Book Review and Giveaway: "I Loved, I Lost, I Made Spaghetti" by Giulia Melucci

I'm giving away 5 brand new copies of today's book! Leave a comment with your email address so I can contact you if you win. I'll pick a name and announce the winners on Tuesday April 21. US and Canada addresses only (No PO Boxes). Good luck!

PLEASE LEAVE A WAY FOR ME TO CONTACT YOU!!!!

ENTRIES WITHOUT CONTACT INFO WILL NOT BE ENTERED.


*Although the books I review on my blog are almost always Christian fiction, there will be a few spotlighted regular titles I will review from time to time.*

From failure to fusilli, this deliciously hilarious read tells the story of Giulia Melucci's fizzled romances and the mouth-watering recipes she used to seduce her men, smooth over the lumps, and console herself when the relationships flamed out.

From an affectionate alcoholic, to the classic New York City commitment-phobe, to a hipster aged past his sell date, and not one, but two novelists with Peter Pan complexes, Giulia has cooked for them all. She suffers each disappointment with resolute cheer (after a few tears) and a bowl of pastina (recipe included) and has lived to tell the tale so that other women may go out, hopefully with greater success, and if that's not possible, at least have something good to eat.

Peppered throughout Giulia's delightful and often poignant remembrances are fond recollections of her mother's cooking, the recipes she learned from her, and many she invented on her own inspired by the men in her life. Readers will howl at Giulia's boyfriend-littered past and swoon over her irresistible culinary creations.

I'm normally not a fan of memoirs or even most non fiction. Unless I have to read a book for school, you can usually find me with a fiction book in my hands. However, this book was totally able to capture my attention and may have made a convert out of me. Reading it was like reading about my own life. It made me laugh, cry, cringe, and be hungry all at the same time. Giulia's writing makes you feel like you're sitting at the table after dinner with a glass of wine and catching up on old stories. As Giulia goes through each relationship, my heart ached for her and I really felt like I was there and needed to console her. There are times when you want to be like "No! He's a jerk, get away!!" and others where you're in love with the guy too because he's so sweet and kind. There are some scenes where I just burst out laughing at how Giulia attempts to win the guy over because it was exactly how I used to act. They're so reminiscent of my life that it's almost painful to read.

The highlight of the book is all the food that is mentioned. The recipes are interwoven into each relationship as Giulia talks about the different meals and dishes she would make for each guy. Never one to eat a same meal twice, Giula takes pride in the way she cooks and each dish has a special meaning. The food mentioned in here are to die for. They are simple to make, with easy ingredients that aren't hard to find, yet they are a step above the norm. You can make them for a dinner party and will totally impress your guests. The titles of the dishes range from normal (Grilled Marinated Flank Steak) to fancy (Linguine with Friendly Little Fish) to hilarious (Spaghetti and Meatballs for Cooking Sluts and Those Who Love Them). They all sound delicious and I'm eager to try out a few of these in the future.

This really was an enjoyable book to read. It's perfect for both chick lit and foodie fans. It's a charming, relatable and mouth watering read. Do not read this book on an empty stomach and be prepared to whip up a feast when you are done reading. HIGHLY recommended.

For readers of this blog, this book does contain some cursing and sex scenes.

I Loved, I Lost, I Made Spaghetti by Giulia Melucci is published by Grand Central Publishing (2009)

Comments

  1. Oh, this sounds like it could be fun. Please enter me in the drawing!

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  2. Don't enter me. I'm just glad to see the book is good - I love memoirs and food, so I think I'll love it too.

    ReplyDelete
  3. stacy27010:10 AM

    Boy oh boy you must really love books! This site is great and you can tell it's a labor of love! The current book sounds like a fun read:) I saw your post at pbs:)
    Stacy270 (pbs username:)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Anonymous10:14 AM

    Sounds very intriguing - please enter me in the contest. I found your blog on PBS. My username is keadamna or you can email me at
    keadamna (at) yahoo.com. Thanks Suzanne

    ReplyDelete
  5. Anonymous10:22 AM

    May I enter the drawing please for the speghetti book? My email is kimmyo80@yahoo.com
    or you can find me on paperbackswap! Thank you
    kimberley0 stillmagnolia

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anonymous10:36 AM

    Please count me in! Sounds like a great book!
    Email:leann-28@hotmail.com PBS ID:leann-28
    Thank you :)

    ReplyDelete
  7. barras3106310:39 AM

    Sounds like a great book. Please enter me in the drawing.
    barras31063(FR Username)

    ReplyDelete
  8. Anonymous11:03 AM

    Looks like a fun read! I would love a chance to win a copy.

    Great blog ~ I have a feeling my wishlist on FR will be increasing after reading through your blog!

    Thanks,

    Jen (NETTR)

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  9. i think this book sounds so interesting, count me in!
    sports dot erikalynn at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  10. Looks like a great book!

    jhalinar (FR name)

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  11. Anonymous12:54 PM

    I almost bought this book at Powell's 2 weekends ago. I would love to win a copy.

