[BOOK REVIEW] THE YEAR OF MIRACLES: Recipes about love+ grief+ growing things

The Year of Miracles by Ella Risbridger is a book that I chanced upon, you know how you accidentally come across something you did not know you needed but then realise 'oh! where was it all this time?'. I think this'll be my answer incase anyone asked me to describe this one in one line! 

This book is about how the protagonist who has hit rock bottom navigates her life, one recipe at a time. It is not essentially your regular cook book  rather I would say she has used food to express her emotions, the various cycles of mood that she goes through, about how sometimes the entire process of fixing your meal all by yourself can be the catharsis you need, even though you are not exceptionally good at it. For example, how on some days 'Daal Chawal' is the therapy you need. It also talks about how accepting grief/sadness is the first step towards managing it and it is okay to not have it all figured out. About how it is okay to sometimes slip up but to not be condescending to oneself when that happens. The protagonist goes from having a very bad year to having a year when she learns to take care of herself, goes around making friends to finally making peace with herself. All of this with a recipe at the end of it. The recipes are those having simple steps mostly with the things you have in your fridge! 

That pretty much is the gist of what it is about. Now if you are someone who is not much into traditional self help books but at the same time wants to read a book which tells you how to fix your life and is an easy read then you should go with this one. This book, according to me was like a friend who takes your hand and guides you through. To me, this was a warm gentle hug in all the right places. Exactly what Dr. Sean Maguire was to Will Hunting! (you will get the reference if incase you have watched 'Good Will Hunting'). All in all the book does not disappoint.

 What really worked for me was realistic account that the author writes on how to go about your life while dealing with grief at the same time. Author makes sure to keep it simple and write it in a way which is easier to read and comprehend. It is neither too fast paced nor too slow paced. As a first time non fiction book reader this makes a good read. I think I will be looking forward to reading more of non fictions similar to this in future.  

Hope this review helps. That will be all for the time being.

Until next review. Happy reading:)