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49th out of 241 books
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291 voters
The Baker's Apprentice (Bread Alone #2)
The sequel to Judith Ryan Hendricks' absorbing debut novel, Bread Alone
Having found her calling, Wynter Morrison is blissful about her new career in Seattle as a baker -- cherishing the long days spent making bread and the comforting rhythms of the Queen Street Bakery. Still, she struggles with the legacy of her failed marriage and with her new boyfriend Mac's reluctance t...more
Having found her calling, Wynter Morrison is blissful about her new career in Seattle as a baker -- cherishing the long days spent making bread and the comforting rhythms of the Queen Street Bakery. Still, she struggles with the legacy of her failed marriage and with her new boyfriend Mac's reluctance t...more
Paperback, 384 pages
Published
March 14th 2006
by Harper Perennial
(first published January 1st 2005)
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There are books you settle into. For me, and for the most part, I am reluctant to read series.
However, after reading Bread Alone, I immediately went to the library and borrowed The Baker's Apprentice. Even with mixed reviews that I read, I really enjoyed this book.
Where do I start with the enjoyment or the few disappointments?
The enjoyment was in the continuation of the story. It is a "lazy story", life moved on as it does, love, work, friendships are the same themes as in Bread Alone. Some cha...more
However, after reading Bread Alone, I immediately went to the library and borrowed The Baker's Apprentice. Even with mixed reviews that I read, I really enjoyed this book.
Where do I start with the enjoyment or the few disappointments?
The enjoyment was in the continuation of the story. It is a "lazy story", life moved on as it does, love, work, friendships are the same themes as in Bread Alone. Some cha...more
I'm never a big fan of sequels - they generally disappoint and something about them smacks of "writer unable to think up new and original characters and therefore recycling old ones" - this one was more disappointing than others because the original book, Bread Alone, was so hugely enjoyable. Wyn Morrison is back, but this time her broken heart has healed and she's lost a considerable amount of her charm along the way. Now she's seemingly more obsessed with sex than with her baked goodies. The r...more
Most likely due to my feminist reading of the past couple of weeks… I find myself done with Judith R. Hendricks. (Good thing she’s also done with me as I’ve read all of her work.) Though I have enjoyed her books, I can’t say that The Baker’s Apprentice did much for me as far as sequels go. It felt too much like a Romance Novel and not enough like a Woman’s Lit. Novel. That said, I was hoping for a prequel… a story of Wyn’s time in France. Instead she cops out of a trip to Paris with her BFF to a...more
The sequel to Judith Ryan Hendricks' absorbing debut novel, Bread Alone
Having found her calling, Wynter Morrison is blissful about her new career in Seattle as a baker -- cherishing the long days spent making bread and the comforting rhythms of the Queen Street Bakery. Still, she struggles with the legacy of her failed marriage and with her new boyfriend Mac's reluctance to share his mysterious past. When Mac abruptly leaves Seattle, Wyn again feels abandoned and betrayed, at least until intima...more
Having found her calling, Wynter Morrison is blissful about her new career in Seattle as a baker -- cherishing the long days spent making bread and the comforting rhythms of the Queen Street Bakery. Still, she struggles with the legacy of her failed marriage and with her new boyfriend Mac's reluctance to share his mysterious past. When Mac abruptly leaves Seattle, Wyn again feels abandoned and betrayed, at least until intima...more
This is the sequel to Bread Alone. Wyn Morrison has become a partner in Queen Street Bakery; but is still waiting for her divorce settlement to become final. Wyn's relationship with Mac McLeod, a frustrated writer, is in trouble and he takes off to Alaska where he struggles to overcome writer's block. Mac finds himself involved in his small town and learns what he really wants. In the meantime, Wyn struggles w/ missing Mac and decides to take on an apprentice who is an angry ex-cheerleader; but...more
this is a sequel to"Bread Alone" and Hendricks third book as "Isobel's Daughter came in between. She has become a much better writer. I probably gained 3 pounds reading about the food and the bread. The book begins with her and Mac sort of together but only sort of as he goes off to alaska. the descriptions of Seattle and of the tiny town in Alaska just make you want to go there. Wyn takes on an apprentice, Tyler who she teaches to be a baked. Over the course of time she becomes more like a moth...more
I read the first book in this series, Bread Alone, and enjoyed it. This book I didn't think was as good. It wasn't terrible by any means, but it just didn't hold the charm that the first one did. And I wouldn't recommend reading this one without having read the other one first.
