28th out of 468 books
—
974 voters
A Homemade Life: Stories and Recipes from My Kitchen Table
When Molly Wizenberg's father died of cancer, everyone told her to go easy on herself, to hold off on making any major decisions for a while. But when she tried going back to her apartment in Seattle and returning to graduate school, she knew it wasn't possible to resume life as though nothing had happened. So she went to Paris, a city that held vivid memories of a childho...more
Hardcover, 336 pages
Published
March 3rd 2009
by Simon & Schuster
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I laughed, I cried, I put bouchons au thon on my weekly menu.
Molly Wizenberg is basically my generation's M.F.K. Fisher. Her recipes are fantastic, her descriptions are apt... but that all pales in comparison with the simple fact that her writing is full of life and joy. I've been a follower of her blog, Orangette, for some time now and I find I can always rely on Molly for a great recipe, wonderful story and stunning photography. But the book transcends that - it's something more. It's a glimps...more
Molly Wizenberg is basically my generation's M.F.K. Fisher. Her recipes are fantastic, her descriptions are apt... but that all pales in comparison with the simple fact that her writing is full of life and joy. I've been a follower of her blog, Orangette, for some time now and I find I can always rely on Molly for a great recipe, wonderful story and stunning photography. But the book transcends that - it's something more. It's a glimps...more
Mar 07, 2009
Laurie
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommended to Laurie by:
http://orangette.blogspot.com/
Shelves:
nonfiction,
food
Molly Wizenberg has a wonderfully flattering way of writing about food and people. She makes both sound delightful. While readers of A Homemade Life will wish they could sit down with Molly over salad and cheese, they will especially wish they could know all these charming people: her father, mother, husband, and various friends in Oklahoma, Paris, and Seattle. Molly describes each in a vivid way that says, "I love this person! I want to share him with you." And with each person comes a recipe....more
Every once in a while I come across someone who makes me wonder. What I was doing when God was handing out talent? No, really. WHAT was I doing? Begging some mid-level angel to send me to a pastry-making family in Paris while rocket-science intellect and supermodel looks were being passed out like Halloween candy two lines down?
One thing’s certain: I was not in line with author Molly Wizenberg. Actually, I’m not sure anyone was in line with her that fateful pre-mortal day. She reminds me of the...more
One thing’s certain: I was not in line with author Molly Wizenberg. Actually, I’m not sure anyone was in line with her that fateful pre-mortal day. She reminds me of the...more
I heard of this book from a couple of sources and decided to pick it up. I now feel that Molly Wizenberg and I are best friends, and I have not yet even visited her blog, called Orangette. Great bedtime reading, as the "chapters" are quite short, each ending with usually one but maybe two recipes---and then I'd tell myself, "what would one more hurt?" so I'd read more. Her recipes are written as prose, leading you through each step. Along the way, she writes about her childhood, (and since she i...more
I've been interested lately in food as an inspiration for writing, especially about one's life. Molly Wizenberg has a knack both for telling a great story and making something amazing out of just a few ingredients laying around in the fridge. I truly enjoyed hearing about her life in the U.S. and her periods of time spent in Paris. I will definitely be cooking using her simple recipes in the very near future. Love that very few include meat, and most are incredibly healthy. Her way of cooking re...more
This book encompasses two pet peeves of mine: the blog-to-book craze and the cookbook-book combination. Blogs fodder is not always great book fodder. I enjoy a well-written blog, but I am less forgiving of a book that is not so well-written. I am not saying this book is not well-written, but I do think that the flow of the stories feel more like blog posts than short stories to me.
As for the cookbook/book issue, it's a personal matter of wondering where to house a book like this. Is it a proper...more
As for the cookbook/book issue, it's a personal matter of wondering where to house a book like this. Is it a proper...more
This girl can write. I started reading her blog when it was just a brand new, baby blog. I was intrigued. I followed her story and sampled her recipes for several years (most notably, coconut banana bread and the shortbread waffles). Her recipes are fabulous, one really cannot go wrong. She knows what is good and what is not. What differentiates Molly from others of her ilk (bloggers turned writers) is that she really can write. She has a knack for giving the reader just enough, but never too mu...more
A Homemade Life had occupied space in several book piles over the past year and a half. I would pull it out, open randomly, and read a page or two. Seemed pretty good, but something else always shouted louder from the TBR pile and took me away from Molly's stories. Then in September, it was my turn to lead the on-line monthly book discussion at On the Porch Swing, a YahooGroup. I wanted to do something in a culinary theme, and put out a list of books--fiction and non-fiction--to be selected by g...more
I picked up this book because I really wanted to know how someone has a blog one day and a decent selling book the next. Yes, I understand that it probably didn't go down quite that simple, but you know what I mean.
