Review: Dinner: A Love Story by Jenny Rosenstrach
Title: Dinner: A Love Story
Author: Rosenstrach, Jenny
Length: 336 pages
Genre: Non-Fiction, Cookbook
Publisher / Year: Ecco Press / 2012
Source: From the publisher at Book Expo America (picked up at the Harper party).
Rating: 4.5/5
Why I Read It: I grew up with family dinners!
Date Read: 31/07/12
Do you do sit down family dinners? Did you growing up? In my family, we always did sit down family dinners growing up, at least almost always (sometimes life does get in the way). In this book Rosenstrach talks about the family dinner decision that she and her husband made when they first got married – that family dinners were important to them and so they wanted to try to do them daily, or as often as they could. This book chronicles their experiences, including many fantastic recipes.
One really great thing about Rosenstrach’s approach, in this book, is how non-judgemental she is. While she talks about why it was important for her family, she also talks about how others need to make their own decisions about what is important and that family dinner and cooking every night may not be anywhere near the top of the list – and that is perfectly OK. She tackles the guilt that many mothers feel, and discusses it, pulling it apart and putting it into perspective.
In addition to the discussions and memoir aspects of the book, Rosenstrach also shares a lot of really amazing recipes. I’ve tried a few so far and have not been disappointed – nor have my dinner guests! Highly recommended to anyone interested in cooking, memoirs, or family life.
I didn’t realize this is part of a series. We always sat down as a family for dinner. Carl and I still do when we’re both at home.
Oops – thanks for pointing that out Kathy. This is what happens when I try to get too many posts written in one night. Not part of a series, updated the why I read it section!! We always had family dinners growing up
This sounds fantastic! I grew up with family dinners too and maintain it even now with my own family. They are so important! It’s a chance to sit down, talk together as a family, and bond. I seems like, to me, it would weaken the family bond without them. You just can’t do that with a TV in front of you.
If I ever have a family Heather… I would definitely want to continue the tradition
Lovely that you do!
We always have sit-down dinners when anyone else is here, but when my husband & I are alone in the house, we tend to eat in the living room – most of the time without television though.
Our four-year-old grandson lived with us for 6 months, and one of the things he says he misses is us all around the table at supper time.
Aw that’s really cute that it made such an impression on him Debbie!
Oh – and this book sounds like a definitely must-read!
I recommend it Debbie, especially for the yummy recipes
I just love the look of this one. I have it in the TBR and must pull it out and see what ideas I can pick out of it
You should Sheila!
Interestingly today a colleague told me about her family who sat down for breakfast together and dinner everyday. i thought it was amazing because very rarely do we sat down for breakfast daily but dinner is the only time we have it together as family. I think it is so important to do this! Thanks for introducing me to the book Amy!
We often did breakfast as well growing up, but usually Dad was off at work already or both parents during fishing season. Supper we almost always got together though JoV.
My wife and I are big believers in the family dinner. I have a very busy and sometimes crazy work schedule. However, whenever possible, usually most nights during the week, we have dinner together that one or both of us has cooked. The fact that we are both into cooking adds dimension to this. I also love cookbooks!
This sounds like a very worthy read to me!
Yes, being able to cook helps. I’m hoping to get better at cooking in part with the help of this book Brian
We had sit-down dinners when I was a kid, but we all read our books during them, which may have made the family time less meaningful. :p I have a hard time wrapping my head around cooking for several people at once — I can barely, barely manage to cook for myself.
That’s funny Jenny! We were NOT allowed to bring books to the table. Mean parents!
And yeah… I’m not so good at the cooking for me either – maybe with these recipes I’ll improve though!
This sounds like a lovely book. We didn’t always have sit down dinners when I was a kid. My step-dad works nights, so it was usually just me and my mom, until my sister came around, and it was the three of us. We wouldn’t cook big dinners for the three of us, usually just something small like pasta or “goulash”, my mom’s word for ground beef and tomatoes. When I left for college and my sister was a little bit older, my family decided to make family dinners a real priority on the weekends. It’s nice to go home and sit around the table with everyone and talk about life.
That sounds nice Lu, it’s interesting how each family has their own memories and traditions isn’t it?
Our family has dinner together every night, and it’s something that my husband and I insist on. It often is a quiet affair, but everyone can go over their day, and talk about what is important to them when we sit down. This sounds like a great book that reflects wonderfully on that topic, and the recipes included have me rather excited!
Sounds really nice zibilee. Good luck with these recipes if you try them
I’ve had my eye on this one, and I’m SO glad you liked it!!! It sounds fantastic. Definitely on my “want” list.
I hope you get a chance to read it Andi!
What a great topic! My family are very casual diners, but my husband’s family always does a Chinese banquet for dinner. But our ideas of table manners are very different, too. His family will start whenever the food arrives; mine waits etc. So many differences!
That’s really neat Stephanie! The banquet sounds cool. And really interesting learning the different traditions and habits that each family has isn’t it?
interesting recipe for closeness and bonding in a family though because of time schedules, I eat with the kids while thier father eats later.
Yes, every family is different readinpleasure, glad to hear you have a schedule that works!