Customer Reviews

The Baker's Apprentice: A Novel

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I enjoyed Judith Hendricks' other books "Bread Alone" and "Isabel's Daughter," so when I found out that "The Baker's Apprentice," sequel to "Bread Alone," had come out, I rushed out to read it. Like several other Amazon reviewers have mentioned, "The Baker's Apprentice" lacked the cohesion of the first Wynter novel. There are still the zany characters that share Wynter's passion for baking at Seattle's funky Queen Street Bakery: owner Ellen, the cantankerous Linda, the Mazurkoids, and Tyler, former barista and now Wyn's unwilling apprentice.

Wynter is waiting on her divorce settlement and is strapped for cash, having borrowed $15,000 from her mother to become a partner in the bakery. Although the sex is great, her sometime boyfriend Mac is experiencing personal (emotional) problems, and splits for Alaska to rewrite his rejected manuscript. Things at work are well nigh unbearable: new cake decorator Maggie and barista Tyler are engaged in a perpetual war against each other, creating tension and worse. Wynter is left to pick up the pieces, and after Linda retires, Tyler is made a baker's apprentice in her place. Surprisingly, the artistic Tyler proves a quick study. Wynter is offered the chance to return to Toulouse to visit the bakery where she had a fateful internship in college, hoping to learn new bread wisdom from the master baker she once dreamed of seducing.

There are several mouthwatering recipes included (Hazelnut Cappuccino Scones, Tyler's Indian Maiden Bread, fouace aux noix), and Hendricks' lush descriptions of the process of baking, baked goods, and the luscious dinners that Wynter whips up borders on food porn. However, the plot slows to a crawl at times, with too much of the book devoted to Mac's narrations of life in Beaverton, Yukon Territories. The numerous secondary characters' crises and dilemmas never seem adequately resolved, and the ending is abrupt.

Newcomers may want to start with "Bread Alone," since a good deal of "The Baker's Apprentice" is explained in the first novel. For those who enjoyed "Bread Alone" or who enjoy breadmaking, "The Baker's Apprentice" is a pleasing, mouth-watering read. At any rate, I enjoyed the rich descriptions, tasty recipes, and closure of Wynter and Mac's journey.

Man, do I feel foolish. Usually, because I read so many books, I check them out of the library and then buy the ones I love so I can re-read them whenever I want. Well, I didn't do that this time -- mostly because I loved _Bread Alone_ so much that I couldn't wait to read it and I am so disappointed.

To me, this book reads like a jumbled mix of everything that was edited out of the first book. The pace is frustratingly slow and not much gets resolved. For example: the whole divorce issue, which was core in the first book, peters out as if the author is tired of discussing it.

As more of a minor but irritating point: not one person is happy in the entire book. Every employee has a personal crisis (none of which are resolved or moved forward) and the book ends very abruptly.

So, I'm ticked that I bought -- and read -- what amounts to the author's cast-off notes from _Bread Alone_. I kept hoping the story would get better but it never did. My mistake was not sticking to the "library strategy".

Wynter Morrison is in a very good place in her life. She's content with her work at her Seattle bakery, baking bread during the serene night hours. Her lover, Mac, has recently reappeared in her life, to her intense joy.

But things start falling apart, bit by bit. One of the bakery's workers, blue-haired waif Tyler, attempts to make the new cake designer look bad, and ends up damaging the bakery's reputation. When Wynter agrees to take on a bread baker's apprentice during her night shift, she's dismayed when troubled Tyler steps into the role. Soon Tyler is smoking pot during her shift and complaining about having to do routine chores such as cleaning equipment and measuring flour.

Wynter begins to be bothered by certain aspects of her relationship with Mac. She wonders why Mac refuses to talk to her about his childhood and why the role he assumes among her friends strikes her as false. When Wynter asks Mac to go home to her mother's with her at Christmas, she knows he won't come --- and he doesn't. Their own Christmas celebration is a disheartening bust. Needless to say, Mac never utters the words "relationship" or "commitment."

Wynter develops tendonitis in her wrist. With bread making impossible, can she rely on Tyler? Well --- yes, as a matter of fact. Tyler amazes Wynter by rapidly becoming an expert and enraptured bread maker. This cheers Wynter in the face of her continuing divorce problems and her accompanying financial woes.

