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Book Review: Still Life with Bread Crumbs, by Anna Quindlen
Author Anna Quindlen's seventh novel, Still Life with Bread Crumbs , is an insightful tale of a photographer who flees city life to live in a rustic cottage to save her bank account, and she ends up with a new outlook on life. At 60, Rebecca Winter realizes that her career is more or less dead when she receives an award for her oeuvre. When she relocates to the country, she finds new inspiration for her work, a new way of looking at life, and even love. Check out this detailed review of Still Life with Bread Crumbs for a complete look at the book, including the author's writing style, the best and worst aspects of the novel, and more.
The heartwarming story told in Still Life with Bread Crumbs explores powerful ideas about life, and it is rife with symbolism. This expert review includes a look at both reader opinions and critical reception. Quindlen's novel is generally well received and praised for its uplifting message, though some mark the book's predictability. The depiction of the protagonist, a 60-year-old woman, not as aging or in decline but as a vibrant, energetic woman, is both eye-opening and refreshing. The novel feels believable, and the author clearly pays attention to all her characters, giving them depth and dimension. Overall, Still Life with Bread Crumbs proves an enjoyable read for fans of Quindlen's past works, as well as anyone looking for an inspiring read.
The heartwarming story told in Still Life with Bread Crumbs explores powerful ideas about life, and it is rife with symbolism. This expert review includes a look at both reader opinions and critical reception. Quindlen's novel is generally well received and praised for its uplifting message, though some mark the book's predictability. The depiction of the protagonist, a 60-year-old woman, not as aging or in decline but as a vibrant, energetic woman, is both eye-opening and refreshing. The novel feels believable, and the author clearly pays attention to all her characters, giving them depth and dimension. Overall, Still Life with Bread Crumbs proves an enjoyable read for fans of Quindlen's past works, as well as anyone looking for an inspiring read.
44 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 12, 2014
1 person is currently reading
88 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
March 14, 2014
As usual, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was just a little less exciting than some of her other books. With that said, it was interesting finding out the reason for those 'things' she was always finding (don't want to give away the story!) and how it affected her relationship to her published photographs.
Anna Quindlen always succeeds in making the every day mundane things interesting. She is one of my very favorite authors. I highly recommend Still Life with Bread Crumbs.
Anna Quindlen always succeeds in making the every day mundane things interesting. She is one of my very favorite authors. I highly recommend Still Life with Bread Crumbs.
January 19, 2015
Lovely book. Written gently and with a wonderful flow. You are not in a hurry to finish it. It unfolds. The story of a sixty year old woman's year of becoming comfortable with a new way of life is nicely told with some clever inserts to help us get to know her -- news paper clippings, a dog's perspective, etc. I liked it very much.
April 16, 2021
Rebecca Winter is a formerly famous photographer whose star has faded. Her marriage has ended. Her son is grown and on his own. She is finding it increasingly hard to support her aging father and her mother in a nursing home. And to afford the New York apartment that belonged to her glory days. Which is why she sublets her home and ends up in a ramshackle cabin far from anything or anyone she knows...
Somehow she must adjust to her reduced circumstances and precarious financial position and fashion a new kind of life. What seems like a temporary situation stretches on. She gradually makes new friends, learns to navigate her unfamiliar surroundings and finds a renewed interest in her work. There are surprises and moments of grace and stunning reverses. (No spoilers here.) Reinventing yourself late in life is not easy and not for the faint of heart. Anna Quindlen tells her story with generosity even to the difficult characters among us. The writing is spate and clear eyed - not unlike Rebecca herself. If you set out to create a world in a book, it is interesting that the characters seem to be on that same journey. I look forward to reading anything she writes.
Somehow she must adjust to her reduced circumstances and precarious financial position and fashion a new kind of life. What seems like a temporary situation stretches on. She gradually makes new friends, learns to navigate her unfamiliar surroundings and finds a renewed interest in her work. There are surprises and moments of grace and stunning reverses. (No spoilers here.) Reinventing yourself late in life is not easy and not for the faint of heart. Anna Quindlen tells her story with generosity even to the difficult characters among us. The writing is spate and clear eyed - not unlike Rebecca herself. If you set out to create a world in a book, it is interesting that the characters seem to be on that same journey. I look forward to reading anything she writes.
