Monday Joy For Beginners - a book review

 Joy for Beginners by Erica Bauermeister is a quiet pleasant read. Kate has a second chance on life after surviving cancer. In this book she reflects  on the friends she has gathered and the joy of truly living in the moment. Her friends united to help her through the dark days. What they didn't know was how much she was thinking of them.

At a celebration dinner, she tasked each with a fresh joy - something they wouldn't think to do themselves, but from her observations is necessary. Each woman - Robin (her daughter), Caroline, Marion, Ava, Daria, Sara, and Hadley - questions this opportunity, but in each of their chapters, we journey with them to a satisfying conclusion. 

Robin signs her and her mother up for a white water paddle trip in the Grand Canyon. Caroline needs to clear the bookshelves of her exes books. Daria must learn to bake bread. Sara (mother of twins) has to travel overseas on her own. Marion gets a tattoo. Hadley has allowed her cottage to be swallowed by overgrowth - she must clean out her greenery - and thus emerge from her hiding. Ava had to fund raise and do the sixty mile breast cancer walk with Kate.  

Joy For Beginners sheds a light on stepping out of the box and finding new joys, discovering oneself, and testing boundaries. This is not a preachy book and the characters are fully formed. These are women who celebrate their friendship and grow stronger from their center, Kate. 

Friday Book Review - The Lost Art of Mixing by Erica Bauermeister

 I gave a positive review a week or so ago of The School of Essential Ingredients. Are you still hungry?

Erica Bauermeister's The Lost Art of Mixing lets us catch up with Lillian and her crew, but it's more about the lives and goings on outside of the restaurant. This is a fine read, but it didn't engage me as much as the cooking school book. 

back blurb: We encounter Al's wife, Louise, whose anger simmers just below boiling point. We catch up with Isabelle, who memories are slowly slipping from her grasp. Chloe's a budding chef who hasn't learned to trust after heartache. Finnergan (new to us), quiet and steady as a tree, can disappear into the background. And there's Lillian herself, who's life has taken a turn she (we) didn't expect. 

The lives mix - sometimes it's smooth and fluffy as meringue, and sometimes it's oil and vinegar. No matter what -  the power of food, love, and companionship shines through. The Lost Art of Mixing is pleasant, but I found myself still looking for a grand finale dessert when I finished. 

Monday Mix - The School of Essential Ingredients

 A friend, Linda H., lent this book to me with the caveat of "oh, it's good, but okay, but....".   

I found The School of Essential Ingredients by Erica Bauermeister to be very charming. I read it in a weekend. It's not incredibly difficult or even deeply profound, but it was very satisfying. And it was what I wanted at the time and that's awesome for a book - it served its purpose with dignity. 

Lillian's restaurant is a center. It's grounded and serves so many people.  Claire is a new mother. Tom has survived profound loss. Antonio is adapting to life in America. Carl and Helen, a long married couple, have their issues too.  Altogether, these students who gather on a Monday night learn a lot beyond cooking. 

cover blurb: The students have come to learn art behind Lillian's soulful dishes, but it soon becomes clear that each one each seeks a recipe for something beyond the kitchen. And, one by one, they are transformed by the aromas, flavors, and textures of what they create.

I really enjoyed this book and it made me want  to take a cooking class. I wanted to visit Lillian's restaurant and taste a dish with ingredients beyond my norm. It's always nice to read a "small" book with big dreams that mixes the right characters. 

Happy Monday. Let's have a good week.