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mamma, som odlar spaghetti i blomlådorna och fångar älvor i mjölkflaskor på nätterna. De har inga släktingar och umgås inte med någon. Men varför lever de så isolerade? När 21-åriga Meg flyttar hem till stugan i Cambridge för att ta hand om sin svårt sjuka mamma, ställs frågorna om vem hon egentligen är på sin spets. Alltför sent inser hon att de mörka hemligheter mamman döljer bakom sin glättiga fasad riskerar att krossa allt hon drömmer om. Dessutom ställer trädgårdsmästaren Ewan till med oreda i både rabatterna och Megs hjärta hon som redan har träffat sitt livs kärlek, forskaren Mark.
mamma, som odlar spaghetti i blomlådorna och fångar älvor i mjölkflaskor på nätterna. De har inga släktingar och umgås inte med någon. Men varför lever de så isolerade? När 21-åriga Meg flyttar hem till stugan i Cambridge för att ta hand om sin svårt sjuka mamma, ställs frågorna om vem hon egentligen är på sin spets. Alltför sent inser hon att de mörka hemligheter mamman döljer bakom sin glättiga fasad riskerar att krossa allt hon drömmer om. Dessutom ställer trädgårdsmästaren Ewan till med oreda i både rabatterna och Megs hjärta hon som redan har träffat sitt livs kärlek, forskaren Mark.
286 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2012
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2976 people want to read
About the author
Maria Goodin
5 books48 followersMaria Goodin was born in the South-East of England. Her first novel, 'Nutmeg', was published in the UK in 2012, and was based on an award-winning short story of the same title. The novel was published later that year in Australia under the title of 'The Storyteller's Daughter', and is soon due to be released in the US under the title 'From the Kitchen of Half Truth'. Book deals have also been secured in Italy, Germany, Spain and Sweden. Following a varied career which included administration, teaching and massage therapy, Maria trained to be a counsellor, and her novel was inspired by her interest in psychological defences. She lives and writes in Hertfordshire.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 438 reviews
March 20, 2017
In less than 5 minutes after receiving a book recommendation from Magritte which said, "Trust me on this one, elyse".... I bought it!
Other than remembering the enchanting excerpt at the beginning of Magritte's review--( at which point I stopped reading), I didn't know what to expect.
THANK YOU MAGRITTE.....I loved it!!
Here is the excerpt I loved in Magritte's review......the start of Chapter 1:
"I came out a little underdone. Five more minutes and I would have been as big as other children, my mother said. She blamed my pale complexion on her cravings for white bread (too much flour) and asked the doctor if I would have risen better had she done more exercise (too little air). The doctor wasn't sure about this, but he was very concerned about the size of my feet. He suggested that next time my mother was pregnant that she should try standing on her head or spinning in circles (spinning in circles on her head would be ideal) as this would aid in mixing process and result in a better proportioned baby".
This novel is funny right from the start. AS YOU CAN SEE -- from the above beginning.
There are many more whimsical descriptions and 'food-fiesta-sensory-delights'.
It gets more serious - thought provoking - moving and tender as we continue reading.
The story revolves around the relationship between Meg....( who tasted like nutmeg at birth), and Meg's outlandish mother who is terminally I'll.
Meg turned to science - logic -realistic truths - after being raised in a 'make-believe' world as a child. She returns home at age 21 one summer to spend time with her mother before she dies.
Meg's mother, Valerie, was actually a loner - yet had a talkative energy and eccentricity. Valerie was happy with her pots and pan's and vegetable garden and chatting away to the plants and animals and even to her self. The stories Valerie told Meg as a child always involved food.... fruits, jellies, fairy cakes, sausage rolls, and meringues, etc. These stories caused problems for Meg with her friends at school - and she too - in her own way - different - but similar- also was a loner.
Valerie was a flamboyant reckless cook throwing things around, chuckling bits here and there.... it was a culinary chaotic environment.
Meg says:
"Because we had no TV or radio this soundtract to my childhood was compiled of sauce pan lids banging, knives chopping, mixers whirring, and liquid it's bubbling".
I went to school with clothes that smelled of spice and a lunch box packed with elaborate sandwiches and homemade delicacies".
As an adult back home, Meg hopes her mother will tell her the truth about her childhood that the fiction stories were covering up--about her mothers past life and about her own. Meg 'does' eventually find out the truth-- but the bigger issue is --
"How important are those truths?" Maybe there are times when it's better not to know the truth. Maybe "a pack-of-lies"..... or 'make believe', creates more happiness.
Maybe the Scientific hard cold facts DO NOT tell all the truth! Maybe fiction tells a bigger truth.
The author, Maria Goodin gets us thinking about our judgements about lies. We also look at our righteousness about the truth....and vice versa.
This story - centered around a mother and daughter--also gives us a broad look at growing up..... from our nuclear family...expanding out into the world - coming back home - with a new set of eyes and maturity.
The themes is this gem of a book are endless --ITS LIFE!!!! - laugh - cry - all of what we do as we journey through this garden of eden!
"Nutmeg"......its symbolic meaning (for those interested and just for fun), ....is used as an aphrodisiac...
Nutmeg is also used by many people to bring GOOD FORTUNE!
Good Fortune to all of you!!!!!
Highly recommended! A 'treat read'!
Other than remembering the enchanting excerpt at the beginning of Magritte's review--( at which point I stopped reading), I didn't know what to expect.
THANK YOU MAGRITTE.....I loved it!!
Here is the excerpt I loved in Magritte's review......the start of Chapter 1:
"I came out a little underdone. Five more minutes and I would have been as big as other children, my mother said. She blamed my pale complexion on her cravings for white bread (too much flour) and asked the doctor if I would have risen better had she done more exercise (too little air). The doctor wasn't sure about this, but he was very concerned about the size of my feet. He suggested that next time my mother was pregnant that she should try standing on her head or spinning in circles (spinning in circles on her head would be ideal) as this would aid in mixing process and result in a better proportioned baby".
This novel is funny right from the start. AS YOU CAN SEE -- from the above beginning.
There are many more whimsical descriptions and 'food-fiesta-sensory-delights'.
It gets more serious - thought provoking - moving and tender as we continue reading.
The story revolves around the relationship between Meg....( who tasted like nutmeg at birth), and Meg's outlandish mother who is terminally I'll.
Meg turned to science - logic -realistic truths - after being raised in a 'make-believe' world as a child. She returns home at age 21 one summer to spend time with her mother before she dies.
Meg's mother, Valerie, was actually a loner - yet had a talkative energy and eccentricity. Valerie was happy with her pots and pan's and vegetable garden and chatting away to the plants and animals and even to her self. The stories Valerie told Meg as a child always involved food.... fruits, jellies, fairy cakes, sausage rolls, and meringues, etc. These stories caused problems for Meg with her friends at school - and she too - in her own way - different - but similar- also was a loner.
