tracey_stewart's review against another edition
5.0
The only thing worse than reading a book and loving it and then finding out that it's the only book a writer has produced so far … is reading a book and loving it and then finding out that the author passed away hideously young. Reading the biography at the end of the book – and I'm glad it was at the end and not the beginning – came like a bolt from the blue: never saw it coming. Suddenly all the loving stories of her daughter made me want to cry.
Such is, I'm afraid, the case with Laurie Colwin. I enjoyed these essays immensely – and yay for the ability to highlight swathes of text on my Kindle, because I now have a cookbook gleaned from these essays. Funny, poignant, resonant, and – in terms of I'm making a grocery list as I read - inspiring… I can only hope her fiction "feels" the same. (Ooh! There's a "More Home Cooking"! Excellent.)
The usual disclaimer: I received this book via Netgalley for review. Many thanks!
Such is, I'm afraid, the case with Laurie Colwin. I enjoyed these essays immensely – and yay for the ability to highlight swathes of text on my Kindle, because I now have a cookbook gleaned from these essays. Funny, poignant, resonant, and – in terms of I'm making a grocery list as I read - inspiring… I can only hope her fiction "feels" the same. (Ooh! There's a "More Home Cooking"! Excellent.)
The usual disclaimer: I received this book via Netgalley for review. Many thanks!
michellekmartin's review against another edition
4.0
I had seen and heard Home Cooking recommended in a few different places over the last months and I'm so happy I finally picked it up. Laurie Colwin is an insightful food writer who shares recipes and bits of life that feel so comforting. I really enjoyed her writing style and I loved how each chapter focused on a memory or story related to a different recipe.
I was sad to see that she passed away so young but I'm looking forward to reading some of her fiction next.
I was sad to see that she passed away so young but I'm looking forward to reading some of her fiction next.
lucyames's review against another edition
slow-paced
4.5
read it in 24 hours, loved her attitude towards food and nourishment, especially the bits about cooking in a studio apartment, as someone who tries to cook in a studio apartment (emphasis on tries)
mindfullibrarian's review against another edition
5.0
What a perfectly delightful book to listen to while quilting this weekend! This book of cooking essays was published in 1988 and oh my goodness do they show their age in the best possible way. I'm a 1980 baby and the age of this collection just made it feel even cozier. There are recipes included, but they are so simple that it wasn't at all frustrating to have them narrated via the audiobook ~ and speaking of the audio, I LOVED the narration. I giggled every time Colwin would mention health issues related to food ~ cholesterol, etc ~ because it was such a sign of the times. I don't really think I want to or will ever actually cook any of the recipes in the book (except maybe the gingerbread) but food writing can be such a comfort, especially as we're in the cold and holiday time of year. I'm so grateful that this was published as an audiobook, and now can't wait to listen to Colwin's novels as well!
Source: Audible credit
Source: Audible credit
brendaclay's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this book a lot, but it's clear that the author grew up in the era when people ate a lot of gross jellied meat dishes. :P
ladymblack's review against another edition
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
5.0
This is the literary equivalent of comfort food, and it’s culinary to boot!
ob_ledbetter's review against another edition
4.0
I ADORE this book. This is the most accessible and enjoyable food writing I have ever read. She maintains a down-to-earth tone and made me actually giggle with her honest reflections on cooking and eating. Love, love, love.
rissaleighs's review against another edition
4.0
Laurie Colwin was really nothing like what I was expecting. A little snarky, a little self-deprecating, and, actually, way older. Her writing style was conversational and blogesque so I was SO surprised to find out that she passed away in 1992, really, before the internet age even arrived. At first I found her a little overbearing or dogmatic in some of her opinions. 😆 But hey, it's her book, right. I can't wait to try out her idea of putting jalapeno into creamed spinach. I have never heard of such a thing.