    JustJanet @ FR

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  12. Anonymous2:55 PM

    They had Giulia Melucci on the Today Show the other day. She's very smart and the book sounds delightful. I'd love to be entered :-)

    ibetnoonehasthisdamnid@yaoo.com

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  13. sounds like a cute read thanks for the giveaway minsthins(at)optonline(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  14. Anonymous4:55 PM

    My title should be I love, I lost, I eat the spaghetti! This is a book on my wishlist at the moment. I see a couple others on your blog that I need to add to my wishlist too. Thanks for offering this. vtabor at FR

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  15. No need to enter me, but I'm reading this now and am enjoying it. Just thinking about this book makes me hungry!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Anonymous6:02 PM

    Hi! Please enter me :). I have this book on my wish list. I know I would really enjoy reading this book. Great giveaway.

    ConnieJ at FR

    ReplyDelete
  17. I really want to read this.
    Thanks for the giveaway!
    Kimspam66(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  18. I'd lvoe to read this book, ti sounds great!

    ReplyDelete
  19. looks great and have heard great things about the book

    mrs.mommyyatgmail

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  20. Anonymous9:17 PM

    I'd love to read this. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  21. i too have love lost and made food

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  22. I have been reading many good reviews about this book! What an interesting concept including the recipes according to the men in her life. Please enter me in your delightful
    book drawing contest. Many thanks, Cindi
    jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  23. LOL. Oh yeah, I have to give this one a try. :)

    ReplyDelete
  24. BTW I'm readingrat from FR.

    ReplyDelete
  25. What a terrific review = }.
    thebookcave@yahoo.com
    Thanks!!!

    ReplyDelete
  26. This sounds like a very goos book. Thanks for sharing.
    samf36(at)gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  27. I love to cook and I cook new things all the time. I bet I'll love the book. Please enter me: Beth Fish Reads -- BFish[dot]Reads[at]gmail[dot]com.

    Thanks for the review and for the contest.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Looks like a great book. Thanks for the chance

    jason@allworldautomotive.com

    ReplyDelete
  29. What a fun read. Enter me, please
    jwx4(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  30. Oh my... This is the best review I have read about this book thus far... The others had me so-so interested since I'm more a fiction girl but yours has me interested in reading it... hopefully I will win one but if not it's now on the TBR

    ReplyDelete
  31. sounds like a great book

    ReplyDelete
  32. oooh..chick lit and food!! please enter me!

    purplg8r@aol.com

    ReplyDelete
  33. This looks great -- thanks for the chance!

    emvark at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  34. Sounds like a great read, thanks for the giveawy

    sharr1226 at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  35. I'd love the chance to win this book! Please enter me!! easagredo at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  36. great title!

    madamerkf at aol dot com

    ReplyDelete
  37. I really want to read this book!!

    choateorama(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  38. I'd really like to read this, both as an ex cook and a woman who's had her heart broken!
    Thank you for the giveaway!
    gibbylet21 (at) hotmail (dot) come

    ReplyDelete
  39. Any book that involves food should be read. sharonaquilino(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  40. Good review! The book sounds very interesting. I would love to read this. Please enter me. Thanks!

    ayancey(at)dishmail(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  41. Kristipye (FR)8:06 PM

    Sounds like a fun read!

    ReplyDelete
  42. Sounds like a great book, thanks for the giveaway!

    mattandjen[at]gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  43. Anonymous10:11 AM

    Thanks for a great review of this book. It's on my PBS wishlist but I'd love to win a copy! :-)
    Valerie
    volunteerval(at)aol(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  44. Lacy (hellolacy)10:19 AM

    I would like to enter! lacyckelly at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  45. I would love to read this book! Thanks!

    rlgrady[at]yahoo[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  46. please enter me. I am really looking forward to reading this book, but no job here, so no budget for books. thanks

    ReplyDelete
  47. This book looks really interesting. Please enter me in the drawing. Thanks Katherine

    peachykath79[at]yahoo[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  48. I just found your blog and love it. This book sounds fantastic. I would love a copy.
    Dianemcpher@verizon.net

    ReplyDelete
  49. Spaghetti. Chinese food. Hmmm. Chinese today, spaghetti if I win! Thanks for the chance!
    geebee.reads AT gmail DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  50. Sounds interesting. Please count me in.

    cindyc715 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  51. I've heard good things about this book. Please enter me.

    ReplyDelete
  52. What a great review! 'I Loved, I Lost, I Made Spaghetti' sounds like such a fun read. I can't wait to check it out.

    lbb9 (at) case (dot) edu

    ReplyDelete
  53. Anonymous8:57 PM

    I would love to be entered! Sounds like a great book!
    Fmartin816 (@) comcast (dot) net

    ReplyDelete

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