Valerie was a flamboyant reckless cook throwing things around, chuckling bits here and there.... it was a culinary chaotic environment.
Meg says:
"Because we had no TV or radio this soundtract to my childhood was compiled of sauce pan lids banging, knives chopping, mixers whirring, and liquid it's bubbling".
I went to school with clothes that smelled of spice and a lunch box packed with elaborate sandwiches and homemade delicacies".
As an adult back home, Meg hopes her mother will tell her the truth about her childhood that the fiction stories were covering up--about her mothers past life and about her own. Meg 'does' eventually find out the truth-- but the bigger issue is --
"How important are those truths?" Maybe there are times when it's better not to know the truth. Maybe "a pack-of-lies"..... or 'make believe', creates more happiness.
Maybe the Scientific hard cold facts DO NOT tell all the truth! Maybe fiction tells a bigger truth.
The author, Maria Goodin gets us thinking about our judgements about lies. We also look at our righteousness about the truth....and vice versa.
This story - centered around a mother and daughter--also gives us a broad look at growing up..... from our nuclear family...expanding out into the world - coming back home - with a new set of eyes and maturity.
The themes is this gem of a book are endless --ITS LIFE!!!! - laugh - cry - all of what we do as we journey through this garden of eden!
"Nutmeg"......its symbolic meaning (for those interested and just for fun), ....is used as an aphrodisiac...
Nutmeg is also used by many people to bring GOOD FORTUNE!
Good Fortune to all of you!!!!!
Highly recommended! A 'treat read'!
August 22, 2017
PLEASE NOTE: This book is sold in the US as
From the Kitchen of Half Truths
I loved the beginning of the book:
" I came out a little underdone. Five more minutes and I would have been as big as the other children, my mother said. She blamed my pale complexion on her cravings for white bread (too much flour) and asked the doctor if I would have risen better had she done more exercise (too little air). The doctor wasn’t sure about this, but he was very concerned about the size of my feet. He suggested that next time my mother was pregnant she should try standing on her head or spinning in circles (spinning in circles on her head would be ideal) as this would aid the mixing process and result in a better proportioned baby."
Meg's mom had an obsession with food which lead to the most outrageously funny fantasies about her daughter's first five years on this planet. At first I laughed, because the stories were so unbelievably creative and funny. I would not have minded to have a mother with an imagination like that all.
But truth be told, I was seldom so touched by a book that I sat with a mouth full of teeth, not knowing what to say in reviewing a book. If I blurted out 'magnificent', I still would have to explain why, in which case it will become necessary to quote this entire book in the review!
A 21-year old girl, Meg May, arrives home after earning a degree in science. She is coming home to take care of her dying mother. It is soon clear that mom's outrageous fibs and fiction hid a mystery about Meg's childhood that she was unable or unwilling to reveal to Meg.
"Throughout her pregnancy my mother suffered all manner of complications. She was overcome by hot flushes several times a day which the midwife blamed on a faulty thermostat, and experienced such bad gas that a man from the local gas board had to come and give her a ten-point safety check. Her fingers swelled up like sausages so that every time she walked down the street the local dogs would chase her, snapping at her hands. She consumed a copious amount of eggs, not because she craved them, but because she was convinced the glaze would give me a nice golden glow. Instead, when the midwife slapped me on the back I clucked like a chicken."
As a young girl, the world of fairies and talking animals only brought rejection from Meg's school friends, which left her lonely and growing up fending for herself in the harsh world of school and mean neighborhood kids. Now, as a grown-up scientist, she wants her mother to finally face reality and tell the truth and stop dodging her own story. Meg is convinced that people who believed in fiction and fantasy were gradually rotting their brains. Their fictional world was destroying them day by day, like a maggot eating away at their brains. Life has taught her that science is the only way to address the world and it's challenges. Science is her way of addressing life. It is the social home where she finally is accepted and respected.
The gardener, Ewan, appears out of nowhere, starts talking to the trees, asks the frogs nicely to leave the garden and explains to snails why they are not welcome. Valerie, Meg's mom, finds a soulmate, which drives Meg to more antagonistic behaviour. But Meg has a few lessons to learn, of which the first one is that Ewan might sometimes have his head in the clouds, but his feet are firmly on the ground.
When Meg finally discovers the truth behind her mom's fantasy world, she is devastated. As she meanders back into her mom's past, she slowly begins the walk on the road of healing and understanding. Forgiveness comes slowly and quietly.
It is the second mother-and-daughter book I read this year that had me in tears. First of longing and sadness, and then of joy. The biggest compliment a daughter can give her mother is to finally be able to say to her: " I am everything you ever taught me, even when you thought I wasn’t listening."
My mom never had to tell me fairy tales like this. She did not have to rewrite my history for me like Meg's mom. This book shocked and shook me to my deepest core. This book is so multifaceted it is very hard to write a complete review on it without turning it into a dissertation! Apart from the delightful fibs and fantasy in the book, it also addresses a magnitude of emotions, perceptions, approaches and -isms that can enhance or destroy lives, depending on how we apply it to our own life stories.
I recommend it to all mothers and daughters alike; to fathers and brothers who always wanted to know what the real magic in fairy tales is all about.
I wanted to rate it five stars for excellent writing, originality and plot, but if it was possible, I would have added another five stars for the unbelievable emotional journey it invites the reader on. Nobody will walk away unscathed from this experience.
EDIT: Important book info.
'Nutmeg', was published in the UK in 2012, and was based on an award-winning short story of the same title. The novel was published later that year in Australia under the title of 'The Storyteller's Daughter', soon due to be released in the US under the title 'From the Kitchen of Half Truth'
From the Kitchen of Half Truths
I loved the beginning of the book:
" I came out a little underdone. Five more minutes and I would have been as big as the other children, my mother said. She blamed my pale complexion on her cravings for white bread (too much flour) and asked the doctor if I would have risen better had she done more exercise (too little air). The doctor wasn’t sure about this, but he was very concerned about the size of my feet. He suggested that next time my mother was pregnant she should try standing on her head or spinning in circles (spinning in circles on her head would be ideal) as this would aid the mixing process and result in a better proportioned baby."
Meg's mom had an obsession with food which lead to the most outrageously funny fantasies about her daughter's first five years on this planet. At first I laughed, because the stories were so unbelievably creative and funny. I would not have minded to have a mother with an imagination like that all.
But truth be told, I was seldom so touched by a book that I sat with a mouth full of teeth, not knowing what to say in reviewing a book. If I blurted out 'magnificent', I still would have to explain why, in which case it will become necessary to quote this entire book in the review!
