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butterfly2507's review against another edition
3.0
I love the idea of this book. Bringing family and friends together, sharing memories (good and bad) and getting to know the different people a little more. I also enjoyed the food themed book - since I love cooking and eating - but found it to be a little too much at times. Pages and pages about food and how to cook it is just not my thing. However, it was still very enjoyable and a fun read, perfect for a summer vacation as well!
del_devours's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
First of all, let me just say, I really dig the cover on this book. It's simple, but elegant; pictures of dinner paraphernalia set against a blue backdrop evoking images of family dinners at Nannas. I love that the blurb is set within the image of the cookie jar, working with the design instead of dominating it. My complements to Allison Colpoys, who is responsible for the design.
The cover sets the tone for the book. Grace's Table is a literary gem that skilfully weaves a narrative around the complexities of grief, anger, blame, redemption, and family. Piper’s voice is almost poetic, providing vivid descriptions that contrast the beauty of Grace's memories with the starkness and immediacy of her present reality. Transitions between past and present are fluid, creating an engaging and immersive journey into Grace's life.
This is very much a character-driven novel, with Susan’s hero worship of her father and strained relationship with Grace paralleling Grace’s fond memories of her own father and the troubled relationship she had with her mother. The exploration of family dynamics is powerful. Piper draws us into Grace’s life with such ease, she feels like a friend by the end of the book.
The thematic exploration of food adds another layer to the narrative, highlighting how much of our lives and memories are intertwined with it. Piper uses food to evoke strong emotions, both positive and negative, forming a poignant connection to the past, and displaying the wide array of personalities among Grace’s friends and families.
I won’t discuss the ending in detail because, spoilers. I will say that it is powerful and highly emotional, though it did feel slightly rushed after such a long build-up. The slow start might deter some readers, but I encourage you to persevere; you will surely be rewarded with a rich and immersive story that leaves a lasting impression, turning the ordinary act of sharing a meal into a profound exploration of the complexities of life, love, loss, and family.
The cover sets the tone for the book. Grace's Table is a literary gem that skilfully weaves a narrative around the complexities of grief, anger, blame, redemption, and family. Piper’s voice is almost poetic, providing vivid descriptions that contrast the beauty of Grace's memories with the starkness and immediacy of her present reality. Transitions between past and present are fluid, creating an engaging and immersive journey into Grace's life.
This is very much a character-driven novel, with Susan’s hero worship of her father and strained relationship with Grace paralleling Grace’s fond memories of her own father and the troubled relationship she had with her mother. The exploration of family dynamics is powerful. Piper draws us into Grace’s life with such ease, she feels like a friend by the end of the book.
The thematic exploration of food adds another layer to the narrative, highlighting how much of our lives and memories are intertwined with it. Piper uses food to evoke strong emotions, both positive and negative, forming a poignant connection to the past, and displaying the wide array of personalities among Grace’s friends and families.
I won’t discuss the ending in detail because, spoilers. I will say that it is powerful and highly emotional, though it did feel slightly rushed after such a long build-up. The slow start might deter some readers, but I encourage you to persevere; you will surely be rewarded with a rich and immersive story that leaves a lasting impression, turning the ordinary act of sharing a meal into a profound exploration of the complexities of life, love, loss, and family.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Child death, Car accident, Death, and Blood
Moderate: Violence, Gaslighting, Sexism, Emotional abuse, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Abortion, Mental illness, and Bullying
justanotherpageturner's review against another edition
3.0
BLOG TOUR GRACE’S TABLE
Grace’s Table is based on 70 year old Grace as she prepares for a meal with 12 members of her nearest and dearest. It follows her preparations for the meal with Piper leaving a vivid image in your head of the food and character dynamics. The incredible description and imagery is mouth-watering to say the least! Amongst the detailed accounts of food, Piper has carefully penned a reflection on Grace’s life and the people in it. A very character focussed read, the book primarily deals with relationships and family dynamics in particular parental and child tension. It was a little slow-paced for me personally, but I think this was appropriate for this particular book and the purpose of the story line especially with it being a shorter story.
This book would be perfect for people who enjoy a slower pace or food/cookery based books as these parts were incredibly well written and produced authentic and vivid imagery.
I was gifted this copy by Legend Press in exchange for an honest review on the blog tour.
Grace’s Table is based on 70 year old Grace as she prepares for a meal with 12 members of her nearest and dearest. It follows her preparations for the meal with Piper leaving a vivid image in your head of the food and character dynamics. The incredible description and imagery is mouth-watering to say the least! Amongst the detailed accounts of food, Piper has carefully penned a reflection on Grace’s life and the people in it. A very character focussed read, the book primarily deals with relationships and family dynamics in particular parental and child tension. It was a little slow-paced for me personally, but I think this was appropriate for this particular book and the purpose of the story line especially with it being a shorter story.
This book would be perfect for people who enjoy a slower pace or food/cookery based books as these parts were incredibly well written and produced authentic and vivid imagery.
I was gifted this copy by Legend Press in exchange for an honest review on the blog tour.
ashejo's review against another edition
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
emmafromoz's review against another edition
4.0
A thoughtful & rewarding read. Grace's 70th birthday lunch is a repast in several ways. We are reminded of the comforts of true friendship & of the undercurrents of tension that can run through any family. The grandchildren provide a refreshing note of ignorance/innocence (the moment when Jorja asks why she should learn to grow her own cherry tomatoes when she can always come & eat her grandmother's is poignant). Grace's responses to her children and to her grandchildren are very different -- and yet the hope that they will escape the traps of the past is deflated somewhat by her children's interactions with their own children. Ultimately uplifting, there are moments of Grace along the way as well as heartbreaking truths. We are reminded that truth is always relative....
bookish_spoonie's review against another edition
3.0
3 stars
This book is based at Grace's 70th birthday celebrations in her own home. It shows her family coming together and all the tension and love that it brings. Grace reflects on her life and marriage and the turning points that have brought her family to where they are today. There is an underlying anger that we feel throughout the story but also one of love.
