Many thanks to Zondervan for sending a copy of this book my direction in order to facilitate this review. I received no additional compensation for this post. As always, all opinions expressed are 150% my own!
We Laugh, We Cry, We Cook: A Mom and Daughter Dish about the Food That Delights Them and the Love That Binds Them is a memoir about food and relationships (just as the title suggests). Written by the mother daughter team of Beky Johnson and Rachel Randolph, the chapters tell a story of memories based particular foods or meals and times shared together.
Becky Johnson, the mother, plays the part of the scatter-brained meat eater while her daughter, Rachel, is the organized vegan. Despite their difference in lifestyles and eating habits, the two very much love each other. I love the fact that they overlook these difference and work to find common ground both in the kitchen and out of it. I hail from Texas but moved to Vegan Land (Oregon!) and I can testify that it is hard to blend and combine those two eating cultures with each other! It can be done, but it takes effort and so I appreciate the purposeful actions on the part of both Johnson and Randolph to maintain fellowship – even over food – despite the differences. As they share some of their stories with the reader, they also share their favorite recipes.
This is a delightful memoir to read. Johnson adds hilarity to virtually every situation. And I enjoyed hearing about Rachel’s entrance into the world of motherhood after giving birth to her first son. Life changes and the food we eat frequently changes with it. These two ladies explore just how much food can unite a family across time and distance and how forgiveness and love goes a long way as well.
If you are looking for a lighthearted read, you might consider this one. It’s not terribly deep or insightful unless you consider how much time and energy we truly to devote to our food and how much conversation can be had over and around it. This book proved a pleasant diversion.
Carrie always blogs her honest thoughts and opinions over at Reading to Know.