Slices Of Sunlight, A Cookbook of Memories: Remembrances of The Children We Held [Paperback]

Alice J. Wisler (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 2000

Slices of Sunlight is more than a cookbook filled with delicious recipes. It is a tribute to the precious children who lived and loved here on earth. Although these children are no longer able to be held by us, their vivid memories told by their loved ones, as well as the continuous love held for them, live throughout the pages of this book. Meet these children, Tiffany, Gregory, Billy and many more. Learn to create the dishes they called their favorites---Bubble Loaf, Hokey Pokey Biscuits, Goblin Pie, Piroshki and Chruschikie. Let the memories bring slices of sunlight.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...a wonderful act of kindness." -- Candee Haskins, New Mexico

"The cookbook is a wonderful, caring endeavor in memory of Daniel." -- Debbie Landsman, Co-Founder of Loved and Remembered Memorial Tributes, California

"What a beautiful tribute to our beautiful children." -- Suzanne Krull, Florida

About the Author

Alice J. Wisler has always enjoyed writing but not with the passion and obsession she has today. After the death from cancer treatments of her four year old son, Daniel, in 1997, she has been writing for bereavement publications. In the summer of 1999 she decided to create a cookbook in memory of children. She received recipes and memories from all over the country and has put them in the book, Slices of Sunlight: A Cookbook of Memories, Remembrances of the Children We Held. Living in Durham, NC with her husband and three surviving children, she continues to actively help others who have experienced like herself, the 'worst tragedy', the death of a child.

Daniel's Memorial Fund is at the National Childhood Cancer Foundation in California since Daniel's desire was to be a doctor "...and help people." Alice hopes this cookbook will act as a healing balm for many.

Product Details

• Paperback: 140 pages
• Publisher: Daniel's House Publications (March 1, 2000)
• ISBN-10: 0967674026
• ISBN-13: 978-0967674025
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,250,440 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Born and raised in Japan, I love sushi! I also enjoyed walks to the stationer's store to purchase notebooks, scented erasers and pencils when I was in elementary school. With each purchase, I was sure I was going to write a bestseller!

Now, I live in Durham, North Carolina, USA with my new husband Carl and three kids. I write, blog and enjoy crafting fun characters. All of my novels are set in North Carolina. Rain Song (Christy Finalist 2009) is my first novel and How Sweet It Is was released in April 2009. (Also a Christy Finalist in 2010). Hatteras Girl made her debut October 2010. My fourth novel, A Wedding Invitation, set in Winston-Salem, NC, is out, and this is exciting! For me, this newest novel represents the need we all have to belong and be accepted, just like the Amerasian girl Lien, one of my characters, feels.

In addition to speaking at conferences and retreats across the country, I teach online grief-writing classes---Writing the Heartache---and design and sell remembrance cards. Since my four-year-old son Daniel's death in 1997, I've written articles on coping with grief. Many of these can be read at the Open to Hope website at http://www.opentohope.com. Be sure to visit my website at http://www.alicewisler.com and my blogs: http://www.alicewisler.blogspot.com/ and http://www.writingtheheartache.blogspot.com/

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very highly recommended., July 5, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Slices Of Sunlight, A Cookbook of Memories: Remembrances of The Children We Held (Paperback)

In Slices Of Sunlight by Alice J. Wisler creates a delightfully creative, painfully original tribute to children who have died. Just as meal times traditionally draw families together, even as food has always been a way to draw people together, Wisler portrays that tradition to honor the memory of shared meals, recipes and love in this wonderful cookbook. Bereavement is such a difficult subject, especially when one has lost a child. As Wisler reminds us, we are identified by our children. How many we have, how old they are, what they become. And when they die, be it a car accident or cancer, life never returns to "normal" for the parents left behind. We expect to die first but when our children leave, others are often unable to accept our expressions of loss, pain, and grief. But somehow, the grieving parent must find a way to live again. And with Slices Of Heaven, Wisler has discovered a way to bring the memory of the lost children into shared memories and recipes, allowing the children to figuratively live again. Wisler shares what makes this cookbook different from any other: "Here, within these pages, the recipes hold the memories of children, thereby adding the best and brightest flavor to each of them. The favorite recipes are not just food, they are etched into the fibers of our hearts along with the other dear memories connected to our children. These recipes hold powerful legacies." Within the pages of this book, the reader is introduced to many wonderful children. Some of my favorites: Meet Billy, who ate meatloaf sandwiches every day at school for three years. Gregory, who climbed up on the kitchen table to scarf Caesar salad while his parents prepared dinner every night. Curt, the micro-chef who sprayed the wrong bottom of the pan. Jennifer, who could eat the entire recipe of Butter Almond Crescents herself. Slices Of Sunlight is a self-published book, and the proceeds from the sale go to The National Childhood Cancer Foundation in Arcadia, CA. I heartily recommend that all readers help themselves to a generous slice of this wonderful cookbook. For those who would enjoy contributing, Wisler is planning a second edition that will "focus not only on recipes but memorials and tributes to the children we long to hold."

Cindy Penn Reviewer

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Help for all., February 16, 2000

By 

susan palumbo (Durham, N.C.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Slices Of Sunlight, A Cookbook of Memories: Remembrances of The Children We Held (Paperback)

This book was helpful to me as a friend of grieving parents. There is so much hurt and misunderstanding in the world of grief. This book helps people to vent their grief in a loving and thoughtful way of their loved one; remembering as simple a thing as their favorite food...something we all take for granted with living children and family members. What a great way to introduce to the rest of the world a very precious soul of the parents'. What a great way for those of us left here to remember the one who has died. What a significant way for those of us who still have all our children here to never take them for granted. Thank you, Alice.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Slices of Sunlight brightens the heart, warms the soul!, March 25, 2000

By 

Ann Conlon-Smith (Raleigh, NC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Slices Of Sunlight, A Cookbook of Memories: Remembrances of The Children We Held (Paperback)

Yes,it is a cookbook, but more, it is a tangible way to meet these dear children of ours who have left the earth but left much behind. This provides a real way to actually taste one of the things left behind -- a favorite food! The short writeup on each child gives insight into just who he or she was. How preciious are these sons and daughters. Here, an opportunity to know them better! Thank you Alice Wisler for providing this venue.