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The Way Life Should Be
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Orphan Train, and the critically acclaimed author of Bird in Hand, comes a novel of love, risk, and self-discovery—includes a special PS section featuring insights, interviews, and more.
Angela can feel the clock ticking. She is single in New York City, stuck in a job she doesn’t want and a life that seems to have, somehow, just happened. She inherited a flair for Italian cooking from her grandmother, but she never seems to have the time for it—these days, her oven holds only sweaters. Tacked to her office bulletin board is a photo from a magazine of a tidy cottage on the coast of Maine—a charming reminder of a life that could be hers, if she could only muster the courage to go after it.
On a hope and a chance, Angela decides to pack it all up and move to Maine, finding the nudge she needs in the dating profile of a handsome sailor who loves dogs and Italian food. But her new home isn’t quite matching up with the fantasy. Far from everything familiar, Angela begins to rebuild her life from the ground up. Working at a local coffeehouse, she begins to discover the pleasures and secrets of her new small-town community and, in the process, realizes there’s really no such thing as the way life should be.
Angela can feel the clock ticking. She is single in New York City, stuck in a job she doesn’t want and a life that seems to have, somehow, just happened. She inherited a flair for Italian cooking from her grandmother, but she never seems to have the time for it—these days, her oven holds only sweaters. Tacked to her office bulletin board is a photo from a magazine of a tidy cottage on the coast of Maine—a charming reminder of a life that could be hers, if she could only muster the courage to go after it.
On a hope and a chance, Angela decides to pack it all up and move to Maine, finding the nudge she needs in the dating profile of a handsome sailor who loves dogs and Italian food. But her new home isn’t quite matching up with the fantasy. Far from everything familiar, Angela begins to rebuild her life from the ground up. Working at a local coffeehouse, she begins to discover the pleasures and secrets of her new small-town community and, in the process, realizes there’s really no such thing as the way life should be.
Kindle Edition
First published July 31, 2007
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About the author
Christina Baker Kline
24 books7,072 followersA #1 New York Times bestselling author of eight novels, including The Exiles, Orphan Train, and A Piece of the World, Christina Baker Kline is published in 40 countries. Her novels have received the New England Prize for Fiction, the Maine Literary Award, and a Barnes & Noble Discover Award, among other prizes, and have been chosen by hundreds of communities, universities and schools as “One Book, One Read” selections. Her essays, articles, and reviews have appeared in publications such as the New York Times and the NYT Book Review, the Boston Globe, the San Francisco Chronicle, LitHub, Psychology Today, Poets & Writers, and Salon.
Born in England and raised in the American South and Maine, Kline is a graduate of Yale (B.A.), Cambridge (M.A.) and the University of Virginia (M.F.A.), where she was a Hoyns Fellow in Fiction Writing. A resident of New York City and Southwest Harbor, Maine, she serves on the advisory boards of the Center for Fiction (NY), the Jesup Library (Bar Harbor, ME), the Montclair Literary Festival (NJ), the Kauai Writers Festival (HI), and Roots & Wings (NJ), and on the gala committees of Poets & Writers (NY), The Authors Guild (NY) and Friends of Acadia (ME). She is an Artist-Mentor for StudioDuke at Duke University and the BookEnds program at Stony Brook University.
Born in England and raised in the American South and Maine, Kline is a graduate of Yale (B.A.), Cambridge (M.A.) and the University of Virginia (M.F.A.), where she was a Hoyns Fellow in Fiction Writing. A resident of New York City and Southwest Harbor, Maine, she serves on the advisory boards of the Center for Fiction (NY), the Jesup Library (Bar Harbor, ME), the Montclair Literary Festival (NJ), the Kauai Writers Festival (HI), and Roots & Wings (NJ), and on the gala committees of Poets & Writers (NY), The Authors Guild (NY) and Friends of Acadia (ME). She is an Artist-Mentor for StudioDuke at Duke University and the BookEnds program at Stony Brook University.
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January 3, 2008I signed this book out of the library because I remembered really liking an earlier book by the author (Sweet Water). This one starts off feeling like a fairly predictable chick lit book but gets better as it goes along. In fact, I sort of wish it had kept going. I got to the point where I felt like I was just getting to know some of the more peripheral characters and then it was done.
September 22, 2025
This is a book I picked up at a Library book sale on this trip in 2018.
I had read Orphan Train and really enjoyed the authors style of writing. So I was curious if she could do it again for me.
She does not disappoint!
Christina Baker Kline has a very readable, wonderful writing style, easy-going dialogue, and characters I feel I can easily understand.
I'm not going to go into the plot or the story...I'm just going to say this...
Read it.
And... Enjoy...a special treat of Italian recipes at the back of the book.
Sweet, easy read.
I had read Orphan Train and really enjoyed the authors style of writing. So I was curious if she could do it again for me.
