Dinner with Edward by Isabel Vincent
Publisher: Algonquin Books
Publication Date: May 24, 2016
224 pages
Available in Hardcover
Synopsis:
When Isabel meets Edward, both are at a crossroads: he wants to follow his late wife to the grave, and she is ready to give up on love. Thinking she is merely helping Edward’s daughter–who lives far away and has asked her to check in on her nonagenarian dad in New York–Isabel has no idea that the man in the kitchen baking the sublime roast chicken and light-as-air apricot soufflé will end up changing her life.
As Edward and Isabel meet weekly for the glorious dinners that Edward prepares, he shares so much more than his recipes for apple galette or the perfect martini, or even his tips for deboning poultry. Edward is teaching Isabel the luxury of slowing down and taking the time to think through everything she does, to deconstruct her own life, cutting it back to the bone and examining the guts, no matter how messy that proves to be.
My Review:
Dinner with Edward is a story of love, relationships, and coming together over dinner!
This book was a pleasure to read. It is one of those books that will warm your very soul. It is touching, heart-felt, and endearing. It makes you think of how precious life is. It speaks of those rare friendships that we find when we most need them in our lives. It’s a story of finding those rare and precious moments in a world full of sorrow.
The writing in this book was beautiful! The story was easy to follow and written in a way that was subtle yet provocative. The food will make you want to cook gourmet and pair it with the perfect drink. My mouth watered while reading this book. The story flowed along with ease. The chapters were short and to the point. It take place in New York and is alive with culture. It was educational and I learned a few facts I didn’t know about New York and the culture.
The characters were magnificent. They were intellectual and charming. The dialogue was short and to the point. The story told itself with out the need for too much conversation. It was a read that made me ponder and reminisce of past relationships whether they were family or lovers. Everyone that we meet has a purpose in our lives whether for a fleeting moment or for a lifetime. This book will make you treasure your loved ones more and maybe even throw a dinner party and bond over food, drinks, and good company.
This book was a pleasure to read and a time or two brought a tear to my eye. It will touch your heart and stay with you long after you read it. If you are looking for a read that is pleasurable, heart-warming, and quick you will be pleased with this book. It is a short read with short page, but packs a punch. The perfect book to curl up with while having a glass of wine. Just be prepared to get hungry. You may not want to read on an empty stomach. 😉
What Others Are Saying About Dinner with Edward…
“I loved every moment of this book . . . Everyone deserves their own Edward–and everyone deserves to read this book.” —Susannah Cahalan, bestselling author of Brain on Fire
“A rare, beautifully crafted memoir that leaves you exhilarated and wanting to live this way. Edward is a marvel of resilience and dignity, and Vincent shows us that the ceremony of food is really a metaphor for love. The key is to live your life generously.” —Rosemary Sullivan, author of Stalin’s Daughter
“Isabel Vincent delves deeply into matters of the kitchen and the heart with equal and unabashed passion . . . Rich with description of meals savored, losses grieved, and moments cherished, it’s at once tender, revealing, and utterly enchanting!” —*Gail Simmons, judge on Bravo’s Top Chef and author of Talking with My Mouth Full
“One of the most stylish and emotional works of nonfiction I have ever read. I savored every page.” —Bob Colacello, authorHoly Terror: Andy Warhol Close Up
“Although the food (I am partial to the roast chicken, lovingly described) is excellent, it is the charming and effortlessly wise company that makes this sweet read
a charming way to pass a day.” —George Hodgman, New York Times bestselling author of Bettyville
“Delightfully combining the warm-heartedness of Tuesdays with Morrie with the sensual splendor of Julie and Julia. This is a memoir to treasure.” —Booklist, starred review
About the Author:
Isabel Vincent (born 1965 in Toronto) is a Canadian investigative journalist who writes for the New York Post, an alumna of the University of Toronto Varsity newspaper, and the author of several books.
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*I received an ARC of this book from Algonquin Books’ LibraryThing Early Reviewers giveaway.