A 21-year old girl, Meg May, arrives home after earning a degree in science. She is coming home to take care of her dying mother. It is soon clear that mom's outrageous fibs and fiction hid a mystery about Meg's childhood that she was unable or unwilling to reveal to Meg.
"Throughout her pregnancy my mother suffered all manner of complications. She was overcome by hot flushes several times a day which the midwife blamed on a faulty thermostat, and experienced such bad gas that a man from the local gas board had to come and give her a ten-point safety check. Her fingers swelled up like sausages so that every time she walked down the street the local dogs would chase her, snapping at her hands. She consumed a copious amount of eggs, not because she craved them, but because she was convinced the glaze would give me a nice golden glow. Instead, when the midwife slapped me on the back I clucked like a chicken."
As a young girl, the world of fairies and talking animals only brought rejection from Meg's school friends, which left her lonely and growing up fending for herself in the harsh world of school and mean neighborhood kids. Now, as a grown-up scientist, she wants her mother to finally face reality and tell the truth and stop dodging her own story. Meg is convinced that people who believed in fiction and fantasy were gradually rotting their brains. Their fictional world was destroying them day by day, like a maggot eating away at their brains. Life has taught her that science is the only way to address the world and it's challenges. Science is her way of addressing life. It is the social home where she finally is accepted and respected.
The gardener, Ewan, appears out of nowhere, starts talking to the trees, asks the frogs nicely to leave the garden and explains to snails why they are not welcome. Valerie, Meg's mom, finds a soulmate, which drives Meg to more antagonistic behaviour. But Meg has a few lessons to learn, of which the first one is that Ewan might sometimes have his head in the clouds, but his feet are firmly on the ground.
When Meg finally discovers the truth behind her mom's fantasy world, she is devastated. As she meanders back into her mom's past, she slowly begins the walk on the road of healing and understanding. Forgiveness comes slowly and quietly.
It is the second mother-and-daughter book I read this year that had me in tears. First of longing and sadness, and then of joy. The biggest compliment a daughter can give her mother is to finally be able to say to her: " I am everything you ever taught me, even when you thought I wasn’t listening."
My mom never had to tell me fairy tales like this. She did not have to rewrite my history for me like Meg's mom. This book shocked and shook me to my deepest core. This book is so multifaceted it is very hard to write a complete review on it without turning it into a dissertation! Apart from the delightful fibs and fantasy in the book, it also addresses a magnitude of emotions, perceptions, approaches and -isms that can enhance or destroy lives, depending on how we apply it to our own life stories.
I recommend it to all mothers and daughters alike; to fathers and brothers who always wanted to know what the real magic in fairy tales is all about.
I wanted to rate it five stars for excellent writing, originality and plot, but if it was possible, I would have added another five stars for the unbelievable emotional journey it invites the reader on. Nobody will walk away unscathed from this experience.
EDIT: Important book info.
'Nutmeg', was published in the UK in 2012, and was based on an award-winning short story of the same title. The novel was published later that year in Australia under the title of 'The Storyteller's Daughter', soon due to be released in the US under the title 'From the Kitchen of Half Truth'
June 24, 2013
I can barely keep my eyes open, but I had to get my thoughts down on paper before to sleep. This book was big surprise! I thought it sounded interesting, but it took quite a while to be truly captivated. The reason for that was because I really didn't like Meg, the main character of the story. She had no personality, no sense of humor, and absolutely no patience for her mother. In fact, she is not unlike a surly teenager, and I have my own so I would know! And I was one once, and I could see the resemblance, which was not attractive. And Meg has a far too scientific boyfriend who reminded me of a mean Sheldon Cooper. And then something happens, Meg begins to see her mother reflected in the light and love of Ewan, a man who sees everything living with an eye similar to one who created us and knows every purpose we have, with amazing grace and tolerance.
This story is delightful, sad, and full of hope all at once. It illustrates that not everything is as it seems, and sometimes what we don't know can hurt us, but often times we are stronger than we think! Megs mother Val is the ultimate survivor, the eternal optimist, and the good Samaritan that everyone needs to have in their life!
This story is delightful, sad, and full of hope all at once. It illustrates that not everything is as it seems, and sometimes what we don't know can hurt us, but often times we are stronger than we think! Megs mother Val is the ultimate survivor, the eternal optimist, and the good Samaritan that everyone needs to have in their life!
February 24, 2017
I went into this book with low expectations. It was recommended to me by a friend, but it just didn’t look like something I would enjoy. I was sceptical and kept putting off reading it. Now I can’t wait to read more by this author! I don’t have enough words to describe just how much I loved this book. Every time I had to put it down because life got in the way, I couldn’t wait to pick it up again and continue reading.
I’ve read many books that focused on the love and relationship between a mother and daughter. I’ve just never read anything like this. It was spectacular. The writing felt like settling into my comfort zone. It was just beautiful; like a culinary delight made from words and descriptions that had my mouth watering and my taste buds singing. It was magical. The truth behind Meg’s mother’s tall tales broke my heart, and the ending was so incredibly touching, it brought tears to my eyes.
Overall, this has been a delight to read. I got sucked into Meg’s life from the very first page and I was enthralled by her mother’s imagination. I was sad when the story had to come to an end. I don’t give 5 stars easily, but this novel deserves each and every one. It’s also going on my favorites shelf.
I’ve read many books that focused on the love and relationship between a mother and daughter. I’ve just never read anything like this. It was spectacular. The writing felt like settling into my comfort zone. It was just beautiful; like a culinary delight made from words and descriptions that had my mouth watering and my taste buds singing. It was magical. The truth behind Meg’s mother’s tall tales broke my heart, and the ending was so incredibly touching, it brought tears to my eyes.
Overall, this has been a delight to read. I got sucked into Meg’s life from the very first page and I was enthralled by her mother’s imagination. I was sad when the story had to come to an end. I don’t give 5 stars easily, but this novel deserves each and every one. It’s also going on my favorites shelf.
November 3, 2013
This is quirky fiction which could easily be made into a movie. It's a bit like an adult version of something like Roald Dahl's "Matilda". All the tall stories in this book would be wonderful incorporated into a film version.
Meg May is a science graduate who can't remember the first six years of her life, but her mother, Valerie, has filled her head with all sorts of weird and wonderful tales concerning her birth, all centered around food. Meg believed them as fact until other school kids teased her. Now for years, she has rejected anything remotely fanciful or fictional.
Valerie is an eccentric character, full of colour. She is very sick, and as her final days approach, she insists on doing her favourite thing, cooking in her kitchen for as long as she can. When Meg follows a tenuous lead to try to find out about their mysterious past, she discovers why Valerie felt the need to cloak their past in a lot of made-up stories, and also why she latched onto such a frenzied life of cooking in the first place.
