Helpful Score: 7
Beautiful book about loving food and family despite our hidden secrets, and the sadness of dealing with a loved one with cancer. Its got chick lit qualities but definitely not fluff. Great read!
Helpful Score: 5
This is a wonderful, funny, sad book whose main character is a plus-sized gal. And yes, that is somewhat pertinent to the story. Gladly, it isn't the main focus of the story, but a good part. The main focus is Ellie's love and taking care of her terminally ill uncle, the cooking, nuturing, and her finding love with a new chef in town. One of the best funerals in literature, too!
ETA 5 years after I first reviewed. I still think about this book, and regret that I sent it off. I put it back on my WL today, 6/25/13 so I can read it again.
ETA 5 years after I first reviewed. I still think about this book, and regret that I sent it off. I put it back on my WL today, 6/25/13 so I can read it again.
Helpful Score: 5
Story about one woman's quest to make peace with her plus size body,forgive the past-and along the way discover the meanining of true love.This book touched my heart and I found it hard to put down.I loved the author's way of writing.
A book filled with a families secrets and lies. A "niece" who helps to take care of her dying Uncle. She learns alot bout the family and even something about herself.
Helpful Score: 2
I finished this book in a little over 24 hours. One of the most engrossing novels I've read in a long time.
Helpful Score: 2
A extrodinary story about one woman's journey of finding who she is and how she became the woman she is.
Helpful Score: 1
This is an excellent book. The title may lead you to think that this is a funky, funny novel. It is not - it deals with real life issues and family secrets and what we will do for the ones we love. Very emotional and powerful and a great read. I highly recommend this book. Carol
Helpful Score: 1
This is a story of a woman and her struggles with food, family, her job and her uncle's cancer. It is very realistic and I could relate to it. I would recommend this book.
Helpful Score: 1
Food, love, family, and secrets all combine in this tale of discovery and acceptance as a 40-something food writer deals with the terminal illness of a relative and her own barren life, while exploring the landmine of her mother's past.
Helpful Score: 1
lovely book and very honest 5 stars
Helpful Score: 1
This was my first encounter with author Jennie Shortridge and I was not disappointed. I absolutely LOVED this book! I loved it so much that I immediately put the rest of her books on my wish list and have received 3 of them. I think there are 4. It's about a single, 27-year old woman finally coming to terms with her life. Realizing that she was never her critical mother's favorite, mainly due to her being overweight. But she is the glue that keeps the family together. Her beloved "uncle", a man not really her uncle, but always called that by her 2 sisters and herself while children, becomes sick with cancer. Of course, she is the one who takes on the complete responsibility of caring for him, and it is through this that she begins to learn that things were not always how she thought they had been during her childhood, teenage, and adult years. Maybe because I have cancer myself, and because of battling with my disease for the past 10 years, I too, have come to grips with the falsehoods I grew up with and have had to come to terms with accepting them, forgiving and moving on. I have had to make new priorities for myself. This is what Eleanor "Ellie" goes through as the caretaker for Bennie. This book is full of subtle "aha!" moments and was a joy to read. I recommend it to any woman who is dealing with her past and trying to sort things our. A++++++ and multiple thumbs up.
Helpful Score: 1
Really enjoyed this book. I also liked this author's style of writing.
There aren't many books that I keep and re-read....however, this is one I would.
There aren't many books that I keep and re-read....however, this is one I would.
Very good!
A lovely light read. Funny, hopeful and full of heart.
Pretty good read.
The story of Eleanor Samuel's quest to make peace with her plus-size body, forgive the past - and, along the way, discover the meaning of true love....
The story of Eleanor Samuel's quest to make peace with her plus-size body, forgive the past - and, along the way, discover the meaning of true love....
It's a sad book overall but a good read and an interesting view on food.
This was a wonderful story of love, loss and the typical family. You will laugh and cry, and feel right at home. The character is each of us and she give us the words we are looking for to describe our own lives.
Great read- funny and moving, very well-written.