April 29, 2018
My book club is reading this book. What a find. The first book I have read by this author. Just a gentle flowing book. And everybody ends up happy with themselves and with their worlds. No gore. No plots. Good things happening to good people when they all least expect it.
April 29, 2022
Really enjoyed the premise--most middle aged women will relate. Quindlen's writing is thoughtful and lovely. I appreciate how she says so much with her word choices. She makes me want to be a better writer.
April 18, 2014
Beautiful writing, thoughtful novel of a almost overdone topic.
The main character, Rebecca Winter, is a 60 year old, professional divorcee who goes off for a period of solitude to a cabin in the country. Sounds like 30 other books on the same type of situation.
But the way Quindlen handles the topic is different. Rather than a broken, restrung together woman, Rebecca is more of a thoughtful, really together person who knows who she is, goes with the flow and is not really seeking anything other than some financial relief. She opens her world by retreating from the city, but it never seems to be with a goal of finding herself. She never lost herself. Its more of a journey on the continuum of her life.
I thoroughly and thoughtfully enjoyed this book and the writing.
There is a most delectable sentence in the book that I think should replace the notion of monkey mind, talked about in meditation. "There had been bees in her brain, a whole hive, no honey."
For me, this was a spot on description of filling ones head with thoughts--all kinds of thoughts--all swarming around and producing nothing but an annoying buzz. The book was worth reading just to find that one sentence.
The main character, Rebecca Winter, is a 60 year old, professional divorcee who goes off for a period of solitude to a cabin in the country. Sounds like 30 other books on the same type of situation.
But the way Quindlen handles the topic is different. Rather than a broken, restrung together woman, Rebecca is more of a thoughtful, really together person who knows who she is, goes with the flow and is not really seeking anything other than some financial relief. She opens her world by retreating from the city, but it never seems to be with a goal of finding herself. She never lost herself. Its more of a journey on the continuum of her life.
I thoroughly and thoughtfully enjoyed this book and the writing.
There is a most delectable sentence in the book that I think should replace the notion of monkey mind, talked about in meditation. "There had been bees in her brain, a whole hive, no honey."
For me, this was a spot on description of filling ones head with thoughts--all kinds of thoughts--all swarming around and producing nothing but an annoying buzz. The book was worth reading just to find that one sentence.
May 17, 2014
This was an enjoyable, if somewhat predictable, read.
There are many good insights into what went wrong with her marriage to an angry self-centered, misogynistic man and their life in NYC.
Reflecting on growing older: " Gravity was more charitable to the flat-chested. " Amen, sister!
"People froze you in place, Rebecca sometimes thought, trudging through the woods. More important, you froze yourself, often into a person in whom you truly had no interest'. So you had a choice, you could continue a masquerade, or you could give up on it."
"Its a funny thing, hope. Its not like love, or fear, or hate. Its a feeling you don't really know you have until its gone. "
There are many good insights into what went wrong with her marriage to an angry self-centered, misogynistic man and their life in NYC.
Reflecting on growing older: " Gravity was more charitable to the flat-chested. " Amen, sister!
"People froze you in place, Rebecca sometimes thought, trudging through the woods. More important, you froze yourself, often into a person in whom you truly had no interest'. So you had a choice, you could continue a masquerade, or you could give up on it."
"Its a funny thing, hope. Its not like love, or fear, or hate. Its a feeling you don't really know you have until its gone. "
January 21, 2016
At 60, Anna Quindlen’s complicated protagonist, Rebecca Winter, is strong of body and mind, but much less so of heart and bank account ... a well-known photographer who changes her lifestyle out of need to find a life she'd always been missing without realizing it.
