|
“Why did you leave her?”
“It's hard to explain. In some ways it was just that guy shit that all you women are so understandably sick of. She called it the Babe-I-gotta-leave-you-the-highway's-callin'-bullshit-blues.”
Following up BREAD ALONE, Judith Ryan Hendrick's THE BAKER'S APPRENTICE details Wynter and Mac's relationship. As a night-shift baker, Wyn, surprisingly enough, manages to find fulfillment and peace in her role at the Queen Street Bakery in Seattle. She discovers real joy in learning to manage the bakery, passing along her knowledge of baking, making friends and helping out.
Meanwhile, Mac, acting like a typical male, has fled to Alaska to deal with a few of his own personal past issues, leaving Wyn to wonder if they ever really had a chance in the first place. Soon, Wyn begins to receive letters from Mac, at first reserved and cool, then increasingly intimate. Wyn begins to get to know Mac on a level that she never thought possible, all the while discovering new depths in herself as well.
Well-written, with a cohesive storyline and an insight into the female psyche, THE BAKER'S APPRENTICE is definitely a “chic” book - more women's fiction than anything else. Although there are overtones of romance, the novel's main focus is on the deep friendships that women can form amongst themselves.
Ms. Hendrick's had a unique style of writing, telling the tale in a gritty no-nonsense way that may be appealing to some, but left me wanting a little bit more “feel-good fiction.” The first-person point-of-view used throughout the novel helps readers to get a feel for the well-written characters, and all of their minor and major problems, but is at times stifling to the story itself. For those who love a true-to-life reading experience, and a no-holds-barred writing approach, THE BAKER'S APPRENTICE might be the book for you. For others who prefer their fiction with a bit more illusion, you might want to look elsewhere.
Reviewed by Janean Nusz
for The Road to Romance
March 2, 2005
|
