Saturday, October 10, 2009

THE RECIPE CLUB: A REVIEW AND GIVEAWAY

GIVEAWAY ENDED
THE RECIPE CLUB:

A Tale of Food and Friendship
by ANDREA ISRAEL & NANCY GARFINKEL

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Lilly and Val are lifelong friends, united as much by their differences as by their similarities. Lilly, dramatic and confident, lives in the shadow of her beautiful, wayward mother and craves the attention of her distant, disapproving father. Val, shy and idealistic -- and surprisingly ambitious -- struggles with her desire to break free from her demanding housebound mother and a father whose dreams never seem to come true.

In childhood, "LillyPad" and "Valpal" vow to form an exclusive two-person club. Throughout the decades they write intimate letters in which they share hopes, fears, deepest secrets -- and recipes, from Lilly's "Lovelorn Lasagna" to Valerie's "Forgiveness Tapenade." Readers can cook along as the girls travel through time, facing the challenges of independence; the joys and heartbreaks of first love; and the emotional complexities of family relationships, identity, mortality, and goals deferred.

But no matter what different paths they take or what misunderstandings threaten to break them apart, Lilly and Val always find their way back together through their Recipe Club . . . until the fateful day when an act of kindness becomes an unforgivable betrayal.

Now, decades later, while trying to recapture the trust they've lost, Lilly and Val reunite once more -- only to uncover a shocking secret. Will it destroy their friendship, or bring them ever closer?

ABOUT THE AUTHORS:

Andrea Israel is a producer/writer for ABC's Focus Earth. She was a producer/writer on Anderson Cooper 360, Dateline, and Good Morning America (which garnered her an Emmy Award). Her story In Donald's Eyes was recently optioned for a film. Ms. Israel is the author of Taking Tea. Her writing has appeared in many publications.


Nancy Garfinkel is co-author of The Wine Lover's Guide to the Wine Country: The Best of Napa, Sonoma, and Mendocino (Chronicle Books, 2005). A creative strategist, design consultant, writer, and editor for magazine, corporate, and non-profit clients, she has won a host of graphic arts and editorial merit awards. She has written extensively about food and graphic arts.
REVIEW/REACTION:

How often, or where, would you find a gorgeous while unique cookbook full of amazing recipes that really plays second to a wonderful story of friendship? THE RECIPE CLUB is one of my favorite reads in a long time. It tells the story of Valerie "Valpal" and Lilly "LillyPad", and their Recipe Club which begins when they are ten years old and pen pals. They faithfully write each other and with each letter, or note, they not only share their deepest secrets, hopes and dreams, but also attach a recipe. These pen pals turn into lifelong friends as letters turn to emails and their problems as children take on a whole new look as they grow up. Two different personalities, two different families, two different gals with many different recipes for food and friendship. That IS the recipe for a surefire successful novel and cookbook.

There is so much love in this book...love of food and love of friendship. This is a friendship that is tested as Lily and Valerie grow but it survives in good times and bad. I think readers will relate to these women and even understand when something happens to tragically try and break them apart. Is their friendship strong enough to survive this? Can a recipe be the sweetest part of this story or is it the loyal friendship of these two girls/women?

The authors, Israel and Garfinkel, give us a dynamic narrative filled with passion and purpose, emotions and eats! Their writing flowed so well and was one of those books I hated to put down. I was surely glad I started it on a slow weekend as I am afraid much would have gone undone had I not. Don't take my word on this one, as I said before, everyone has different tastes...but one thing I know is that your taste will enjoy the recipe part for sure! THE RECIPE CLUB: add two girls, stir them through good and bad times, toss with some 80 recipes, and marinate until the climax when things really heat up. The result? Well, see for yourself if this one is your taste in books!


GIVEAWAY

Thanks to Caitlin and
the FSB Associates, I have 2 copies
of this yummy book to give away!

RULES:

---U. S. Residents Only
---No P. O. Boxes, Please
---Email must be included in comments
---All comments MUST BE ENTERED SEPARATELY
or they are counted as just one

HOW TO ENTER:

+1 ENTRY: TELL ME WHAT PART OF THIS BOOK MAKES YOU WANT IT MORE? THE NOVEL OF FRIENDSHIP, OR THE RECIPES?

+1 MORE ENTRY: YOU MUST BE A FOLLOWER OF MY BLOG. TELL ME WHICH WAY YOU FOLLOW. IF YOU AREN'T, YOU CAN EASILY SIGN UP AS A GOOGLE FRIEND CONNECT IN MY LEFT COLUMN

+1 MORE ENTRY: BLOG OR TWEET ABOUT THE GIVEAWAY AND COME BACK AND LEAVE THE LINK I CAN FOLLOW


ALL ENTRIES ARE DUE BY
6PM, EST, OCTOBER 27

GOOD LUCK TO ALL!

