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review 2019-03-20 15:57
The Hope Chest
The Hope Chest: A Novel - Viola Shipman
I bought this novel for my mother and now its my turn to read it. I’d heard a lot about this novel and after reading it, I’m glad that I bought it. I liked how everything tied together in this novel. Although the topic of the novel could be depressing, the tone was spirited and encouraging. I liked the hope chest and how the author used it throughout the novel. I enjoyed the characters and the relationships that they had with each other. This was a sweet story that I enjoyed.
 
There are a few stories being told within this novel but the amount of characters to remember are few. Mattie and her husband Don, are moving out of the cottage that Mattie has lived in the majority of her life. Moving into something smaller, Mattie will miss this cottage, the garden, and the view but this should make life easier for them. Mattie has been living with ALS for the past 5 years and her husband has been her caretaker.
 
In their new house, Don finally realizes and accepts help for Mattie. Desperately needing a job, Rose applies and is accepted as Mattie in-home caretaker. This was a fantastic section of the novel as Rose and Mattie meet. There seemed to be a bond forming immediately as they talked. Mattie soon meets Rose’s young daughter, Jeri and if this book could burst, it would be then. You just knew something special was happening.
 
Lots of different emotions flowed throughout the reading as the characters filled their parts. Mattie’s illness started to take its toil as Mattie thought about her previous life. Once a successful, landscape architect, she was now living her life in a wheelchair. Her body just couldn’t move as her mind wanted it to anymore. This constant struggle clung to her day and night. Don struggled to keep himself together as the love of his life began slipping away from him. Rose was beginning to build a deep connection to these new individuals that were in her life and Jeri was loved by all. Jeri kept up the energy of the household and her innocence was so sweet.
 
This was a warm, compassionate novel that moved rather quickly. I noticed though, that I didn’t feel a deep emotional response to some of the events that occurred in this novel and I’m not sure why I felt that way. I enjoyed the characters, the story line was great, and emotionally I was connected to this novel (just not as deeply as I thought I should be). A great novel that will touch your heart.

 

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review 2018-08-02 00:19
The Recipe Box
The Recipe Box: A Novel - Viola Shipman

Sometimes, I just need a feel good book that reminds me of the priorities in life and the bonds of family. The Recipe Box by Viola Shipman is one of those books. Since I love to cook, an added bonus is the fact that it is also a foodie book centered around a recipe box passed down from generation to generation. There are hints of seriousness, but the heart of the book is a feel good story perfect for a summer beach read. 

 

Reviewed for NetGalley.

Source: www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2018/08/the-recipe-box.html
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review 2018-05-23 21:17
Love Pies and Apple Picking
The Recipe Box: A Novel - Viola Shipman
audiobook
Excellent narration
Recipes excellent
Sweet, heartwarming this book brought back so many fond memories of my youth in upper Michigan. This is a book with strong family ties, great relationships, honesty and courage, not game playing. I felt good, peaceful and happy while reading it. A fabulous summer feel good read.
I loved this tale of upper an Upper Michigan woman/pastry chef and the orchard her family owns. She was raised on her family's orchard, a multi generation owned business. She wants to make her own mark on the world so she leaves and goes to NY to work under a famous pastry chef. Things happen, life changes, and she finds herself heading home for some thinking and her grandmother's 75th birthday celebration. Once there she is drawn into the power of family and food, and re-centers her life and her heart.
Pie, pie, pie, oh the pies in this book ! There are recipes, good ones I've tried three so far. The only downfall to the audio version is that I had to write them down while play pause/play pause it took some time. I ordered the hard copy so I'll have them soon.

 

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text 2018-05-18 20:00
Reading progress update: I've read 10%.
The Recipe Box: A Novel - Viola Shipman

Awww such a sweet way to pass down traditions. Yeh Yeh, sweet, now lets talk pie. The book started out with a recipe for crumple right off the bat- winner. I'll make it this weekend. 

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text 2018-03-16 03:31
Review : The Recipe Box
The Recipe Box: A Novel - Viola Shipman

We meet Alice, who’s in the midst of getting all the ingredients for an apple pie together as her husband, Leo, and their dog, Mac pick apples. Alice makes apple crisp pie for her husband. She also makes her own whipped cream.  The following day, she worked in the orchard. She writes out the secret family apple crisp recipe on note cards she received from the church.  Leo surprises her with a hand carved recipe box for all her recipes.   Alice is concerned no one will want her recipes as everyone in her family are gone.

     

  Years later, we meet Sam, a N.Y. pastry chef working for Chef Dimples, a reality TV star who is obsessed with fame and can’t cook. When he asks her to make something for his GMA appearance, she makes a peach-blueberry slam pie.  Chef Dimples then says that the pie is ok so Sam then remembers her thirteenth birthday where her family gave her a party.  One of the gifts she received from her grandmother Willo and mom, Deana was a receive box with their family receipts handwritten in a wood carved recipe box with a key that Sam, her mom and grandmother all have. After her memory, Chef Dimples demands that Sam make his blueberry pie.  Sam then tells Chef Dimples off and quits

   We now find Sam on her way home to Michigan as she leaves N.Y. and her roommates and especially Angelo, their fruit vendor who texts her on the plane as it lands.

   

I loved all the characters especially Sam, Angelo and Willo. This was my first book of Ms.Shipmans but certainly not my last

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