Book Review: Bread & Wine

As a follow up to her two bestselling books, Bittersweet and Cold Tangerines, author and blogger Shauna Niequist returns with the perfect read for those who love food and value the community and connection of family and friends around the table. Bread & Wine is about the ways God teaches and nourishes people as they nourish the people around them. It’s about hunger, both physical and otherwise, and the connections between the two.

The first thing that caught my eye from Bread & Wine was the cover. I'm a lover of typography & photography done right, so I was automatically drawn with intrigue to this book. The second thing that caught my eye was the title. Who doesn't love bread and wine? These two elements play a big role in the significance of my savior Jesus Christ. I thought to myself, "Could this book possibly bring a more practical aspect to these elements in my everyday life?". As I read this book, I realized that the answer to my question was a resounding YES!

Shauna Niequist inspired me to recall my earliest memories of eating and sharing a meal. Growing up in a hispanic culture, every event revolves around food. I have more memories of funeral meals than birthday/weddings ones. I wasn't necessary taught to love cooking but I was definitely taught to love to eat. I have always been skinny, something that my family misunderstood as an obvious cry for "feed me! I need to eat!". I was constantly being offered a plate of something I could not refuse (it's insulting to refuse food). Looking back though, I recognize the importance of meals and I'm able to create meals for my husband with enjoyment. There is this desire in me to love people through the ability to make meals. Guests that visit us at home know that I am always offering something for their enjoyment, whether that's a piece of homemade cake or a soothing cup of my delicious french vanilla chai. Discovering that I related to Shauna in that way made me feel as if I was a guest at her home & I was enjoying one of her delicious recipes!

"The impulse to feed is innate. Food is a language of care, the thing we do when traditional language fails us, when we don't know what to say, when there are no words to say. And food is what we offer in celebration—at weddings, at anniversaries, at happy events of every kind. It's the thing that connects us, that bears our traditions, our sense of home and family, our deepest memories, and, on a practical level, our ability to live and breathe each day. Food matters."

I enjoyed this book because it pushes you to make, create and taste. This book is not meant to be enjoyed in the covers of your bed; this book is meant to be a companion in the kitchen as you try the recipes in each chapter. You'll laugh, cry & value the honesty that comes from Shauna, all the while you're getting stains on your apron. True interaction at it's best!
But above all, you will leave with an appreciation for God and the way He created us to bond over a hunger that we all share in common, both spiritually & physically. May we remind ourselves of the importance that came from the Last Supper and may we apply it to our ordinary lives.

"When you eat, I want you to think of God, of the holiness of hands that feed us, of the provision we are given every time we eat. When you eat bread and you drink wine, I want you to think about the body and the blood every time, not just when the bread and wine show up in church, but when they show up everywhere—on a picnic table or a hardwood floor or a beach."

I already gave this book to a dear friend & I'm planning to give a few more away-that's the best way of appreciating a good read. You should definitely pick one for yourself!

I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”