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Love & Saffron
Love & Saffron: a novel of friendship, food, and love | Kim Fay
'Like a dinner with friends you won't want to end' - J. Ryan Stradal, author of Kitchens of the Great Midwest 'Warm, delicious, and absolutely satisfying-I devoured in one enthusiastic gulp!' - Meg Waite Clayton, New York Times bestselling author of The Last Train to London When twenty-seven-year-old Joan Bergstrom sends a fan letter - as well as a gift of saffron - to fifty-nine-year-old Imogen Fortier, a life-changing friendship begins. Joan lives in Los Angeles and is just starting out as a writer for the newspaper food pages. Imogen lives on Camano Island outside Seattle, writing a monthly column for a Pacific Northwest magazine, and while she can hunt elk and dig for clams, she's never tasted fresh garlic - exotic fare in the Northwest US of the 1960s. As the two women commune through their letters, they build a closeness that sustains them through the unexpected changes in their own lives. Food and a good life - they can't be separated. It is a discovery the women share not only with each other, but with the men in their lives. Because of her correspondence with Joan, Imogen's decades-long marriage blossoms into something new and exciting, and in turn, Joan learns that true love does not always come in the form we expect it to. Into this beautiful, intimate world comes the ultimate test of Joan and Imogen's friendship - a test that summons their unconditional trust in one another. 'A genuine pleasure. You'll want to share it with everyone you call friend' - Louise Miller
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DebinHawaii
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#LuckyInLove

Not every #LoveLetter needs to be about romantic love. They can also be about food & friendship. This sweet foodie epistolary novel about the relationship built between two women over their love of food & cooking was a favorite read of mine in 2023. 🍽️💕

Eggs Ahh this novel sounds so good 💜 2mo
Graciouswarriorprincess This was a sweet book! 2mo
47 likes1 stack add2 comments
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DebinHawaii
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Pickpick

#SummerEndReadathon #Rushathon

Finished a week or so ago for the virtual foodie bookclub I belong too. A sort & charming epistolary novel about the friendship that grows between 2 women, one in Seattle & one in Los Angeles, who come together over food & letters in the 1960s. My dish inspired by my reading is an Aloo Gobi Matar (Potatoes, Cauliflower & Peas) in curry. I still have to write my blog post with the recipe but, I‘ll link it when I do.

Smarkies Looks delicious! 6mo
TheSpineView Yummy! 6mo
Andrew65 Excellent 👏👏👏 Now I‘m hungry! 6mo
43 likes1 stack add3 comments
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Sarahreadstoomuch
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Pickpick

If you enjoyed 84, Charing Cross Road…. You‘ll love this. A novel told in letters between two women in the 1960s who share recipes with their innermost thoughts . Their friendship spans global events as well as deeply personal ones, and their growing friendship has a profound effect on each of their lives. A charming, sweet book.

24 likes1 comment
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lynneamch
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For me, just the word saffron evokes the scent of my Cornish gram's saffron buns. Pic is of the last time I made them, a much rarer occurrence for me than it was for her. "Friendship, food, and love" is an accurate description of this charming epistilary novel. #food #memories

30 likes1 stack add
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xicanti
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I started this lovely, food-focused epistolary novel last night, and I think it‘s gonna be a quick read.

It‘s also my last request from my Litsy stack. I‘ll have to go through the list over the next couple days and put my name down a few more things.

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JenReadsAlot
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Pickpick

What a charming little book!

jlhammar It really is! So enjoyed this one. Lovely epistolary novel. 2y
40 likes1 comment
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Nebklvr
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Pickpick

A beautifully written epistolary novel chronicling the friendship of two women of different generations. Packed with warmth and humor, this is a feel good story. The food writing is guaranteed to set your taste buds tingling.

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Erinreadsthebooks
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Pickpick

Oddly enough, I didn‘t think this book was really having an effect on me…that is until I‘m crying through the last twenty or so pages and wigging the non-reader husband out. That being said, I obviously liked this one more than I thought I was or expected to. It‘s a quick novel written in letters, and in the words of the Grinch, “I‘m feeling!!!” 😩😭😭

27 likes1 stack add
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JenReadsAlot
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Did I buy books my first morning of vacation? Sure did! The B&N store I stopped at is closing so 25% off!

jlhammar Those are both excellent. And so different! You can comfort yourself with Love and Saffron after the darkness of the Holes book. 2y
29 likes1 comment
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webhau1
Pickpick

I do recommend the audiobook on this one as a great narration cast. I am sure though it is nice to look at the recipes inn the other formats. It‘s perfect if you are looking for a four hour audiobook

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mrp27
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Pickpick

#bookmoods #epistolary

I read this sweet little book a few months ago and really enjoyed it. Two women become friends through letters over a magazine article. Very reminiscent of 84 Charing Cross Road.

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Awesome!! ❤️ 2y
Jess_Read_This This one sounds terrific! I hope my library has it. 2y
Eggs Perfect 😍 2y
mrp27 @Jess_Read_This It‘s a perfect little read, I hope you enjoy it! 2y
31 likes1 stack add4 comments
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Tamra
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Pickpick

As sweet and fun as everyone is saying. Fay & editors didn‘t make the mistake of trying to extend the story beyond its limits.

