Starting from Scratch

Gilbert-collins, Susan

ISBN 10: 1602859183 ISBN 13: 9781602859180

Publisher: Center Point Pub, 2011

Synopsis

Withdrawing from graduate school after the death of her mother, Olivia immerses herself in cooking to work through her grief and reluctantly starts working for Meals on Wheels, where she stumbles on a dark family secret before unexpected changes compel her to speak out. (general fiction).

About this title

About the Author

Born and raised in South Dakota, Susan Gilbert-Collins studied English at Oberlin College and holds an M.A. in English as a Second Language from the University of Minnesota. While she enjoyed teaching international students and adult immigrants, she now freelances as a technical writer in order to have more time to focus on her first love, fiction. She lives with her husband and young son in Rochester, New York.

From Publishers Weekly

Protagonist Olivia Tschetter has come home from graduate school following the sudden death of her mother. While in her hometown in South Dakota, family secrets and new surprises boil over, but it takes too long for the bubbles to rise in Gilbert-Collins's debut. Oddly, one secret Olivia herself keeps is passing her thesis defense at graduate school. Olivia looks to find solace by taking over her mom's cooking legacy and regular recipe newsletter, but this supposed love of the kitchen is barely apparent, except for an occasional peppered note, "She stood in the produce department, hefting the garlic bulbs one by one, fingering the pearl onions in their papery skin, and felt herself slowly relax." Although recipes are cleverly included, some of the most appetizing dishes are left undisclosed. Gilbert-Collins has a good sense of characterization, but it's not enough to save her story. (Aug.)
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Edition details

• Publisher: Center Point Pub
• Publication date: 2011
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1602859183
• ISBN 13: 9781602859180
• Binding: Library Binding
• Number of pages: 479