{Book Review}: Bread and Wine

I saw this book recommendation, along with a few others, on Mix and Match Mama's blog last month and was immediately intrigued when she said that this was her favorite book she'd read all year.

When I saw that it was only $2.99 on Kindle, I immediately downloaded it!

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Here's the Goodreads synopsis:

This book is a collection of essays about family relationships, friendships, and the meals that bring us together. Written by well-loved writer and blogger, Shauna Niequist, this mix of Girl Meets God and the Food Network is a funny, honest, and vulnerable spiritual memoir. Bread & Wine is a celebration of food shared and life around the table, and it reminds us of the joy we find in connection and relationship. It's about the ways that God teaches and nourishes us as we nourish the people around us. It's about hunger, both physical and otherwise, and the connections between the two. Recipes are included for the dishes you can almost taste as you read about them. From Butternut Squash Risotto to Apple Crisp with Vanilla Ice Cream and Salted Caramel Sauce, you will be able to recreate the comforting and satisfying meals that come to life in Bread & Wine. 

I didn't fully know what to expect, but as soon as I got to the third or fourth short story in this book, I was hooked. Shauna writes so beautifully, and draws you in to her stories. I felt like there was always something that I related to in each of her stories, whether it be her trying to get pregnant, or her joy of entertaining and having friends over, or stories about growing up as a kid. They were vivid and written with so much heart.

I found myself highlighting more portions of this book than I've ever highlighted before because there were so many wonderful sentiments and powerful ways of thinking about things. I really felt like this book came into my life at the right time--it was just what I needed to "hear".

One of my favorites from the book that I'll share with you is this one:

"I want to cultivate a deep sense of gratitude, of roundedness, of enough, even while I'm longing for something more. The longing and the gratitude, both. I'm practicing believing that God knows more than I know, that he sees what I can't, that he's weaving a future I can't even imagine from where I sit this morning"

There are so many gems within this book, just like that one. Not to mention some pretty awesome-sounding recipes.

Shauna's book, and the way she writes about cooking and entertaining, inspired me to invite two of our close couple friends over and cook for them. In addition to having another friend and her husband over, and attempting to cook vegan.

I really felt like I was getting a treat when I sat down to read a chapter or two of this book, and was sad when it was done. This is one I will be going back to and reading again and again....and possibly even trying some of those recipes, too!

I give this book 5 stars!