That's what I wanted to find out from reading this book. But before I started reading it, I checked out Molly's blog site, Orangette.
After visiting Orangette, I just wanted to get to know Molly and try cooking her recipes. I knew that I had a real love for food as deep as hers, and if...more
That's what I wanted to find out from reading this book. But before I started reading it, I checked out Molly's blog site, Orangette.
After visiting Orangette, I just wanted to get to know Molly and try cooking her recipes. I knew that I had a real love for food as deep as hers, and if...more
I read this immediately after It Sucked and Then I Cried, and that was probably one too many books-based-on-blogs in a row. I don't read her blog, Orangette, but I'm guessing this material works much better in blog format. It was very lightweight.
Also, while I'm glad the author and her husband are happy, she's really gushy about their relationship. She sounds very young. It's like Twilight, but with cooking instead of vampires.
None of the recipes jumped out at me as anything I want to make.
Also, while I'm glad the author and her husband are happy, she's really gushy about their relationship. She sounds very young. It's like Twilight, but with cooking instead of vampires.
None of the recipes jumped out at me as anything I want to make.
This book is a combination of blog-short entries and recipes. The author talks about her family, especially of the illness and death of her father, her love for Paris and her husband. Each short entry contains one or two recipes. The stories are nice, but not extraordinary. Molly's telling about her father, however, was quite touching. She also talks a lot about her husband and their relationship. There's a bit too much information for me sometimes. I read her blog and I feel weird reading about...more
Based on Wizenberg's "Orangette" blog, this memoir trades off anecdotes of her family and the blossoming relationship with a fan of her website (reader, she married him) with recipes keyed to certain memories. There's a lot of desserts, but also some pretty nifty-sounding salads, and a simple formula for pickled grapes I can't wait to try. I might even take a crack at the tomato soup with fennels if I ever have a spare afternoon to myself...
Wizenberg's an engaging raconteur, keeping the grand ar...more
Wizenberg's an engaging raconteur, keeping the grand ar...more
I just started reading the author's blog, Orangette, back in January, but it's good food writing. I also like her personality. So I was surprised when I found myself rolling my eyes several times while reading the introduction to this book. Maybe it's because romanticizing the crap out of mealtimes and cooking at home peaked in 2009 (when the book was published), and so it's old, old news by 2012. Maybe it's because I feel like we are similar--though I outgrew my French phase--and I'm jealous to...more
When I first came across Orangette, I was charmed by Molly, by her optimism and casual intimacy and a life focused on friends and simple pleasures. And then, exposing some rather ugly aspect of my personality, I became rather jealous of her. Even knowing that writing a blog such as that allows quite a bit of self-editing, I was jealous of how lovely her life was, how clear her spirit, how well she put words together. I've cycled back to being charmed by her, and this book only reinforced her cha...more
I absolutely loved this book. Not only because Molly is a great writer with a unique ability to draw the reader right into the touching vignettes about her life; or because her recipes are varied, interesting, and appealing; or because I'm pretty sure she could totally be my best friend in real life; but because she made me realize how important good food is in my life.
It isn't even about making some amazingly gourmet meal. It's about slowing down to appreciate the time that we spend (or should...more
It isn't even about making some amazingly gourmet meal. It's about slowing down to appreciate the time that we spend (or should...more
Though my mother actually hasn't read it all the way through yet, she's the one who recommended this to me. Or brought it to my attention, at least, and told me it was good when I asked. Allow me to give a hearty Thanks, mom!