She does not disappoint!
Christina Baker Kline has a very readable, wonderful writing style, easy-going dialogue, and characters I feel I can easily understand.
I'm not going to go into the plot or the story...I'm just going to say this...
Read it.
And... Enjoy...a special treat of Italian recipes at the back of the book.
Sweet, easy read.
September 25, 2015
Christina Baker Kline has a very readable, transparent writing style, spot-on dialogue, and characters I feel like I know.
Angela Russo is a single, thirty-something event planner in New York. When an important charity event goes all wrong, she loses her job. She impulsively decides to move to Maine to pursue a new relationship with a sailing instructor she met on an online dating site. She befriends the owner of the local coffee shop and ends up working for him, convincing him to expand his business and offer baked goods and soup. That gives her the chance to reconnect with her love of cooking, a skill she learned from her beloved Nonna.
This enjoyable read can be summed up as a sweet (if predictable) find-yourself story with just the right touch of romance and recipes.
I especially liked Angela's relationship with her Nonna, the realistic Italian family, and the fun Italian recipes.
Angela Russo is a single, thirty-something event planner in New York. When an important charity event goes all wrong, she loses her job. She impulsively decides to move to Maine to pursue a new relationship with a sailing instructor she met on an online dating site. She befriends the owner of the local coffee shop and ends up working for him, convincing him to expand his business and offer baked goods and soup. That gives her the chance to reconnect with her love of cooking, a skill she learned from her beloved Nonna.
This enjoyable read can be summed up as a sweet (if predictable) find-yourself story with just the right touch of romance and recipes.
I especially liked Angela's relationship with her Nonna, the realistic Italian family, and the fun Italian recipes.
August 21, 2018
Wow, Christina Baker Kline has really evolved from this (one of first novels) to her critically-acclaimed follow ups Orphan Train and a A Piece Of The World.
Hmmmm. That sounded like a back-handed compliment. And it’s not meant to be; I’m just really impressed at how much she’s matured as a writer over the course of a few books. Again.... unintentionally back-handed. There was nothing wrong with this story at all: it’s a simple, heartfelt tale about... well, the way life should be. It’s got romance, recipes and retrospection. An Under The Tuscan Sun in Maine... during winter.
And it couldn’t have come at a better time. There was something about the tale that really resonated and inspired me (Not dating sketchy men from the Internet—I did enough of that in my 30s—but removing oneself from the grind, and making an effort to unplug and really be in the moment).
A welcome, refreshing audiobook, and only a 7-hour listen.
Hmmmm. That sounded like a back-handed compliment. And it’s not meant to be; I’m just really impressed at how much she’s matured as a writer over the course of a few books. Again.... unintentionally back-handed. There was nothing wrong with this story at all: it’s a simple, heartfelt tale about... well, the way life should be. It’s got romance, recipes and retrospection. An Under The Tuscan Sun in Maine... during winter.
And it couldn’t have come at a better time. There was something about the tale that really resonated and inspired me (Not dating sketchy men from the Internet—I did enough of that in my 30s—but removing oneself from the grind, and making an effort to unplug and really be in the moment).
A welcome, refreshing audiobook, and only a 7-hour listen.
October 27, 2021
A good three, three and a half maybe. 3.3? Christina Baker Kline has been my author of the year, and I admit that I have read all of her fiction works except one, and none of her non-fiction ones. I did discover that she has a non-fiction book on Feminism, which would have worked for the Feminism tag this month. But I couldn't get there. As the year draws to a close, I have too much else to enjoy and accomplish.
I did not read Bird in Hand, because when I opened the book and read the first line, or first paragraph, I was like Nope! I closed the book and I think I drove it back to the library within ours, just to get out it out of my energy space and physical presence. I simply couldn't deal. She is a great writer, but the content was not a match for me.
Now this final (not in her works, it's 2007) read of hers for me, was very sweet. A simple relaxing quick read. Not a not to be missed. But it had its moments. A really fabulous Italian Grandmother was my favorite character. Synopsis? A woman comes into her own. There is a Maeve Binchy-like quality to it, that a bunch of people, usually on a trip, or a bus, or a hotel, or college, or visiting a wishing well, or a restaurant, or Italian Class, well, each of them has a unique story of how they got there. Angela in this book, gets to hear a lot of stories about others coming into themselves, and how they too landed in Desert Island Maine. It was a fine read, and I can now add Christina Baler Kline to my list of authors read.
Are you curious about who my author of the year is for 2022? I think its going to be Marie Benedict. I have read half of her collection, I believe. Are you curious about my series for the year? My remarkable person of the year? Well, I know who and what they are, but I believe you will have to wait and see. But I can say this.... For 2021, I am now done with a year of Eve and a year of Christina Baker Kline. I am one book short of finishing the Chocolat series.... With the Strawberry Thief, I will have completed my three extra challenges for the year. Onto the next, Bring it On!.
