About The Lost Art of Mixing
Hardcover: 288 pages
Publisher: Putnam Adult (January 24, 2013)
National bestselling author Erica Bauermeister returns to the enchanting world of The School of Essential Ingredients in this luminous sequel.
Lillian and her restaurant have a way of drawing people together. There’s Al, the accountant who finds meaning in numbers and ritual; Chloe, a budding chef who hasn’t learned to trust after heartbreak; Finnegan, quiet and steady as a tree, who can disappear into the background despite his massive height; Louise, Al’s wife, whose anger simmers just below the boiling point; and Isabelle, whose memories are slowly slipping from her grasp. And there’s Lillian herself, whose life has taken a turn she didn’t expect. . . .
Their lives collide and mix with those around them, sometimes joining in effortless connections, at other times sifting together and separating again, creating a family that is chosen, not given. A beautifully imagined novel about the ties that bind—and links that break—The Lost Art of Mixing is a captivating meditation on the power of love, food, and companionship.
My take on "The Lost Art of Mixing":
Memories turned into recipes, recipes that turn into stories. One of my favorite sentences in this book! There are so many characters that bring this book to life. There is Al the accountant, who has always found comfort in numbers and ritual. His story was an interesting one for me. As we get a glimpse of his childhood, my heart broke just a bit for the boy who found comfort in the home of elderly neighbor Mrs. Cohen. Lillian, owns a restaurant that seems to bring people together. Her sous-chef Chloe is staying with seventy something Isabelle. Chloe notices little things going on with Isabelle, little slips that could be Alzheimer's, but she is still able to impart gems of wisdom.A diverse blending of characters that remind that family doesn't always have to be blood relatives. The author blends together wonderfully rich aromas, along with tantalizing dishes where you can almost taste the flavors, to provide a savory story rich in characters that remind the reader of what's most important in life. A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.
Erica Bauermeister is the author of The School of Essential Ingredients (Jan 2009), a novel of eight students and their cooking teacher, set in a restaurant kitchen. Her non-fiction work includes 500 Great Books by Women: A Reader's Guide and Let's Hear It For the Girls: 375 Great Books for Readers 2-14. She received a Ph.D. in literature from the University of Washington and has taught at both the U.W. and Antioch. Her love of slow food and slow living was inspired during the two years she spent living with her husband and two children in northern Italy. She currently lives in Seattle with her family.
Follow along on the TLC tour to read what other reviewers are saying:
Friday, November 2nd: Life in the Thumb
Monday, November 5th: She is Too Fond of Books – Spotlight on Bookstores guest post
Monday, November 5th: Savvy Verse and Wit
Tuesday, November 6th: Savvy Verse and Wit - The School of Essential Ingredients
Wednesday, November 7th: Book Chatter
Wednesday, November 7th: Library of Clean Reads - The School of Essential Ingredients
Thursday, November 8th: Books and Movies
Friday, November 9th: Book Club Classics!
Monday, November 12th: Peeking Between the Pages
Tuesday, November 13th: girlichef
Wednesday, November 14th: Library of Clean Reads
Thursday, November 15th: 2 Kids and Tired
Friday, November 16th: Adventures of an Intrepid Reader
Monday, November 19th: WV Stitcher
Tuesday, November 20th: Joyfully Retired
Wednesday, November 21st: Silver and Grace
Friday, November 23rd: A Chick Who Reads
Monday, November 26th: Diary of an Eccentric
Tuesday, November 27th: Mom in Love with Fiction
Wednesday, November 28th: Book Dilettante
Thursday, November 29th: Southern Girl Reads
Friday, November 30th: Peppermint Ph.D.
Monday, December 3rd: Just Joanna
Tuesday, December 4th: No More Grumpy Bookseller
Wednesday, December 5th: HopefulLeigh
Thursday, December 6th: Sidewalk Shoes
Friday, December 7th: Book Addiction
Isn't this just a fantastic story? I just love Erica Bauermeister's way with words. Her writing is so lyrical. I loved meeting Lillian, Isabelle and Chloe in School of Essential Ingredients and it was wonderful to see their stories continue.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree, she has such a wonderful way of pulling the reader in,allowing you to feel ,taste,see what the characters are experiencing.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a wonderful book to read around the holidays - it might inspire families to share recipes and create new stories to go with them!
ReplyDeleteThanks for being on the tour.