Ich werde das Hörbuch nicht bewerten, da es sich nicht unbedingt um Literatur handelt, die ich normalerweise konsumiere. Ich habe also keine Vergleichswerte. Aber ich fand es ganz in Ordnung.

An aching look at living on the "what if" side of life. I found myself wishing I could help and loving all of the characters. Sometimes sad, but eventually an affirmation of life. ( )

Alicia Bessette's debut marries a big social issue with an intimate story of mourning. From the opening page there's a sad edge to the humor found in Zell's narration that neatly highlights both the setting (a wintery Massachusetts's town) and the tenuous bonds between characters that once felt united forever. The relationship between Zell and Ingrid gives the story its best, most emotionally profound moments -- moreso than the romantic moments between Zell and Ingrid's determined but struggling single-dad. I assume Bessette understands that a novel about recovering from the loss of a husband one loves completely would be made trite by a storyline that revolved solely around a love interest. More importantly, though, this is not a book about one connection but many connections -- from the bonds of local townspeople to the unexpected links between people brought together through tragedies big (Katrina) and small (the death of a husband that everyone loved).

I read this book in just two sittings, propelled forward by the voice and curiosity as to how things would work out (hoping it would not be a neat, overly sweet finish -- the kind I'm usually not satisfied by when there's a major social crisis involved). As it turns out, I was not disappointed, because Simply From Scratch, despite all the things fiction can 'get away' with, does not pretend to be about a perfect world with perfect people; instead it's a book with the invisible, difficult to vanquish villains of pain and loss. Ultimately, the Katrina backstory involving Zell's husband (whose death is directly related to his time in New Orleans) fits perfectly in terms of tone -- the details of the Katrina aftermath stand on their own and also work as a metaphor for Zell's own life disaster -- how she will have to save what she can from the rubble.

While this can be a difficult line to walk, Bessette doesn't leave the reader thinking that Katrina is a convenient contemporary issue that serves her characters. She avoids insulting the survivors of that real tragedy by celebrating survival and community in both storylines. It's a compelling use of the real life moment. In fact, I think the author would be more than capable of delving into Katrina more directly in a future book. ( )

A really poor excuse for a "chick lit" book. It read like it was written for the secondary school market, and not an adult fiction.

So, Zell (we never find out why she is called that) is a medical illustrator who recently lost her beloved when he travelled with a local church mission to re-build New Orleans (he is a photographer with the local paper). Freak accident happens, and he dies. Zell has never gotten over this and cannot get past her grief, even though the small community is filled with friends since her childhood.

She hasn't used her oven in over a year (since Nick died) but decides to enter a baking competition to win money to donate to the New Orleans effort. While heating the oven, her kitchen catches on fire as Nick left a present there to give to her. A woman who never cooks, decides to enter a cooking contest??? I think you can tell where this is going. Slightly transparent. Oh, and new neighbors move in next door....can you guess what will happen?

Won't even try Alicia's next attempt. Too predicable and boring. ( )

Ultimately, I was not ready for this book to end. If you are looking for a fabulous combination between easy to read, relatively heavy at times, and truly humorous, please pick up Simply from Scratch. Hopefully you will enjoy it like I did! Can't wait to see more from this debut author in the future.

See full review at windowseatreader.blogspot.com! ( )