I did not read Bird in Hand, because when I opened the book and read the first line, or first paragraph, I was like Nope! I closed the book and I think I drove it back to the library within ours, just to get out it out of my energy space and physical presence. I simply couldn't deal. She is a great writer, but the content was not a match for me.
Now this final (not in her works, it's 2007) read of hers for me, was very sweet. A simple relaxing quick read. Not a not to be missed. But it had its moments. A really fabulous Italian Grandmother was my favorite character. Synopsis? A woman comes into her own. There is a Maeve Binchy-like quality to it, that a bunch of people, usually on a trip, or a bus, or a hotel, or college, or visiting a wishing well, or a restaurant, or Italian Class, well, each of them has a unique story of how they got there. Angela in this book, gets to hear a lot of stories about others coming into themselves, and how they too landed in Desert Island Maine. It was a fine read, and I can now add Christina Baler Kline to my list of authors read.
Are you curious about who my author of the year is for 2022? I think its going to be Marie Benedict. I have read half of her collection, I believe. Are you curious about my series for the year? My remarkable person of the year? Well, I know who and what they are, but I believe you will have to wait and see. But I can say this.... For 2021, I am now done with a year of Eve and a year of Christina Baker Kline. I am one book short of finishing the Chocolat series.... With the Strawberry Thief, I will have completed my three extra challenges for the year. Onto the next, Bring it On!.
January 29, 2020
3.5 Stars
I'm a total sucker for books about food. (Mmmmm...and Italian food?!) Add in the whimsical ideal of ditching a busy, rote life, running off to a small romantic town (in gorgeous Maine!) to simplify, sort out what's important, and start over....and I'm hooked! What an engaging escape novel with relatable characters and some particularly funny dialogue. I dug it!
I'm a total sucker for books about food. (Mmmmm...and Italian food?!) Add in the whimsical ideal of ditching a busy, rote life, running off to a small romantic town (in gorgeous Maine!) to simplify, sort out what's important, and start over....and I'm hooked! What an engaging escape novel with relatable characters and some particularly funny dialogue. I dug it!
February 19, 2017
I started reading this book, then put it aside, the first part was more like a Harlequin romance novel. Then I decided to give it another try and about halfway through, it got much better. If the whole book had been like the last half, I would have given it another star, because the second half was an engrossing and enjoyable read. Recipes included.
August 22, 2019
I've had this book in my tbr pile for years. Timing is everything because this was the perfect book for right now. Independence, self reflection, nostalgia, and a little romance sprikled on top.
Angela had an unfortunate accident at work that had her seeking employment elsewhere. Yes, she was fired. Embarrassed by her mistake she decides to move to Maine with a guy she met on the internet and it's not as predictable as you might think. Maine is a long way from home and provides her with the space and solitude to think about what is important and find her passion.
This was an easy, charming read. I especially liked the food elements and Angela's relationship with her grandmother <3
Angela had an unfortunate accident at work that had her seeking employment elsewhere. Yes, she was fired. Embarrassed by her mistake she decides to move to Maine with a guy she met on the internet and it's not as predictable as you might think. Maine is a long way from home and provides her with the space and solitude to think about what is important and find her passion.
This was an easy, charming read. I especially liked the food elements and Angela's relationship with her grandmother <3
September 25, 2018
Loved loved love made me want to run away AGAIN to Maine.
April 28, 2014
Easy and light, with a horribly cliched front end, and a tail that sort of drifts off...
This is a hard book to review. The first few chapters are painfully bad, and were I to stop there, it would have gotten a very bad review indeed. It does pick up from there, and is a bit charming in places, and then it sort of stops, on a vaguely optimistic note granted, but without much of an arc.
Also, something to note, this book stripped of recipes (which are often effectively printed twice), and other back end matter would probably be more of a novella, as the actual content is quite short.
This is a hard book to review. The first few chapters are painfully bad, and were I to stop there, it would have gotten a very bad review indeed. It does pick up from there, and is a bit charming in places, and then it sort of stops, on a vaguely optimistic note granted, but without much of an arc.
Also, something to note, this book stripped of recipes (which are often effectively printed twice), and other back end matter would probably be more of a novella, as the actual content is quite short.
December 22, 2016
After reading Orphan Train( which was amazing ) I wanted to read more of Christina Baker Kline! This was a very nice , quick read - you can pretty much predict what was going to happen- but all in all a good read.
Main character Angela, faces the real struggles you would expect from a journey of self discovery. Kline captures the charms of life in Coastal Maine beautifully and is able to make the harsh winters seem warm and cozy through her writing.
A nice chick-lit book for sure!
Main character Angela, faces the real struggles you would expect from a journey of self discovery. Kline captures the charms of life in Coastal Maine beautifully and is able to make the harsh winters seem warm and cozy through her writing.
