Review -- Starting From Scratch by Susan Gilbert-Collins

Starting from Scratch

by Susan Gilbert-Collins

Simon & Schuster Adult, 2010

322 pages

*I received this from the publisher for review.

Summary: On the day she defends her dissertation, Olivia is devastated by the news that her mother (Vivian) has died. Olivia moves home and uncovers secrets about her mother and three siblings while learning to move forward from the terrible loss.

Review: Let me explain why my summary is just okay -- I forgot to mention the cooking! The novel is centered around Vivian's love of cooking and even includes recipes. Olivia uses cooking as a way of feeling close to her mom. I thought this was lovely little novel filled with wonderful characters and some unexpected surprises. Each sibling (including Olivia) has a secret that they are keeping from the family. The author does such a great job of having the secrets come out in both funny and sad ways that make you feel like part of the family. Olivia was a great main character, very interesting and relatable. Overall, a fun and light read that was very entertaining and made my mouth water the entire time! Rating: **** out of 5

**** Corrections (8/20/10): Thanks to Ruth who caught my mistakes! In the original post I wrote that Annie was the main character, but have since fixed it to read Olivia. Sorry everyone!

Have you read and reviewed this book? Then leave a link to your review in the comments section!

Friday Finds -- 8/13

This meme is hosted by Should Be Reading.

My Friday Find this week is a book that I am in the middle of and can't seem to put down. It's the lovely Starting From Stratch by Susan Gilbert-Collins. Here is the Barnes and Noble description:

In this heartwarming debut novel with recipes, a grief-stricken daughter cooks herself and her family back to life.

Okay, if that was not enough information for you then here is what I found at the publisher's website:

Why is someone who just defended her doctoral dissertation still wasting her time at her childhood home, two months after her mother's funeral, making coq au vin and osso buco? Olivia Tschetter, the youngest of four high-achieving South Dakotan siblings, is not returning to "normal"—or to graduate school— quickly enough to suit her family. She wants only to bury herself in her mother's kitchen, finding solace in their shared passion for cooking. Threatened with grief counseling, Olivia accepts a temporary position at the local Meals on Wheels, where she stumbles upon some unfinished business from her mother's past—and a dark family secret. Startling announcements from two siblings also challenge the family's status quo. The last thing she needs is a deepening romantic interest in a close but platonic (she thought) friend. But while Olivia's mother is gone, her memory and spirit continue to engage Olivia, who finds herself daring to speak when she would never have spoken before. Told with humor and compassion, Starting from Scratch explores the shifting of family dynamics in the wake of shattering loss and the healing power of cooking.

Food is a constant in the book, so I am always hungry while reading it and I am seriously considering buying a cast iron skillet just so I can try the chocolate cake recipe. Seriously.

What did you find this week?