Recently I was given a book by Shauna Niequist called Bread and Wine, a love letter t life around the table. Before I opened the cover I didn’t know much about it other than I was given a copy to review. I like it that way because I don’t want anyone else’s opinion to color my own. The book’s cover is filled with wine glasses and breadsticks and I suppose instinctively I thought it was just a cookbook.
It IS a cookbook but so much more!
Bread and Wine is as much a memoir of moments in Shauna’s life as it is a group of recipes to create wonderful meals from. Through every chapter you realize that meeting at the dinner table is a ritual every family creates in their own unique ways. We’re given a peek into her life only to realize how much alike we all are as we face troubles and joys.
As I read the book I could recall how my family did dinners and how it differed from my best friend Anne’s family. (Anne had 9 brothers and sisters so I suppose that was different right from the start)
Shauna talks about her two boys, health scares and how she’d be perfectly happy if they never grew up. In a totally selfish way, I think every parent has the same wish but knowing deep inside that we’re raising them so they can set off on their own one day. I remember looking at my children when they were little and hoping they’d stay with me forever. Then they turned 16 and I changed my mind. heh
Weaved throughout the book is Shauna’s faith in God, wonderful recipes for food she shares with her friends and her overall attitude to life in the way she’s created a loving family. The book is a collection of essays that show one woman and her journey through life with family and friends. She shares profound joy in nurturing through food. Each story is accompanied by a recipe and there’s always the backdrop of food and wine being food and wine by in a Christian sense it’s so much more to Shauna.
When you read this book, whether you’re curled up on an overstuffed sofa or sitting up in bed, you’ll see vivid images describing the wonderful meals Shauna creates. Bread and Wine should be on your night table or have you already read the book?
Sounds like a great book and I really like the title!!
“joy in nurturing through food”is a thought that really appeals to me. Eating food together as a family is such a great ritual. Shaunas essays sound very fascinating.
Hi Alex! I do enjoy that and after meeting you, I can see we’re a lot alike in that respect.
Gorgeous cover! I need that book too…
I liked the cover too and when I first looked at that I thought it was cookbook only.
Thanks Maureen! Sounds like a book I should put on my list to read, true!
Love reading about the stories behind the food and wine too 🙂
Cheers! Joanne
http://www.faceboo.com/whatsonthelist
yes, it’s good to remind ourselves of what our own family rituals are. Sometimes we do things without realising that we DO have a ritual.
Sounds like a really good book! I still buy cookbooks that are only collections of recipes, but I’m usually looking for much more these days. Either I want something of the author, or some fairly extensive discussion of technique, ingredients, why things work, etc. Both are best! Anyway, this sounds like a good read – thanks.
This is memoir, stories with recipes 🙂
Sounds like a great read Maureen. Thanks for bringing it to our attention. Did I mention I love both bread and wine – lol…
oh me too!
Sounds like a great read as well as a perfect gift for mothers and mothers to be.
What a great idea, Roberta!
Sounds like a good cookbook with an interesting story. Thanks, Maureen, for pointing us in her direction.
Thanks John. It’s busy around here with my sister here 🙂
Sounds just like my kinda book, Maureen!! I LOVE her “sharing joy in nurturing through food”!
I know just what you mean!
I love reading this kind of book, Maureen… sounds like Hilary Burden’s one that I have on my site. Love this post, thanks for sharing.
It’s a good peek into how one woman looks at life and how food impacts everyone around her.
It does sound like a lovely book 🙂
It does look like a lovely book, I will have to look out for a copy 🙂
I’ll let you ready my copy 🙂
Great review, Maureen! I can’t imagine what it was like growing up as one of 10! I’ll look out for it, thanks.. 🙂 xx
I love food memoirs so this is definitely one for me. You make it sound very appealing and you’ve even found me a space to read it – curled up on our overstuffed sofa. GG
Really want to put this book on my list it sounds fantastic 🙂
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
I always justify my glasses of wine by reminding myself that the first miracle Jesus performed in his three-year ministry was turning water into wine. This cookbook sounds like it has not only great recipes but some lovely stories to go with those dishes. xx
No, I haven’t read or even seen it but that cover is gorgeous and if it is representative of the inside, then it would be a wonderful book.
what a wonderful post. Food is one of those things that brings people together in a way that nothing else does!
Absolutely right… food brings us all closer
I too don’t want the boys to grow up……I know I will change my mind eventually……but I am enjoying for now, so I can totally identify with her. Sounds like a great book. Thanks Maureen for introducing Shauna! Looking forward to it.
They aren’t 16 yet, right?? 🙂
” I remember looking at my children when they were little and hoping they’d stay with me forever. Then they turned 16 and I changed my mind.” LOL!!! This made me chuckle. I haven’t had kids yet, but I remember how annoying I was when I was 16 =)
LOL Joanne, I hope I haven’t spoiled it for you 🙂
What a stunning book, the cover is magnificent. And might I add how gorgeous Shauna is.
And wow to your friend Anne’s family. My hubby’s dad has 12 in his, and his mom has 8. I just can’t imagine. How fun would holidays be though. It’d be a riot, in a good way.
Holidays (or any days for that matter) at Anne’s house were always hectic. I remember her mother was always pregnant or nursing when I was a kid. All her brothers and sisters had best friends and the house seemed like it would burst but it never did and there was always food for everyone.
I adore reading stories along with recipes…sounds like a marvelous cookbook!
Maureen, I hadn’t heard of this book before, but now I think I would enjoy it. Love the stories behind the food, always!
That’s what I love about food blogs. The food is wonderful but the stories to go along with them keep me coming back.
I’ll have to check this out!
I love bread and wine so I’ll have to check this book out! 😉 Have a great weekend Maureen.
Thanks, Anne! I loved your warm crab dip.
Sounds like a delightful book Maureen! I LOVE the cover, so pretty!
I loved the cover too!
What a fabulous review Maureen! I’ll check it out 😀
What a great cover of the book and your review is fab, Maureen! Overall sounds to me like a great book worth having!
Thanks, Sandra!
I would be happily turning the pages of shauna’s book, it sounds quite promising how you described it. =)
I know what you mean!
My family ate together every night until I was in about 8th grade and I really miss family meals but cherish the memories. This book sounds great.
Our family had a rule that we couldn’t miss dinner for any reason. There were always exceptions but there had to be a darned good reason for missing dinner with the family.
I’m adding it to my must-read list!