“STIR. My broken brain and the meals that brought me home” book release.

Such a quiet and simple word that says so much.

A quick internet search reveals the nuances of the word stir. An act of mixing food or drink with a spoon or other implement. To move or cause to move slightly. Rise or wake from sleep. Leave or go out of a place. Begin or cause to begin to be active or to develop. Arouse strong feelings in someone. Prompt a feeling or memory or inspire the imagination.

Stir is the perfect word to choose for this book title.

Today is the paperback release of Jessica Fechtor’s 2015 award-winning inspirational memoir, Stir – My Broken brain and the meals that brought me home. Somehow I missed the original book release a year ago even though I follow her blog, sweetamandine.

I can only imagine how a brain aneurism would be life changing. To wake up to a perfectly normal day with nothing but blue skies ahead. And just like that, snap, everything changes.

At 28, Jessica suffered a brain aneurysm and life, as she knew it, changed instantly. Happily married to the best-friend-who-she-never-imagined-to-fall-in-love-with yet everyone-else-knew-they-were-perfect-for-each-other, Jessica slowly but surely began her miraculous recovery by rediscovering the restorative power of cooking and baking and the connection that food has with who we are at our inner core. This is, essentially, a love story about food and its depth will surprise and delight you.

Lest you think that reading a book about someone with a brain aneurysm is horribly depressing, this book is nothing but upbeat and lovely and hopeful. Jessica not once considers herself a victim but rather takes the time while bedridden and recovering as a time to deeply observe her life. The love story about food unfolds as she realizes that who she is, who we are, is often connected to food memories and to our loved ones. Erase all the madness and folly of life and it comes down to the simplest pleasures of life: a family-loved roasted chicken, matzo ball soup, and that goofy smile that you give someone because you are utterly happy to just be with them… and alive.

If you are wondering how “meals that brought me home” actually helped her broken brain, I was wondering the same thing when Penguin House asked me to read this book and share my thoughts about it. I almost said no thank you and was poised to move the email request into a delete folder. Instead, I paused and decided otherwise and am so glad that I did.

I absolutely loved this book and I know that many of you will feel the same way, too.

At one point, while Jessica was in the hospital and the anesthesia was wearing off, her dad said something so beautiful that I felt my own breath catch and tears well up. “I’ve been thinking,” he said. “I wish I’d had you sooner so I could know you for longer.”

Love.

During her last days in the hospital, Jessica made lists. While she had no appetite, she knew she would one day and she wanted to be ready. She was determined to coax herself back to the table with what she used to like to eat with the hopes that her normal self would show up. She would use the simplest of tasks in the kitchen to retrain her body. As she grew stronger and stronger, the simple tasks would turn into more complex ones and she slowly but surely worked her way up to entertaining and hosting. And regaining her life. Focusing on others instead of her illness. “You cook for one. A fried egg and toast, a potato with cottage cheese, a single artichoke, steamed. Baking on the other hand? I don’t care how big your sweet tooth is, you can’t eat all those cookies alone. You bake to share.”

You know that feeling with a book hits you in that certain special way? Perhaps it is because of where you are in life at the very moment, almost as if the book had chosen you?  When you are ready to drop the insignificant, the clutter in life, and just enjoy every moment as much as possible?

This is that book.

I loved this book. I loved that it was deep without being heavy, happy without being sappy, and full of recipes that weren’t even her own. I loved that it was peppered throughout with stories of family and friends that were full of love and support.

Sounds like something you would like to read?

I have one free copy from the publisher to giveaway!

Leave me a comment, preferably with your twitter, blog name or something to make it easy for me to contact you if you win.

Comment question: Which foods evoke the strongest memories for you?

Contest ends on next Tuesday, April 12^th at midnight (CDT). I will pick a winner via randomizer on Wednesday, April 13^th.

No purchase necessary to enter. Contest void where prohibited. Contest open to US residents only.

Happy reading. May you also fall in love with this story, as I did.

Eat well, my friend. Eat well.
Lyndi