“People froze you in place... More important, you froze yourself, often into a person in whom you truly had no interest. So you had a choice: you could continue a masquerade, or you could give up ~
“It’s a funny thing, hope. It’s not like love, or fear, or hate. It’s a feeling you don’t really know you had until it’s gone.”
“People froze you in place... More important, you froze yourself, often into a person in whom you truly had no interest. So you had a choice: you could continue a masquerade, or you could give up ~
“It’s a funny thing, hope. It’s not like love, or fear, or hate. It’s a feeling you don’t really know you had until it’s gone.”
March 20, 2014
Rebecca in her 60s and no longer a famous photographer , all of the royalties are down to a thin trickle, leaves Manhattan and moves to a small cabin in upstate New York. Meets Jim ,who has come to the cabin to get rid of a Raccoon that is living in her attic . From that first meeting the story is totally predictable and may have been somewhat boring,but I never the less enjoyed it. Maybe because I am a long time fan of Anna Quindlen.
May 13, 2014
Love Anna Quindlen and this book did not disappoint. Just as Rebecca Winter feels that her glory days in both her professional and personal life all but over, she begins to notice a rejuvenation of spirit. Even her photography takes on a new meaning that will lead to a more personal awakening for more than just the key characters in this lovely book, but for the reader, as well.
July 12, 2014
Growing older, changing who we are, being open to dogs, neighbors, and love are all themes in this story.
This was a story full of hope for me. Rebecca, a famous photographer moves to a cabin in the woods, a few hours from New York City. It will save her money that she needs to pay for her mother's nursing home and her father's rent. Everything else that happens is a surprise to everyone.
This was a story full of hope for me. Rebecca, a famous photographer moves to a cabin in the woods, a few hours from New York City. It will save her money that she needs to pay for her mother's nursing home and her father's rent. Everything else that happens is a surprise to everyone.
October 12, 2014
Near the end of the novel, a character quotes from O. Henry's The Gift of the Magi and says that he found it "so damn sad," but his mother said it wasn't "sad at all." Some might find Still Life with Bread Crumbs very sad, and there are a good number of sad sections mixed in with moments of humor, but it is ultimately a hopeful story of how life isn't over until it's over.
February 28, 2014
Meh. I did like the fact that the protagonist was 60. I don't regret reading it, but it wasn't particularly moving. When I was typing the name of the book into Goodreads I got a prompt for "still life with woodpeckers." Now that's a marvelous read.
June 6, 2014
I love Anna Quindlen's writing style - she captures emotions, experiences and feelings of every stage in life in a very true and relatable way. That said, I gave this a three because it isn't her strongest or best book. Worth a read, but have lower expectations.
March 10, 2014
I think this was her best novel yet! Interesting structure, good story.
March 25, 2014
Anything Anne Quindlen writes is worth a try, and this one totally delivers.
June 29, 2014
Chick lit for women of a certain age
April 25, 2014
This book was very predictable.
June 24, 2014
An easy read, interesting story line and a happy ending.
May 23, 2014
very enjoyable read .... ESPECIALLY FOR WOMEN OF A CERTAIN AGE!!
June 4, 2014
Excellent writing. Excellent book.
July 12, 2014
Enjoyable read
August 9, 2014
I have loved Anna Quindlen's columns over the years and this book really resonated with me...I'm not sure why but it is a poignant piece of writing!
July 31, 2014
I like this author She didn't disappoint!
September 28, 2014
I was expecting this book to have a similar plot line to some of the other books by Quindlen as I had not read any preliminary information or reviews. Love the story! Love the writing.
December 31, 2014
I always enjoy Anna Quindlen but this one did not hold my attention the way others have. It was ok.
November 14, 2014
Should have been named "Still Life with Dull Characters." The book was predictable and incredibly boring.
January 4, 2015
Rebecca Winter, famous photographer, leaves New York for the country out of financial desperation. There she find the quiet life she was destined for, but never knew she wanted. Simply beautiful.
January 9, 2015
I liked this. It is somewhat of a romance, but it deals, also with photography..what we photograph and what we don't. Also the photos we take and how they might affect others.
August 10, 2015
loved this
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews