Gluten-Free Girl: How I Found the Food That Loves Me Back...And How You Can Too Paperback – Illustrated, January 1, 2009

The title for me says it all - what the book is about and what to expect. I also read the publishers reviews ahead of time so I wasn't expecting an informational format or cook book. I can get that elsewhere. The reason I bought the book to be inspired. Having read the book, I feel the author truly cares about encouraging others with celiac/gluten-intolerance having suffered from this a lot herself. I found it immensely comforting and motivating to hear her stories of courage about food and about life (her car accident which took her over a year to recover from, I believe). To live with these challenges is not easy. I found myself deeply discouraged about the food I ate. It had been 9 years since my diagnosis. I don't know how to cook many things and I had a fear of trying and making mistakes. I didn't honestly feel there was a way to make gluten-free food taste good in general. I also hated having to drawn attention to myself and deal with waiters at restaurants. I like that she mentions that when we speak up (with tack and respect) to waiters, educating them about our condition we are helping all the others with this problem, making it easier for us all in the long run. This gave me courage and a sense of empowerment. I felt I am no longer alone after reading the whole book. Besides not knowing much about cooking, I hated having to do it for the most part and I also hated eating. I thought it a nuisance - a huge, draining waste of time. I felt much like the girl she described who thought food was only for sustenance only more so. I am not sure that I will become as food centered as the author or love food to the same degree as she does. I do know that it profoundly changed the way I feel about food. I am, for the first time looking forward to eating and experimenting with a great deal less fear of making mistakes (about food and life). She spends a lot of time explaining how she makes all kind of mistakes and just delves in and keeps trying. I don't think she is a snob for not understanding the woman who is not interested in food. I think it is just something which she is unable to relate to at this time in her life. I was a little off-put by how much she referred to her parents and how they were not so wonderful in her eyes. I do think this is because it probably bothered her a lot and although she says it is resolved towards the end of the book, I suspect it isn't or she won't have written about it so much. I do feel compassion for her - she's human and is writing about how it made her feel. I do like the other personal stories she gives as way of encouragement. It makes me feel connected to another person. I wasn't looking for a strictly informational book. I was looking as I said for inspiration. I am now inspired to take action and I am doing it. As I mentioned the title says it all. I am writing this review because I loved the book and it was life changing for me. I feel some of the other reviewers are overlooking the overall purpose of her book. Whether I choose as many specialty olive oils, etc. is not really the point for me. She loves that the flavors opened a whole new experience for her. It made her feel good about not being able to eat gluten. I can do the same thing, but not necessarily in the same way (explore new foods, not feel limited and actually enjoy eating). She wants to connect people who have gluten problems to the joys of experimenting with food - encouraging self-motivation and love of food and life. These are the principles she is teaching. I say she did that.

This book is, first and foremost, a memoir by blogger Shauna James Ahern of the Gluten-Free Girl. It does contain recipes, but is not billed as a cookbook or a nutrition guide, therefore shouldn't be judged as one. I have several family members and friends with celiac disease and while I knew a tiny bit about what they have to deal with, I wanted to learn more. What I didn't necessarily expect, as someone who can eat gluten, is to find myself identifying with Ahern's ideas on mass produced food and the need to eat in a healthier way.At times, she does wax a little too rhapsodic for my taste about tasting nature in her meals, but I can let that slide because she certainly opened my eyes to new grains like teff and amaranth and has made me more conscious that I could stand to do a little more home cooking and a lot more experimental eating.It's sad that it took such a long time for Ahern's celiac diagnosis to be made, but what I took away from this book and admire greatly is that she doesn't mope or wallow, ever. She doesn't even simply accept her diagnosis, but uses it as a catalyst for change and insight into herself and the world around her, and as a chance to connect with others over food. She is clearly a food lover and her passion for cooking, using local ingredients and awakening her senses comes through quite clearly. I like that her recipes are not extremely complicated, because I am a beginner in the kitchen.There are times when she makes pronouncements, such as that cooking shouldn't be done alone, that are a bit too broad to ring true; I certainly don't want someone in the kitchen seeing me mess up. But again, I took that as her opinion, which I am free to disagree with. The sweetness and serendipity of the love story at the end comes as an unexpected bonus, one I was thrilled to read.This is a foodie memoir for anyone who grew up eating only brand names and processed food (even for those of us who still do, and love them) and wants to learn about healthier eating, as well as those who can't eat gluten, and those who love them. I look forward to following Ahern's writing on her blog and hopefully trying my hand at some of her recipes, but even if I don't, I still learned a lot from Gluten-Free Girl.

