Dinner with Edward is a true story of the relationship that develops between Edward, a nonagenarian, who has recently lost his wife and the author, Isabel, who is going through the end of her unhappy marriage. A short sweet story about the nourishment of both body and the soul.
Isabel Vincent, a newspaper journalist, writes beautifully about her dinner dates with Edward. Each menu is presented at the head of the chapter. The two of them talk about life and food. Edward gives explanations of the recipes, that Isabel sometimes tries to recreate at home. Edward takes great care even with the cocktails shared.
Every week after being introduced by Isabel's friend, Edward's daughter, the two share a meal cooked by Edward. Edward is a charismatic, refined gentleman. He was married for over 60 years to Paula. They were madly in love and when she first died, Edward wanted to die also. Isabel was a foreign war correspondent, where she met her husband, a Serbian war photographer. They have a daughter and have tried to settle down in the city, then moved to Roosevelt Island for a more peaceful lifestyle. Though they have tried everything, Isabel's marriage is still falling apart. Her weekly dinners with Edward start to save the Isabel who has been getting lost inside her melancholy. Then the dinners start to save Edward also.
What a beautiful story of intergenerational commitment and friendship. How we can always learn something new. How important having a friend who bolsters up your ego and self worth can be. And, probably the most important how being needed and having a purpose to get up in the morning are to keep us wanting to live for another day.
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