We’ve all met them. People we know who just seem to have it all together. Positive people who live life to the fullest each day. They aren’t famous, but they are a source of inspiration to their family and friends.
James Twyman in his new book “Love, God, and the Art of French Cooking” tells his story of meeting a man like this. Left abandoned by his girlfriend on the driveway of a Canadian bed and breakfast, Twyman is approached by a distinguished French gentleman named Roger. It turns out Roger is the owner of the Drew House, and also a renowned French chef. Sensing Twyman’s despondent mood, Roger invites him in for a cup of coffee.
“The best life is the one that brings joy to others – that is the way to happiness,” Roger tells Twyman over the breakfast table that morning. “This is why I love to cook, because when I use the best ingredients I can find and put love into everything I make, it changes people’s moods … and sometimes even their lives.” Soon the two become friends, and the relationship would change Twyman’s life forever.
In “French Cooking” Twyman is very open in describing his issues with women. The author brings the reader into the heart of his pain, and at times this can be depressing to read. Yet in being open with his self doubt, Twyman sets us up to hear the words of wisdom from Roger.
I liked one segment early in the book where Roger instructs Twyman on the proper way to chop garlic, making an analogy to life in the process. If you slowly cut garlic into little slivers, Roger says, it retains its juice. By the time you put it on the fire, it’s locked its juice inside, diminishing the flavor. A better way is to smash the garlic with great force, destroying it and completely exposing the juice. “Your life is not meant to be slowly dissected, ” Roger relates, “it is meant to be smashed. The juice inside you flows out and adds flavor to everything you touch. When you try to control circumstances and the people around you, you’re doing so out of fear. You need to let go of the fear and let it spill out into the world like this garlic.” The book is full of cooking instructions like this, transformed into lessons about life.
I also liked how “The Art of French Cooking” builds nicely to a climax. As Twyman works through one relationship issue after another under the counsel of Roger, the story leads to France. Twyman and Roger fly to Paris to meet Roger’s mentor, Alain – a world famous chef. “How could Alain possibly affect Twyman more than Roger has?” I thought to myself as I read through the pages, anxious to see how the book would end. The trip to France does have a profound impact on Twyman, and he summarizes well in the book’s concluding pages what he learned about himself from these two French chefs.
I have admired James Twyman from his work in movies (such as “The Moses Code”) and from the wisdom he shared on his Hay House radio show. But this was the first book of his I have read. Twyman has the gift of opening up his life to his readers, allowing them to see parallels in their own lives. I look forward to reading more from James Twyman.
You can get “Love, God, and the Art of French Cooking” from these book sellers:
This is another book review in my partnership with Hay House. I was not financially compensated for this post. I received the book from Hay House for review purposes. The opinions are completely my own based on my experience.