There are four main characters. The two men are overstated, hilarious opposites of each other. Meg's boyfriend, Mark, is a pompous Uni professor who value facts and provable things even more than she does. Her mother's gardener, Ewan, is a scruffy free-spirit full of myths and stories. I was impressed that someone as young as him could be comfortable enough in his own skin not to let the attitudes of Mark and Meg make him feel remotely awkward.
I enjoyed the cameo appearances of others, especially the tipsy, washed-up members of the band, "Chlorine".
This book left me with a lot to think about. I've long believed that rather than being a pack of lies, fiction is a medium of presenting deeper truths, and this book supports that. Valerie May clearly used fiction to the point where it blended with actual truth for her, and it's left for readers to decide whether we think this is a good or a bad thing.
One of my favourite parts was toward the end, when Meg was surprised by how many people attended her elusive mother's funeral, and finding out the reasons why. It's a great lesson about how little it takes to live a worthwhile life.
Overall, I think this story itself is a prime example of how helpful stories can be to help us re-think our own habits and attitudes.
I received a copy of this book from Net Galley and Legend Press in return for an honest review.
Meg May is a science graduate who can't remember the first six years of her life, but her mother, Valerie, has filled her head with all sorts of weird and wonderful tales concerning her birth, all centered around food. Meg believed them as fact until other school kids teased her. Now for years, she has rejected anything remotely fanciful or fictional.
Valerie is an eccentric character, full of colour. She is very sick, and as her final days approach, she insists on doing her favourite thing, cooking in her kitchen for as long as she can. When Meg follows a tenuous lead to try to find out about their mysterious past, she discovers why Valerie felt the need to cloak their past in a lot of made-up stories, and also why she latched onto such a frenzied life of cooking in the first place.
There are four main characters. The two men are overstated, hilarious opposites of each other. Meg's boyfriend, Mark, is a pompous Uni professor who value facts and provable things even more than she does. Her mother's gardener, Ewan, is a scruffy free-spirit full of myths and stories. I was impressed that someone as young as him could be comfortable enough in his own skin not to let the attitudes of Mark and Meg make him feel remotely awkward.
I enjoyed the cameo appearances of others, especially the tipsy, washed-up members of the band, "Chlorine".
This book left me with a lot to think about. I've long believed that rather than being a pack of lies, fiction is a medium of presenting deeper truths, and this book supports that. Valerie May clearly used fiction to the point where it blended with actual truth for her, and it's left for readers to decide whether we think this is a good or a bad thing.
One of my favourite parts was toward the end, when Meg was surprised by how many people attended her elusive mother's funeral, and finding out the reasons why. It's a great lesson about how little it takes to live a worthwhile life.
Overall, I think this story itself is a prime example of how helpful stories can be to help us re-think our own habits and attitudes.
I received a copy of this book from Net Galley and Legend Press in return for an honest review.
April 10, 2013
I didn't quite know what to expect from this novel, but I didn't think it would affect me so deeply, make me laugh and cry and sigh. I simply loved reading this book. I savored it and didn't wanting it to end.
Meg May grew up with an imaginative and free-spirited mom, Valerie, who told her funny and outlandish stories about her childhood. Whenever Meg asked her what really happened, her mom would repeat these same stories. As Meg grew up she became frustrated and rejected anything illogical and decided to become a scientist. She wanted to be the opposite of her mother. When Valerie became ill and Meg realized she was dying, Meg decided to spend the summer with her. Finally, she was determined to know the truth about her past, about who she was.
Meg learned more than she was prepared for but the presence of Ewan, the young gardener--who her mother hired to tend the vegetable garden and landscape--and her mother's advancing illness jolted her to question everything she ever believed and what truly matters. Is her mother crazy or is there a reason why she invents stories about her past life and Meg's childhood? And how will the truth change who she is?
Beautifully written, and filled with the warmth of comfort food, spices and herbs, gardens and orchards, and a loving but conflicted mother-and-daughter relationship, this debut novel is simply a delicious and feel-good read. I loved how Meg grew as a person, how she was torn with her feelings about a mother she adored yet rejected, until she came to realize the sacrifices her mother made in loving her to the best of her abilities. Valerie's character made me want to be a more fun-loving mom. Ewan was a smart and confident young man whose insightful nature helped both Meg and her mother heal. I was attracted to him immediately!
This is a warm novel that deals with relationships using quirky humour, nature, and the power of storytelling. It will count as one of my best read in 2013. Highly recommended.
Meg May grew up with an imaginative and free-spirited mom, Valerie, who told her funny and outlandish stories about her childhood. Whenever Meg asked her what really happened, her mom would repeat these same stories. As Meg grew up she became frustrated and rejected anything illogical and decided to become a scientist. She wanted to be the opposite of her mother. When Valerie became ill and Meg realized she was dying, Meg decided to spend the summer with her. Finally, she was determined to know the truth about her past, about who she was.
Meg learned more than she was prepared for but the presence of Ewan, the young gardener--who her mother hired to tend the vegetable garden and landscape--and her mother's advancing illness jolted her to question everything she ever believed and what truly matters. Is her mother crazy or is there a reason why she invents stories about her past life and Meg's childhood? And how will the truth change who she is?
Beautifully written, and filled with the warmth of comfort food, spices and herbs, gardens and orchards, and a loving but conflicted mother-and-daughter relationship, this debut novel is simply a delicious and feel-good read. I loved how Meg grew as a person, how she was torn with her feelings about a mother she adored yet rejected, until she came to realize the sacrifices her mother made in loving her to the best of her abilities. Valerie's character made me want to be a more fun-loving mom. Ewan was a smart and confident young man whose insightful nature helped both Meg and her mother heal. I was attracted to him immediately!
This is a warm novel that deals with relationships using quirky humour, nature, and the power of storytelling. It will count as one of my best read in 2013. Highly recommended.
December 31, 2016
I've read this book a long time ago. I just couldn't write a proper review that I think is suited with this book's awesomeness. I hope my 5 star rating was enough. :)
November 19, 2013
A charming and profound look at the relationship between a mother and daughter. Magical realism in all its glory, stories Meg's mother told her about her childhood, fanciful tales of sausages escaping and many other delightful tales of Meg's youth. For quite a while Meg ate these stories up, thought them true, told them to her friends until one day they laughed at her and called her a liar.
From then on the rational Meg took over, all silliness and flightiness banished for the constrained and commonplace. Than her mother becomes very ill and once again mother and daughter must come together and try to heal their relationship. They do this through food, cooking, and of course the mystery of where the food is going, which is revealed at the end of the novel.
This was a first novel and I enjoyed the way the author used her imagination to tell this story. Quirky and sweet, but poignant as well.