A nice chick-lit book for sure!
December 7, 2014
I can not believe that this book was written by the same author as orphan train. It was so predictable and stupid. The best part of the book was the recipes in the back.
October 11, 2018
This read was a fresh breath of air from the psychological thrillers I have been reading. Every once in awhile it is good to take a step back and read a story that just causes you to inhale a bit deeper - enjoy the feel and energy of oxygen as it pulses through your being and reinforces that you're still alive. Sometimes we get so caught up in our day-to-day living and trying to fill the agenda we have laid out for ourselves that we forget to enjoy the simple pleasures in life like an afternoon spent sipping coffee or tea with a friend and just laughing; the pleasure found when you taste a hearty homemade soup on a cold winter's day or the sound of leaves as they crunch under foot in the Fall.
Angela lives in New York surrounded by her father and step-mother, her brother and his family and her loving Italian grandmother. She is in her 30's and still trying to decide where her life is headed and if there is someone out there with whom she can share her life. She has always dreamed of living up the New England coast with visions of pretty white cottages, crashing waves and the smell of sea air. When a friend suggests she join a dating site she reluctantly gives in and was completely pulled in when a man from Maine answers her ad. As you can already predict, she eventually finds herself in Maine with the hope and anticipation that she has found her soul mate.
Enough about the story -- you've got the picture.
While I enjoyed the subdued story of her "coming of age" at 30+, I enjoyed even more the warming descriptions of Italian meals simmering with flavor and scents that warm the soul as much as the body. I enjoyed the stories of the people who found themselves inhabitants of the quaint community -- whether by choice or circumstance. Most, however, I enjoyed the appeal and picture painted of a life lived slowly -- without a direction written in stone and without a foregone conclusion -- of a life lived a day at a time and eyes that can behold the beauty of the sky with and without stars.
Life should never be a scripted journey. Life should be lived with a sponge in hand to absorb all it has to offer. Life should be lived with a pursuit of happiness in mind, but the strength to overcome obstacles when they come our way. Living a "life" is the one opportunity each of us are given to pursue our dreams, make a difference, set our own pace and define "what will be". Living out OUR choices and not those of another, making ourselves happy and not relinquishing that right to someone else to do, now that's "The Way Life Should Be".
Angela lives in New York surrounded by her father and step-mother, her brother and his family and her loving Italian grandmother. She is in her 30's and still trying to decide where her life is headed and if there is someone out there with whom she can share her life. She has always dreamed of living up the New England coast with visions of pretty white cottages, crashing waves and the smell of sea air. When a friend suggests she join a dating site she reluctantly gives in and was completely pulled in when a man from Maine answers her ad. As you can already predict, she eventually finds herself in Maine with the hope and anticipation that she has found her soul mate.
Enough about the story -- you've got the picture.
While I enjoyed the subdued story of her "coming of age" at 30+, I enjoyed even more the warming descriptions of Italian meals simmering with flavor and scents that warm the soul as much as the body. I enjoyed the stories of the people who found themselves inhabitants of the quaint community -- whether by choice or circumstance. Most, however, I enjoyed the appeal and picture painted of a life lived slowly -- without a direction written in stone and without a foregone conclusion -- of a life lived a day at a time and eyes that can behold the beauty of the sky with and without stars.
Life should never be a scripted journey. Life should be lived with a sponge in hand to absorb all it has to offer. Life should be lived with a pursuit of happiness in mind, but the strength to overcome obstacles when they come our way. Living a "life" is the one opportunity each of us are given to pursue our dreams, make a difference, set our own pace and define "what will be". Living out OUR choices and not those of another, making ourselves happy and not relinquishing that right to someone else to do, now that's "The Way Life Should Be".
August 30, 2014
Angelo Russo is a 33 year old event planner in NYC. She is feeling in a bit of a rut, and on a whim clicks on an online dating site. She finds her "dream" man, a sailing instructor living on Mount Desert Island in Maine. She pictures an idyllic beach cottage, a dog and the perfect life. When she losses her job after a disaster at an event she had planned, she leaves her life behind and moves in with her "dream" man. But she soon discovers that the perfect, quaint picture she created is not reality, nor the guy she met online her "dream" man. Not willing to admit defeat, she stays and grows to love the island and the people who call it home. Slowly she rediscovers her love and passion for cooking, which she learned from her beloved Italian grandmother. When she begins a cooking class, new friendships are formed and new possibilities for her future emerge. I would love to be part of her cooking class.
July 27, 2015
Really loved this well told story of a young woman trying to find her "soul mate" and figure out what direction her life should go in. Wonderful descriptions of the art of cooking and the love of good food, relationships, the beautiful Maine coast in winter.
