Customer Reviews

At Grandmother's Table: Women Write about Food, Life and the Enduring Bond between Grandmothers and Granddaughters

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I was given this book by my best friend; we both feel a strong attachment to our gandmothers. Even just flipping through it, I knew right away that I'd like it. The quality of the paper, the photographs, layout, binding are all excellent. Once I started reading it, I was glued. It's not a cookbook to use as a resource; it's a book of essays, each accompanied by a recipe. Each essay is a like a snapshot into a family of long ago, and each woman is writing about my favorite topic - the strong "grandmother-pull" she feels. Many of the women write of grandmothers they barely knew but with whom they feel some connection, while others write of grandmothers who raised them or who were active in their families. In all cases, the love, respect, awe, and gratitude the writers feel toward their grandmothers is evident in each piece. The recipes are a fun supplement to each essay. They tell another story of the grandmother in the way they were handed down or written down, and I swore I could smell the smells of each grandmother's cooking as I read. I read this book cover to cover and hated to see it end. It transported me to times long gone, times of grace, times with my grandmother, Grace.

What a great book! I purchased this for my mother and it became the topic of conversation in our family and extended family over a recent birthday. Both my mother and father related stories about their parents I hadn't heard before. And this book is what started it.

This book is a collection of 68 women who share moving stories about their grandmothers. Along with these stories are recipes that have been passed down from generation to generation. Some of the recipes covered are: Gran's Blackberry Spice Cake with Burnt Caramel Icing, Grandmother Rushmore's Wednesday Casserole, Grandma Layton's Violet Jam (yum!), and Mildred's Wild Blackberry Tarts just to name a few.

But don't think this is just a cookbook. It is so much more! I bought it for the recipes but I savored it for the stories and photos that brought me back to my family history and made me look closer at my grandparents. The book is broken down by decade starting in 1870 and running through to 1910. My grandmother, who was 3 during the great San Francisco earthquake and fire of 1910, would have fit perfectly into this book.

To top it off I loved the whole presentation of the book itself. The cover reminds me of my grandmother's kitchen that I would play in when I was younger. The book is beautifully put together as well. I feared that with some of these old recipes you wouldn't get exact ingredient amounts. Because isn't that what makes your grandmother's cooking so good? She know exactly how much of each ingredient to use! I rarely saw my Grandmother measurre anything. But I was happy to find that the recipes were easy to follow and provided detailed instructions.

The book must have been a labor of love for the editor, just as the recipes were for the grandmothers whose lives are collected in this book. I will be giving this book as Holiday/Christmas gifts this year and I plan to buy a few at Mother's Day as well. Trust me, your Grandmother would have wanted you to have it.

This book is more than memories and recipes, it presents a cross section of cultures, personalities, and tastes. Each grandmother's story touches the heart--some are humorous, others poignant, but all reminded me in some way of my grandmothers. As a grandmother, it made me reflect on my role in my grandchildren's lives. The recipes are an added bonus. Delicious! And, most important, doable!

There are about 70 recipes in "At Grandmother's Table" but it's not primarily a cookbook. The focus is on the essays that each contributor wrote about her grandmother. These essays are fascinating, both for their diversity, and the common themes that seem to crop up. Reading it, I remembered my own grandmothers, and the recipes they shared.

I am so happy to have discovered this book. Each story was wonderful. What a privilege to get to know a little bit about all these interesting women. The stories brought back memories of my grandmother and made me wish I had gotten to know her better. One thing I do remember about her is that she was always cooking and the many delicious foods that came out of her kitchen - recipes like the ones in this book. I made a list of at least 10 that I want to make. Thanks to the women who shared their memories and these special recipes.

I was given this book by my best friend; we both feel a strong attachment to our gandmothers. Even just flipping through it, I knew right away that I'd like it. The quality of the paper, the photographs, layout, binding are all excellent. Once I started reading it, I was glued. It's not a cookbook to use as a resource; it's a book of essays, each accompanied by a recipe. Each essay is a like a snapshot into a family of long ago, and each woman is writing about my favorite topic - the strong "grandmother-pull" she feels. Many of the women write of grandmothers they barely knew but with whom they feel some connection, while others write of grandmothers who raised them or who were active in their families. In all cases, the love, respect, awe, and gratitude the writers feel toward their grandmothers is evident in each piece. The recipes are a fun supplement to each essay. They tell another story of the grandmother in the way they were handed down or written down, and I swore I could smell the smells of each grandmother's cooking as I read. I read this book cover to cover and hated to see it end. It transported me to times long gone, times of grace, times with my grandmother, Grace.

What a great book! I loved reading about the relationships and the memories certain foods brought back to the grandchild. I've given this book as gifts to people who love family and food!

I keep going back to this wonderful book for the stories and the recipes. But I always photocopy the recipes so I won't mess up the book -- it's too beautiful. I have given it several times as a gift and it's always been gratefully received. I'm glad it's in paperback now.

At Grandmother's Table offers a fascinating collection of writings about food, life, and the enduring bond between grandmothers and their granddaughters. Enhanced with the occasional recipes such as Grandma Riello's Spaghetti Sauce, Mildred's Wild Blackberry Tarts, and Grandma Rendler's Apple Strudel, At Grandmother's Table offers the intimate and candid thoughts of eight women, richly illustrated with vintage photographs and original drawings. At Grandmother's Table would grace any home or community library collection and is very highly recommended reading for those who appreciate nostalgia, family traditions, and generational legacies of the kitchen.

I love this book. And it is not because my mother wrote in it, which she did. i love it because it is a part of a womans heart and soul put into every word they wrote about their special relative. the recipies are tasty too! it makes a geat gift for any female relative, or to get a person talking.