Simply from Scratch: A Novel by Alicia Bessette, 313 pages. Available now in hardcover from Dutton Adult.
Zell Carmichael is a young widow grieving for her husband Nick, who was killed in post Katrina New Orleans. She spends her days alone in her apartment wearing her husband’s camouflage apron and speaking “pirate-speak” to her Greyhound, Ahab. When a minor baking incident forces Zell to evacuate her home she meets her nine-year old neighbor, Ingrid - a smart, lonely girl who believes that T.V. celebrity chef Polly Pinch is her mother. Ingrid's obsession spurs Zell to enter Polly Pinch's baking contest. More than just baking, Simply from Scratch deals with grief, healing and the unexpected relationships people form.
Check out the author's website: http://www.aliciabessette.com - if you're interested the first chapter is available to read.
Melanie adds: I too thought this would be a fun, light, foodie read and was intrigued by the post-Katrina storyline. There wasn't much baking (although a recipe is included) and I had a hard time connecting with Zell. The mystery surrounding Nick's death was clunkyand as Trish mentioned the reaction to the "missing" character didn't ring true. I couldn't help but grin during the scene with the baby bouncing on grandpa's knee to the rhyme "Trot Trot to Boston" - we have done it with all our littles. I get a soft spot for stories that contain a familiar element, especially one so special and specific. The strength of Simply from Scratch is in exploring the idea of grief in community - how sorrow affects many, not just the person closest to it. Still an enjoyable read, and with adjusted expectations, worth a look.
Many thanks to Dutton Publicity for a review copy.