So lovely except I felt the ending fell short - sort of abrupt the way the book ended, as is the author just got tired of writing and decided to move on to another project - she left us hanging. I really wanted to know what happened to Angela, her family and friends and was disappointed he the author didn't take us a little further along in her journey.
Nice story though - no violence or death, an easy pleasant story about the journey many of us take to find the life we were meant to lead.
So lovely except I felt the ending fell short - sort of abrupt the way the book ended, as is the author just got tired of writing and decided to move on to another project - she left us hanging. I really wanted to know what happened to Angela, her family and friends and was disappointed he the author didn't take us a little further along in her journey.
Nice story though - no violence or death, an easy pleasant story about the journey many of us take to find the life we were meant to lead.
May 5, 2012
Sweet, easy read. Basic plot line revolves around a woman who is trying to figure out what to do with her life- she ends up on a little island in Maine (in winter no less- can't imagine how cold that must be!) because something just feels right. The author does a nice job of intertwining this journey with her relationship with her Italian grandmother, who is of course, a fantastic cook.I'm always pleased when an author cna successfully include cooking into a good story. Definitely would recommend this as a getaway from heavy reading material.
June 4, 2024
I love picking up works off "Local Authors" tables at independent bookstores when I travel. And recently on a trip to Maine, I frequented 3 different independent bookstores and picked up a local author's work or a book set in Maine at each of the 3. This was the first I picked up while still on vacation. I had read some of Christina Baker Kline's historical fiction work previously, including "Orphan Train" which may be her most well-known, but was delighted to see she had a few contemporary Women's Fiction works on the table also.
This work features our main character Angela, a New York City event planner that daydreams wistfully about the idyllic Maine Cottage setting image pinned to the bulletin board in her office. After taking a chance that is VERY uncharacteristically Angela, as well as suffering a large set back in her career, she packs all of her personal belongings up and moves to coastal Maine, much to the disbelief of her family and her best friend. But, somethin about it just seems right. And it is on the shores of Maine that Angela truly discovers herself, her purpose, and her passions.
There were some decisions made early on in this novel that I felt was careless and I sincerely doubted the direction the novel was taking, but I am so glad that I stuck with it, followed Angela as the discovery on the other side was worth the strange journey to get there. Loved her days that were detailed working in the local coffee shop, her making Nonna's recipes after visiting local farmer's markets, her befriending the quirky cast of locals, trying new books at her library out of her comfort zone, and fixing up her little "cottage" by the sea. Her day to day may seem ordinary, and it is, but that's part of the appeal of this novel for me. It so captures the spirit of coastal Maine and its people. Their love of the land, of the sea. Their trusting nature. The way they care for one another, no questions asked. I felt like I was experiencing Maine both on the page and in person! So immersive.
Wishing this was more of a hit for me, but some of the aspects from the beginnings of the novel, plus a bit of a slow start, did take me out of the story for a while. However, happy to have read it where and when I did!
This work features our main character Angela, a New York City event planner that daydreams wistfully about the idyllic Maine Cottage setting image pinned to the bulletin board in her office. After taking a chance that is VERY uncharacteristically Angela, as well as suffering a large set back in her career, she packs all of her personal belongings up and moves to coastal Maine, much to the disbelief of her family and her best friend. But, somethin about it just seems right. And it is on the shores of Maine that Angela truly discovers herself, her purpose, and her passions.
There were some decisions made early on in this novel that I felt was careless and I sincerely doubted the direction the novel was taking, but I am so glad that I stuck with it, followed Angela as the discovery on the other side was worth the strange journey to get there. Loved her days that were detailed working in the local coffee shop, her making Nonna's recipes after visiting local farmer's markets, her befriending the quirky cast of locals, trying new books at her library out of her comfort zone, and fixing up her little "cottage" by the sea. Her day to day may seem ordinary, and it is, but that's part of the appeal of this novel for me. It so captures the spirit of coastal Maine and its people. Their love of the land, of the sea. Their trusting nature. The way they care for one another, no questions asked. I felt like I was experiencing Maine both on the page and in person! So immersive.
Wishing this was more of a hit for me, but some of the aspects from the beginnings of the novel, plus a bit of a slow start, did take me out of the story for a while. However, happy to have read it where and when I did!
March 29, 2017
Well written and interesting about Italian cooking and a young woman's search for companionship in the coast of Maine. A good story, but somewhat slow.
June 7, 2018
I was surprised how quickly I arrived at the final page of this novel, first in an annoyed, then in a grateful way.
Caught up in the culmination of emotions and possibilities for the main character, Angela Russo, the story ended before I was ready. Even if there was so much more to explore and be discovered through the lives of these believable and varied characters, I appreciate (quite ironically) that this is "the way life should be".