From then on the rational Meg took over, all silliness and flightiness banished for the constrained and commonplace. Than her mother becomes very ill and once again mother and daughter must come together and try to heal their relationship. They do this through food, cooking, and of course the mystery of where the food is going, which is revealed at the end of the novel.
This was a first novel and I enjoyed the way the author used her imagination to tell this story. Quirky and sweet, but poignant as well.
December 6, 2012
The Storyteller's Daughter (first published as Nutmeg in the UK, and to be published in the US as the Kitchen of Half Truth) by debut author Maria Goodin is a a poignant story of a relationship between a mother who has taken refuge in fantasy and a daughter who wants only the facts.
Meg's mother has told her daughter whimsical stories of her birth and early childhood, stories Meg had no reason to doubt since she has no memory of anything that happened before her fifth birthday. But at eight years old Meg May's belief in her eccentric mother's tales of runaway runner beans, neighing horseradish and nipping crab cakes was shattered by the taunts of her peers. Now twenty-one, with her mother, Valerie, dying from a terminal illness, Meg has one last summer to discover the truth about her past.
The Storyteller's Daughter can not really be labeled as magical realism but it has a sense of whimsy that creates that impression. The imaginative tales stemming from Valerie's obsession with food and cooking are absolutely charming, from the mint slice that bestows super speed to the hotdogs that bark and the toad in the hole that refuses to stay put. Apparently initially developed from an award winning short story, there are some flaws to be found, with holes in the plot, and sometimes weak characterisation yet the writing has a delightful rhythm and lovely imagery.
Meg's rejection of her mother's make believe world has driven her to excel in science, finding comfort in logic and order. In returning home to care for her sick mother Meg is forced to confront her mother's delusions in her quest for the truth of her early childhood. Humorless and patronising, Meg is not immediately likeable, though she is sympathetic as it's easy to understand her frustration with her mother's evasion of the truth.
Valerie's eccentric behaviour is both endearing and quite maddening. She is an attentive, loving and supportive mother but her denial of reality is quite absurd. It is obvious however that beneath the fantastical stories Meg's mother has concocted lies a dark secret, and in fact we eventually learn she is hiding some horrifying truths. Truths that Meg finds that she regrets insisting on knowing when they reveal painful memories.
The Storyteller's Daughter is an enchanting tale of love, loss, and the conflict between what the head knows and what the heart wants. It is quirky and unusual but altogether I thought it moving, tender and funny.
April 17, 2013
From the Kitchen of Half Truth (published as Nutmeg in the UK, and in Australia as The Storyteller's Daughter) by debut author Maria Goodin is a a poignant story of a relationship between a mother who has taken refuge in fantasy and a daughter who wants only the facts.
Meg’s mother has told her daughter whimsical stories of her birth and early childhood, stories Meg had no reason to doubt since she has no memory of anything that happened before her fifth birthday. But at eight years old Meg May’s belief in her eccentric mother’s tales of runaway runner beans, neighing horseradish and nipping crab cakes was shattered by the taunts of her peers. Now twenty-one, with her mother, Valerie, dying from a terminal illness, Meg has one last summer to discover the truth about her past.
From the Kitchen of Half Truth can not really be labeled as magical realism but it has a sense of whimsy that creates that impression. The imaginative tales stemming from Valerie’s obsession with food and cooking are absolutely charming, from the mint slice that bestows super speed to the hotdogs that bark and the toad in the hole that refuses to stay put. Apparently initially developed from an award winning short story, there are some flaws to be found, with holes in the plot, and sometimes weak characterisation yet the writing has a delightful rhythm and lovely imagery.
Meg’s rejection of her mother’s make believe world has driven her to excel in science, finding comfort in logic and order. In returning home to care for her sick mother Meg is forced to confront her mother’s delusions in her quest for the truth of her early childhood. Humorless and patronising, Meg is not immediately likeable, though she is sympathetic as it’s easy to understand her frustration with her mother’s evasion of the truth.
Valerie’s eccentric behaviour is both endearing and quite maddening. She is an attentive, loving and supportive mother but her denial of reality is quite absurd. It is obvious however that beneath the fantastical stories Meg’s mother has concocted lies a dark secret, and in fact we eventually learn she is hiding some horrifying truths. Truths that Meg finds that she regrets insisting on knowing when they reveal painful memories.
From the Kitchen of Half Truth is an enchanting tale of love, loss, and the conflict between what the head knows and what the heart wants. It is quirky and unusual but altogether I thought it moving, tender and funny.
Meg’s mother has told her daughter whimsical stories of her birth and early childhood, stories Meg had no reason to doubt since she has no memory of anything that happened before her fifth birthday. But at eight years old Meg May’s belief in her eccentric mother’s tales of runaway runner beans, neighing horseradish and nipping crab cakes was shattered by the taunts of her peers. Now twenty-one, with her mother, Valerie, dying from a terminal illness, Meg has one last summer to discover the truth about her past.
From the Kitchen of Half Truth can not really be labeled as magical realism but it has a sense of whimsy that creates that impression. The imaginative tales stemming from Valerie’s obsession with food and cooking are absolutely charming, from the mint slice that bestows super speed to the hotdogs that bark and the toad in the hole that refuses to stay put. Apparently initially developed from an award winning short story, there are some flaws to be found, with holes in the plot, and sometimes weak characterisation yet the writing has a delightful rhythm and lovely imagery.
Meg’s rejection of her mother’s make believe world has driven her to excel in science, finding comfort in logic and order. In returning home to care for her sick mother Meg is forced to confront her mother’s delusions in her quest for the truth of her early childhood. Humorless and patronising, Meg is not immediately likeable, though she is sympathetic as it’s easy to understand her frustration with her mother’s evasion of the truth.
Valerie’s eccentric behaviour is both endearing and quite maddening. She is an attentive, loving and supportive mother but her denial of reality is quite absurd. It is obvious however that beneath the fantastical stories Meg’s mother has concocted lies a dark secret, and in fact we eventually learn she is hiding some horrifying truths. Truths that Meg finds that she regrets insisting on knowing when they reveal painful memories.
From the Kitchen of Half Truth is an enchanting tale of love, loss, and the conflict between what the head knows and what the heart wants. It is quirky and unusual but altogether I thought it moving, tender and funny.
August 6, 2018
Incredibly well written, touching and profound.
July 2, 2013
very light fare, almost written like for teens or younger, but for adults. about a young woman who doesn't know her history, father, or why her mother seems to live in a fairy tale world. so some big holes in the plot, like she is a studying for phd in genetics, but seemingly has never heard of the internet or how to do research. but that put aside, kind of a lovely story of a young person growing and becoming adult through empathy and tolerance. kind of neat too, looking at english suburban life in all its glory of back gardens and retired majors and old punk bands.
