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pqlibrarian's review against another edition
3.0
The recipes look great...I'm not sure I like the characters yet. I find that I'm skipping the ingredients' history lessons.
There were too many characters! The author just glossed over each one per chapter. I would have enjoyed reading more about some of them.
There were too many characters! The author just glossed over each one per chapter. I would have enjoyed reading more about some of them.
imbookingit's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars, probably.
I liked the characters and the overall setup of the book. In each chapter, a character shared her cookies and a story related to them, and Marnie filled in with her memories of that person.
Unfortunately, the book never quite came together for me.
Maybe it was a little too much drama, spread among too many character in such a short book. All I knew of each character was her problems, which took up far more space than the love and support of the party. I didn't get sucked into any of the drama, since I didn't know the characters well enough, so I didn't find it depressing, it just enough to distance me from the book a bit.
Between each chapter, there was a short essay on one of the cookie ingredients. While these were interesting, they interrupted the flow of the book for me in a way the recipes didn't.
Overall, I enjoyed the book, but it didn't compel me to keep reading during a very busy time of year.
I liked the characters and the overall setup of the book. In each chapter, a character shared her cookies and a story related to them, and Marnie filled in with her memories of that person.
Unfortunately, the book never quite came together for me.
Maybe it was a little too much drama, spread among too many character in such a short book. All I knew of each character was her problems, which took up far more space than the love and support of the party. I didn't get sucked into any of the drama, since I didn't know the characters well enough, so I didn't find it depressing, it just enough to distance me from the book a bit.
Between each chapter, there was a short essay on one of the cookie ingredients. While these were interesting, they interrupted the flow of the book for me in a way the recipes didn't.
Overall, I enjoyed the book, but it didn't compel me to keep reading during a very busy time of year.
mrisner's review against another edition
4.0
Really enjoyed this book. No matter what was going on in these women's lives, they meet every year for their Christmas Cookie Club. It's a testamant as to how your friendships can sustain you through everything in life.
luvbooks4vr7's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.0
The Christmas Cookie Club
(Christmas Cookie Club #1)
by Ann Pearlman
--I really enjoyed this book. Every Christmas 13 people get together for a cookie swap and catch up on their lives.
Marnie is the cookie leader and she is worried about her daughter's difficult pregnancy.
Each women has her own issues and the friends listen and support each other.
I liked the recipes in the book and will make a few someday.
The author also gave little bits of information on ingredients, so I learned while reading the book.
kelly_e's review
2.0
The plot of this book centers around a Christmas Cookie Club exchange and the 12 women included in the group. The plot is okay, with the main message being about friendship. Well the story itself isn't that entertaining, I truly enjoyed the concept of the club, the gathering and the giving. Maybe something I would give a try.
thenext_jen's review
4.0
The version I read was simply called, 'The Cookie Club' (interestingly, I think the addition of 'Christmas' to the title would have put me off buying it).
I found the deceiving little pink-covered gem at a book sale for $5 and expected an easy, jolly tale of cookies and cream. So I was surprised to find myself so invested in the intricate relationships of a group of friends, as revealed by the head "cookie be-atch" Marnie during the hosting of her annual Christmas Cookie Club. It was not as light and frothy as I had expected: some of the tales were wrapped up a little too neatly by the end (with just a touch of cheese) yet others demonstrated the true nature of change over time within friendships, touching some nerves and highlighting the pain of family and financial struggles.
By the end, I was caught between the urge to start my own Cookie Club, and exhaustion just thinking about the intricacies of managing so many complex girlfriend relationships in such an event. As for the book itself, I really enjoyed it (hence the four stars).
Chloe at chicklitreviews.com writes a great review.
I found the deceiving little pink-covered gem at a book sale for $5 and expected an easy, jolly tale of cookies and cream. So I was surprised to find myself so invested in the intricate relationships of a group of friends, as revealed by the head "cookie be-atch" Marnie during the hosting of her annual Christmas Cookie Club. It was not as light and frothy as I had expected: some of the tales were wrapped up a little too neatly by the end (with just a touch of cheese) yet others demonstrated the true nature of change over time within friendships, touching some nerves and highlighting the pain of family and financial struggles.
By the end, I was caught between the urge to start my own Cookie Club, and exhaustion just thinking about the intricacies of managing so many complex girlfriend relationships in such an event. As for the book itself, I really enjoyed it (hence the four stars).