Some readers are drawn toward reading a story where everything is tied nicely with a bow at the end, as am I. However, every so often, a story comes along that doesn't *need* that. And perhaps, what it really needs is exactly what it provides, an open-ended hope for beautiful things on the horizon.
When I finish a novel that makes me ponder my own life while sensing an emotional connection with the characters as if they're a part of my own family, I am grateful. Aligned with my own philosophy as an author, this well-crafted story provided a path to not only escape reality, but also to help navigate it.
The recipes at the end of the book *will* make an appearance in our kitchen. I found my stomach grumbling with supplication at the savory Italian flavors. Even more interesting and welcome was the interview with the author at the end of the book. It is always a pleasure to gain some personal insight and peek behind the curtains at the life, motivation, and thoughts of an author.
Whether looking for motivation to take a leap of faith into the unknown, or discovering what it means to find your place in the world, "The Way Life Should Be" is exactly what it should be, a motivating, uplifting, and inspiring read.
Caught up in the culmination of emotions and possibilities for the main character, Angela Russo, the story ended before I was ready. Even if there was so much more to explore and be discovered through the lives of these believable and varied characters, I appreciate (quite ironically) that this is "the way life should be".
Some readers are drawn toward reading a story where everything is tied nicely with a bow at the end, as am I. However, every so often, a story comes along that doesn't *need* that. And perhaps, what it really needs is exactly what it provides, an open-ended hope for beautiful things on the horizon.
When I finish a novel that makes me ponder my own life while sensing an emotional connection with the characters as if they're a part of my own family, I am grateful. Aligned with my own philosophy as an author, this well-crafted story provided a path to not only escape reality, but also to help navigate it.
The recipes at the end of the book *will* make an appearance in our kitchen. I found my stomach grumbling with supplication at the savory Italian flavors. Even more interesting and welcome was the interview with the author at the end of the book. It is always a pleasure to gain some personal insight and peek behind the curtains at the life, motivation, and thoughts of an author.
Whether looking for motivation to take a leap of faith into the unknown, or discovering what it means to find your place in the world, "The Way Life Should Be" is exactly what it should be, a motivating, uplifting, and inspiring read.
July 26, 2016
I almost quit reading this book so many times, and finally just skimmed ahead until the cliche chick-lit parts were mostly over. The beginning chapters are pure cliche: the heroine is unlucky in love, epically screws up her job, risks her job in pursuit of a guy . . . but luckily, she has a Special Gift and Unique Cultural Background! Sigh. Other reviewers were right, though - once in Maine, it got a lot better and there were some very nice chapters about food and community and community and food. And then it ended without really going anywhere.
On the upside, the included recipes sound great.
On the upside, the included recipes sound great.
April 11, 2019
This book was just bad. It had the air of a 16 year old trying to write a grown up novel. Predictable. Painful to the point of laughter. The only reason I finished the book was because I was listening to it as I drove and I did t have a chance to download a different title. The narrator was as bad as the book itself. Mispronunciations galore! So disappointing all around.
May 12, 2019
Life is too short to read shitty books. I read this up to 20% on the ebook (p67 of 286) and it wasn't clicking at all. Some of the other reviews say it starts really badly but then picks up in the middle and finally "it ended without really going anywhere" so I'm giving up on it.
November 20, 2016
This book felt a little too light-weight to me and the ending was somewhat abrupt.
July 22, 2018
This was a good "summer" read. A kind of cornylove story but had some great Italian recipes I want to try.
October 27, 2022
This is very likely the best romance novel I've ever read. The Way Life Should Be is an earlier work by Christina Baker Kline, author of acclaimed historical fiction: Orphan Train, The Exiles, A Piece of the World.
Food and cooking play a significant role in this novel. There are recipes related to the story at the end of the book.
Favorite Passages:
"color, pizzazz, and element of the outrageous."
_______
Mimes and jesters, it turns out, are a dime a dozen, but a good fire-eater is hard to find.
_______
Lately I've taken to storing sweaters in my oven.
_______
When he learns I was an English major in college, he starts sending me haikus:
She lives in New York
I'm on an island in Maine
Who? What? Where? When? Why?
Okay, not exactly lyrical, but who needs a tortured poet when you can have a man of the sea?
As it happens, the when and where present themselves sooner than I expect.
_______
Are these people happy living like this, so far away from the center of everything? Could I be?
Thinking about all of this, I feel a sudden rush of anticipation, an abstract yearning. Unfamiliar as it is, I do remember it. I experienced this feeling as a little girl the night before Christmas, and later when I was applying to college, and even later when I moved to New York. It's a longing for things to come, possibilities unfolding before me, the charged expectation of change.
_______
But really, what kind of person is attracted to fire-eating in the first place? Maybe the personality is a prerequisite for the job.
_______
"If you need advice or anything, give me a call," Paul says. "But if my secretary answers, don't leave your name. I don't want anybody to know I'm related to you. Hah - kidding."
