Bread and Wine

"When you wake up in the morning, Pooh," said Piglet at last,
"what's the first thing you say to yourself?"
"What's for breakfast?" said Pooh.
"What do you  say, Piglet?"
"I say, I wonder what's going to happen exciting today?" said Piglet.
Pooh nodded thoughtfully.
"It's the same thing," he said.

-A.A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh

So I jumped on the band wagon. A few friends had read this book and enjoyed it, and when I saw it offered on the blog review website, I took the bait. Faith. Food. Family. Fellowship. The four essential F's to life that I've always joked around about with my friends. All in one book. Not only do I get to read a book on new recipes, but if my husband is really lucky, I build up the confidence to have people over more often! Win-Win, right?!

My husband will tell you I'm a bit a lot like Pooh bear, so the back cover and introduction of this book was quite intriguing.  I love food, struggle with cravings (though I am sure my pregnant/nursing appetite does not help the matter), debate whether I am oft times committing gluttony, and enjoy reading (and trying) recipe after recipe. I feel like the kitchen is the closest thing to working in a lab that I'll ever come to now that I'm a mother. Maybe that's why I wear chemistry goggles when I cut onions and love using the hood vent whenever I think it is the least bit necessary.

 Niequist, in her introduction, writes that "food is a language of care, the thing we do when traditional language fails us... it's the thing that connects us... our sense of home and family...". So true. Currently on the podium in the church foyer, there are four lists for meals: one for a baby, one for the family of a mother with cancer, one for a family who lost their home in a fire, and one for Wednesday night fellowship dinners preceding church. One of the things I love about food is that it is often the only time our family is together each day if my husband is out of the hospital in time. And in those few minutes of the chaos of feeding my family, there is happiness that we are all together.   Add to that my hesitancy (due to intimidation and insecurity) to host and you've got an instructional winner.

Bread and Wine is Shauna Niequist's latest book about focusing on the haven created when people are brought around the table for food and drink, because food connects people and shows that you care about them. Each chapter is an individual essay of her life, usually ending in a recipe that pertained to that story. In addition, the chapters are divided into four parts to make it easier for book and cooking clubs (discussion questions are also included). 

To say I enjoyed this book would be a gross understatement. It's probably because I normally choose weightier reading material, but few books have the ability to cause me to escape the beautiful cacophony of my life at present. It was the perfect book to read when you only have a few minutes at a time (like nursing a child), because each essay takes only a brevity of your time and it was usually followed by an amazingly delicious sounding recipe that made my mouth water and caused me to wish it wasn't midnight and that I had those ingredients on hand. (Disclaimer: I may have made a run to Trader Joe's to pick up a few ingredients after reading certain chapters). Although she writes about some weighty issues (such as her emotional struggles with miscarriages), it is a light, quick read; except for the introduction and a few chapters, there isn't a large spiritual component to the book.

I loved this book. I loved how real and open Niequist was in her writing  about many aspects of her life. It drew me in, made me feel like I knew her and her friends. And I found myself underlining a little gold nugget in almost every chapter, because this book is so applicable to where I am in life, always nervous about hosting, but desiring that atmosphere created when people are gathered around the table. The last few pages of advice about sample menus, weeknight cooking and a pantry list were an added helpful bonus. For me it was both an inspirational encouraging and chastising read, and I've already recommended it to quite a few friends.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze® book review  program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255