Publisher's Summary Experience the smells, sounds, textures, signs, and tastes of the kitchen as a daughter lovingly prepares squash stew for her family on a brisk fall day.
Bedtime stories are narrated by the world’s most celebrated voices and written with no beginning, middle, or end so you don’t stay up to hear what happens next. They're interesting enough to give your mind something to focus on but delivered in a way that encourages sleep.
This title is part of the Audible Sleep Collection, exclusive audio experiences created to invite relaxation and sleep. New and free for members.
Guest review by someone else: DNF ASMR does not work on all people. It sets some people's teeth on edge. Mom ran screaming from the room while listening to this pointless Audible Book about something. Cooking and the relaxing effects of grocery shopping. You can get the same results listening to people read the YouTube terms of service. I thought the reader was the worst reader in the world. Mom told me Saskia Maarleveld is highly respected. Anyway, my mother doesn't need this. She has fallen asleep watching a John Carpenter movie. I am off to take a nap.
I love cooking, and I find it really calming, so one would think this book was just right for me. Unfortunatly, it kept making me sad.
The MC more than once thought about how grateful she was that she was able to do the things she did, and as someone who isn't able to do it, it felt a little like a slap in the face. Other than that, it was ok, and I know a few people who could do with remembering how lucky they are!
This was a good listen! I put it on while resting in bed, and the ~40min running time, homey comfort food-centric subject matter, and quality narration all came together quite nicely. I love a good pumpkin anything, especially this time of year, so this was a good piece to put on at the start of the colder seasons. I do not think I would have enjoyed this as much if I had listened to it in the summertime, for instance.
Parts of this reminded me of the Audible Original "You Can Thank Me Later" production, which came out around Thanksgiving last year. "You Can Thank Me Later" was also about cooking hearty meals for family, but it was a lot longer and more about the character development. While "Pumpkin Stew" doesn't really see any changes to its characters, it doesn't have to; it is a well described picture of an evening on which the POV character makes a nice meal for her family. The vegetarian but filling meal is not made on a holiday, but just an evening on which the small family is able to gather, and the main character takes pleasure in making something yummy for those she loves.
There was a lot in here that I could relate to, though I must advise listening to it on a full stomach. If you are hungry when you start this audio production, you'll certainly be hungry for pumpkin stew at the end!
This is such a great short story. The description to take your mind away and actually feel like you are there and experiencing what she is, I just love it! Especially when she's cooking dinner. I think what makes this is the narration on Audible by Saskia Maarleveld. This is by far my favourite to listen to at night... More please... With Saskia!!
A descriptive and simple narrative that's deeply focused on the process of cooking a pumpkin stew, highlighting the somewhat ignored habits and actions taken systematically to make a dish. It's a dance with everyday tasks in the kitchen, exploring texture, fragrances, temperature and technical processes, observing the marvels of creating a dish and the labour behind it, as well as the gratification of receiving compliments from a well constructed and satisfying dish.
Although very relatable I found the narrative a little bit cringey and over the top. I was surprised that I felt infuriated with the over indulgent imagery of each action... From the wet kiss on the cheek to the warm soapy bubbles on a submerged hand in the sink... Tongues licking and lips smacking... Ergh, not what I want to hear as I try to sleep
Hmm, my mind went the opposite way and got annoyed at how with all those men she was left to do all the cooking and cleaning shit. I honestly got kind of stressed thinking about the logistics of figuring out what to cook for everyone after work. Then when she served the stew into bowls and sits it on the table before everyone arrives, and the story SAYS that the stew was the perfect temperature once they all finally sit down. But no way is that stew not cold by then. Nothing was working for my brain. Maybe it’s not this story’s fault, but… this story was not relaxing and it annoyed me that it kept trying so hard, but was just not doing it. Maybe I don’t want my gratitude to be around domestic work?
I like stories that connect food and family. So often the two are shared together, and so much of who we are is connected to food. Our identities are related to what we cook, and how, and how we share that with loved ones. This story was intended to be the kind that could put you to sleep. It was read quietly, slowly, purposefully. I think that matched the way the meal was prepared.
Great little sleep story from Audible. I get that the idea doesn’t work for everyone (and I’m not interested in the topics of the other stories) but this was lovely and helped me stop my mind churning when trying to get to sleep. Also made me want to make a similar stew!!!
Loved the story. Loved the narrator. I found the audio annoying. Normally I would call attention to something like this but this is a bedtime story. I should be relaxing and listening... not critiquing the audio engineering and compression.
I don’t usually pay attention to the stories of these sleep stories because their purpose is to just make you fall asleep but I actually enjoyed being talked through a cooking recipe! They should make more cooking sleep stories!
I downloaded this audiobook when it was available to me for free on Audible. It’s a short story meant to put one to sleep. I enjoy this story because I like cooking, and the MC is preparing a pumpkin stew for a family meal. There’s no recipe given, but all the ingredients are listed. I have done my best to make a stew similar to the one in the story. (My version isn’t vegetarian). I listen to this story often. It’s as comforting as a bowl of good stew—any variety.
This is from the Audible Bed Time series. It’s about a 40 minute listen. I LOVE it. It’s sooo relaxing and makes me want to make the stew. There’s also a good one called the Tea Shoppe. There are lots to choose from in the series but they don’t all interest me. I’m pretty sure they are all free for members. They for sure, are great bed time stories for grown ups. Definitely make you drowsy! This was my second listen to Pumpkin Stew.
This was pretty good. Not as great as other bedtime tales, but still holds its own. Wouldn’t necessarily go out of my way to recommend this, but still worth looking into.