I have to say, this is my favourite "food-memoir" I've ever read! So, maybe this is only my... third... but still, definitely my favourite. Of course, I couldn't tell you why. Perhaps it was because the author felt so down to earth! Her stories were amusing and, yes, heart-w...more
I have to say, this is my favourite "food-memoir" I've ever read! So, maybe this is only my... third... but still, definitely my favourite. Of course, I couldn't tell you why. Perhaps it was because the author felt so down to earth! Her stories were amusing and, yes, heart-w...more
I enjoyed this book very much. It was like chatting with Ms Wizenberg at one of her favorite cafes in Paris or Seattle. I didn't read the book through, but picked it up now and again to read the next chapter. She glories in food. After reading a chapter, I would make dinner that night and try to find the same sensations in the colors, textures, and tastes. While I do take the extra time to cook a meal that tastes good, and spend extra for local and organic foods, try as I might, I can't quite re...more
The problem with criticizing memoirs is that it always feels like a personal attack on their authors, particularly when the author is your age, you both have dead fathers, and maybe just maybe there’s a little green-eyed monster sitting on your shoulder hissing “Hey! I can write at least as well as this! Where are MY book deal, freelance column with Bon Appetit, travel writing assignments, and True Love?” Which is of course unseemly.
Maybe if I were a regular follower of the blog, I’d get it, bu...more
Maybe if I were a regular follower of the blog, I’d get it, bu...more
I loved this book. Absolutely loved it. Part cookbook, part memoir, Molly Wizenberg is an amazing writer and cook. I really do wish I lived closer to her so I could meet her.
I was first introduced to Molly through her blog, Orangette. I have no idea how I came across it in the first place, but I'm glad I did. Then I heard that she had a book out, which I thought would be interesting to read. Then I saw the book at Borders, and no amount of penny-pinching could keep me from buying it. I mean, jus...more
I was first introduced to Molly through her blog, Orangette. I have no idea how I came across it in the first place, but I'm glad I did. Then I heard that she had a book out, which I thought would be interesting to read. Then I saw the book at Borders, and no amount of penny-pinching could keep me from buying it. I mean, jus...more
I started this after boarding the plane en route to Brussels, and finished it before the day was over. I randomly picked up the book from BN when I was browsing through books and cookbooks that had to do with Paris. Upon purchasing this book, I was still recovering from a recent love affair with the city of lights. At first I couldn't put it down. But Molly started to lose me towards the end when she kept on gushing over how perfect her husband is, and what food they had at their wedding. I wish...more
I read this book with my best friend - and although we never spoke in depth about the text, I know we shared something heartwarming through reading it together.
The story line is somewhat of a coming of age theme, but with a focus on food. I instantly bonded with the voice of the main character and felt like we were friends. She shared her recipes with me and, the way she described them, I instantly wanted to taste each one. I could smell them baking in my kitchen, I could hear the pots and pans...more
The story line is somewhat of a coming of age theme, but with a focus on food. I instantly bonded with the voice of the main character and felt like we were friends. She shared her recipes with me and, the way she described them, I instantly wanted to taste each one. I could smell them baking in my kitchen, I could hear the pots and pans...more
hooray for foodie memoirs! i read Orangette the blog before this book came out and when it was published, I wanted to read it, but had zero time for reading. then, i realized that listening to it on audiobook would be wonderful (and it was). my only issue with the recording is that it says it's unabridged, but neither the recipes nor the recipe-specific notes are read. Now, I once listened to an audiobook where they read every single part of the recipe aloud and THAT was a bit tedious, but it wo...more
I'm sincerely baffled by the glowing reviews and book jacket blurbs from talented, capable writers and chefs like David Leibovitz. This book is AWFUL. The writing is trite and painfully unedited; Molly Wizenburg writes as if she's 60 and writing a touching memoir, when she in fact is oversharing about her twenties only a couple years later. The whole thing was overly precious and read like the diary of a 14-year-old who thinks she is a special unicorn because her parents love her and she met a b...more
I want to do justice to how much I like this book. Yes. There are five stars up there. It's not like I'm stingy with my stars if I really like something. It's not like I don't have any five star books on my virtual shelves. But I really really mean it with this one. I loved it.
