Wynter Morrison is the thirty-one year old wife of a handsome, impeccably dressed and successful man named David. He has lots of money, the right corporate friends and has steered his wife in the direction he needs to help his career. Wynter spends her days at charity events, dinners and cocktail parties with David’s contacts or potential clients, playing the consummate role of corporate wife, a well informed woman who can discuss anything or nothing depending on what the situation demands. She believes she is not only David’s lover and best friend, but also the partner in her husband’s career success. She is rewarded with gorgeous designer clothes, impeccable manicures and European vacations. But one evening, David announces that he needs some space, time away from her. He is stressed at work, depressed and uncertain where he is going in his career. Wynter flees to her childhood friend CM in Seattle for consolation. She is determined to give David the space and time he needs to sort himself out, convinced that this sudden rift or whatever it is, will heal itself. But she returns from her short stay in Seattle to find herself locked out of the house and her things unceremoniously dumped on the front porch.Devastated, but still convinced this will all blow over and that David will realize his mistake and come back asking for forgiveness, she must find a place to live until things return to the way they used to be. So she returns to Seattle, rents a small cottage and takes up baking bread in a small bakery. Here she works with an eclectic group of coworkers, including Linda who bakes the bread at night, Tyler the barista and Ellen who owns the bakery with her partner Diane who makes the cakes. Making bread has always been something she has loved, and its soothing rituals of measuring and kneading bring her a sense of peace and relaxation despite the long hours and the heavy labour of hauling around heavy sacks of flour. In Seattle, she experiences a different kind of weather from her former home in sunny California, makes new friends and renews her close friendship with her childhood friend CM. And her life takes some dramatic turns as she slowly accepts how her life has changed and how she must move on to something new and different.This story follows the well known formula of chick lit: a woman of means is shocked by a change in her life circumstances, spends time believing everything will go back the way it was, finally realizes she was never happy in her old life and moves on with new friends and a more satisfying life. Nevertheless, it was a pleasant read and the narrative is interspersed with some interesting recipes.
Reading Bread Alone will give you that same warm and peaceful feeling you get the moment you catch the scent of newly baked bread. Inhale deeply. In this novel, the main character Wynter is faced with her husband’s unexpected announcement that their marriage is over. Wynter is at a life-altering point.She moves from Los Angeles to Seattle, where most of the novel takes place. You’ll delight in reading about our familiar sights and culture. She tries to analyze her life situation and make some decisions while sitting daily as a customer at a small bakery she discovers. Destiny steps in and Wynter ends up gratefully accepting an offered job there.The bakery at the forefront of this novel is inspired by our own Seattle Macrina Bakery. I certainly recommend a road trip to Macrina to experience this incredible bakery first hand. If you’re a baker yourself, I recommend that you add yourself to their email distribution to receive their yummy recipes.The main character’s journey is a page turner, and you’ll enjoy the characters surrounding her. The author skillfully gives you glimpses into those characters’ own compelling journeys as well. They are all learning to knead and shape their futures. “When you’re ready to go out to the deep water, you have to dive into the wave. If you wait for it to come to you, it’s going to knock you on your keister.” As an added treat to the story line, the author includes all kinds of tried and true delicious recipes. If you’re not a baker now, you’ll certainly be inspired by this book to start baking bread.And if you find this novel’s slice of life leaving you wanting more, you can read the wonderful sequel The Baker’s Apprentice. Food talk, confidences, friendships, romance, and recipes, what more could you ask for in a sequel? You’ll enjoy reading about the new turns Wynter’s life takes, and also the lives of the other characters. This sequel introduces interesting new characters too. “You think you’ve put things behind you, but the problem is you’ve put nothing in front of you.”Judith Hendricks began her writing career at the age of 50. About these two novels she has said that bread is a metaphor for daily life. It’s really the strong who survive in this world and that’s what you learn from knocking down the bread. You punch it down so it can rise up again.And thereby hangs a tale . . . .
What do You think about Bread Alone (2002)?
Read June 2008, and at the time wrote:Nice weekend read. I decided to drop the book at Muddy Waters today rather than try the recipes-- I have my favorites for all the ones listed already, just lack the time/inclination to make them. Maybe I'll be inspired now.Don't know why Wyn was so surprised at the whole David vs Mac vs Gary thing...anyone with half a brain could pick the man most comfortable in his own skin, and with her leading a full and rewarding life.The best part about looking up this review, though, was seeing a review written by my darling mother after she read the book in 2008 (The caps and other typing idiosyncrasies are completely hers.)Despite the fact that I picked this up from my daughter's hand and not at a BookCrossing Meeting or in the wild, I was glad to read it.The backdrop of the bakery, its employees, its product were interesting to meet and follow. Bread making IS exciting.ONE OF THE DEAREST MEMORIES I HAVE IS MIXING THE INGREDIENTS FOR A LOAF OF BREAD IN FRONT OF MY SON'S THIRD GRADE CLASS, LETTING THEM SEE IT RISE, BAKNG IT AND SERVING THEM SLICES. IWOLD HAVE ENJOYED TRYING SOMEOF THE RECIPES INCLUDED. My mother died the following June, and here it is, three Junes later, and we're still sharing a book.
—bookczuk
If you want to continue with some winter fun chick lit and FOOD read the books by Barbara O'Neal.....they even have recipes!!!!! Also, "The School of Essential Ingredients" and "The Lost Art of Mixing" by Erica Bauermeister-these two are beautifully writtenandthe same genre with romance and recipes!!!!
—Amber
In the novel Bread Alone, bread making is at the heart of the story. The protagonist, Wynter Morrison is the perfect trophy wife, ideal hostess, cultivator of social networks to benefit her husband. Seven years of marriage, and it is all out the window when her husband announces he needs some time apart. She decides to visit her best friend in Seattle for a few days to think. Returning home she finds she is locked out of her home, with her possessions on the porch. She goes back to Seattle, deciding to make the divorce process last as long as possible. Maybe he will come to his senses and take her back. She spends hours drinking coffee in a bakery, remembering an apprenticeship in France when she was younger, and those bread making lessons, or were they life lessons? She is offered a job baking bread and she accepts. She comes to understand she isn't the trophy wife, really never was, but she doesn't know what she really wants. The novel is beautifully written, with lovely reminiscences of a bakery in France. The journey to discover what is truly important to her takes the entire novel. Along the way are a few recipes for bread, nicely integrated into the story, along with tips on baking perfect loaves. More on my blog From My Carolina Home.
—Craftnut
