Happy second day of summer! I don’t know about you but I’m a huge fan of summer reading lists. Not that we’re having much of a summer yet in New England but I fully intend to spend some quality time at the beach slathered in sunscreen and surrounded by a stack of good books, waiting for their brand new covers to be cracked open for the first time, just as soon as the sun decides to come back out. In the meantime, one of the best foodie stories I’ve enjoyed in quite some time has been named as an NPR recommended summer read and the author, Erica Bauermeister, contacted me to see if I would like to giveaway a copy of her novel on the blog. Well of course I do!
To win a copy of The School of Essential Ingredients all you have to do is leave a comment on this post.
In addition, If you share a link to this contest on your own blog, Twitter, Facebook etc… you may have one additional entry for a total of two possible chances to win. If you choose this option please leave a link to your shout out as your second comment. A winner will be selected via the nifty random number generator this Friday, June 26th at 8:00 PM EST and then I’ll promptly arrange to have the book shipped to your home.
Curious as to what the book is about? Below is my review re-posted from the original entry back in February:
Once a month an eclectic group of strangers meet in the kitchen of Lillian’s restaurant to participate in The School of Essential Ingredients. Shy and cautious at first they soon build a supportive rapport with one another, and under Lillian’s intuitive culinary tutelage blossom and grow in ways they never imagined possible.
Each chapter reveals a single participant’s story. Joy, heartache, personal failure, and successes are lovingly interwoven into the larger context of the cooking class. Some of the character’s you’ll meet inside Lillian’s kitchen include: Claire, a young woman struggling with balancing her personal identity with that of being a wife and mother; Tom, who is recovering from a seemingly insurmountable loss; Chloe, a shy and clumsy teenager desperately in need of a confidence boost; and Carl and Helen who have been married for decades, but harbor painful secrets from one another.
Erica Bauermeister’s ability to write about the human emotional connection with food is outstanding. Reading about the luscious dishes being created in class made me crave everything from roast crab to white cake. Of late, it has become popular for many books with a culinary slant to include recipes. However, as Lillian does not use recipes and encourages her students to feel, taste, and judge the timing and texture of their cooking on their own, the reader is only granted the same level of access. I definitely found myself repeatedly hoping that I’ll be able to recreate the elegant food so sensually described in the story, while also wishing that I could be a part of this amazing and personally transformative class. Where do I sign up?
This book sounds good! Thanks for hosting the contest.
The book sounds really interesting. Thanks very much for the giveaway Erin! Take care, Michele
Sounds good! Would love to read this regardless of winning.
Oooh, I’d love to win this book!
Sounds like a great book. Thanks for the opportunity
sounds like a good summer read 🙂
[email protected]
I’m always up for more books! 😀
Hmmmm – I may have to suggest this book for my next book club meeting as it sounds really good!
Oh this one sounds so good! Definitely going on my to read list!
Sounds great.. Hope I win 🙂
i’d love to win this! sounds great.
Always on the look-out for a good summer read. Thanks.!
Sounds like a very fun read!
This books sounds very interesting. I love to read and I love to cook. What a great combo! Thanks
This is a great book, just haven’t gotten it yet. Cool contest!
Oh yes, please include me in the drawing. And I wouldn’t mind being part of that class, too! K x
I absolutely LOVED this book when I borrowed it from the Library and would LOVE to own it! Thank you!!!
just the cover looks delicious, sign me up!
Sounds like a book I’d enjoy reading. Wish I could send you some of our sun and heat … we’re currently having heat alerts and heat warnings and being encouraged to stay out of the sun, watch out for signs of heat exhaustion and stroke, etc.
Souns great I love food lit!
Sounds like my kind of book!
I LOVE books about cooking and eating!
Would love to read it. Thanks for hosting this give away.
It’d be awesome to win this one! I’ve heard great things.
I also Twittered but I use an external client so I can’t figure out how to link it. My Twittername is shroomshortcut.
I love your blog! And this book sounds like a winner.
i would love a new book to read this summer! thanks for offering…. 🙂
You host the best contests! Thank you!
I’ve been wanting to read this book, so I this could be my chance.
Nice review!
I also mentioned the contest in my latest blog post – I must really want that book!
http://mignardise.blogspot.com/2009/06/bobs-house-of-grilled-pizza.html
if i won this book i wouldn’t have anymore excuses for not reading it
🙂
Another fun/great contest! Thanks!
I would love to win a copy of this book!
This book sounds really interesting, hope i can win!
I would love a copy of this book!
Sounds like a great read. And I’ll be looking for something to sink my teeth into once my exams are over in a few weeks.
hii…=) i love your website lol, and i would love this book!
Sounds like a great read! I’d love to win!
I blogged here http://contestmom.blogspot.com/2009/06/win-copy-of-school-of-essential.html
me, me!
I just read this book a few weeks ago, and I really liked it.
Yay for summer reading. I love the new look for the page. It’s making me realize I haven’t been here in quite a while. I agree with you on the weather. It feels much more like April than June.
Not sure if I did this right – I posted a comment on my facebook… Love this blog!!! :0)
http://www.facebook.com/srch.php?nm=Liz+Teague+Jungers&s=0&sid=fd6cefae5345215fb3e72930d16ad419
Would love to have a copy of this! Thanks for another chance to win!
have been sadly derelict in visiting others. love the look of the site! (book sounds good, too).
I’d love to win. Thanks for the giveaway!
I love summer reading! Book looks right up my alley, too!
I really liked the book. I always wanted a copy this. Thanks alot.
Always up for a new read!
I’ve been looking for a good summer read. I love all your contests! Thanks for doing this.
Hi Erin,
I enjoy following your blog.
It really sounds good I would love to win this book.
Yay summer and yay books!
Fun! I would love to read this.
This sounds like it would be a great summer read!
love your blog, you always have interesting finds! 🙂
Thanks for the recommendation – it sounds like the perfect read to make the M2 ride fly by!
No need to enter me in the contest, I just requested the book from the library 🙂
I’ve heard great things about this book, I’ll take 1 entry please.
Thanks for keeping me connected to NE–even with the crappy weather
The book sounds fab, and like something I’d dive right in to. Though it’s tough to get time to myself for reading with 2 daughters 4 & 7, I’m going to hire a sitter 2 mornings a week to read! 🙂
Oh, and about our recent weather? It is just sooooooo dreadful. The beach is only for gulls and crabs right now!
I read a short excerpt of that book and loved it. Can’t wait to read the whole book.
I’m always a sucker for a give-away!
Also…strawberry picking looked like such fun!
I love this book….. I have a friend that would love it, also!
I’m so glad you included a link to the NPR summer reading list, I’m always looking for reading inspiration
This book sounds great!
Ohhhh, the book sounds good. Thanks for doing this.
Love to read a good book!!!!
me, me, me!!
The book sounds intriguing! Can’t wait to read it!
I would love, love, LOVE this book! Thanks for having the contest!
I love your contests! Seems like you find the coolest stuff to give away. How do you approach folks whose stuff you later give away?
I have never read a novel about food- sounds great. Thanks for hosting this contest!
Oh…this is on my reading list for the summer. Along with several “girlie” books like: Dune Road, Finished Touches, and The Fixer Upper.
oooh ooh!! pick me! pick meeeeeeeeeeee!
tweetlededee, tweetlededoo….
http://twitter.com/czejohnson/status/2349260829
Oh I’ve had my eye on this book! I’d love a copy!
Twitter it too!
http://twitter.com/kgroovy