Search

A Novel

By: Michelle Huneven

Narrated by: Cassandra Campbell

*Named One the 10 Most Anticipated Fiction Books of 2022 by Kirkus*

From critically acclaimed, award-winning author Michelle Huneven, a sharp and funny novel of a congregational search committee, told as a memoir with recipes

Dana Potowski is a restaurant critic and food writer and a longtime member of a progressive Unitarian Universalist congregation in Southern California. Just as she’s finishing the book tour for her latest bestseller, Dana is asked to join the church search committee for a new minister. Under pressure to find her next book idea, she agrees, and resolves to secretly pen a memoir, with recipes, about the experience. That memoir, Search, follows the travails of the committee and their candidates—and becomes its own media sensation.

Dana had good material to work with: the committee is a wide-ranging mix of Unitarian Universalist congregants, and their candidates range from a baker and microbrew master/pastor to a reverend who identifies as both a witch and an environmental warrior. Ultimately, the committee faces a stark choice between two very different paths forward for the congregation. Although she may have been ambivalent about joining the committee, Dana finds that she cares deeply about the fate of this institution and she will fight the entire committee, if necessary, to win the day for her side.

This wry and wise tale will speak to anyone who has ever gone searching, and James Beard Award-winning author Michelle Huneven’s food writing and recipes add flavor to the delightful journey.

* This audiobook includes a downloadable PDF that contains recipes from the book.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2022 Michelle Huneven (P)2022 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

“Michelle Huneven’s Search . . . made me a believer . . . like Marilynne Robinson with a light vinaigrette . . . refreshingly candid and transparent . . . [W]e 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.” —Ron Charles, The Washington Post

“A wicked pleasure . . . Huneven is a wise storyteller . . . this novel has plot, character, structure and a delicious, deeply human pettiness that I think most honest readers will relate to . . . [Huneven’s] descriptions of food are the best I’ve ever read.” —Mary Beth Keane, New York Times Book Review

“Whoever said that university politics are vicious because the stakes are so low probably never served on a ministerial search committee . . . Delightful . . . wry and thoughtful . . . Huneven has total command of her material . . . Huneven is such a smart and funny writer.” —Ann Levin, Associated Press

Clever novel, nails its subject

“Search” dramatizes a liberal church’s year-long hunt for a new senior pastor. Its narrator is a restaurant critic and a long-time congregant, who reluctantly joins the search committee, despite her waning church attendance, because she hopes to find in it the topic of her next book. A churchgoing reader will enjoy the author’s dead-on accuracy in portraying—and satirizing—parish politics, typical church arguments, and representative characters. In fact, probably anyone who has served on any committee, at work or in a voluntary organization, will appreciate the analysis of group dynamics. My reason for awarding four stars, not five, is that I found the final plot-twist a bit arbitrary.

Delightful

I had no idea what to expect but was overwhelmed by how fabulous it was. Loved all the characters; the narrator was phenomenal, and the story .... rich and insightful look behind the scenes of church life told with love and humor.

Excellent

Having been on a search committee myself with a slightly different structure, the majority of this book was spot on. It brought back SOOO many memories. So many details I had forgotten about. Our search was for a new associate minister and lasted 1 ½ -2 years! It was long. Just when we’d get close something would happen. The first candidate we tried to call got almost all the way to candidate week and pulled out. The next candidate we lived our Sr mini stern sent running for the hills… we were none too pleased. And the last the we ultimately called, we had two hold outs… much like Dana. I was one of them. In the end both of us acquiesced and went along with the vote. And low and behold, she turned out to be as incompatible with our church family as we anticipated. Lots of walls. I think this experience especially after reading this book reiterates to me that search committees should really be pre-prepped about listening to your gut and sticking to your guns. I am aware that search committees may never come to a consensus… except that we had twice over before the one we finally called. At that point we were all so tired of the process! It’s a tough job and you never know what you’re walking into! Great book!

Surprised how much I liked it

Book club selection and did not expect to enjoy the book since I believed it would have a lot of religious discussion but loved it.

Great story

We listened to Search for our Los Angeles based book group. We enjoyed listening to the woman who read the book.
We found the book to be thought provoking about friendship and group dynamics. We also enjoyed the descriptions of the meals they ate during their search for a minister.
Our book group discussion had a special aspect to it, because the author, Michelle Huneven, joined our meeting and discussed the book with us.

Nails the church committee

Best book I listened to this year! The characters are richly written and scene and exposition are lush. If you have ever been on a church committee this book will hit you deeply!

Sounds about right

Riveting storytelling with believable characters following a real, very exacting process. Every one wants to talk about it for a good reason.

Interesting topic and great character development

Very engaging and well written. I loved the book The narrator was perfect Highly recommend

A must read for every minister.

I am not UU but the truth of this book jumps off the page regardless of tradition. I have handed to numerous friends who are also ministers. The depth of each character is masterful and this book is a treasure.

Wow! Who knew?

I know a lot of unitarians and never would have guessed that a search committee could be so complicated, so snarky, so contentious. This book was a real education. I'm assuming that it was basically true and is only fictional in changing of names and such. I can't imagine that anybody would write a book and make these good folks look so bad if it wasn't true. What a mess! Anyway, I read this for a book group and wasn't sure, at first, that I was going to finish it. I had a real problem with getting character's names right. The cast of characters was pretty big. but I found this process very interesting and I enjoyed the book.