_______
. . . I am halfway between two worlds, the known and the unknown. I feel as transparent as the wind, as if my spirit is hovering in the sky, waiting to land. I am driving toward a future I can't see, leaving behind a past that already feels distant.
_______
The overall effect is of a waiting room in a mental hospital.
_______
"Following someone around the world sounds like true love to me."
He shrugs. "True love is an elusive beast."
"That's poetic."
"Hard-earned wisdom often is, you know."
_______
"You got that show in Australia?"
"Oh yeah, baby. All your American trash washes up on our shore."
_______
Driving across the scant stretch of road that grafts the mainland to the island, I exchange one civilization for another, like stepping through the wardrobe into Narnia. Though only a breath away, the island's weather and terrain are different. The landscape is exposed and bleak; snow doesn't linger. Glowing lights in the windows of the houses I pass remind me of long-ago settlers, homesteading craggy patches of inhospitable earth.
Pink granite, slate gray, patches of ice: the island mimics the colors of sea and sky. Driving into its depths is like diving into a shipwreck; it is quiet and eerie and feels haunted by ghosts. It feels timeless. Rocks shift, trees fall, people come and go; the island remains.
_______
The austere shapes of the rocks are softened by their colors, charcoal and sand and green-brown. Thought the air is frigid, the sun makes a valiant effort to warm these rocks, this place, my face. The coast is not cold in the way that people think, or even in the way I imagined before I came. The coldness is threaded with warmth, tempered by moments of grace.
_______
I think of Nonna walking slowly to the altar rail for Communion, kneeling to accept the body and the blood of Christ, with outstretched hands, eyes closed, head bent in prayer. Thanks be to God. I think of confession, the words of penance and solace.
Something akin to that feeling, a feeling I've never had anywhere else, is what I'm experiencing now.
Perhaps it is simply this: the bread, the wine; the Hannukah candles; community and ritual. A sharing of experience, of stories, the facts of each person's life distinct and yet inseparable from the whole. Each one might be a saga told around a campfire or chanted in an epic poem, seemingly improbable, colored by emotion and hindsight, and yet utterly believable. These are the chronicles of legend, the tales we tell over and over, the stories that remind us we are not alone.
Food and cooking play a significant role in this novel. There are recipes related to the story at the end of the book.
Favorite Passages:
"color, pizzazz, and element of the outrageous."
_______
Mimes and jesters, it turns out, are a dime a dozen, but a good fire-eater is hard to find.
_______
Lately I've taken to storing sweaters in my oven.
_______
When he learns I was an English major in college, he starts sending me haikus:
She lives in New York
I'm on an island in Maine
Who? What? Where? When? Why?
Okay, not exactly lyrical, but who needs a tortured poet when you can have a man of the sea?
As it happens, the when and where present themselves sooner than I expect.
_______
Are these people happy living like this, so far away from the center of everything? Could I be?
Thinking about all of this, I feel a sudden rush of anticipation, an abstract yearning. Unfamiliar as it is, I do remember it. I experienced this feeling as a little girl the night before Christmas, and later when I was applying to college, and even later when I moved to New York. It's a longing for things to come, possibilities unfolding before me, the charged expectation of change.
_______
But really, what kind of person is attracted to fire-eating in the first place? Maybe the personality is a prerequisite for the job.
_______
"If you need advice or anything, give me a call," Paul says. "But if my secretary answers, don't leave your name. I don't want anybody to know I'm related to you. Hah - kidding."
_______
. . . I am halfway between two worlds, the known and the unknown. I feel as transparent as the wind, as if my spirit is hovering in the sky, waiting to land. I am driving toward a future I can't see, leaving behind a past that already feels distant.
_______
The overall effect is of a waiting room in a mental hospital.
_______
"Following someone around the world sounds like true love to me."
He shrugs. "True love is an elusive beast."
"That's poetic."
"Hard-earned wisdom often is, you know."
_______
"You got that show in Australia?"
"Oh yeah, baby. All your American trash washes up on our shore."
_______
Driving across the scant stretch of road that grafts the mainland to the island, I exchange one civilization for another, like stepping through the wardrobe into Narnia. Though only a breath away, the island's weather and terrain are different. The landscape is exposed and bleak; snow doesn't linger. Glowing lights in the windows of the houses I pass remind me of long-ago settlers, homesteading craggy patches of inhospitable earth.
Pink granite, slate gray, patches of ice: the island mimics the colors of sea and sky. Driving into its depths is like diving into a shipwreck; it is quiet and eerie and feels haunted by ghosts. It feels timeless. Rocks shift, trees fall, people come and go; the island remains.
_______
The austere shapes of the rocks are softened by their colors, charcoal and sand and green-brown. Thought the air is frigid, the sun makes a valiant effort to warm these rocks, this place, my face. The coast is not cold in the way that people think, or even in the way I imagined before I came. The coldness is threaded with warmth, tempered by moments of grace.