It was a quick read at just over 200 pages and I found it quite a calming read. It was entirely character driven and I found myself angry for Grace and wishing he stood up for herself more. It is very intricate and the writing is delicate and almost poetic at times. It reads in a lovely way.
I did need a bit more plot and I wish the ending was slightly more satisfying. It isn't my usual type of read but I did enjoy it.
This book is based at Grace's 70th birthday celebrations in her own home. It shows her family coming together and all the tension and love that it brings. Grace reflects on her life and marriage and the turning points that have brought her family to where they are today. There is an underlying anger that we feel throughout the story but also one of love.
It was a quick read at just over 200 pages and I found it quite a calming read. It was entirely character driven and I found myself angry for Grace and wishing he stood up for herself more. It is very intricate and the writing is delicate and almost poetic at times. It reads in a lovely way.
I did need a bit more plot and I wish the ending was slightly more satisfying. It isn't my usual type of read but I did enjoy it.
ceeemvee's review against another edition
5.0
This is a well-crafted story which takes places on one day, but reminisces about a lifetime. At first, I read a bit of the book, but it seemed mundane and tedious, and I didn't get very far. I came across it again, started reading, and am very glad I did. This isn't a book of thriller endings and plot twists, but an ordinary woman's life examined.
It's Grace's 70th birthday, and as she prepares dinner for her family and close friends, she weaves a tale of her life: childhood, love, marriage, children, friendship. She uses the everyday and special items in her home to spark her memory and tell her story. However, it's a story that can be seen from a different perspective by other family members: “Families were like sand dunes, Grace decided. They shifted shape and position with even the gentlest of forces. Even a tiny puff – a shrug – could bring about change, move a handful of thoughts to a new understanding, a new authority. A gale, like today’s, and whole dunes – lives and futures – were relocated, reimagined.”
Thoroughly enjoyable read.
It's Grace's 70th birthday, and as she prepares dinner for her family and close friends, she weaves a tale of her life: childhood, love, marriage, children, friendship. She uses the everyday and special items in her home to spark her memory and tell her story. However, it's a story that can be seen from a different perspective by other family members: “Families were like sand dunes, Grace decided. They shifted shape and position with even the gentlest of forces. Even a tiny puff – a shrug – could bring about change, move a handful of thoughts to a new understanding, a new authority. A gale, like today’s, and whole dunes – lives and futures – were relocated, reimagined.”
Thoroughly enjoyable read.
jesikasbookshelf's review against another edition
4.0
"Families were like sand dunes, Grace decided. They shifted shape and position with even the gentlest of forces. Even a tiny puff - a shrug - could bring about change, move a handful of thoughts to a new understanding, a new authority. A gale, like today's, and whol dunes - lives and futures - were relocated, reimagined.
So much resentment had percolated undetected in this family for so many years. Each of them had failed to recognise the other's hurt, everyone had believed their suffering was more worthy. So what should they do about these feelings, now that they were out?"
Families are a complex thing, no two are the same and no experience of being in them is the same. I am often strongly reminded of how much my world view is rooted in the livees of the people I go through this world with. And, though we are all often quick to deny it, this is a fundamental fact of all our lives - we are built on the foundations of those before us and those around us. One conversation can change the way you have seen someone you love for decades.
Grace is having her family found for dinner on the occasion of her 70th birthday. My heart broke for her that this was a rarity, which I personally cannot imagine. Over the course of the novel you are pulled into the way Grace sees her family and herself through the lens of their shared past. Her account of them is searingly honest to the point that you fully believeshe is 'right'. But can anyone ever hold the full truth about a complex family? No, not really - we all see each other so differently, remember seminal events differently and it affects how we view ourselves, our unit and the world around us.
Sally Piper explores this with a simple and meaningful narrative looking into the lives of the Baker family. She makes your heart fill with fondness, makes you cry and leaves you needing to hug your Gran in this beautifully written book.
So much resentment had percolated undetected in this family for so many years. Each of them had failed to recognise the other's hurt, everyone had believed their suffering was more worthy. So what should they do about these feelings, now that they were out?"
Families are a complex thing, no two are the same and no experience of being in them is the same. I am often strongly reminded of how much my world view is rooted in the livees of the people I go through this world with. And, though we are all often quick to deny it, this is a fundamental fact of all our lives - we are built on the foundations of those before us and those around us. One conversation can change the way you have seen someone you love for decades.
Grace is having her family found for dinner on the occasion of her 70th birthday. My heart broke for her that this was a rarity, which I personally cannot imagine. Over the course of the novel you are pulled into the way Grace sees her family and herself through the lens of their shared past. Her account of them is searingly honest to the point that you fully believeshe is 'right'. But can anyone ever hold the full truth about a complex family? No, not really - we all see each other so differently, remember seminal events differently and it affects how we view ourselves, our unit and the world around us.
Sally Piper explores this with a simple and meaningful narrative looking into the lives of the Baker family. She makes your heart fill with fondness, makes you cry and leaves you needing to hug your Gran in this beautifully written book.
gemma's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
alexlogiudice's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5