77 comments:

Shirley said...

I'm a follower on Blogger.

peach106@gmail.com

Shirley said...

Since I love to cook I would have to say the thing that interests me most are the recipes.

peach106@gmail.com

Virginia C said...

A wonderful review! My friends and I are all "foodies". We cook for each other, share recipes, and talk about food all the time. I would love to read this book because food is a universal communicator, as is friendship.

gcwhiskas at aol dot com

Virginia C said...

I am a Google Friend Connect Follower.

gcwhiskas at aol dot com

rubynreba said...

Both friendship and recipes sound great but I would pick it for the friendship.
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

rubynreba said...

I follow on google.
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

Unknown said...

You know I would love this one! While I love recipes, the story behind them make culinary fiction so much more interesting to me!

jgbeads(at)gmail(dot)com

Unknown said...

I follow with Google Friend Connect :)

jgbeads(at)gmail(dot)com

Martha Lawson said...

I really think the friendship aspect of the book interests me most, even thought I will enjoy the recipes!

mlawson17 at hotmail dot com

Martha Lawson said...

I'm a google follower.

mlawson17 at hotmail dot com

dag888888 said...

The novel of friendship!

dag888888[at]yahoo[dot]com

dag888888 said...

Google friend connect follower!

dag888888[at]yahoo[dot]com

traveler said...

Thanks for this great giveaway. The story would captivate me and the recipes entice me. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

Alyce said...

I'm more interested in the friendship aspect, but the recipes appeal too.

akreese (at) hotmail (dot) com

Alyce said...

I follow via google friend connect.

akreese (at) hotmail (dot) com

Anonymous said...

I like the friendship factor the most

readingatthebeach at gmail dot com

Anonymous said...

I follow via Google Friend Connect

readingatthebeach at gmail dot com

Kristi said...

Recipes make me want it more!

kherbrand at comcast do tnet

Kristi said...

I am a follower.

kherbrand at comcast dot net

rhapsodyinbooks said...

For me it would be the recipes!

nbmars AT yahoo DOT com

rhapsodyinbooks said...

I am a follower on Google Friend Connect and Google Reader.

nbmars AT yahoo DOT com

Book Bird Dog said...

I'm a Google follower. And I love books about food.

harvee44 at yahoo.com

Book Bird Dog said...

I love recipe books and memoirs by cooks.

harvee44 at yahoo.com

KR said...

The friendships first..recipes a close 2nd!

mj.coward[at]gmail.com

Ann Diana Dinh, said...

Definitely the recipes!

behapppppppy(at)hotmail(dot)com

Ann Diana Dinh, said...

I'm also a follower.

behapppppppy(at)hotmail(dot)com

holdenj said...

The story sounds great, but I think I'd be interested most in the recipes. I like the idea of them changing over time, maybe the types of recipes, etc.
Thanks.
JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

holdenj said...

I am a google friend connect follower.
JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

Anonymous said...

The Recipes.

bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com

BevE said...

Definitely for the friendship.

+1 entry

merryweatherbookblog (at) gmail.com

BevE said...

I'm also a follower on:

+ 1 Goggle and on My Yahoo

BevE

Danielle said...

Of course friendship is always important, but right now I am all about cooking, so the recipe part is what I'm most excited about!

danielle78@comcast.net

Danielle said...

I follow your blog via google friend connect!

danielle78@comcast.net

Sheila (bookjourney) said...

I love stories on friendships! As much as I like the recipe addition - I think the friendship is the draw for me.

I follow your blog :)

journey through books @ gmail dot com

Momma Hunt said...

Looks like a great book. Friends and food in one story. Can't beat that. I am also a follower for the giveaway!

Libby's Library said...

My scale says that I want the book for the recipes:-)

Thanks for the giveaway.

libneas[at]aol[dot]com

Libby's Library said...

I'm a follower - to the ends of the earth...or as far as my short fat legs can take me. LOL

libneas[at]aol[dot]com

Sandee61 said...

I'd love to be entered in your giveaway for this book. I would enjoy the friendship part of the novel, but I am also a recipe nut who loves to cook and bake so the recipes are a plus too. Thank you!

Blessings,
Sandee

Muzzley56{at]aol[dot]com

bermudaonion said...

It's a tough choice, but I'm going to say I'm more interested in the novel of friendship. milou2ster(at)gmail.com

bermudaonion said...

