Customer Reviews

Larissa's Breadbook Baking Bread And Telling Tales With Women Of The American South

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(0)

 

 

I love this book! It explores and celebrates the rich cultural diversity of the south, through the eyes of a young girl and ten aging women who share their memories...and their recipes. (There are twelve different versions of cornbread...yum!) As the author writes, "...the South was never only black and white, but was always a rich rainbow of ethnic groups..." So you'll find represented here African-American, North European, Italian, Mexican, Cajun, Appalachian, Cherokee and Jewish traditions.

This book is so much fun to read. Because when I visited the south I fell in love with many of the wonderful breads they served at the restaurants. I searched for this particular book because of reading Eudora Welty's books and Sandra Conner's book and The Secret Life of Bees. This is an amazing book about the South and the women of the South as well. I loved it.

When I first started reading this book, I couldn't help thinking that the stories being told -- purportedly by ten Southern women -- didn't sound "real." They sounded false to me, a collection of stereotypes and cliches that didn't ring true.

Half way through, I did a little checking and found out that they WERE false. That is, the book is a collection of fictionalized stories. Even the supposed narrator, a 13-year old girl Larissa, was a fictional creation. That would have been okay with me (especially once I realized it) but unfortunately they all SOUND fictional!

But even given that major flaw, I really liked the book for the recipes and the artwork. Where else would you find a recipe for Cherokee Corn Pones, Sally Lunn bread, Challah, and Banana Tea Loaf all in one place!