... tracks a surprisingly amusing account of ecclesiastical politics in the age of 'wokeness' and, to a lesser extent, Dana’s own pursuit of spiritual and personal fulfillment ... At book’s end, Huneven, a James Beard Award-winning food writer, serves up some of the recipes the group has enjoyed. It’s as mouthwatering an experience as reading Martin Walker’s Bruno, Chief of Police mysteries, in which Bruno whips up French classics in the Dordogne ... Dana’s own observations are spiced with wit ... on balance a novel whose humor works because it is so plausible. Though thick with satirical moments, it is not quite a satire, since Huneven has too much respect for all her seekers. She stops just short of reducing them to stereotypes and regards their search as earnest, despite all the bruised egos, dead ends and outright silliness. Even the fierce cadre of the young is observed with as much fondness as ridicule.
... what it's really about — what makes it so enthralling — is human nature. Relationships, chemistry, charisma, self-awareness (or lack thereof), and, especially, group dynamics and how they can turn the best-laid plans upside down ... The strengths of Huneven's novel lie in her deep understanding of human nature and her ability to channel the voices of the visiting ministers — not just in their dialogue, but also in their application packets of mission statements, faith journeys and sermons ... The eight people on the committee are recognizable, fully formed characters ... It's fascinating to watch how skillfully Huneven moves committee members from one side to the other, and to watch, appalled, as the inevitable slowly happens. Those scenes are a master class in group dynamics ... a fun read. While the book is laced with plenty of humor (which Dana herself does not always see), it is laced, too, with plenty of wisdom. We can search, Huneven is saying, but you just never know what you might find.
I enjoyed this book and found myself wanting to return to it so I could find out who 'won.' However, I did have trouble nailing down the 'so what?' of it all. At some point around halfway through, I noticed that I wasn’t feeling quite worried enough about the outcome. I was following the action, but holding it at arm’s length .. That aside, this novel has plot, character, structure and a delicious, deeply human pettiness that I think most honest readers will relate to. And speaking of delicious, Huneven’s descriptions of food are the best I’ve ever read, by far the most vivid prose in the book.
I would never have believed that I’d review — and love — a novel that includes recipes. But Michelle Huneven’s Search and her Midmorning Glory Muffins have made me a believer ... the story that develops from this wafer-thin premise is miraculously engaging ... That theme, explored with light wit and deep humanity, makes this unabashedly churchly novel strikingly relevant to our conflicted political era ... there is something refreshingly candid and transparent ... For all our oversharing, we have relatively few novelists willing to write about the role of religion in contemporary life — and even fewer who address spiritual practices with humor, empathy and lived wisdom. Huneven is one of those rare spirits. Religion doesn’t bore or frighten her. She knows what a rich and fraught sanctuary the sanctuary can be ... thoughtful.
Even after reading this novel, I still have no clear notion of what Unitarian Universalism is or what its beliefs entail, beyond its mandate to be uplifting and 'nonjudgy.' Search puzzled me in a similar way: it’s amusing but not funny, sentimental but not dramatic, copiously detailed yet completely inconsequential—a cheerfully creedless novel about a 'creedless denomination.'
If you’ve ever been part of a small group or committee of any type, you’re almost certain to find moments of recognition and humor in the process Huneven outlines in her book. And did I mention there are recipes? ... about much more than congregational politics. It’s about coming to terms with generational shifts in outlook and approach, trusting systems to work and accepting what happens if they fail, and reaching a certain point in one’s life and wondering what that life might look like had you made different choices. Since this is ostensibly a 'memoir' written by a food writer, it’s also filled with delicious descriptions of food, many of the recipes for which are appended at the end of the book. Search is an unusual and, in many ways, a surprising novel --- and it’s one that readers will want to seek out.
... warm, wry ... Huneven creates an appealing ensemble cast at once very particular to its context ... Hilarity sometimes ensues when members' priorities and personalities clash, but rather than playing her characters for laughs, Huneven treats them with respect while still winking occasionally at readers ... Huneven keeps readers (and Dana) guessing until near the end, but the novel's true pleasure isn't in the outcome of the decision or its aftermath. It's in the sharp, insightful yet compassionate way Huneven handles her characters--all of them flawed, yet wanting, on some level, to do the right thing ... Although Huneven's food descriptions and the recipes at the end are a delight, the narrative is the pièce de résistance: a multilayered account of an oddball community that somehow manages to be both spicy and comforting.
Readers will find Dana’s takes on committee microdramas, factions, and vagaries of church and friendship relatable. Food lovers will enjoy Dana’s restaurant visits and detailed food descriptions. The book’s finale is a collection of AUUC members’ signature recipes, a pleasing finish to this fresh work by award-winning novelist and food journalist Huneven.
Huneven’s breezy style carries the plot, which is peppered with standout characters guaranteed to resemble someone readers know, and she addresses church philosophy with a light touch that many will appreciate.
Huneven is uniquely suited to undertake a novel like this; not only did she study at the Methodist Claremont School of Theology and the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, but she’s also a James Beard Award-winning food journalist. She gleefully digs into the sausagemaking of a New-Agey church committee trying to reach consensus ... Here Huneven sparkles, with chop-licking descriptions of their potluck delectables, and as a bonus, she includes a baker’s dozen recipes as appendices ... But there’s also a profoundly spiritual dimension to Search. It raises difficult questions about living one’s beliefs in a faith-based community and doesn’t flinch when principles and practice come into conflict. Like a challenging sermon or a great restaurant’s tasting menu, Search leaves the reader hungry for more.
Warm, wry ... Huneven creates a diverse and appealing ensemble cast at once very particular to its context...and universally recognizable ... Hilarity sometimes ensues when members' priorities and personalities clash, but rather than playing her characters for laughs, Huneven treats them with respect while still winking occasionally at readers ... The novel's true pleasure isn't in the outcome of the decision or its aftermath. It's in the sharp, insightful yet compassionate way Huneven handles her characters—all of them flawed, yet wanting, on some level, to do the right thing. Huneven's food descriptions are a delight and she includes delicious recipes at the end, but the narrative is the pièce de résistance: a multilayered account of an oddball community that somehow manages to be both spicy and comforting.
Huneven shows her range with a folksy, funny fifth novel on the unlikely subject of how bad decisions happen to good committees ... The voting, the vetting, the drama, the discord, the anti-oppression training—it's all here. Her large cast—eight search committee members, a great number of prospective ministers, and several pewsful of others—is carefully constituted to embrace every age group and type ... A James Beard–awarded food writer herself, Huneven gives her characters wonderful meals at home and in restaurants and includes a selection of complicated but delicious-sounding recipes at the end. A few caveats: The presentation of the novel as a surreptitiously created memoir doesn't add much; plotlines about a past friendship and a possible romance are weak ... Like the lamb shank at the cafeteria: tender, salty, and worthy of note.
... bloated ... Huneven’s descriptions of the committee’s machinations are engaging, as are the group’s internecine struggles—the younger members favoring showmanship and originality in a minister, while the older set values more traditional qualities. Huneven injects humor and tension, but the endless cataloging of minutiae wears thin, and the denouement may leave some cold. Readers will need to be patient and generous to get the most out of the insights buried in this slow-going affair.