The thing about food is that, for better or for worse, it's autobiographical. To me, the taste of Cheetos equals a road trip to Canada with my parents. I was about 9 years old and I got sick off of them. (I'm sorry to bri...more
The thing about food is that, for better or for worse, it's autobiographical. To me, the taste of Cheetos equals a road trip to Canada with my parents. I was about 9 years old and I got sick off of them. (I'm sorry to bri...more
“A Homemade Life” is neither fully cookbook nor fully memoir. It is instead a series of autobiographical essays with recipes the corresponding to the memories imparted. Although the essays are short and the platform is food, by the end of the book you’ll feel like you know Molly’s pert and fashionable mother, her robust, idiosyncratic father, her charming musician-vegetarian-gourmand of a husband, and of course, Molly herself. Not only is she able to bring these people fully to life, but she ach...more
While I am skeptical of blogs-to-books, and have spent considerable hours of my life dissecting the genre in recent months, I really wanted to love this book. First, the author lives in the PNW. Me too! (Only 60 miles north of me, Molly Wizenberg has a restaurant.) She's from Oklahoma, but left the minute she could. Hey, me too! She had a long-distance sweetheart who became her spouse. Wow! Me too! So, imagine my surprise when I, self-identified emotional sap and carbohydrate connoisseur, became...more
Some books about food demand savoring, others leave a bad taste in your mouth. But I gobbled up Molly Wizenburg's A Homemade Life like it was a pan of seven-layer bars. I know that some say that writers who started as bloggers often don't make good writers, but I think Wizenburg's book is an exception. I also know that some authors (like Robert Wolke in his Einstein series) include recipes to go along with each chapter of related text. But the stories from Wizenburg's life were so interesting th...more
Jun 21, 2009
Ciara
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
francophiles, salad devotees, people who need motivation to cook, fans of blog love stories
Shelves:
autobio-memoir,
read-in-2009
i would have given this book four stars, because i have tried a few of the recipes & they are pretty delicious, & the book definitely inspired me to cook more & experiment in the kitchen, which is awesome. but halfway through the book, which seems to a be a loosely chronological cooking-related autobiography, the author marries some dude she met through her blog & the qaulity of both the writing & the recipes went way downhill. the dude she married is vegetarian (maybe even v...more
A lovely read from a young, sentimental food writer. I am really starting to enjoy books that are a hybrid between food essays/memoirs and cookbooks, and Wizenberg's book is just that. She has somewhere in the range of 40-50 autobiographical essays in this book, and after each essay comes a corresponding recipe or two that pertains to (sometimes only loosely) the story she just told. The style and format is very similar to her monthly column in Bon Appetit, which I also enjoy.
I was a bit skepti...more
I was a bit skepti...more
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Travelling Withou...: May Alternate Group Read | 5 | 1 | May 05, 2013 12:17pm | |
| A Novel Read: A Homemade Life: Stories and Recipes from My Kitchen Table | 5 | 4 | Apr 01, 2013 12:13pm |
(from the "about me" section on her blog: http://orangette.blogspot.com)
I live in Seattle, but I grew up in Oklahoma City, went to college in the San Francisco Bay Area, and have spent a decent amount of time in Paris. I like peanut butter, meatballs, sausage, chaussons aux pommes, chocolate, ice cream, and nectarines, although preferably not all at once.
I started Orangette in July of 2004. I had...more
More about Molly Wizenberg...
I live in Seattle, but I grew up in Oklahoma City, went to college in the San Francisco Bay Area, and have spent a decent amount of time in Paris. I like peanut butter, meatballs, sausage, chaussons aux pommes, chocolate, ice cream, and nectarines, although preferably not all at once.
I started Orangette in July of 2004. I had...more
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“Even the Thanksgiving when her parents had just divorced, Hoosier Pie made the cut. ...They also, incidentally, made a pumpkin pie, but it fell on the floor, a classic example of survival of the fittest”
—
3 people liked it
“To most people, I guess, turning twenty-one is all about booze. To me, turning twenty-one was all about coconut. Booze is nice, but coconut is chewable, and when push comes to shove, I will always like eating better than drinking. Everyone has their priorities.”
—
2 people liked it
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Mar 09, 2009 12:03am