A is for Aronia, berry member of the apple family, clothes-stainer, and superfruit with reputed healing power. D is for Durian, endowed with a dramatic rind and a shifty odor of peaches and old garlic. M is for Medlar, name-checked by Shakespeare for its crude shape and beloved by gardeners for its flowers. Q is for Quince, which, fresh, gives off the scent of "roses and citrus and rich women's perfume," but if eaten raw is so astringent it wicks the juice from one’s mouth. In this work of unique invention, these and other difficult fruits serve as the central ingredients of 26 lyrical essays (and recipes!) that range from deeply personal to botanical, from culinary to medical, from humorous to philosophical. The entries are associative, often poetic, taking unexpected turns and giving sideways insights into life, relationships, self-care, modern medicine, and more.(This book may contain a sharpie mark on the top or bottom edge and may show mild signs of shelfwear.)