LeslieO Just read this. I love food lit + Epistolary novel. 2 favs in one 2y
Tamra @LeslieO yes! Win/win 2y
Cathythoughts Sounds good 👍🏻😁 2y
61 likes3 stack adds3 comments
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Lauredhel
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Library goodies!

49 likes1 stack add
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BookNAround
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Reading this charming little book with Ozzie cat.

RaeLovesToRead Ozzie!! 😍😍 You cutie!! 2y
wanderinglynn What a cutie! ❤️🐱 2y
Ruthiella Ozzie! 😻😻😻 2y
68 likes3 comments
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Kristin_Reads
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Pickpick

📖 3-14-22 || Friendship | Food | Culture
Absolutely loved this short epistolary novel about a friendship between two women from Seattle and Los Angeles who exchange letters about food and life.
Similar to 84 Charing Cross Rd and Meet Me At The Museum. It‘s a lovely, feel-good read.

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AvidReader25
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Pickpick

A gentle epistolary novel set in the 1960s. Two women begin writing letters to each other based on their love of food. As complications arise in their lives they support each other despite their very different circumstances. This one gave me all the feels and was a joy to read. I love food memoirs, epistolary novels, strong female characters, and descriptions of travel so I had a feeling this one would be a hit for me.

EvieBee This sounds excellent! 2y
AvidReader25 @EvieBee It was exactly what I was in the mood for! 2y
Sarahreadstoomuch Loved this! Thanks for the recommendation ❤️ 1y
AvidReader25 @Sarahreadstoomuch I feel like this one has flown under the radar, but I loved it! 14mo
39 likes2 stack adds4 comments
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peaKnit
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1. My best pen pal sent me the tagged book for Valentine‘s Day 🥰
2. Definitely friends to lovers!

#Two4Tuesday
Thank you for the tag @Kshakal
@JenReadsAlot @BethM

TheSpineView Thanks for playing! ❤📘 2y
21 likes1 stack add1 comment
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jlhammar
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Pickpick

Charming, gentle, heartwarming. It was such a pleasure to experience Immy and Joan‘s beautiful friendship through their correspondence.

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jlhammar
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#bookmail Top Indie Next pick for February, praised by J. Ryan Stradal and compared to 84, Charing Cross Road and Meet Me at the Museum. How could I resist? Might need to squeeze this into my weekend reading.

Prairiegirl_reading That sounds lovely!! 2y
ShelleyBooksie Thank you for sharing - this sounds like a great book! 2y
julieclair I loved both 84 Charing Cross Road and Meet Me at the Museum. Thanks for bringing this one to my attention! 2y
29 likes3 stack adds3 comments
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TheHeartlandBookFairy
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Pickpick

This beautiful book is easily one of my favorites so far this year! This fabulous work of fiction reads more like a journal style memoir with its chronological collection of letters exchanged between 27 year old Joan who is just beginning her career as a newspaper food page writer, & 59 year old Imogen, who writes a monthly column for a Pacific Northwest magazine. When Joan writes the 1st letter and sends it with a gift (cont in comments)

TheHeartlandBookFairy of saffron to Imogen, an unlikely & uncomparable friendship is born. The two women share recipes & confidences, building a closeness that will sustain them through life's diffuculties and world tragedies. A culinary journey through letters, travel, and an eventual meeting. Beautifully written, touching, heartwarming! I was thinking about the book when I wasn't reading it, couldn't wait to get back to reading it, stayed up too late reading, and was sobbing like a baby at the end. Delightfully delicious! 2y
28 likes1 stack add1 comment
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robinb
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Pickpick

This was a sweet, quick read. Not all light and fluffy, but it did have some elements of a “cozy” (without the mystery). The majority in letters, this is about a long-distance friendship between two women (Joan, 27 in LA and Imogene, 60 in WA state) who “meet” through correspondence over a shared love of ethnic foods. Yes, they exchange recipes. But what I enjoyed seeing was how their friendship deepened over the course of 4 years (1962-65) 🔻

robinb as they shared their day-to-day lives and experiences, both good and bad, and how they became very dear friends. This won‘t be for everyone (not much action or many twists), but for a feel-good book about unlikely friendships, it hit the spot. 4/5⭐️ (edited) 2y
57 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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Lauren.Archer
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Pickpick

Told mostly as an epistolary novel. A friendship begins between two woman. Joan is a young food writer in Los Angeles when she writes Imogen a more experienced writer living in the Pacific Northwest. As they continue to write they share recipes, words of wisdom that develop into a deep friendship.

Dragon I have a soft spot for epistolary novels, stacking 💚🐉 2y
60 likes3 stack adds1 comment
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Lauren.Archer
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Pickpick

Told mostly as an epistolary novel. A friendship begins between two woman. Joan is a young food writer in Los Angeles when she writes Imogen a more experienced writer living in the Pacific Northwest. As they continue to write they share recipes, words of wisdom that develop into a deep friendship.

25 likes1 stack add