A tremendous book written by the perfect person. So well-woven between personal narrative and history and dietary text. I really enjoyed it!

Kendall writes with compassion, warmth, and so much knowledge of scripture. I love how she tied the concept of baking bread (a practice she has come closer to Jesus in) with scripture and the biblical themes/metaphors of bread.

I've been a fan of Kendall's work for years now, ever since we "met" on social media. Over the past year as I've stepped into a life of faith in a liturgical tradition, I've tried to marry my love of baking with the rhythm of life and seasons reflected in the church calendar. This book has been such a wonderful opportunity to explore that collaboration, as well as heal from past trauma surrounding issues with food, body, and spiritual manipulation. I noticed the other day that I now receive the same butterflies in my stomach whether I'm waiting for a sourdough loaf to finish baking or kneeling in wait to receive the communion wafer during the eucharist. I've gone from being someone who bakes primarily for my household to talking about forming a baker's guild within my parish to join me in baking bread to provide for the eucharist. I can't recommend this book enough, either for individual or group study.

Kendall Vanderslice's skill with and affinity for bread and baking are well-established in many progressive Christian communities because of her previous curriculum writing. With the publication of By Bread Alone, however, Vanderslice offers vulnerable insight into what it looks like to be a faithful wanderer looking for something to anchor herself in God and community. In this way, By Bread Alone is relatable and necessary for so many people, particularly as Vanderslice interrogates some of the key problems that mar various Christian traditions and communities. Finding a place to worship, she demonstrates, is a long way from finding a real community of shared faith and action because, after all, we cannot live by bread alone.

This was a really thought-provoking read. Vanderslice writes engagingly and relatably; I certainly took my time with the book, simply enjoying various turns of phrase or thinking about the ideas brought forth. The pandemic has made me appreciate liturgy in new and more ways than I did before, and I particularly enjoyed how the author interspersed excerpts from the Book of Common Prayer throughout the book--as well as discussed liturgy at length herself. It was a perfect and apropos read during Lent accordingly!

I also could relate quite a bit to the author's singleness and related hills and valleys. I got a good chuckle at some of her responses to (of course!) well-meaning friends, some of which I've thought but rarely had the guts to actually say out loud, lol. And it was hard but relatable to read about how she still may not have answers or see a culmination to long-awaited dreams and desires. A lot of books exist out there where we do see dreams come true, and that's fantastic--but I appreciated seeing the flip side, where we still wait for things and don't know if or how they will come to pass. Thought-provoking!

4/5 stars.

I received an eARC of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

While the theology in this book differs a bit from my own, I enjoyed reading the authors story and how God has worked in her life, through struggles and joy. With her knowledge of baking and of scripture, she easily pairs bread and theology together in a beautiful partnership. Her story is relateable and her raw telling of it was refreshing to read.

This title looks at the connections between bread, church community, and human hunger and longing. I liked the description of this book right away, but I didn’t love it as much as I wanted to.

While the memoir portions of the book followed a chronological timeline in the author’s life, I had a hard time following the structure at times. This totally could have been a Kindle/advanced copy issue though. I liked the way memories from childhood, instructions for bread making, history of bread and the church were all woven together in this one, but I imagine it would be easier to see the connecting points in print.

I connected with the author’s experience as a ballet dancer, even in Christian dance programs, appreciated her candor in describing struggles with her health, weight, and body structure, and related to her desire to find true community and friendships in the church, sometimes struggling to find it.

There were a couple moments I felt were too didactic or where it took some effort to understand the point the author wanted to make. Her thoughts meandered a little bit more than is my usual taste for a memoir—sometimes I wanted her to spell it out for me a little more—but overall I enjoyed this one.

A beautifully written blend of memoir, food history, and theological reflection. Kendall generously shares her story with the readers while inviting us to consider the roles bread, the Church, and faith have played in our own lives and in history. It's a book. that invites you to pause and reflect, to embrace the beauty of the small and mundane, and to celebrate the good things in life as much as we lament the hardships. I'll be recommending By Bread Alone widely.

A memoir tied in up in bread. Ms Vanderslice takes us with her through her childhood, adolescence and early adulthood as she ventures through her various worlds of ballet, mission work and the bakery kitchen. Well written, this book handles some tough topics - suicide, disordered eating - and we really get to peak into Ms. Vanderslice's life, all while using bread as a framework for thinking about the Gospel message.

Thank you to NetGalley, Ms Vanderslice and the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own!

This book was a pleasure to read! I really enjoyed Kendall’s journey into different life paths. It is a refreshing book that ties prayer and bread making together. Although I knew the connections and live it it was interesting to read about her experiences. I understand this is her second book and I look forward to reading the first one.

The author does a good job of weaving her personal story with bits of the science of bread making and her theological insights about bread and God. I especially like her Liturgy for Baking Bread at the end of the book, which is both a recipe and a prayer.

A lovely meditation of a book, perfect for your favorite reader and bake me alike! If you find solace in the kitchen, this book is for you!

Beautiful, enjoyable, honest, and an interesting slant on community, bread, and the table. It reads like a memoir, and though there were not passaged underlined/starred throughout, the concept of the book will stick with me.

This was an enjoyable memoir, although it's very similar to Bread & Wine by Shauna Niequist. I liked the different bread recipes and really loved the liturgy for bread making in the appendix. I've been enjoying the content from Vanderslice on the Edible Theology Project.

"Eating has the power to forge community and shape our identity. At best food fosters a sense of belonging among those who eat in similar ways, a reminder that our longing for community and our need for food go hand in hand. For most of history, eating has been tied to cultural or religious identity, but even without those underpinnings, we manage to create our own new dietary identities . Paleo. Keto. Vegan. The list goes on. At worst, though, food can mark a form of social isolation. Whether the family diet sparks criticism from classmates or allergies prevent us from sharing a meal with others, food is also a reminder that God’s good creation has been marred."

"I didn’t need to chase after 'feeling God' or discerning God’s will to know that I remained within the fold. I just needed to walk forward , hands extended, and taste the Bread on my tongue, feel it slide down my throat, and let it settle into my belly. In doing so, I was binding myself to this community, and they in turn were binding themselves to me."

To be honest, I wasn’t sure what to expect with By Bread Alone — as I am not one to read biographies or people’s stories that often. But I was intrigued by all that I could possibly learn about bread and God’s Word through this book. This book far exceeded my expectations. The author’s story was told in such a captivating way that I had a hard time putting down this book. I could relate to many of things she wrote about, and learn from the rest. On top of that, I learned a lot about the bread and its role in Scriptures as well as the history of the church. All in all, this was a great read.