January 12, 2016
1.5
I had vey high expectations for this book and quickly realized while reading it that it was not going to be the beautifully written, magical masterpiece I had envisioned. The characters were so unbelievably one dimensional. The writing was very elementary and reminded me of something I would have read in high school. It was an easy read, but a drag to get through at the same time. I loved the story idea, but it fell flat for me. I wanted so much more from all the characters, but everything was just way too cookie cutter. It just wasn't my cup of tea!
I had vey high expectations for this book and quickly realized while reading it that it was not going to be the beautifully written, magical masterpiece I had envisioned. The characters were so unbelievably one dimensional. The writing was very elementary and reminded me of something I would have read in high school. It was an easy read, but a drag to get through at the same time. I loved the story idea, but it fell flat for me. I wanted so much more from all the characters, but everything was just way too cookie cutter. It just wasn't my cup of tea!
September 17, 2013
This novel started out as an award-winning short story, and I can see how it would have worked better in that format. As a full-length novel, the author becomes repetitive, hitting the reader over the head with the message instead of using some subtlety and trusting that the reader will figure it out. The relationship between Meg and her mother is poignant and lovely, but Meg's boyfriend is such a cold, unfeeling jerk and the other prospective love interest is so utterly perfect that there is no suspense about her ultimate choice. Read it for Meg's search for the truth about her past, and skim through the rest.
August 6, 2018
Wer hätte gedacht, dass sich hinter diesem profanen Titel ein derartig schönes Buch verbirgt.
Wahrheit und Lüge, Hoffnung und Verzweiflung, Fantasie und Rationalität liegen hier nah beieinander und doch auch Welten voneinander entfernt.
Valerie, die Mutter und Nell die Tochter sind so verschieden, wie es nur irgend geht. Nun sind ja Mutter-Tochterbeziehungen nie so ganz einfach und es gibt jede Menge Missverständnisse, hier liegt der Fall aber noch ganz anders.
Ach ja, Lachen und Weinen hab ich vergessen, das vor allem beim Leser sehr nache beieinander liegt.
Wahrheit und Lüge, Hoffnung und Verzweiflung, Fantasie und Rationalität liegen hier nah beieinander und doch auch Welten voneinander entfernt.
Valerie, die Mutter und Nell die Tochter sind so verschieden, wie es nur irgend geht. Nun sind ja Mutter-Tochterbeziehungen nie so ganz einfach und es gibt jede Menge Missverständnisse, hier liegt der Fall aber noch ganz anders.
Ach ja, Lachen und Weinen hab ich vergessen, das vor allem beim Leser sehr nache beieinander liegt.
April 22, 2013
I enjoyed reading this book very much. It was like curling up under a blanket on a rainy day. When I had to put it down, I couldn't wait to start reading it again and the words just flowed beautifully.
The stories that Meg's mother, Valerie, tells her about her childhood all reflect cooking or food in some way. This makes sense as Valerie's passion is cooking. She has filled Meg's head with wonderful stories and created this fantastical world where the scar on her head is from a bite from a crabcake; that they once had a spaghetti plant growing in their windowbox; that one summer the runner beans that they had picked all got up and ran away. It is that last story about the runner beans that makes Meg realize at the age of 8, that maybe everything her mother tells her isn't the truth. She decides that she is done with make believe and from there on out everything has to have it's basis in fact. Unfortunately, she has already been labeled as a 'liar' and kind of nutty for believing these stories and so her life growing up is a lonely one.
When she is 21 she goes back to spend the summer with her mother as her mother is dying. She is still full of spirit though and greets each day as if nothing is wrong. Meg tries to get her mother to tell her about her childhood, as well as face the fact that she is dying, but her mother continues to spin her fanciful tales and avoids the truth. The gardener that Valerie has hired, Ewan, is very taken with Valerie and shares his own tales with her. Try as she might, Meg just doesn't have the same connection to her mother that Ewan does - or maybe we should say the same acceptance that Ewan does. She continues to dig for anything that might tell her something about her childhood.
I will say it again, I really enjoyed reading this book and was sorry to see it end. It had lots of little bits of wisdom tucked into the quirky tales - some of which were quite humorous. I loved the relationship that Meg had with her mother, even if she wasn't quite as satisfied with it as she felt she should be. Even though she wanted answers to her questions, she also wanted to protect her mother as anything to do with her past seemed to upset her.
I think this would be a good book for a reading club- lots of stuff to discuss about relationships - those between mother and daughter; best friends; spouses or potential spouses. There is also the big question that they raise in the synopsis - what kind of tales will we spin to give us the lives that we want?
The stories that Meg's mother, Valerie, tells her about her childhood all reflect cooking or food in some way. This makes sense as Valerie's passion is cooking. She has filled Meg's head with wonderful stories and created this fantastical world where the scar on her head is from a bite from a crabcake; that they once had a spaghetti plant growing in their windowbox; that one summer the runner beans that they had picked all got up and ran away. It is that last story about the runner beans that makes Meg realize at the age of 8, that maybe everything her mother tells her isn't the truth. She decides that she is done with make believe and from there on out everything has to have it's basis in fact. Unfortunately, she has already been labeled as a 'liar' and kind of nutty for believing these stories and so her life growing up is a lonely one.
When she is 21 she goes back to spend the summer with her mother as her mother is dying. She is still full of spirit though and greets each day as if nothing is wrong. Meg tries to get her mother to tell her about her childhood, as well as face the fact that she is dying, but her mother continues to spin her fanciful tales and avoids the truth. The gardener that Valerie has hired, Ewan, is very taken with Valerie and shares his own tales with her. Try as she might, Meg just doesn't have the same connection to her mother that Ewan does - or maybe we should say the same acceptance that Ewan does. She continues to dig for anything that might tell her something about her childhood.
I will say it again, I really enjoyed reading this book and was sorry to see it end. It had lots of little bits of wisdom tucked into the quirky tales - some of which were quite humorous. I loved the relationship that Meg had with her mother, even if she wasn't quite as satisfied with it as she felt she should be. Even though she wanted answers to her questions, she also wanted to protect her mother as anything to do with her past seemed to upset her.
I think this would be a good book for a reading club- lots of stuff to discuss about relationships - those between mother and daughter; best friends; spouses or potential spouses. There is also the big question that they raise in the synopsis - what kind of tales will we spin to give us the lives that we want?
March 24, 2013
Originally posted at: http://www.longandshortreviews.com/bo...
Where do I begin…I have so many good things to say about this book. Let me start by saying it’s one of those stories that made me upset that it had to come to an end. It held me captivated from first to last word. I love the premise of this book, about a mother and daughter relationship, and how sometimes we take things and people for granted in our lives. However, what I loved most about it is Ms. Goodin took a very different approach to a topic that yes, one too many authors have tackled. She gave it a new spin and I think that’s what held me spellbound as I turned the pages.
