Writing with "a delicate, beautiful balance of wit and yearning" (#1
New York Times bestselling author Elizabeth Gilbert), Rebecca Barry's
poignant take on creativity, marriage, and motherhood will make you
laugh and cry--sometimes at the same time.
When Rebecca Barry, writer, mother, cat lady, and aspiring meditator,
and her husband moved to upstate New York to start their family, they
were optimistic that they'd be able to build a life they'd love: one
connected to nature and extended family, one where they could invest in
their artistic dreams, spend time with their children, live cheaply, and
eat well. Naturally, things didn't turn out to be so simple: the lovely
old house they bought to fix up needed lots of repair, their children
wouldn't sleep, and the novel Rebecca had dreamed of writing simply
wouldn't come to her.
"Anecdotal, funny, and telling, with the kinds of momentary glimpses of
ordinary days that reflect something larger" (The New York Times),
Recipes for a Beautiful Life is about reveling in the extraordinary
moments in daily life while trying to balance marriage, children,
extended family, and creative work. The book is an excellent companion
for mothers with small children, but it also speaks to anyone trying to
find meaning in their work or a life that is truer to the heart. Full of
great dialogue, tongue-in-cheek recipes (Angry Mommy Tea), and tips on
things like how to keep your house clean ("just don't let anyone in"),
Recipes captures the sweetness and beauty of answering your soul's
longing, as well as the difficulty, struggle, and humor that goes along
with it. Mostly it is about the realization that a beautiful life, for
this author, meant a rich, often chaotic, creative one. Or, as Redbook
said when it featured the book in its "5 fabulous, even life-changing
new reads" column: "Contentment isn't about getting everything...but
finding magic in the mess."
