Helpful Score: 5
This book is a must read for anyone who is a native Washingtonian and a sucker for a good love story! The book is set in Seattle, Wa, and is about a breadmaker named Wyn. I literally could not put it down, and I am currently reading the sequal "The Baker's Apprentice"
Helpful Score: 5
What an enjoyable read. The story about a 31 year old woman who gets dumped by her husband is neither new nor original. But in Ms. Hendricks' capable hands, we are treated to the tale of a wonderful character who comes into her own when she relocates and takes a job at a neighborhood bakery. Great secondary characters, witty dialogue and terrific recipes. I liked it so much I couldn't wait to dive into the follow up - The Baker's Apprentice. Treat yourself to two great reads. Ms. Hendricks has now become one of my favorite authors.
Helpful Score: 4
I absolutely loved this book. Reading this book sparked one of my new hobbies, baking artsian breads! It has wonderful healing and life giving charm. I would list it as one of my favorite all time reads!
Helpful Score: 4
This is a light read, and a somewhat predictable romance. I liked the details about working in a bread bakery and how the protagonist found her vocation there. The details about a woman whose creating a new life after the breakup of her marriage, and the details about baking were of interest to me.
Helpful Score: 4
I found this immensely readable, not your average chick-lit. The story itself was predictable, but the voice was enjoyable. The way the narrator refers to her work reminds me of the coffeehouse mysteries... a few recipes are thrown in, as well.
Helpful Score: 2
I really liked the book, and quick read for me. Any woman who has dealt with a cheating husband can relate to hitting rock bottom and then rising again. Lots of good recipes throughout the book.
Helpful Score: 2
I wasn't sure when I got this book what to really expect, as I hadn't ever read this author. Boy did I hate to have this novel end--it was so good. It was an easy flowing read and I loved the charm of the whole story line. Nothing was boring, there wasn't any "feel sorry for me plot" and yes maybe a whiff of Bread in the air! Just from the discriptions of the kitchens, bakery's and yes recipes--you will smell bread, or want to bake some. But this isn't all about bread. It is about picking yourself up after being dumped and moving on, about good friends and family and about what you can do if you try. I adore this book, and have gotten on the list for the rest of Ms. Hendricks.
Helpful Score: 1
An enjoyable read, unlike the typical watered down chick lit, I found this to be an intelligent novel with an interesting spin.
Helpful Score: 1
This book is fantastic. The real life quality to it, even though fiction,is amazing. Tastefully written, the characters are very real. I cannot wait to read The Baker's Apprentice, the same characters and an ongoing saga. The story line, about a rich spoiled 30 something, takes place on the West Coast. She gets dumped by her overly handsome husband and that is where the story takes off. The feelings Wyn experiences are so real and the dialogue and comments/thoughts are witty and hilarious. I would recommend this book to almost anyone, no matter what your tastes are. It is a book you can apply to your life, and learn from it, a stop and smell the roses kind of thing. It has actual recipes for bread, and specific techniques. Don't let that scare you off, it is NOT a cookbook! It will twang at your heartstrings. I don't want to part with it,and still, I want to pass it on to EVERYONE of my reader friends! Very down to earth in writing style, the author makes the characters so REAL, like you are a mouse in the corner of every scene observing. You can feel the rain, sun, cold, wind and smell the smells. It is like you are there. I am SO glad I found it on Paperbook Swap while looking for cookbooks. Read it, you will Love it!!!! Maureen
Helpful Score: 1
Delightful and fun to read. This author's first novel.
Helpful Score: 1
Really loved this book. Believable characters, interestingly told and a few great recipes to boot! Already started on the sequel.
Helpful Score: 1
It's somewhat rare for me to say this, but I didn't need to like any of the main characters to enjoy the story. The way that Hendricks brought in pieces of the story (as well as flashbacks to important moments in the main character's life) kept me intrigued, and I read this book fairly quickly. This book didn't change my life, but I did enjoy it. It's a fast and interesting read.
Helpful Score: 1
I LOVE this book! One of my favorite books for a rainy day, it tells the story of a woman starting over after her divorce. She moves west, works in a bakery, remembers her summer in France learning the art of bread-making, and finds herself again. A wonderful read, well-written, and a real page-turner.
Helpful Score: 1
Really enjoyed this book. Especially liked the recipes and description of bread making.