Wynter is now a part owner of the bakery where she churns out Artisan bread. She's got a boyfriend, Mac, who runs hot and cold at the best of times, but she's crazy about him. Even though her divorce isn't final she's pick...more
Wynter is now a part owner of the bakery where she churns out Artisan bread. She's got a boyfriend, Mac, who runs hot and cold at the best of times, but she's crazy about him. Even though her divorce isn't final she's pick...more
A decent sequel to 'Bread Alone'. I was glad the author gave us more info about Mac and his life prior to getting to Seattle. I agree with one of the other reviews that at times I forgot how old Wyn really was...at times she was acting very immature and I was waiting for her to get over it. There were some questions still lingering in my mind at the end, but I think it was an acceptable ending...with several characters who don't really know what they want creating a nice, tied-up ending wouldn't...more
I really enjoyed the continuation of Wynter's story as she continues to work at the Queen Street Bakery. As co-owner, Wynter is in charge of baking the bread so she works the night shift, as she prefers. When she and Ellen hire a new cake baker, Maggie, sparks begin to fly as Tyler, the resident fill-in cake baker objects. If you read book 1, you remember Tyler, the young, blue haired barista who also bakes awesome if not flamboyantly creative cakes. The problem is she complained every second sh...more
Wyn is passionate about breadmaking, and is co-owner of a small, specialist bread shop. She is in a fairly new relationship with the evasive Mac, a struggling writer. She's still coming to terms with her recent divorce, and not getting anywhere with her attempt at financial settlement, and she's not entirely comfortable with her new stepfather, either.
It took me a few chapters to get into this book, at which point I realised that the names and situations felt oddly familiar. My only excuse is t...more
It took me a few chapters to get into this book, at which point I realised that the names and situations felt oddly familiar. My only excuse is t...more
I finally finished reading The Baker's Apprentice by Judith Ryan Hendricks. I must clarify saying finally finished. A couple of years ago, I read the first book of this series called Bread Alone. The book was in a word ... fabulous! I hated closing the book after the last page. I loved the characters and Wyn was a worthy person to cheer on in life. I loved the chemistry between her and Mac. I loved the setting of the Queen Street Bakery in Seattle. It was like the feeling you get inside when you...more
The Baker’s Apprentice, by Judith Ryan Hendricks, is the sequel to Bread Alone, which is the story of a woman named Wynter, who moves to Seattle after her marriage with a Los Angeles hotshot ends. In the Pacific Northwest she finds happiness through simplicity, and that includes baking bread professionally and finding love with a free-spirited guy who delivers firewood.
In The Baker’s Apprentice, Wynter is presented with a whole new set of problems. Her love interest, Mac, can’t open up or commit...more
I really did like this although it was a bit different to the first book Bread Alone. One thing I did find strange from the offset was the name change for Cody to Tyler. I couldn't work that out at all, in fact I had to look back at the other book to make sure I wasn't imagining it. The writing is great lots of descriptions of people and places, although I did find the 'Mac' chapters a bit laborious, maybe because his character was annoying me. All in all it was a good story and I feel satisfied...more
This is a delicious sequel to Judith Hendricks's Bread Alone. Beautiful symbolism and vivid descriptions make this novel a joy to read. Join Wanter Morrison as she bakes her creations and discovers the beautiful symbolisms between food and life. This is a story to be savored like a gourmet meal. So settle down with a cup of tea and a cappuccino hazelnut scone (recipe included) and enjoy!
Recommended by Linda, Powells.com
Recommended by Linda, Powells.com
I have to say, I enjoyed this book much more than the first. Bread Alone is so much of a sob story - the woman is barely starting to pull her life together. This book is about her actually pulling her life together and living it. I really liked how the author told the story from both Wyn and Mac's perspectives. I also liked how the story ended fairly abruptly, leaving the reader to surmise about the future (or the author to someday write a third novel). I found it to be engaging, though chick-li...more
I think this book was really meant to appeal to a middle aged female audience but it's not as engaging as its predecessor. The narrative gets broken up between two characters this time and it makes the book feel a little disjointed, plus there's no overarching plot to tie everything together - it's simply a record of a busy year in the protagonist's life and it makes the pacing drag like you would not believe.
Two things kept me from giving it a higher rating. One, the first few chapters were really just rehashing the previous book, which I had just finished, so it was kind of tedious. It reminded me of the babysitters club series where she just put in the same chapter into every book. But I digress. Second, the ending left me wanting more. A sequel?
I haven't checked yet, but I'm really hoping that there is another book chronicling Wyn's life. The book spiraled up to it's ending, and left me hanging wanting to know what happens next. I love it when a book grabs my attention like that.
This was just as good as Bread Alone was. I'm really glad that I was recommended these books.
