She had built her restaurant kitchen out of scents and tastes and textures, the clean canvas of a round white dinner plate, the firm skins of pears and the generosity of soft cheeses, the many-colored spices sitting in glass jars along the open shelves like a family portrait gallery. She belonged there.
(from The Lost Art of Mixing)
Slated for release in January, The Lost Art of Mixing is the sequel to The School of Essential Ingredients, which I read a few years ago and absolutely adored. I didn’t re-read the first book before tackling this one, and I admit that I didn’t remember everything, but that didn’t matter; although I recommend reading them in order, you certainly could start with this one.
Lillian is still a successful chef with a knack for reading people and knowing exactly what they need. She’s in a relationship with Tom, a widower who attended her cooking class in the first book, and unsure whether he’s really ready to move on, she cannot bring herself to tell him the news that will change their lives forever. Bauermeister also revisits Chloe, a young woman trying to regain her footing after a tough childhood and a failed relationship, and Isabelle, who takes Chloe in just as her memory loss starts becoming a problem. Isabelle’s daughter, Abby, who feels overwhelmed by responsibility; Finnegan, a very tall young man who somehow manages to fade into the background and carries around notebooks filled with stories; Al, who finds comfort in numbers and longs for the rituals of his childhood; and Louise, an angry woman who has spent 52 years trying to conform to an ideal instead of just being herself all factor into the story.
Bauermeister is a master storyteller. As in Joy for Beginners, each chapter in The Lost Art of Mixing is like a short story that when blended together creates a novel rich with unique characters with whom readers can all relate in some way. Bauermeister writes about food, love, and family in a way that is deep and beautiful and really gets you thinking about your own life. Her prose is wonderful in that you can almost smell and taste the food, and the characters’ souls are bared in a way that makes them feel like old friends.
The Lost Art of Mixing is about how people separate and come together. It’s about learning to trust, the importance of memory, and moving on after loss. Bauermeister’s understanding of human nature, our need for companionship, and the ways in which food can repair broken souls combine to create a powerful novel that will warm readers’ hearts.
Thanks to TLC Book Tours for having me on the tour for The Lost Art of Mixing. To follow the tour, click here.
Disclosure: I received The Lost Art of Mixing from Putnam for review.
© 2012 Anna Horner of Diary of an Eccentric. All Rights Reserved. Please do not reproduce or republish content without permission.
I like the story telling part of your review. Thanks for this post.
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Thanks, Mystica!
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Sounds good, but yes maybe I should start with the other one first
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I liked the first book just a bit better, so I would recommend starting with that one.
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I really liked this one in a different way from the first book. The first one was more rich in food, and this one was more rich in character. I really loved both.
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That’s a great way to describe the differences between the two!
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Your review, along with all the others I’ve read, have put this book on my must read list.
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I do hope you get a chance to read it!
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I’ve read both of Bauermeister’s books and adored them so I’m VERY excited about this one. Great review!
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Thanks, Kathy! I’m sure you’ll enjoy this one, too!
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This sounds like a book I’d relish. Wonderful review, Anna. It sounds like the perfect book to read at this time of the year.
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Thanks, Suko!
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Sounds sweet — not always my taste but now and then I want something gentle to read!
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Yes, it is sweet and gentle, but it’s deeper than I would have thought based on the description.
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I’m intrigued that each chapter is like its own short story, and they’re all connected. Nice review!
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Thanks, Diana!
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This woman always manages to blow me away, and I cannot wait to read this one. I feel that I really need to wait for the audio, since The School of Essential Ingredients was perfect in every way in that format!
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You know I’m not big on audio books, but I think listening to School would be a real treat!
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What an awesome review, Anna! I couldn’t have said it better.
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Thanks, Laura!
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This one sounds great, I enjoy these foodie reads. Nice review!
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Thanks, Naida!
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You know, I’ve never read anything by Bauermeister — despite seeing such great reviews over the years! This sounds like a winner, and I’m going to have to dig out my long-forgotten copy of The School of Essential Ingredients sometime soon.
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That sounds like a great idea! I think you’d really like her writing.
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While I adored School of Essential Ingredients, I so enjoyed this one. Isabelle’s story was just fantastic in how the stories and remembrances of the past blended so well with the future. Bauermeister’s writing is so lyrical and you’re so right when you said that you can smell and taste the food simply from her words. Great review.
2 Kids and Tired Books
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Thanks, Holly! Glad you enjoyed it, too.
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Lucky you, you got to read it already! I love The School of Essential INgredients and look forward to reading this one too.
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I hope you’ve had a chance to read it by now!
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Sounds tempting, but maybe I should read The School of Essential Ingredients first.
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You could read this one on its own, but I think it’s a richer experience to read them in order.
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It warmed my heart!! I really enjoyed this one 😀
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Yay! We have such similar tastes in books. 🙂
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It seems like this author has a great understanding of people and conveys that clearly to her readers.
Glad you enjoyed this one! Thanks for being on the tour Anna.
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My pleasure!
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[…] Monday, November 26th: Diary of an Eccentric […]
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Oh, your last paragraph is just marvelous! It should be a blurb on the book jacket! I can’t wait to read this one soon!
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Thanks, Lisa!
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