A Tea Reader: Living Life One Cup at a Time [Hardcover]

Katrina Avila Munichiello (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 10, 2011

A Tea Reader contains a selection of stories that cover the spectrum of life. This anthology shares the ways that tea has changed lives through personal, intimate stories. Read of deep family moments, conquered heartbreak, and peace found in the face of loss. A Tea Reader includes stories from all types of tea people: people brought up it the tea tradition, those newly discovering it, classic writings from long-ago tea lovers and those making tea a career. Together these tales create a new image of a tea drinker. They show that tea is not simply something you drink, but it also provides quiet moments for making important decisions, a catalyst for conversation, and the energy we sometimes need to operate in our lives.

The stories found in A Tea Reader cover the spectrum of life, such as the development of new friendships, beginning new careers, taking dream journeys, and essentially sharing the deep moments of life with friends and families. Find reflections of yourself and those you know in stories such as a tea shop owner whose heart is broken by Hurricane Katrina, and then finds the strength to start again, or a woman sharing a last moment with her father over a cup of tea.

Whether you are a tea lover or not, here you will discover stories that speak to you and inspire you. Sit down, grab a cup, and read on.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Like fine wine, savoring a cup of tea involves more than expertise. In this charming anthology, freelance journalist and blogger Munichiello provides a refreshing reminder of the days when tea parties evoked thoughts of friendship rather than political differences." - Publishers Weekly

"Not only is there a world of tastes and flavors to explore, but preparing and drinking tea provides "a quiet time to think and contemplate," says Munichiello, author of A Tea Reader: Living Life One Cup at a Time. In it, she shows the impact of tea on the lives of a cross section of tea lovers."—USA TODAY

"Like a fragrant pot of tea, this well-curated collection of personal narratives is full-bodied, bracing and delicious. Cozy up in a comfortable chair (with your favorite cuppa, of course) and lose yourself in the keen enthusiasm of this convivial group of tea lovers as they weave personal memories and heartfelt experiences about the importance of tea in their lives. This is a richly rewarding compendium that speaks to the passion and allegiance of tea drinkers."—Mary Lou Heiss, co-author of The Story of Tea and The Tea Enthusiasts Handbook

"A glimpse into the lives and souls of people who share a common passion; their unrelenting love for tea. A must-read for tea enthusiasts and those who soon will be."—Joseph P. Simrany, President, Tea Association of the USA, Inc.

"Katrina brilliantly captures the romance and journey of tea."—Tracy Stern, founder of SALONTEA and author of Tea Party and Tea for You

"My recommendation is that reading an anecdote or two with a cup of tea will bring pleasure and appreciation to anyone who enjoys drinking tea."—Shozo Sato, professor emeritus, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

"While the book's topic alone makes it the perfect gift for the tea enthusiast in your life, the selections all are also skillfully written, whether somber, joyful or educational in tone. Most share a contemplative, peaceful sensibility (often achieved over a cup of Earl Grey). So although at least a passing appreciation for tea will further readers' appreciation, any fan of good writing will enjoy sampling the contents…even, dare it be said, those who prefer coffee."—Shelf Awareness for Readers

"In this charming anthology, freelance journalist and blogger Munichiello provides a refreshing reminder of the days when tea parties evoked thoughts of friendship rather than political differences."—Publishers Weekly

"As for the contents, the author recommends that you get a good cup of tea and sit back to read. I agree totally. This is a book to be taken in with some attention, not rushed through…"—English Tea Store

About the Author

Katrina Avila Munichiello is a freelance writer, blogger, and tea lover. Specializing in writing about tea, parenting and food allergies, she has been published in Yankee Magazine, The Boston Globe Magazine, Living Without and others. A native of Maine, Katrina and her family live in Massachusetts. TeaPages.Blogspot.com