Helpful Score: 1
I enjoyed this book, very restful overall.
Desperate for a change of scenery after her divorce, 31-year old Wyn leaves behind her posh pampered life and ventures to Seattle where she spends aimless hours at a local bakery, sipping coffee and inhaling the sweet aroma of freshly made bread. When offered a position baking bread, she accepts, and soon finds that making bread, the kneading of dough, and the heat from the oven, possesses an unexpected healing power, helping her to rediscover that nothing stays the same. Bread rises, pain fades, the heart heals, and the future beckons.
Inspiring and beautifully rendered, Bread Alone is an uplifting novel, dusted in the gentlest of magic, full of humor, and guaranteeed to warm the heart.
Inspiring and beautifully rendered, Bread Alone is an uplifting novel, dusted in the gentlest of magic, full of humor, and guaranteeed to warm the heart.
Sweet, engaging book; for anyone who has had a broken heart.
Totally wonderful book...one of those, "I'm goona relax today and read a good book", I just didn't want to put it down. I just loved the setting the writing..the story...everything.
This book is a fabulous read. I found myself reading little sections at a time because I didn't want it to end. I'm hoping for a sequel!
It is a great winter time read. I will read anything else by this author.
It is a great winter time read. I will read anything else by this author.
starting again - baker of bread - very good
This was a fun, fast read. I enjoyed the tie-ins to baking, and I even learned a few bread making tips!
A really fun book! Easy read, I ended up reading the rest of Judith Hendricks books.
I couldn't put this book down! Cracked it open and read it straight through, exhausted and bleary-eyed. Makes me want to open a bakery. Looking forward to exploring more from this author.
I really enjoyed this book - very realistic and you could feel the emotions the main character felt.
Delightful tale about a woman's second chance at life. Warm and witty, I almost couldn't post this one to share, as I wanted to keep it in my "keeper's bookshelf." However, I decided that the spirit of literature is to share it, so I am finally posting one of my favorite "feel good" reads.
It's a wonderful read. The characters are so real they become like friends. Really loved this book.
Bread Alone, in my opinion, did not have any extreme merit, or 'hook' for the reader. It was an okay read, just not anything exceptional.
the story just kind of flowed-first through the shock and devastation through Wynter's eyes to find out her husband is a cheating creep, then through the pain of the rest of the breakup, and ensuing divorce. It was beyond annoying, down right sad, how Wynter constantly was looking over her shoulder for the ex (David) to suddenly love her again, and there may still be a 'happily ever after' to be found. Not going to happen. The saving grace was the bakery with the down to earth characters and every day setting, the recipes, the comforting delicious bread itself.
Other than than...just barely a 2 star for me. There were no peaks and valleys, no-hold your breath, just lots of emotional pain, an apathetic main character, and some bland lover interests along the way.
the story just kind of flowed-first through the shock and devastation through Wynter's eyes to find out her husband is a cheating creep, then through the pain of the rest of the breakup, and ensuing divorce. It was beyond annoying, down right sad, how Wynter constantly was looking over her shoulder for the ex (David) to suddenly love her again, and there may still be a 'happily ever after' to be found. Not going to happen. The saving grace was the bakery with the down to earth characters and every day setting, the recipes, the comforting delicious bread itself.
Other than than...just barely a 2 star for me. There were no peaks and valleys, no-hold your breath, just lots of emotional pain, an apathetic main character, and some bland lover interests along the way.
This is one of those books where you like the characters early on, and they make relationships more than "just friends...." closer to family. I like the bakery setting and it was an easy read, but the characters stayed with me awhile after.... which is one my markers of a good book.
Taking a job as a baker, Wyn discovers that making bread possesses an unexpected and wondrous healing power.
A very uplifting book about the journey a woman whose entire life changes course when her husband announces that their marriage no longer works for him. Wynter Morrison is not suited for teaching high school and hopeless at selling real estate. She becomes a trophy wife, until her hubby dumps her. Desperate for a change she goes to Seattle and spends alot of time in a bakery smelling all the fresh bread smells. This makes her remember her apprenticship at a french bakery. Once again, the desire and ambition to make bread consumes her thoughs. She is offered a job at the bakery..she accepts, happy to have a routine.She soon discovers making bread helps her discover that nothing stays the same, bread rises, pain fades, the heart heals and the future beckons....new life style and people in your life.