The story starts in a very lighthearted way. I found myself laughing at the mother in this story because of her antics and the tales she spun to her then naïve daughter. But then as the book progresses you realize that the story is going in a different direction and it’s getting more serious as Meg tries to piece together her childhood. I sometimes wanted her to find the truth but then I wanted her to remain blind to what really happened to her mother and how she came to be.
I won’t spoil it and give away any of the plot but I know you too will be captivated. You’ll go through a range of emotions, you’ll laugh, and then you’ll cry because the last third of this book is so moving. I think like me, you’ll find just a little piece of yourself in all the wonderful characters.
This book is released in April and I highly recommend you get yourself a copy and put it on your spring/summer reading list. This is a wonderful debut book for this author and I’m looking forward to seeing more of her work.
Where do I begin…I have so many good things to say about this book. Let me start by saying it’s one of those stories that made me upset that it had to come to an end. It held me captivated from first to last word. I love the premise of this book, about a mother and daughter relationship, and how sometimes we take things and people for granted in our lives. However, what I loved most about it is Ms. Goodin took a very different approach to a topic that yes, one too many authors have tackled. She gave it a new spin and I think that’s what held me spellbound as I turned the pages.
The story starts in a very lighthearted way. I found myself laughing at the mother in this story because of her antics and the tales she spun to her then naïve daughter. But then as the book progresses you realize that the story is going in a different direction and it’s getting more serious as Meg tries to piece together her childhood. I sometimes wanted her to find the truth but then I wanted her to remain blind to what really happened to her mother and how she came to be.
I won’t spoil it and give away any of the plot but I know you too will be captivated. You’ll go through a range of emotions, you’ll laugh, and then you’ll cry because the last third of this book is so moving. I think like me, you’ll find just a little piece of yourself in all the wonderful characters.
This book is released in April and I highly recommend you get yourself a copy and put it on your spring/summer reading list. This is a wonderful debut book for this author and I’m looking forward to seeing more of her work.
February 5, 2017
The descriptions in this book are magical, treating food as a living entity and people as food to be seasoned or risen. Easy to read, I can understand the amount of positive reviews. However, I was left disappointed. The characters have no depth at all, and the plot was very predictable. Meg sounds like a teenager's diary, and comes across as unlikable. The mother is even worse, and I was waiting for someone to suggest she get a mental health assessment. Towards the end, we find out her reasons for her constant fiction. It's really not worth slogging through the book, and I found myself skipping through pages. If you want an easy read with romanticism of food, this might be for you, but I wouldn't personally recommend this book.
June 13, 2013
I loved loved loved this book. I wasn't going to buy it the first few times I saw it at the bookstore but then I struck a conversation with one of the booksellers one day and she started talking about this book and her description of it mesmerized me. So, I bought it. And I am so glad I did. It is magical. It is beautiful. It is one of those delightful reads you want to savor. It is one of those reads you don't want to put down but then you don't want to rush through it either because then you'll be at the end and you don't want it to end. It is bittersweet and it is hilarious. It is imaginative. It is just a nice, wonderful read. I highly recommend it.
May 12, 2013
This was just ok for me... it had a good message just dragged on a bit!
March 17, 2017
A tender, moving story. A gem !
Thanks Margitte for the recommendation.
Thanks Margitte for the recommendation.
March 25, 2012
I received Maria Goodin's debut novel via the Amazon Vine programme, having heard it was already set to be translated into four languages even before publication. Published by Legend Press - a small independent publisher, I can quite see why.
I was totally enchanted by this novel which is at once funny, moving and thought-provoking.
The story hinges around the relationship between Meg and her eccentric mother, who is terminally ill. The book is a sensory delight as Meg's mother is obsessed with cooking. What's more she has never told Meg the truth about her childhood but has told her stories that fictionalise Meg's life. Meg's memories are made from her mother's stories. Most of the stories involve food - the tastes and smells of pastry and cakes, herbs and spices. Rebelling against this fictional life, Meg takes refuge in science and cold hard facts. But cold hard facts cannot tell the truth as well as fiction can, and it is this that makes the book so engrossing.
Meg's mother is endearing precisely because of her story-telling and eccentricity, something which Meg's boyfriend, the rational Mark, sees as lies and mental illness. Mark is determined to cling to his own myth of scientific sanity, and his attempts to do so mean he rides rough shod over others sensibilities. When Meg eventually finds out the truth about her childhood, she is left wondering whether the memories her mother invented for her gave her a better start in life than the truth.
The divide between fact and fiction is a slippery one, and one which Maria Goodin exploits brilliantly. So much so, that at the end of the book when Meg's mother's funeral arrives you are left wondering how much of Meg's portrayal of it is real and how much of Meg's story was "True".
Tender, funny and poignant, this has definitely been the highlight of my reading year so far, and one I shall be recommending to all my friends.
I was totally enchanted by this novel which is at once funny, moving and thought-provoking.
The story hinges around the relationship between Meg and her eccentric mother, who is terminally ill. The book is a sensory delight as Meg's mother is obsessed with cooking. What's more she has never told Meg the truth about her childhood but has told her stories that fictionalise Meg's life. Meg's memories are made from her mother's stories. Most of the stories involve food - the tastes and smells of pastry and cakes, herbs and spices. Rebelling against this fictional life, Meg takes refuge in science and cold hard facts. But cold hard facts cannot tell the truth as well as fiction can, and it is this that makes the book so engrossing.
Meg's mother is endearing precisely because of her story-telling and eccentricity, something which Meg's boyfriend, the rational Mark, sees as lies and mental illness. Mark is determined to cling to his own myth of scientific sanity, and his attempts to do so mean he rides rough shod over others sensibilities. When Meg eventually finds out the truth about her childhood, she is left wondering whether the memories her mother invented for her gave her a better start in life than the truth.
The divide between fact and fiction is a slippery one, and one which Maria Goodin exploits brilliantly. So much so, that at the end of the book when Meg's mother's funeral arrives you are left wondering how much of Meg's portrayal of it is real and how much of Meg's story was "True".
Tender, funny and poignant, this has definitely been the highlight of my reading year so far, and one I shall be recommending to all my friends.
June 6, 2013
I received an uncorrected digital galley of Kitchen of Half Truth from netgalley.com in return for my honest opinion and thoughts.