Mac heads into the sunset suddenly, stating he needs time to himself. His meandering plus car troubles land him in the Yukon, where he writes strangely impersonal letters to Wynter. Mac's hurried leave-taking and his frosty letters devastate Wynter, but when an event in Tyler's life plunges her into grief, Wynter finds comfort in consoling her. Mac's absence lessens in importance as Wynter continues creating a family of her own in Seattle. Evidently, the Mac chapter of her life is closed forever. Or is it?

THE BAKER'S APPRENTICE is leisurely and full of description. The pace of the plot slows a bit at times, and there are so many characters that I occasionally lost track of who they were. Yet, as soon as I'd think, "Isn't this dragging a bit?" I'd happily delve back into Wynter's world of food and plants and friendship and love. In fact, I unhurriedly devoured this feast of a story the way I'd savor a prolonged meal at a gourmet restaurant --- one luscious tidbit at a time. So snuggle down in front of the fireplace with a big cup of tea and a cappuccino hazelnut scone (the recipe is in the book!) and settle in for a cozy and satisfying read.

--- Reviewed by Terry Miller Shannon

Unlike Bread Alone, I found this book to be the better of the two. Wyn Morrison has grown past that annoying complainer from the first book and into a mature, intelligent, strong woman. I thought this story was great. I enjoyed these characters very much. I am new to Judith Ryan Hendricks but will continue to follow her work.

I cannot believe no one has rated this book. You people don't know what you're missing!!!! I loved Bread Alone and was hoping for a sequel- when I found out Hendricks actually wrote a sequel - my expectations were high - and Hendricks delivered. I love that Mac's POV was added to Wyn's first person POV, this style brought the characters and their surroundings to life. I appreciate that Wyn and Mac matured independently (Wyn finally stops whining). I also love the symbolism of making bread, making meals, eating meals....This story is a great read.

I read the first book in this series, Bread Alone, and enjoyed it. This book I didn't think was as good. It wasn't terrible by any means, but it just didn't hold the charm that the first one did. And I wouldn't recommend reading this one without having read the other one first.

Wynter is now a part owner of the bakery where she churns out Artisan bread. She's got a boyfriend, Mac, who runs hot and cold at the best of times, but she's crazy about him. Even though her divorce isn't final she's picking up her life and moving on. So when they hire a new person at the bakery, and their younger assistant Tyler throws a fit, she's not sure what to do to keep the peace. Mac keeps acting stranger too and Wynter just wants to live a normal happy life, without all the drama, but doesn't seem to be able to get the chance.

Wynter kind of ticked me off in this book. It may be a somewhat spoiler, but I dislike her thoughts about abused women in this book. Its insulting and insensitive and while her partner Ellen showed more compassion, Wyn was not very kind. And that made it very hard for me to connect with her character. She also seemed to have a lot of drama in her life, which is exhausting. Her boyfriend too wasn't the greatest, I honestly, even at the end of the book couldn't figure out why she liked him so much. There was no compelling reason to like him because he was mostly a jerk who needed to grow up and face his demons.

The plot kind of bounced around too. There were so many storylines that just didn't really connect with each other. I always like when they talk about the bakery, but the whole separate story about Mac I really didn't find interesting at all and it messed up the rest of the flow of the book for me. What was great about this book were the different bread recipes that were included. I'm always a sucker for food books, so this worked to my advantage, especially since I'd like to learn to bake a better loaf of bread. So the food elements were good at least.

Not as good as the first. I'm not sure if I'd read the third book if there was another one to come out.

The Baker's Apprentice

Copyright 2005

384 pages

Review by M. Reynard 2012

This was a great book.

I love the story line and the characters.

It was a book about life and people.

Specific one woman in search of herself.

I have been a bread baker so it was a delight

to find receipes that I could make :0)

I have purchased the sequel and can't wait

to find a quiet, cozy spot to start reading.

I would highly recommend it.

kat

I really enjoy the way this lady writes. This is the second of them I've read. Next will be Isabel's Daughter.

I just loved this book as well as I did the first one "BAKING BREAD" both books are delightful,enjoyable and uplifting. These two books are in my "keep" shelf,I will read them again some day.

I really like "Bread Alone" so I was excited to read this sequel. Unfortunately, this book does not measure up to the first. The plot is so all over the place it seemed like the author just went with anything that popped into her head. Several main themes of the first book are abandoned for less interesting topics and the story just weaves aimlessly between characters.

The worst aspect of this novel is that NONE of the issues are resolved in the end...it just fades out to a completely unsatisfying conclusion that leaves the reader just hanging in the air.

DISAPPOINTING!