Chloe at chicklitreviews.com writes a great review.
brigid_emily's review
2.0
Don't be deceived by the title or cover, this is not a cheerful book. I loved the cookie recipes that began each chapter and the mini history lesson on the different ingredients like vanilla and sugar that ended each chapter. Other than that, all the drama (deaths, fertility struggles, infidelity, accidents, and illnesses) were too much for me.
readingstewardess's review
5.0
Ann Pearlman's "The Christmas Cookie Club", as narrated by Marnie, tells the story of a group of women who every year in December gather together at Marnie's house to exchange homemade cookies and reinforce the bonds of friendship among girlfriends. At this year's particular party, many of the women are dealing with various forms of heartbreak and disapointments in their lives, as well as happiiness and hope for the future. With many of the women having dealt with philandering husbands or other male figures in their lives, the survival and overcoming of cancer, deaths and births; each of the women recognize that it is because of all of these things which they share that they are able to continuously come together each year and enjoy the company and friendship of the group so much.
Although this book is a very quick read, I really enjoyed it for the reaffirmations it gives in terms of friendships across multi-generations of women. Reading it, reminded me of when I get together with my sorority sisters in large part because although we span the decades from 20s to 90s, we still all manage to get along in large part because of the things we find we have in common and can share with one another. This is a book that I would definitely recommend to my girlfriends as a fun read, and besides it doesn't hurt that it comes complete with delicious recipes to try out. Upon completion of the book, I found myself wanting to read more about these women and the ways in which their lives intersect with one another.
Quote: "...love is immortal. Maybe it's the ultimate ripple effect. The ultimate butterly's wing."
Although this book is a very quick read, I really enjoyed it for the reaffirmations it gives in terms of friendships across multi-generations of women. Reading it, reminded me of when I get together with my sorority sisters in large part because although we span the decades from 20s to 90s, we still all manage to get along in large part because of the things we find we have in common and can share with one another. This is a book that I would definitely recommend to my girlfriends as a fun read, and besides it doesn't hurt that it comes complete with delicious recipes to try out. Upon completion of the book, I found myself wanting to read more about these women and the ways in which their lives intersect with one another.
Quote: "...love is immortal. Maybe it's the ultimate ripple effect. The ultimate butterly's wing."
tamaraepps's review
4.0
Despite the fact that Christmas is my favourite time of year, I very rarely read fictional books about the season. However, when I saw The Christmas Cookie Club, I knew I had to give it a try, and I’m very glad I did.
The first thing that struck me was the fact that each chapter is preceded by a cookie recipe, and to begin with those chapters seem to focus on the character whose cookie it is. As you get further into the story and learn about all twelve of the women in the club, the chapters become less focused on one particular character.
There wasn’t really much of a plot, but as we get further into the book the more back story we discover about each woman, and how being a member of the Christmas cookie club has or is changing their lives. While some heavy issues are included in the novel, none of them were delved into deeply and so the book easily keeps the feel of a light and easy read to enjoy over the holidays.
One thing I’m unsure whether I liked or not was the description and information about each ingredient between the chapters. While I found it interesting, it didn’t seem to support the main character’s story or characterisation, and generally took me out of the closeness the women have with one another in the group.
Overall this is a book I feel I could read again (and I hope to try a few of the recipes), and is a very enjoyable festive read. I would recommend it to anyone looking for stories about female friendship and want something that will give them hope with a little Christmassy spirit.
The first thing that struck me was the fact that each chapter is preceded by a cookie recipe, and to begin with those chapters seem to focus on the character whose cookie it is. As you get further into the story and learn about all twelve of the women in the club, the chapters become less focused on one particular character.
There wasn’t really much of a plot, but as we get further into the book the more back story we discover about each woman, and how being a member of the Christmas cookie club has or is changing their lives. While some heavy issues are included in the novel, none of them were delved into deeply and so the book easily keeps the feel of a light and easy read to enjoy over the holidays.
One thing I’m unsure whether I liked or not was the description and information about each ingredient between the chapters. While I found it interesting, it didn’t seem to support the main character’s story or characterisation, and generally took me out of the closeness the women have with one another in the group.
Overall this is a book I feel I could read again (and I hope to try a few of the recipes), and is a very enjoyable festive read. I would recommend it to anyone looking for stories about female friendship and want something that will give them hope with a little Christmassy spirit.