I highly recommend reading From the Kitchen of Half Truth by Maria Goodin; I received an Advanced Copy from Netgalley.com. It took me by surprise how much I enjoyed this novel. It is a story about a daughter gaining insight into her mother, a mother who is dying. Valerie May, a kindhearted, imaginative mother, loves her daughter, Meg May, so much she is willing to reinvent an abusive, tragic past through the use of quirky stories. It is a form of self-preservation for Valerie too. However, Valerie's evasiveness of addressing questions about Meg's childhood creates a wedge between mother and daughter and changes Meg. Silly, imaginative play is no longer part of Meg's life. Meg only values the truth, and it even motivated her to become a scientist. Various friendships develop, love grows, and Meg evolves.
I was worried that some of the eccentric stories might turn silly and prove to be a turn-off, but the author knew when to bring the story back down to earth.
This is a charming novel. I was very taken with the characters. I laughed. I cried, and It made me happy reading it. The novel was magical, but at the same time, it was realistic and thought-provoking. The book had a similar feel to Sarah Addison Allen's work. I would have given a 4 1/2 star rating if given the option.
I highly recommend reading From the Kitchen of Half Truth by Maria Goodin; I received an Advanced Copy from Netgalley.com. It took me by surprise how much I enjoyed this novel. It is a story about a daughter gaining insight into her mother, a mother who is dying. Valerie May, a kindhearted, imaginative mother, loves her daughter, Meg May, so much she is willing to reinvent an abusive, tragic past through the use of quirky stories. It is a form of self-preservation for Valerie too. However, Valerie's evasiveness of addressing questions about Meg's childhood creates a wedge between mother and daughter and changes Meg. Silly, imaginative play is no longer part of Meg's life. Meg only values the truth, and it even motivated her to become a scientist. Various friendships develop, love grows, and Meg evolves.
I was worried that some of the eccentric stories might turn silly and prove to be a turn-off, but the author knew when to bring the story back down to earth.
This is a charming novel. I was very taken with the characters. I laughed. I cried, and It made me happy reading it. The novel was magical, but at the same time, it was realistic and thought-provoking. The book had a similar feel to Sarah Addison Allen's work. I would have given a 4 1/2 star rating if given the option.
December 16, 2015
The truth isn't always easy to digest, especially if it's masked by more alluring assaults on the senses. But like any delicious treat, the truth can be well worth the wait.
So writes Maria Goodin in "From the Kitchen of Half Truths," a novel about a woman who deals only with facts after a lifetime of falsehoods and tall tales. When she returns to her childhood home to care for her sick mom, all she wants is the truth. No frills or frosting - just the plain vanilla truth.
No more stories about being born in a frying pan, floating to the ceiling with balloons or chasing vegetables around the kitchen. The heroine wants simply to know how she came to be, and why is her mother incapable of telling the simple truth.
As our heroine discovers, life without imagination is dull. Exaggerations add spice when the truth may be too hard to handle. And as with any successful recipe, even one for happiness, it's the "special ingredient" that makes a difference, "From the Kitchen of Half Truths" dishes up a story that proves it often takes a new person - with a new perspective - to appreciate the fullness of one's life.
So writes Maria Goodin in "From the Kitchen of Half Truths," a novel about a woman who deals only with facts after a lifetime of falsehoods and tall tales. When she returns to her childhood home to care for her sick mom, all she wants is the truth. No frills or frosting - just the plain vanilla truth.
No more stories about being born in a frying pan, floating to the ceiling with balloons or chasing vegetables around the kitchen. The heroine wants simply to know how she came to be, and why is her mother incapable of telling the simple truth.
As our heroine discovers, life without imagination is dull. Exaggerations add spice when the truth may be too hard to handle. And as with any successful recipe, even one for happiness, it's the "special ingredient" that makes a difference, "From the Kitchen of Half Truths" dishes up a story that proves it often takes a new person - with a new perspective - to appreciate the fullness of one's life.
January 17, 2014
Every once in a while the book stars align and you get read a story that is equal parts funny and poignant, with the right balance of pain and heartache, love and letting go-- then the book also has characters that frustrate you yet teach you, characters that reflect yourself or someone you love and an ending that is perfect. Such was the case with The Kitchen of Half Truth. Maria Goodin is a very smart writer. I loved everything about this book even when Meg frustrated me, because it endeared me more to her at the end. I could so understand living through a painful childhood and how you sometimes conjure sweet half-true memories just ease the raw edges of reality that creep in those quiet places of your mind. Having been on a journey of my own in my relationship with my Mom, this book became very special to me very quickly. It has a permanent home on my shelf now!
November 14, 2019
I bought this book out of curiosity as I’ve known Maria for some time in a professional capacity and last Sunday she just happened to mention that she’d written a novel.
It’s very rare that I give a book 5 stars, but Nutmeg absolutely deserves them. From the moment I opened the first page on my kindle, I couldn’t put this book down.
As others have said, it’s quirky and beautifully written. I was drawn in by the delicious imagery and narrative, but stayed for the underlying warmth and character driven tale of human resilience and vulnerability.
As I write this review, my collar is wet with tears shed for the damaged Val and Meg, for the kindness of strangers and the wonderful understanding, shown by Maria, of the ways we survive even the most awful of experiences.
This story will stay with me for a long time. Thank you, Maria x
It’s very rare that I give a book 5 stars, but Nutmeg absolutely deserves them. From the moment I opened the first page on my kindle, I couldn’t put this book down.
As others have said, it’s quirky and beautifully written. I was drawn in by the delicious imagery and narrative, but stayed for the underlying warmth and character driven tale of human resilience and vulnerability.
As I write this review, my collar is wet with tears shed for the damaged Val and Meg, for the kindness of strangers and the wonderful understanding, shown by Maria, of the ways we survive even the most awful of experiences.
This story will stay with me for a long time. Thank you, Maria x
October 19, 2014
This was a great book - I love, love, loved the mother's stories abut the main character's childhood. They were so inventive and funny and sweet. It was like getting a bunch of food-related fairy tales in addition to a good solid story about a mother and a daughter. The word I would think of to describe the book best would be "enchanting".
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March 5, 2017Can't do it. After 60 plus pages I am just over baked.
February 15, 2019
A story of a mother daughter relationship. The mother forever shares memories of her daughter through crazy stories. The daughter wants to know the truth if her childhood but her mom refuses to tell her. The mother is diagnosed with cancer and the daughter cones home to care for her and slowly discovers the truth of her childhood. The ending really connected with me and the stages you go through when you lose your mom.
December 21, 2017
Wonderful book.
Meg’s mum’s stories about her childhood are highly imaginative and fun to read. We watch Meg struggle to make sense of her childhood and what she discovers and her reaction to that is quite interesting. A satisfying, enjoyable read
Meg’s mum’s stories about her childhood are highly imaginative and fun to read. We watch Meg struggle to make sense of her childhood and what she discovers and her reaction to that is quite interesting. A satisfying, enjoyable read
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