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smalltownbookmom's review against another edition
4.0
Based on the real life of Eliza Acton, a British poetess who teamed up with a kitchen maid to write one of the foremost cookery books in England. This is a story of female friendship, women's role in Victorian society and the differences between the classes.
Told in alternating perspectives from Eliza and her maid, Ann Kirby, we get to know what life was like for each of these women. Ann's story in particular is one of hardship as she is forced to work to help support her disabled father and her mentally ill mother who has been institutionalized.
Highly recommended for fans of upstairs/downstairs stories, Downton Abbey, The kitchen front or Julie and Julia. I loved learning about Eliza's multi-faceted life and the challenges she faced trying to publish her work as a woman and the passion she found for cooking and creating recipes that would be more practical for the average cook. Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my ALC!
Told in alternating perspectives from Eliza and her maid, Ann Kirby, we get to know what life was like for each of these women. Ann's story in particular is one of hardship as she is forced to work to help support her disabled father and her mentally ill mother who has been institutionalized.
Highly recommended for fans of upstairs/downstairs stories, Downton Abbey, The kitchen front or Julie and Julia. I loved learning about Eliza's multi-faceted life and the challenges she faced trying to publish her work as a woman and the passion she found for cooking and creating recipes that would be more practical for the average cook. Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my ALC!
catmom22's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-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
andreagraves5's review against another edition
3.0
I was really enjoying this book: the characters, the plot, the way society and social classes worked in the 1800’s in England. The plot, the detail in which she describes the recipes and cooking was lovely.
Then the ending came. It felt like the author had been building up to it and then just lost interest and ended it. I was disappointed in the ending.
Then the ending came. It felt like the author had been building up to it and then just lost interest and ended it. I was disappointed in the ending.
colorfulleo92's review against another edition
4.0
This had a completely different cover and a different title in my book app but it has the same author and blurb. The blurb intrigued me and I wasn't disappointed more happily surprised as it was better than expected
blodeuedd's review against another edition
3.0
If the author is not a fan of cooking or baking I will be really surprised. The joy in her writing about food; texture, smell and taste. Talking about it, creating. Not something I know how to do like that.
Eliza Acton runs a boarding house with her mother (well now she does as her father fled the country and her sisters had to become governesses). Spinster, poet and then a publisher tells her to write a cookbook. And this woman goes all in, she is a master in the kitchen. And she realises all cookbooks are stupid, like why do they not even list the ingredients? Hers was the first cookbook in England to do so, and do show quantities.
I want to read that cookbook now, as yes, she was real. An inspiration.
The second POV is her kitchen maid, Ann. She also wants to be a cook, but being poor and trying to care for her crazy mother and drunk father she is out of options. She thrives in Eliza's kitchen.
It was interesting to read about, and I know I could never be as masterful, to create is fun, but I am more a reader of a recipe then creating one.
Great narrators. They worked well with their characters and the story flowed really well under thei care.
A friendship forms and recipes flow
Eliza Acton runs a boarding house with her mother (well now she does as her father fled the country and her sisters had to become governesses). Spinster, poet and then a publisher tells her to write a cookbook. And this woman goes all in, she is a master in the kitchen. And she realises all cookbooks are stupid, like why do they not even list the ingredients? Hers was the first cookbook in England to do so, and do show quantities.
I want to read that cookbook now, as yes, she was real. An inspiration.
The second POV is her kitchen maid, Ann. She also wants to be a cook, but being poor and trying to care for her crazy mother and drunk father she is out of options. She thrives in Eliza's kitchen.
It was interesting to read about, and I know I could never be as masterful, to create is fun, but I am more a reader of a recipe then creating one.
Great narrators. They worked well with their characters and the story flowed really well under thei care.
A friendship forms and recipes flow
bonniereads777's review against another edition
5.0
England 1835. When Eliza Action is ordered by her publisher to write a cookbook instead of her usual poetry, she is less than interested. After all, she does not know how to cook! She hires an assistant, impoverished Ann Kirby, to help her, and together they write recipes. Along the way, Eliza finds a passion for culinary arts, and they both find a friend. Will a secret from Eliza's past change everything?
This is a really well-written and true-to-the-period tale of two women who were thrown together, became friends, and did something extraordinary. The characters are engaging and well written, and the story is beautifully told. I would recommend this to anyone interested in culinary history and historical fiction about strong women.
I received a free copy of this book from the publishers. My review is voluntary and my opinions are my own.
This is a really well-written and true-to-the-period tale of two women who were thrown together, became friends, and did something extraordinary. The characters are engaging and well written, and the story is beautifully told. I would recommend this to anyone interested in culinary history and historical fiction about strong women.
I received a free copy of this book from the publishers. My review is voluntary and my opinions are my own.
lurdes_oliveira's review against another edition
3.0
3.5
This was fine. I enjoyed reading about the experimentation with recipes and the creation of the cookbook, but I wanted more.
I wouldn't really say this is a book about friendship. Eliza may have treated Ann better than most people treated their servants, but she didn't treat Ann as a friend. I also like the commentary on how women's opportunities were limited and very much tied to their family's needs.
I liked the dual POVs, but even though I liked Eliza wanting to be an independent woman, I never really warmed up to her. This is about the invention of the modern cook book, but I wanted more about how society treated people with dementia and other mental problems.
The worst part of the book, for me, was the ending. It was so rushed and sloppy, also Ann from the first and the last chapter is a complete different character.
This was fine. I enjoyed reading about the experimentation with recipes and the creation of the cookbook, but I wanted more.
I wouldn't really say this is a book about friendship. Eliza may have treated Ann better than most people treated their servants, but she didn't treat Ann as a friend. I also like the commentary on how women's opportunities were limited and very much tied to their family's needs.
I liked the dual POVs, but even though I liked Eliza wanting to be an independent woman, I never really warmed up to her. This is about the invention of the modern cook book, but I wanted more about how society treated people with dementia and other mental problems.
The worst part of the book, for me, was the ending. It was so rushed and sloppy, also Ann from the first and the last chapter is a complete different character.
nearly_empty_nesting's review against another edition
5.0
Historical fiction that focuses on a developing friendship between classes while developing a book of cookery.
liznc's review against another edition
3.0
I knew nothing of Eliza’s story and am so glad to learn of her pioneering efforts in cookery books. The historical notes at the end were really interesting too.
cluelesswonder's review against another edition
Not sure how this ended up on my tbr. This is a little outside my wheelhouse.