Book Review – Bread & Wine by Shauna Niequist
Every day, when I walk to my mail box, I long for something amazing. A letter from a long lost friend… a large check… a book that will transform my life.
I’m still hoping those checks and letters will arrive, but – thanks to Zondervan – I received a wonderful ARC to review!
Bread & Wine – A Love Letter To Life Around The Table With Recipes by Shauna Niequist contains many mouth-watering recipes – but the book is about much more than food. Bread & Wine celebrates the sacred moments that occur when people gather in their homes to share meals.
Shauna believes that God is in our midst when we gather together to break bread and drink wine. She believes we experience healing and catharsis as we open our hearts to one another around the dinner table. Through a series of soulful essays, Shauna shares “the ways God teaches and nourishes us as we nourish the people around us, and about hunger, both physical and otherwise, and the connectedness between the two.”
As we accompany Shauna on this journey, we:
- Examine the areas of our lives in which we experience true hunger.
- Learn how to celebrate and create new ones.
- Build and sustain community.
Bread & Wine isn’t just about nourishing our bodies – it’s about nourishing our souls. It’s about staying connected and fighting our tendencies towards isolation.
- How do we invite people into the messy spaces of our homes and lives?
- How do we let our walls down, throw open our bolted doors, let people in?
Bread & Wine is a great book for personal reflection. It’s also a great book to discuss with your friends! In the Appendix, Shauna includes a four-week book club and cooking club discussion guide to help you to put what you’ve learned into action.
I really loved Shauna’s book. I loved the stories Shauna told. I loved how Shauna invited us into the nooks and crannies of her life.
I highly recommend this book.
The Cooking Club: A Visual Essay by Shauna Niequist
If you can’t see the video, click Bread & Wine – The Cooking Club.
About Shauna Niequist
Shauna Niequist is an author and blogger who writes about the beautiful and broken moments of everyday life. She has written three books – Cold Tangerines, Bittersweet, and Bread & Wine. In her writings you’ll read about friendship, family, faith, food, marriage, love, babies, books, celebration, heartache, and all the other things that shape us, delight us, and reveal to us the heart of God.
Shauna currently lives outside Chicago with her husband Aaron, who is a pianist, songwriter, and worship leader at Willow Creek Community Church, and her sons, Henry and Mac.
For More Information:
- Visit Shauna’s Blog
For more great books, visit Create With Joy – Book Reviews!
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from Zondervan to review. I was not compensated or required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
This is a nice review, thanks for sharing it!!
Twitter: CreateWithJoy1
says:
Thanks Rosey – glad you enjoyed it! I really liked this book!
This sounds like a very interesting book. I love the idea that it explores tendencies toward isolation and how food/wine and bringing people together can be good for the soul.
Twitter: Artistic31Mama
says:
Thanks so much for sharing this review. I’ve never heard of Shauna before reading this. I’ll have to check her blog out. I’m visiting from the http://www.artistic31mama.com and the Mom’s Monday Mingle. I’m one of the co-hosts this week and am glad you joined us! I think we have a lot in common. I’m following via all your social media. Have a great week!
Twitter: CreateWithJoy1
says:
Dear Faith,
I’m delighted to meet you and I’m SO glad you liked the review!
Shauna is new to me too but I have fallen in love with her writing – I spent a good bit of time reading her blog as well!
The book was just released so enjoy – she has two other books you can check out as well!
Hi! I’m loving your blog. I’m a pastor’s wife and heading up the women’s ministry at our church. I can see I will be back to get some wisdom from you as far as being creative. This was a great book review. I will see if I can locate it on Amazon.
Twitter: CreateWithJoy1
says:
Dear Simone,
I am SO delighted to meet you! Bread & Wine was my first introduction to Shauna as well.
I’m glad you enjoyed the book review – I pour a lot of time into these because I love reading & I know how much love the authors pour into their books, so I really appreciate positive feedback on my reviews!
I look forward to getting to know you! 🙂
P.S. The book was JUST released on April 9, 2013. Enjoy!
Twitter: _eHope
says:
Lovely! and I’m another who loves finding amazing pkgs in the post!
Oh, tears are pouring out my heart just watching this video. You review made me want to buy this book and oh, the video just sealed the purchase. I love your reviews.
Twitter: CreateWithJoy1
says:
I’m so glad you enjoy my reviews Pamela! I really loved Shauna’s video as well. She actually has several available for viewing – I would have loved to have shared them all (but that might have been construed as excessive, lol) – but they are all worthwhile – if you go to YouTube and do a search on the book title and/or her name, you will find them!
You will truly enjoy this beautifully written book!
Sounds like a great book. I especially need to let down those walls and not worry so much about perfection!
Twitter: breathoffaith
says:
Reading this now! I love the video!
Twitter: CreateWithJoy1
says:
Glad you liked it! She had several and I had a hard time choosing the one I wanted to feature, they were all so good!
I really loved Shauna’s video as well. She actually has several available for viewing – I would have loved to have shared them all (but that might have been construed as excessive, lol) – but they are all worthwhile – if you go to YouTube and do a search on the book title and/or her name, you will find them!