I subscribe in Google Reader.

Esme said...

I just saw this at the book store-it is written diary style with recipes-I probably have enough cookbooks-but I like that aspect of the books so the recipes are what are luring me in.

thanks

Esme said...

I am a google friend.

oops I did not leave my email above

chocolateandcroissants at yahoo dot com

Kristi said...

I tweeted - http://twitter.com/kherbrand/statuses/4779671055

kherbrand at comcast dot net

Beth (BBRB) said...

The recipes sound fun, but the friendship story sounds nice.

BethsBookReviewBlog AT gmail DOT com

Beth (BBRB) said...

I'm a Google Friend Connect follower.

BethsBookReviewBlog AT gmail DOT com

Rebecca Orr said...

It's a tie..I really enjoy good recipes that I will use over and over...yet frindship is a big thing in my life...I really enjoy reading about it too. I am looking forward to both! bekki1820cb@gmail.com

Rebecca Orr said...

follow via gfc/email/and reader
bekki1820cb@gmail.com for gfc and reader
bekki1820cb@yahoo.com for email

Rebecca Orr said...

tweet: http://twitter.com/bekki1820cb/status/4816578722

bekki1820cb@gmail.com

Rebecca N. said...

Great review! I think maybe the friendship part interests me the most....but I sure love recipes too!
Thanks for the wonderful review and giveaway!

imsosweepy { at } gmail { dot } com

Rebecca N. said...

I follow on blogger and on google friend connect.

imsosweepy { at } gmail { dot } com

Jaime said...

friendship one and recipes second
copperllama at yahoo dot com

Jaime said...

I follow through google
copperllama at yahoo dot com

photoquest said...

I would say the Novel but the food is definately a bonus!!
photoquest(at)bellsouth(dot)net

photoquest said...

I am a google friend follower
photoquest(at)bellsouth(dot)net

(Diane) Bibliophile By the Sea said...

You have the greatest giveaways; thanks Karen

bibliophilebythesea AT gmail DOT com

DarcyO said...

I would say the story of friendship, but the food part helps!

dlodden at frontiernet dot net

DarcyO said...

I follow with Google Friend Connect.

dlodden at frontiernet dot net

Madwoman-doing-cartwheels said...

I would have to say the friendship/sisterhood appeals to me best as I love books about sisters.
Thanks for the chance!


bookcat1010 at gmail dot com

Madwoman-doing-cartwheels said...

I do follow on Google Friend Connect (Ally/rubymoonstoneATgmail)


bookcat1010 at gmail dot com

Andrea said...

I'd have to say I'm more interested in the recipes since I love cooking.
andie.v107(at)yahoo(dot)com

Vera said...

Ever since reading Julie & Julia, I'm all about books centered around food. And I think I'd like the recipes the most since I've caught the cooking bug!

vvperesk@gmail.com

Vera said...

I follow through Google.

vvperesk@gmail.com

g.g. said...

I would love the recipes but think to read I prefer the friend part

anjamie (AT) gmail DOT com

g.g. said...

I follow on your GFC

anjamie (AT) gmail DOT com

Carol W. said...

I think the novel of friendship has just a bit more appeal,but the recipes are definitely high up there, too.

wolfcarol451(at)gmail(dot)com

Carol W. said...

I follow on Google Friends Connect.

wolfcarol451(at)gmail(dot)com

Book Lover Lisa said...

Sure the friendship thing is great, but it is the recipe part that really draws me.

bookloverlisa@gmail.com

Book Lover Lisa said...

I follow your blog through google friend finder.

bookloverlisa@gmail.com

ossmcalc said...

The novel of friendship makes me want this book more.

Thank you,

Christine
womackcm@sbcglobal.net

ossmcalc said...

I am a follower through Google Friend Connect.

Thank you,

Christine
womackcm@sbcglobal.net

ossmcalc said...

I tweeted about this giveaway http://twitter.com/ossmcalc/status/5185203517

Thank you,

Christine
womackcm@sbcglobal.net

minishoes1 said...

Both. If I had to choose one it would be friendship,because where would we be without our friendships. Some are my friends are like sisters to me and we have sure had our up and downs. Thanks!jacquecurl1@gmail.com

minishoes1 said...

I follow through google friend. jacquecurl1@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

Friends forever. Please enter me. walkerd@primus.ca

lag123 said...

I want the novel of friendship. Please enter me.

lag110@mchsi.com

lag123 said...

I follow via google friends connect and also on twitter.

lag110@mchsi.com

lag123 said...

I tweeted. @lag32583

lag110@mchsi.com

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