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Tuttle Publishing; Hardcover with Jacket edition (October 10, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0804841764
• ISBN-13: 978-0804841764
• Product Dimensions: 5.1 x 1.2 x 8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #721,434 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Katrina Ávila Munichiello is a freelance writer who specializes in writing about tea, food allergies, parenting, and her native New England. The author of the Tea Pages blog (teapages.blogspot.com), Munichiello has also published her thoughts about tea in a number of periodicals including Yankee Magazine, Connecticut Magazine, Tea & Coffee Trade Journal, and Tea: A Magazine. Her first book, "A Tea Reader: Living Life One Cup at a Time," was released by Tuttle Publishing in the Fall of 2011. She is currently Contributing Editor for TEA Magazine. Her writing about food allergies and parenting have been featured in the Boston Globe Sunday Magazine and Living Without. Munichiello, a stay-at-home mom to three children, holds a B.S. from Tufts University and an M.P.H. from Boston University. She enjoys reading, knitting, traveling, and engaging in advocacy about food allergy issues.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Tea Reader: Living Life One Cup at a Time February 14, 2012

By Linda L.

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

This is a wonderful book. After you read each story you feel as though you have just been comforted with a warm cup of tea. If you are able to sip a cup of tea as you read, all the better. It would make a great gift for any tea lover. If you buy it as a gift, order two copies, you will want to keep one for yourself.

4.0 out of 5 stars Tea for Many December 27, 2012

By stephanie fine

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

The ceremony and enjoyment of tea is a life long
passion. Author Munichiello captures the essesence
of this beverage and its many delights in a collection
of modern and history commentaries.

5.0 out of 5 stars A Warm, Cozy and Delightful Book November 10, 2011

By Seas Mom

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

I enjoyed curling up with this book and reading several of the short essays each night. Just right for my short attention span! I enjoy tea, but am not a tea fanatic, and found myself longing for a cup of tea everytime I finished a story. What a delightful book. I've purchased a couple extra copies to give as gifts.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Like a good tea blend..., December 22, 2011

By Jason O. Walker

Format:Hardcover

A welcome addition to the tea book genre, mainly because it blends much of the praiseworthy from the various branches of tea-writings. In its pages, the path is broad enough to move from tea as tangential toward the direct epiphany tea delivers.

Though it may seem simple, writing a good tea-book is challenging. There at least three ways in which the literary work can stumble off the path toward an unfruitful demise.

The first is the tea history. There is already such an abundant selection of tea history books that they begin to become indistinguishable. The earliest popular works in this realm were warmly received, and so others followed. Same facts were relayed and stories re-told. Often these works were more of a history of the discovery of tea, or the business of tea.

The second pitfall is somewhat ichi-go ichi-e, the attempt to encapsulate individual, personal experience and then evoke the same psychological, spiritual, emotional reaction in the reader. Ichi-go, ichi-e, roughly translated as "one time, one meeting," reveals that unique and often fleeting element when sensory input and Mind converge. To a certain degree, even tea books that try to capture a lifetime of tea experience can trip over this stumbling block. The experience is observed but never completely shared.

Many tea writers also trip over the landmine of using tangential tea as a glue for the work. In these products, references to tea can become forced when another cohesive element (e.g. wine, coffee, etc.) would have worked just as well. To some degree, interpersonal and intrapersonal experiences can fall under this category.... Many of the tea-evoked thoughts/feelings could have just as easily been encountered doing anything from using a new backscratcher to tasting that locally grown fingerling potato from the farmer's market.

A Tea Reader successfully avoids falling headfirst into the traps. While there are encounters with tea and references to literary works, there is enough here to capture the reader's attention without taking it hostage. If you tire of the granddaughter's recollections of grandmother's teacups, move on to a Qing dynasty poem. Or gain perspective from someone who works in the world of tea. Appreciating tea is like stepping into Heraclitus's ever-new stream, and A Tea Reader allows readers to step into the waters from various starting points. Read more ›

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic book November 18, 2011

By Dara B. Olmsted

Format:Hardcover

My boyfriend gave me this book as a birthday present and I loved it. It's a fantastic anthology with stories from every era, country, and point of view. Every morning, I poured myself a cup of tea and read a few chapters- it's the perfect way to sip and read your way through the book. I found the stories about tea as a career and travel inspiring, but there's something for everyone. It's a great gift for a tea lover.