I love Lucy Knisley. I adored French Milk, and so when I heard she had a new book out, I knew I had to read it. It doesn’t matter that I’m not really a cook, and that this book is all about food and cooking. I knew I would love it, and I was right.

The book was fantastic. Sure, there was a lot of cooking, but Knisley made it all sound fun and easy, which is difficult when you’re trying to get me to do something in the kitchen. I think, at one point in my life, I might have enjoyed cooking, but Jason and I have very different styles in the kitchen, so different that we don’t work well together in there, and adding to that the stress of trying to feed my children? Not happening. The few times in our lives where it was necessary for me to cook – like, for instance, the few months when we were living at my mom’s house right after we moved to Texas – I did great. I enjoyed making oatmeal and eggs for the boys for breakfast, and trying out new recipes for dinner. I love cookbooks and I love experimenting. Even now, when no one is home, I make all sorts of crazy breakfasts and snacks. All this makes me think I might actually love cooking, if the conditions were different, and maybe that’s one reason I enjoyed the book more than I might have otherwise.

It also helps that the book wasn’t only about cooking. There was a lot about family, and friendship, and growing up, and of course just little moments that Knisley managed to capture from her life. My particular favorite involved a crappy hostel in Venice, where Knisley’s friend read out pieces of Angels and Demons (received in an exchange with another backpacker) to Knisley while she tried to shower in cold water (as it cost money to use the hot water). I love that Knisley shouts about how ridiculous the book is, as I felt the exact same way. (And woohoo, I found a picture online of this particular moment!!)

There were moments like that all throughout, just the same as there had been in French Milk. I get the impression that Lucy Knisley is someone I might get along with really well in real life.

I’m not sure I’ll be inclined to cook more often after this, but I’m really happy I read it, and can’t wait to see what she publishes next!