I have followed Shauna James Ahern's blog for over a year now. I heard her speak at the GIG conference in 2007 and was able to speak to her briefly. She's a genuine, engaging, and delightful person. So, I was anxious to read her book. My local bookstore didn't have a copy, so a friend loaned me hers and asked me to write any comments I had in the margin. (My friend was anxious to read my impressions.) I was diagnosed with gluten intolerance in 2003 after a lifetime of symptoms/illnesses. So, I found myself reading the book and saying aloud and writing in the margin, "Yes!", "That is so true.", etc. Shauna's journey to gluten-free parallels my own in that after years of numerous illness and many misdiagnoses I was absolutely thrilled to get a diagnosis. Like Shauna, once I got over the brief shock of what I could no longer eat, I focused on all the wonderful foods I could eat. I always tell folks that "real" food (think whole food) is naturally gluten free--meat, seafood, fruit, and veggies. Then there's even more food that's naturally gluten free (like most dairy) and one can make wonderful, simple recipes using GF ingredients. Shauna intersperses her fabulous recipes throughout her book. Her book is much like her blog--filled with honest, heartfelt storytelling and both a journal and a celebration of food and life. It's a quick, joyful read ... don't miss it!

I love Shauna's approach to having coeliac (or celiac - she's American). Rather than treat it as a problem, when she finds out what has been making her sick for so many years she handles gluten-free living with such enthusiasm, experiementing with lots of diferent foods and grains which coeliacs can eat, and writes about it in such a way that makes you want to try it yourself. She pans the typical American way of eating, is very much a "foodie" and tells the reader much about her life (and love)!For several years she has been writing a food blog 'gluten-free girl' and much of the material is similar - her life, after all! But I still enjoyed the book, although I did expect more recipes, but there are loads on the blog.So if you, or someone you know has coeliac, and you don't have time to read approx 400 back-blog entries, or if you are interested in food anyway, buy this. You will enjoy it. Oh, and it's very well written. Shauna taught writing before she committed herself to this full-time.

I loved this book from the minute I began to read it! I am half-way through it and have post-it notes throughout. From experiencing similar things to the great recipes, this book has been an easy read. It is comforting to know that I am not the only one who is experiencing the emotions that Shauna writes about in her book. I have had a good chuckle over her description of life at home and enjoyed her new adventures with new foods as an adult. Unlike Shauna though, I come from an Italian home with a mom (and dad!) who made and cooked almost everything from scratch. Life without pasta, bread, pizza and all the wonderful baked goodies has been really difficult! Discovering new foods and recipes has made life a bit easier...but I still miss my mom's homemade pasta! Will definitely follow her blog.

I loved this book. Whether you are Coeliac, gluten free or just interested in food, it will appeal. It's a memoir of the author's life, experienced through food. Later, as her diagnosis of Coeliacs is confirmed, she rediscovers food with a passion - her descriptions leaps off the page and you can see and taste the food as she's written it. There are helpful tips about dealing with life as gluten free which have been very helpful. There are recipes throughout the book - mostly non-baking recipes. If you're looking for a gluten free cake recipe book then this isn't for you. What it is an enjoyable book about the pleasures and discovery of food.btw, ignore the 1 star reviewer who clearly didn't get what the book is about. I was pretty shocked at such a harsh review which is the most mean I have ever read on Amazon.

I bought this books as a gift for my sister-in-law who was newly diagnosed as a coeliac.She found it a useful read, helpful to someone new to coeliac. Perhaps some of the recipes are less relevant to a UK audience, but it was still interesting.

Very absorbing book about how a girl was constantly ill due to gluten and what monumentous changes came once she changed her diet to gluten free - well written from the heart