Tuesday, October 13, 2009

~Book Review - The Way Life Should Be by Christina Baker Kline~


From Amazon:

From Booklist

Angela Russo, a 33-year-old event planner in New York City, has a job she finds monotonous, a lackluster love life, and a best friend who suggests trying an online dating service. Angela signs up and, on a whim, extends the site's geography search to include Maine, picturing herself in a cozy, rustic cottage by the shore. Before the inveterate Italian cook can say cacciatore, she's met her Maine man—the handsome sailing instructor Richard Saunders. He sends her a flurry of haikus and flirtatious e-mails, and after a professional disaster befalls her, Angela finds herself driving up the coast to explore a new life with him. When she arrives in Maine, however, it is not the picture-perfect storybook scene she anticipated. But with her love of cooking and dreams of a cottage by the sea as guiding lights, Angela learns to live life and achieve success on her own terms. Boyle, Katherine --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

This is not typical of the kinds of books that I read. It is a romance (sort of) but there is more than that going on. Angela Russo sets her sights on a man that she meets on the internet. Things do not work out between them, BUT....that is a good thing for Angela. It gives her the chance to do what heart tells her to do.

Angela's love for cooking she inherits from her Italian grandmother (Nonna). Nonna lives with Angela's father and stepmother, and teaches Angela many lessons. Nonna confides in Angela a deep dark secret that no one else knows about. This secret gives her pause to think about her own life and how she wants to live it.


My Thoughts: This is a "feel good" story about a woman who changes her path in life, and finds happiness along the way. I admire this character in what she accomplishes on her own. This novel warmed my heart while reading it, and left me content as a cat in a sunny window upon finishing it!

*This book has Nonna's recipes in the back!

FIVE STARS
  • Paperback: 304 pages
  • Publisher: Harper Paperbacks (May 13, 2008)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0060798920
For information about the author, please go to www.ChristinaBakerKline.com


8 comments:

Beth(bookaholicmom) said...

I read this awhile back and I too thought it was a nice feel good book. The only bad thing was reading about all the yummy cooking that was going on and not being able to taste the food.

Blodeuedd said...

Oh recipes in the back sounds nice.
Sounds like a nice book, great review Missy

Lisa said...

Sometimes a feel-good book is just the thing! I'll have to check it out.

Mary (Bookfan) said...

Hey, Missy. I enjoyed this novel, as well : )

Cecile Smutty Hussy said...

Oh now that is a nice... a book with recipes. I do have to say that my interest is piqued at the comment, "left me content as a cat in a sunny window upon finishing it!"
Great review!!! Have a great night!

Kristen said...

This sounds like a lovely book. And of course I am a total sucker for anything with recipes.

(Diane) Bibliophile By the Sea said...

Haven't read this one, but I enjoyed Bird in the Hand by this author.

Darlene said...

This really sounds like a book I would like.

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