This was just as good as Bread Alone was. I'm really glad that I was recommended these books.
My favorite sections of this book are those centered at the bakery, and the employees and customers who inhabit it. Love the descriptions of making bread, the sights and sounds of that environment. However, as a sequel to Bread Alone, this book disappoints, breaking little new ground in originality of character growth.
Dec 19, 2009
Barbara
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
anyone who enjoys real-life "fiction".
Very apt sequel to the original, which I enjoyed very much. The story continues, and it's a realistic portrayal of a woman whose life has been turned upside down by circumstances. Wyn faces these life obstacles in a realistic and admirable fashion, and I really hope the knight in shining armor is the real deal this time. The reader is left to wonder when the next installment is coming, as there were some "killer" cliffhangers at the end.
After finishing this book, a sequel to Bread Alone, I realized there wil be another in the series. That's OK with me. I thought it was well done, easy read, and kept me interested throughout. I'm looking forward to the 3rd in the series. But if there's not a 3rd book, then I'm really disappointed in the ending!
UGH!!!! I'm SO MAD that I just spent all this time reading this sequel book! I can't stand books when there are so many unanswered questions. I won't spoil it to those that are reading but I basically got to the last page thinking that there HAD TO BE some pages missing. What ever happened to X? What was X about? Oh man. I was so invested in this story from Bread Alone to this book and it just kills me that I don't know what really happened. It got so weird at the end, it felt so rushed. And the...more
Jan 28, 2010
Christine
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
read-in-2010,
food
The sequel to Judith Ryan Hendricks' novel, Bread Alone. Wyn Morrison continues her journey of self-discovery. I love the setting in an urban neighborhood in Seattle. Hendrick's describes the views of the outliying mountain and coastal areas as well. It made me want to head north.
I actually liked this book better than the first one (Bread Alone.) I thought all of the background stuff was interesting and in the first book I was tired of the whole "rich woman ditches cheating husband goes off to find her true self" plot. This book felt more original to me.
Thoroughly enjoyable follow-up to Bread Alone. I've been on a Hendricks kick lately after reading Isabel's Daughter (which is still my favorite by this author). Having been through an unpleasant divorce, still using the Tassajara Bread Book, and growing up with the same music, this makes for a delightful, comfortable, and easy read. Bonus: recipes. I love a book with recipes.
I liked it because I already liked the characters from _Bread Alone_. Otherwise I might not have stuck with this one.
The ending was wholly unsatisfying. Is there to be a third book featuring these characters?
The ending was wholly unsatisfying. Is there to be a third book featuring these characters?
A sequel to Bread Alone and continues the story of Wynter Morrison. Wynter has stayed in Seattle and become a part owner of the bakery. The story explores her relationship with Mac and how she come to mentor/mother Tyler.
The voice is the same and the bread recipes sound delicious. Mac leaves and ends up in the Yukon and begins to deal with his own issues, but communicates to Wyn by letter.
Wynter isn't as self-absorbed in this novel as she was in Bread Alone. I found her much more likeable here,...more
The voice is the same and the bread recipes sound delicious. Mac leaves and ends up in the Yukon and begins to deal with his own issues, but communicates to Wyn by letter.
Wynter isn't as self-absorbed in this novel as she was in Bread Alone. I found her much more likeable here,...more
This sequel to Bread Alone was not as good as it's predecessor. While they are both mindless chick lit, The Baker's Apprentice isn't as interesting of a story. I had a hard time staying it with it.
Meh. It was like following around a random person through their life for about a year. Nothing terribly dramatic, no real climax to the story, but not awful either... I read the whole book thinking something would happen. At least it was a quick read.
And I just learned this is a sequel... it makes so much more sense now. Still didn't like it much, but it makes more sense.
And I just learned this is a sequel... it makes so much more sense now. Still didn't like it much, but it makes more sense.
This is the follow up to Bread Alone. I liked this more than the first, and felt like I got to know the characters better.
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Judi sees life as a never-ending journey of creative expression and so is accustomed to starting off in one direction and ending up somewhere completely unexpected - or going in five directions at once. In her daily life, she's a contract designer whose projects range from developing data collection tools for the pharmaceutical research industry to designing print ads. In her evening and weekend l...more
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“Why the hell didn't we just stay friends? That felt reasonably good. We had fun. I could tell him anything. Of course, he never told me very much about himself, but it didn't matter as much then. Now look at us. Throw some sex into the mix and it's like putting too much yeast in bread. It's all very fizzy and light and wonderful, but then is rises too high and can't support it's own weight and the whole thing falls flat.”
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Andrea
updated Apr 28, 2012 11:00am