Publication Date: January 24, 2013
Publisher: Putnam Adult
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.
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.
“A ritual was a way to hold time – not freezing it, rather the opposite, warming it through the touch of your imagination.” – Hardback Copy pg. 24
I have always loved to read books that surround cafes, bakeries, or just food in general. This book was like a warm bowl of soup on a cold, rainy day. I wanted this book to last forever, and was extremely sad to see it end. This book held a wonderful array of characters, each with a remarkable story to share with you. One of the characters, Isabelle, is suffering from Alzheimer’s and the story is somewhat built around her. We see how each character reacts to Isabelle and how her condition of life depletes. This story is beautiful and every bit worth the hours that I spent emerged in the pages.
I really want to read this. I am adding it to my wishlist right now. The setting is terrific. Thanks for your review.
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