Finding Freedom: A Cook's Story; Remaking a Life from Scratch by Erin French
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Web ID: 13392186Good but heartbreaking
I found this story difficult to read. The author's prose is beautifully rendered, and she opens herself to her readers, but the relationship with her father is difficult and heartbreaking. The sense of place, the experiences of working in a diner and, later, other restaurants, is well-rendered, so that even someone like me, who has never worked in a commercial kitchen, can get an understanding of what it's like. I was taken into another world and felt I'd actually been there. It's amazing the author has come out whole on the other side of the many difficulties she experiences in life from childhood into adulthood. And the food: you'll get hungry just reading this book. You'll be able to smell and taste the amazing things that are cooking all through this book. The cover is beautiful, the large bouquet of flowers that hide the author's face intrigued me.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Lovely!
I find reviewing memoirs very difficult so I try not to do it very often. It is hard for me to feel like I am reviewing a book rather than judging someone's life decisions. So instead, I try to decide whether or not the book has let me experience the world through someone else's eyes and if so, did I learn anything from that experience. I had never heard of Erin French or The Lost Kitchen before reading the first impression on BookishFirst, so I was pleased to win my copy, get to know a new person, and add to my travel/foodie wishlist. If I ever get to go, I hope I get to give Erin French a big hug for all that she has gone through. Oh my! So did I get to experience the world and learn something new from this book? Yes I did. And if you read it, you might too! Thank you to BookishFirst, the author and the publisher for my copy of Finding Freedom. Please know that receiving a copy of this book has not affected my review. All opinions expressed here are my own,
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Loved it
I bought this book in store but looked it up online just to write a review. The author was so sweet and scrappy and the imagery soothing, i hated for it to end. I would absolutely recommend to anyone seeking a good read or a story of how to bounce back, more than once
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Heartwarming and Heartbreaking
Finding Freedom follows world-famous chef Erin French through the journey that eventually led her to open The Lost Kitchen. The memoir opens with a pregnant Erin working in her father’s diner in her hometown of Freedom, Maine. From there she chronologically works her way through her twenties and thirties, where she gets married, raises her son, opens her first restaurant, battles addiction, and so much more. At times heartwarming and others heartbreaking, Finding Freedom is a gorgeous memoir about a woman who rebuilt her life from the bottom up when it didn't turn out the way she originally planned. While raising a son, she does whatever it takes to keep her family afloat, pivoting from a pre-med track to the restaurant world, all while dreaming of opening her own restaurant. I felt so many different emotions while reading this story. I came to care so deeply about these people. I loved how so many parts of the book read like a love letter to her mother. So many of the sections about how French’s mother Deanna was her biggest advocate and fiercest cheerleader brought me to tears. At the same time, I love how refreshingly honest she was about the family members who have disappointed her over the years, namely her ex-husband, father, and sister. I always struggle when reviewing memoirs. There's something that feels so deeply strange to critique someone’s life story. But in the case of Finding Freedom, I feel like I can confidently attest to how wonderful of a story it is. Thank you to Celadon Books for the review copy. All opinions are my own.
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Finding the strength to believe in yourself
Finding Freedom is a book I didn't want to finish. Erin French's voice is powerful, insightful and, at times, painfully raw. Starting her culinary journey in her dad's diner in tiny Freedom, Maine, French learns from him. And while food binds them together, it's pretty much the only thing that does. Their relationship is a troubled one. Finding Freedom details French's journey as she navigates a life filled with highs but also her fair share of devastating lows. Throughout it all, her innate desire to nurture and cook for others is the motivator that keeps her going forward no matter the obstacles. Finding Freedom is a success story, and today, Erin French is the owner of The lost Kitchen, a critically acclaimed restaurant in her hometown of Freedom. Finding "freedom" is not only about going back to your roots, but also about finding that will and strength to believe in yourself no matter what. I want to thank #NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my review of #FindingFreedomMemoir.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Food and Love
This memoir is raw. Erin French has lived a challenging life. Her memoir shares so many broken dreams and hopes. But it also gives a sense of possibility and second chances. And it centers on love and on strength. The food is amazing, be it from a diner or from The Lost Kitchen. Her connection to the food and the way she connects it to serving and caring come through powerfully. And she uses cooking to ground herself and remind herself of her roots with her family. More than that, in growing a restaurant, she also grew a second family. The descriptions of the dishes, their origins, the ever changing menu make me deeply wish to travel and eat at The Lost Kitchen myself. But equally, they make me want to spend time preparing a good meal for those I love. TW: alcohol and drug abuse, domestic violence Thank you to Celadon Books and NetGalley for this book. These opinions are my own.
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Fantastic Memoir
Erin French is the owner and chef of a restaurant in Maine called The Lost Kitchen. The Lost Kitchen is a restaurant that has people traveling from all over the world to eat there. I have to say, based on the loving food descriptions in the book, it’s now on my restaurant bucket list. And I just checked out their website- there’s a cookbook I might have to get. This memoir, read by the author, chronicles her life, how it shaped her, and how it led her to create The Lost Kitchen. It was not an easy journey, and I would think it was not an easy book to write. I imagine it was a painful and healing writing experience. And it was fascinating to read. I could hear the stress in the author’s voice as she recounted difficult life events and situations, and I could hear the love in her voice when she talked about her son and described food. Her story is one of hope as she shared her struggles that eventually led to a hard fought victory. I appreciated her stark honestly as she shared her story. The first few chapters were hard for me, and I’m really glad I stuck with it (stick with it!). They do set the foundation for the rest of her memoir. Content Warnings: addiction, abuse, domestic violence Thanks to the publisher for an advance copy of the sin exchange for an honest review.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Incredible story of rebuilding a life!
I loved Erin French's story way more than I could have ever imagined! I had never heard of her before nor her restaurant The Lost Kitchen! I am so glad I know of them both now! I believe Erin may be as good of a writer as she is a cook. I could clearly imagine everything she wrote as if I was there with her. From the way she describes Freedom and everywhere she lived to her her cooking, it was so incredibly detailed. My heart broke for her on almost every page. She did not have an easy life for quite a few years. As a once single mother, I could really relate to her raising Jaim and feeling so alone. While I did not go through a divorce like she did, navigating the waters along with an ex who doesn't make things easier is tough, I cannot imagine the pain her and Jaim went through. I loved her creativity with her restaurants! And to think, she's never had any official culinary training and she is so successful. As much heartache as she went through, the book left such a happy and heartwarming feelings after.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com