The Lost Art of Mixing (edition 2013)

Eh...sometimes there are books that you just cannot get interested in. Unfortunately, this was one of them. I was only able to make it through the first few chapters before I had to put it down and that was disappointing, since I enjoyed Joy for Beginners. The characters did not really grab me and I felt like I missed something (a.k.a. the first book, which I could have sworn I read, at some point - also not a good sign). I always feel bad when I don't enjoy a book, but I guess that's why there are so many out there for all of us.

Oh Isabelle....if ever there was a time that I wanted to reach into a book and give a hug or hold a hand, it was The Lost Art of Mixing and the character of Isabelle who is grasping to hold onto her memories as they come and go like waves on a beach. Alzheimer's is such a horrible disease! As we reach or 70's/80's our bodies might fail us, but the one thing we should be able to count on is all of our memories to keep us company as we age and are sometimes forgotten. Ugh...I'm off point. Anyway, I loved the first book, 'The School of Essential Ingredients' and suggest reading that one first, but be sure and read this one too! I could return to Lillian's cooking school any time that Erica Bauermeister is ready! :) ( )

This is another one of those emotional star ratings. I'm sure a lot of people wouldn't like this as much as I did. A lot of people think this is fluff. I love the way Bauermeister writes her characters. They felt so real I got in their heads and walked around in their shoes. I had completely forgotten about the character with Alzheimer's though and that kicked me in the gut so hard I could hardly finish the book. It was especially emotional for me. The good thing about that was I turned around after reading about the healing powers of food and put them to good use. ( )

From the synopsis:

"Lillian and her restaurant have a way of drawing people together. There’s Al, the accountant who finds meaning in numbers and ritual; Chloe, a budding chef who hasn’t learned to trust after heartbreak; Finnegan, quiet and steady as a tree, who can disappear into the background despite his massive height; Louise, Al’s wife, whose anger simmers just below the boiling point; and Isabelle, whose memories are slowly slipping from her grasp. And there’s Lillian herself, whose life has taken a turn she didn’t expect. . . .

Their lives collide and mix with those around them, sometimes joining in effortless connections, at other times sifting together and separating again, creating a family that is chosen, not given. A beautifully imagined novel about the ties that bind—and links that break—The Lost Art of Mixing is a captivating meditation on the power of love, food, and companionship."

I received this book from the LibraryThing Early Reviewer program in exchange for an honest opinion.

I had previously read Joy for Beginners by the author and thoroughly enjoyed it. I knew that this book would be no different. While I have not had the opportunity yet to read the prequel The School of Essential Ingredients, the author provided enough backstory for the characters involved in this book so that I, as the reader, wasn't lost.

The book devotes a chapter to each character as their lives all weave together. The characters are very well rounded and I wouldn't mind meeting them in real life. She's a very good storyteller. ( )

I really enjoyed this book. I reminded me quite a lot of Barabara O'Neal's books; a good story mixed with food, friends and family. The characters lives intertwine in surprising and interesting ways. In the Lost Art of Mixing, what appears to be real on the surface is not always true, or at least not the whole truth. I'm looking forward to reading the book that came before this, The School of Essential Ingredients. ( )