_______
I think of Nonna walking slowly to the altar rail for Communion, kneeling to accept the body and the blood of Christ, with outstretched hands, eyes closed, head bent in prayer. Thanks be to God. I think of confession, the words of penance and solace.
Something akin to that feeling, a feeling I've never had anywhere else, is what I'm experiencing now.
Perhaps it is simply this: the bread, the wine; the Hannukah candles; community and ritual. A sharing of experience, of stories, the facts of each person's life distinct and yet inseparable from the whole. Each one might be a saga told around a campfire or chanted in an epic poem, seemingly improbable, colored by emotion and hindsight, and yet utterly believable. These are the chronicles of legend, the tales we tell over and over, the stories that remind us we are not alone.
March 7, 2019
This is the fourth Baker Kline novel I've read. They are each remarkably different from each other. That in itself is unusual. Most authors follow a "type" and their voice gives a constant likeness. Not so Kline.
I enjoyed this so much, and in thinking of the characters, realize I feel that I know each very well, even though most had very little page time and little dialogue. There's a frequent undercurrent of humor, and the protagonist is searching. Who is she? Who and what does she want to be? Where does she belong?
The saga goes slowly, like building a fine but complex meal might take all day in the kitchen, but when one finally sits down to eat, it is perfectly satisfying. The characters were wonderful, and the final scene with Nonna was so heart-rending, I cried. (No, Nonna does not die.) Much of this novel is "quiet." Not a lot happening, but once all the ingredients are in, and it's simmered all day (I read this in 24 hours) I'm left with a very satisfying read.
I enjoyed this so much, and in thinking of the characters, realize I feel that I know each very well, even though most had very little page time and little dialogue. There's a frequent undercurrent of humor, and the protagonist is searching. Who is she? Who and what does she want to be? Where does she belong?
The saga goes slowly, like building a fine but complex meal might take all day in the kitchen, but when one finally sits down to eat, it is perfectly satisfying. The characters were wonderful, and the final scene with Nonna was so heart-rending, I cried. (No, Nonna does not die.) Much of this novel is "quiet." Not a lot happening, but once all the ingredients are in, and it's simmered all day (I read this in 24 hours) I'm left with a very satisfying read.
July 12, 2023
3 stars because the story ending up being cute towards the end. In the beginning, I wasn’t fond of the characters. & the dialogue / the way the characters spoke to each other, felt super choppy and it threw me off. Other than that, it was alright.
December 8, 2018
Chick lit but this is an early book for the author. I could see a bit of historical fiction. Most of her later novels are in the historical style which she does well.
September 8, 2021
A down to earth story with important life lessons.
Angela Russo is a 33 year old single woman with a job she knows like the back of her hand, but does not do more than that. She is just living her life with no actual purpose or passion.
Enter Nonna, her dearest, sweetest elderly grandmother, who has taught her Italian cooking since she was young. Little does Angela know these skills and knowledge will help her along the road of life. Oh and there are Nonna’s homemade Italian recipes in this book!! 😋 an added half star for the recipes!
Angela is also looking for the love of her life and thinks she’s found it on a website for a guy with the name of MaineCatch. It all happens so fast and she is love with the idea but actually is in lust with MaineCatch. She makes a decision to go to Maine for a little vacation and see what’s up with this internet date. At first I was a little concerned about this internet dating stuff and hoped this was not going to consist of most of the book. Luckily it was short and sweet and consisted of only Angela and MaineCatch.
This is where I stop my review so as not to give away the rest of the story ride with this book. It’s a fun, cozy read.
There are so many life lessons to learn from this story it was spot on and the happiness factor kicked in at the end.
Angela Russo is a 33 year old single woman with a job she knows like the back of her hand, but does not do more than that. She is just living her life with no actual purpose or passion.
Enter Nonna, her dearest, sweetest elderly grandmother, who has taught her Italian cooking since she was young. Little does Angela know these skills and knowledge will help her along the road of life. Oh and there are Nonna’s homemade Italian recipes in this book!! 😋 an added half star for the recipes!
Angela is also looking for the love of her life and thinks she’s found it on a website for a guy with the name of MaineCatch. It all happens so fast and she is love with the idea but actually is in lust with MaineCatch. She makes a decision to go to Maine for a little vacation and see what’s up with this internet date. At first I was a little concerned about this internet dating stuff and hoped this was not going to consist of most of the book. Luckily it was short and sweet and consisted of only Angela and MaineCatch.
This is where I stop my review so as not to give away the rest of the story ride with this book. It’s a fun, cozy read.
There are so many life lessons to learn from this story it was spot on and the happiness factor kicked in at the end.
January 28, 2020
Alright book. Recipes though. :)
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