from her job and her manuscript is rejected. In defiance, she writes Rusted Robots, a bold sci-fi story that unexpectedly catapults her to fame.
Page To Plate
Food Featured In The Book
Jollof rice with spiced drumsticks and fried plantains is one of the comforting home-cooked meals featured in the novel, lovingly prepared by Zelu’s mother. It’s a dish that evokes warmth, family, and tradition—perfectly reflecting the novel’s themes of home, belonging, and the ties that shape Zelu’s life.
Character Cravings
Zelu loves eating home-cooked meals from her family, so pepper soup feels like the perfect dish to represent her. A classic West African comfort food, pepper soup is bold, spicy, and deeply aromatic—yet still light and soothing, much like the sense of home she carries with her. Despite its fiery name, it’s a brothy, restorative soup made with indigenous spices, chili peppers, garlic, ginger, and fragrant herbs like scent leaf or basil. For Zelu, this dish embodies both who she is and where she comes from: rooted in tradition, full of warmth, and shaped by the love of the people who raised her.
Book Club Bite
Robot-themed food—like Circuit Board Charcuterie, AI (Avocado Intelligence) Dip, and Robot Cupcakes—would add the perfect futuristic twist to any book club gathering. Creative dishes like these not only make the table look fun and high-tech, but also tie perfectly into stories that explore AI, innovation, and the future of storytelling.
“Stories contain our existence; they are like gods. And the fact that we create them from living, experiencing, listening, thinking, feeling, giving–they remind me of what’s great about being alive.” –Nnedi Okorafor