First Discussion
June 11th: Prologue & Lillian
In this first week, we’ll discuss the prologue and first chapter of The School of Essential Ingredients, both of which introduce us to restaurant owner and cooking school instructor, Lillian. The prologue sets the scene for the impending class; as we meet Lillian she is preparing for the first night of class and we learn that Lillian has been teaching cooking classes for seven years. The description of the scene seems to indicate that Lillian knows the routine of welcoming a new class of students and greets it with familiarity; do you sense that there may be something different about this class? Is there any indication that Lillian may experience transformation along with her students?
As we move in to the first chapter of the book, we become privy to how Lillian learned the alchemy of cooking. An absent father and distant mother left young Lillian to discover much of life on her own, and, as children tend to do, she relied on her senses to guide her. Aromas, scents and smells are Lillian’s prevalent way of relating to the world. What role do they play in your life? Do aromas spark memories for you? What is the aroma of your favorite memory? Do you think Lillian’s reliance on aroma and love for cooking would have developed had she had a more traditional upbringing? Do you agree with Abuelita’s statement to Lillian that her cooking skills were a gift from her mother?
Hope you’re enjoying the book in these first few pages and I look forward to hearing your thoughts thus far.
I read this book last year and loved it. Cooking is a favorite thing to study, and it is touching and familiar to read how Lillian associates food directly to emotions and events. I found it magical how the woman shared secrets and ingredients, and I am looking forward to trying the hot cocoa recipe. I believe in the power of ingredients, but also the love that goes into how something is made…
love this comment and would love to know about this book club and if its online class or in person at Glen Ivy?
Hi Sandra, The Glen Ivy Book Club is virtual and shares discussion here on the website, covering a new chapter(s) each week. At the end of July, we will have a gathering at each Spa for a final meeting and spa day wrap up, which will also be noted here on the blog. Hope you join us!
Welcome, Sandra & Lucy! We’re so glad to have you as part of our bookclub.
Lucy, I agree with you – to me the best part of this book is how Lillian relates emotions and food, and the power that lies within that association. As we read through each chapter, I look forward to hearing more of your perspectives on how that relates to each character in the book. **P.S. – we may have that hot cocoa at our final “live” meeting!”"
Sandra, we hope that you will join us online each week and at our last meeting on July 27th, which will be “in-person.” We will have gatherings at the Hot Springs Spa as well as at each of our day spas.
Two of our Chefs will be joining the conversation about this book…we hope that you both check back for their comments and perspectives.
Hello, fellow readers/bloggers!
I’m not much of a cook, but as I continue to read this novel, I can already tell that it is going to have an affect on me. Maybe I’ll soon find myself in the kitchen “feeling the smells” as Lillian has. I definitely think that all of the metaphors and similes that we’ve seen in the first part of this novel draw the reader in as the association between food and emotions begin to correlate with one another. This correlation between food and the characters’ emotions has already been made clear in the prologue as Bauermeister writes about Lillian’s students, “they were elements that would become more complex and intriguing as they mixed with one another.”
As I read the first chapter of the novel, I found that Lillian’s fascination with food had some similarities to her mother’s fascination with books. Lillian’s mother found that “every part of a book was magic,” and words and phrases were “descriptions that undulated across a page like cake batter pouring into a pan.” Even though Lillian has no interest in books, she finds interest in something else…food. I think that Lillian’s love of cooking and her mother’s love of books helps bring them together.
Ashley, the correlation between Lillian’s mother and books and Lillian’s relationship with food is one that I hadn’t thought of. It’s very interesting, because I felt myself judging Lillian’s mother negatively because of her deep fascination with books and words, but I felt supportive of Lillian’s relationship with food. Perhaps my judgements weren’t completely fair…thanks for the insight!
This has made my day. I wish all potisngs were this good.
Thank you so much! I hope that you read along with us and join the discussion.