Scan barcode
tara3117's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
There should be a trigger warning for eating human remains. Gross.
Maybe there should be a trigger warning for excessive use of metaphor and similie.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, Toxic relationship, Infidelity, and Dementia
wardenred's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Life is beautiful. Some people just remind you of that more than others.
This isn't my usual genre at all, but I still enjoyed the book very much. It's sort of a tapestry of lives, intersecting in a cooking class: a young woman chasing her dream and an old woman holding on to her memory; somebody overwhelmed by motherhood and somebody grieving a recent loss; a couple that has preserved their marriage through a rocky road and a couple that comes together as the story unfolds. There is, perhaps, a touch of magical realism in the uncanny ability Lillian, the teacher, displays in selecting the recipes that are most likely to lead her students to the realizations they need to achieve and lessons they need to learn. But then again, is there? It's not like food isn't actually magic. :)
I liked how the book is written: it manages to stay cozy and hopeful even when really difficult subjects are explored. The characters feel alive on the page, and all of them grew on me in one way or another. And every vivid food description was practically its own story. I even took notes on some tricks I want to try when I'm back in the kitchen.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Infidelity
Moderate: Cancer
tarajoy90's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Terminal illness, Infidelity, Grief, and Dementia
More...