Reviews
52 Loaves: One Man's Relentless Pursuit of Truth, Meaning, and a Perfect Crust by William Alexander
randybo5's review against another edition
3.0
Not a terrible book. It had some fun and interesting history and facts. For the most part though, it seemed like a gimmick to write a book and get it published.
marilynsaul's review against another edition
5.0
What a wonderful, inspirational, funny, motivational book.
gunsandbullets's review against another edition
5.0
I was given this book, I thought nothing of it and put it into my overflowing bookshelf I books I really need to finish. Months later I feel down after some failed writing projects and I having a hard time reading anything until I picked up this book that is put onto shelf.
After finishing I feel a small hope again about writing. Like how protagonist in this book spends a year baking bread and doesn't end up where he wanted in the start but instead comes to a better place.
I know this just a ramble but I loved this book and found it to be very informative while being funny through out. And also so be down to earth.
Thank you William Alexander for this fine work of literature.
After finishing I feel a small hope again about writing. Like how protagonist in this book spends a year baking bread and doesn't end up where he wanted in the start but instead comes to a better place.
I know this just a ramble but I loved this book and found it to be very informative while being funny through out. And also so be down to earth.
Thank you William Alexander for this fine work of literature.
jess_segraves's review against another edition
5.0
NB: I have adapted the below review for my book blog, Spine Creases. You can read the full review here.
This book definitely makes me want to get back in the kitchen and attempt making bread again. Alexander's memoir is utterly hilarious, which makes for two fantastic, laugh-out-loud funny memoirs that I've read this week. There were times I dropped the book, laughing. I also loved reading about Alexander's experiences as the abbey baker, which reminded me of the film Die große Stille
This quote is a good summary from the end of the book:
"Choose one thing you care about and resolve to do it well. Whether you succeed or not, you will be better for the effort." —323
I highly recommend this to anyone who is looking for an excellent summer read. It's a well-written, funny food memoir that also encompasses the meaning of long-term commitment and persistence.
This book definitely makes me want to get back in the kitchen and attempt making bread again. Alexander's memoir is utterly hilarious, which makes for two fantastic, laugh-out-loud funny memoirs that I've read this week. There were times I dropped the book, laughing. I also loved reading about Alexander's experiences as the abbey baker, which reminded me of the film Die große Stille
This quote is a good summary from the end of the book:
"Choose one thing you care about and resolve to do it well. Whether you succeed or not, you will be better for the effort." —323
I highly recommend this to anyone who is looking for an excellent summer read. It's a well-written, funny food memoir that also encompasses the meaning of long-term commitment and persistence.
chelsead87's review against another edition
3.0
I finally finished this! I liked 52 Loaves; it was slightly humorous both in the writing and in the idea of one man's monomaniacal (yes, Ahab-like) pursuit of the perfect loaf of bread being book-worthy. Every time I sat down and started reading it, I did get sucked into William Alexander's prose--light-hearted and witty--but it was never a book that I clamored to get back to. The best chapter hands down is the chapter at the monastery in Normandy; it made slogging through the first 40ish weeks of bread-making prose worth it. I can't say that I'll ever want to read it again, but if you like bread and personal narrative then this book is for you!
katejones's review against another edition
3.0
I liked most of the extra scientific info about bread and bread-making. Though all the precise measurements are probably only useful when you have to bake a lot of bread at once (baker's percentage). I bake one or two loaves of sourdough spelt at a time two or three times a week, and when I go by consistency of the starter(little bit thinner than yoghurt) and the dough (Dutch vla consistency - in between yoghurt and Greek yoghurt for the overnight rise) it is MUCH faster and comes out perfect every time. My first attempts at baking bread resulted in bricks because my dough was too thick/thin. But at least it didn't take me 40 weeks and 40 attempts ;). Now my bread is how I like it fluffy on the inside with plenty of 'bubbles' and a nice crisp crust - without me even having to cut the top of it (*gasp* the author goes on and on about his 'lame')
This was much more a 'what happens in my life day to day' with learning how to bake bread mixed in than it was a bread book, and the author occasionally came across as a little bit snobbish, but I saw some humor in an atheist teaching a bunch of French monks to bake.
All the recipes were included and I'm very likely going to try some. Also I now know how to make my own starter (I cheated and used yeast after my first few attempts went moldy. Dried yeast will ferment into a perfectly fine starter, mine is over a year old, but I might try the apple method sometime this summer.)
Bonus: I remembered Carl's Friends - free Oregon Trail sourdough starter if you send a self addressed envelope. Mine is on its way to the US, and I expect to get the starter soonish!
This was much more a 'what happens in my life day to day' with learning how to bake bread mixed in than it was a bread book, and the author occasionally came across as a little bit snobbish, but I saw some humor in an atheist teaching a bunch of French monks to bake.
All the recipes were included and I'm very likely going to try some. Also I now know how to make my own starter (I cheated and used yeast after my first few attempts went moldy. Dried yeast will ferment into a perfectly fine starter, mine is over a year old, but I might try the apple method sometime this summer.)
Bonus: I remembered Carl's Friends - free Oregon Trail sourdough starter if you send a self addressed envelope. Mine is on its way to the US, and I expect to get the starter soonish!
lifebetweenwords's review against another edition
3.0
I am a sucker for a good food memoir, and this one did not disappoint. For one year Bill Alexander bakes a loaf of bread per week (most always the same kind: a peasant bread) in search of the *perfect* loaf of bread. Funny, self-deprecating, heart-warming, and wise, this is up there with some of my favorite food memoirs. His journey culminates in a trip to France where he teaches an Abbey of monks the lost art of bread making; it's easily the best part of the book. Enjoyed it.
bookish_houseplant's review against another edition
I put this book down at least six months ago I think it's time to admit I'm not going to finish it. Still a solid book, though!