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lyrareadsbooks's review
2.0
I could maybe go as high as 2.5 - this book didn’t live up to the experience promised by the blurb. The “history” in each section had a lot of emotional speculation, which is one of my personal bugaboos.
crobey's review
3.0
As someone who always enjoys learning about history through the female eye especially the "mundane" this book piqued my interest. A good read for sharing "did you know..." facts around polite company, but also overwhelmingly and disappointingly white. I wish this book had some more varied voices, and maybe didn't humanize Hitler? Otherwise, if you like learning tidbits of history, especially about lesser known female historical figures, this is a light and interesting read, but by no means is a must read for all.
pr727's review
2.0
I give it a 1.5. I listened to the audio book, which was clear and easy to understand. I just wasn't able to connect or get very interested in most of the women she writes about - Wordsworth's sister, Barbara Pym, Rosa Lewis - in part because I had no previous knowledge of them and, given that, that the author did not spark my interest in them. The chapter on Eleanor Roosevelt was more interesting although Shapiro's take on her disinterest in food during the White House years seems contrived. The chapter on Eva Braun was just creepy and that on Helen Gurley Brown tiresome. I wish she'd try again, writing about better known and more contemporary women.
haniganr's review
3.0
I expected to love this book because of the introduction and great reviews. I think the authors idea was much grander than what she could deliver. I was expecting more food stories and the direct relation of how it shaped these women’s lives. But instead I got mini biographies with some mention of food. Which left a lot of the food interpretation work up to the reader. The writer herself does an incredible job writing and integrating her findings which made the stories tolerable. Just different from what I was expecting.
A new perspective on six women from history through the lense of the food. Pulling from grocery lists, diaries and third-person accounts of sometimes abysmal dinner parties, we gleam the inner thoughts, motivations and strifes of these women just from what they ate.
Only two figures she chose to profile had completely healthy relationships with food. Rosa Lewis, an Edwardian-era caterer dominating a profession closed off to women at the time and British novelist Barbara Pym both used food to advanced their careers.
The other women in this book variously gorged on, weaponized, disdained and feared food. What did these dysfunctions say about their lives or about society at the time?
Poet and diarist Dorothy Wordsworth spent majority of her life caring for her famous brother William. Only, when he married, he had someone else to prep his meals, leaving Dorothy with little purpose. (Not true but a greater reflection of the times and women’s values).
Eva Braun, Adolf Hitler’s mistress, her food story paints us a picture of immaturity, survival and narcissism. Her story also gives us perspective on the hypocrisy of war. The country ordered into a state of food conservation while leaders feast on expensive meals behind closed doors. Which very much plays into her overall relationship with Hitler and the regime.
Eleanor Roosevelt’s story reveals her strengths and vulnerabilities as First Lady as well as the possibly subconscious ways she used food to channel her own resentments. Overall her leadership has an indirect way of influencing American culture and relations.
The most interesting story was that of Helen Gurley Brown, the editor of Cosmopolitan magazine from 1965 to 1997. Brown’s contribution to the magazine has warped following generations’ attitude toward food and the female body. Most interesting too was her climb to power during a great feminist movement and her avoidance of women’s rights. All contributed back to her relations with food.
Overall a good read with an interesting premise, the fusion of women’s history and food. I take issue with the execution however I’ll leave the review on a positive note.
A new perspective on six women from history through the lense of the food. Pulling from grocery lists, diaries and third-person accounts of sometimes abysmal dinner parties, we gleam the inner thoughts, motivations and strifes of these women just from what they ate.
Only two figures she chose to profile had completely healthy relationships with food. Rosa Lewis, an Edwardian-era caterer dominating a profession closed off to women at the time and British novelist Barbara Pym both used food to advanced their careers.
The other women in this book variously gorged on, weaponized, disdained and feared food. What did these dysfunctions say about their lives or about society at the time?
Poet and diarist Dorothy Wordsworth spent majority of her life caring for her famous brother William. Only, when he married, he had someone else to prep his meals, leaving Dorothy with little purpose. (Not true but a greater reflection of the times and women’s values).
Eva Braun, Adolf Hitler’s mistress, her food story paints us a picture of immaturity, survival and narcissism. Her story also gives us perspective on the hypocrisy of war. The country ordered into a state of food conservation while leaders feast on expensive meals behind closed doors. Which very much plays into her overall relationship with Hitler and the regime.
Eleanor Roosevelt’s story reveals her strengths and vulnerabilities as First Lady as well as the possibly subconscious ways she used food to channel her own resentments. Overall her leadership has an indirect way of influencing American culture and relations.
The most interesting story was that of Helen Gurley Brown, the editor of Cosmopolitan magazine from 1965 to 1997. Brown’s contribution to the magazine has warped following generations’ attitude toward food and the female body. Most interesting too was her climb to power during a great feminist movement and her avoidance of women’s rights. All contributed back to her relations with food.
Overall a good read with an interesting premise, the fusion of women’s history and food. I take issue with the execution however I’ll leave the review on a positive note.
patriciareedreads's review
4.0
I enjoyed this more than I thought I would, even (especially?) the Afterword. Well written, interesting, and amusing, I enjoyed learning about these six (seven, including the author) remarkable women and the food they are.
misshrek's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars. TDLR: needs more food, less men.
The actual premise behind this book is so far up my alley that it might almost have bumped it up to a 4 star read, but ultimately there were a few issues that made the book fall short for me. For a book theoretically about the foods that the subjects of each chapter ate, I found myself wanting more about - surprise surprise - the actual foods they ate. At times the food mentioned felt more like throwaway, oblique references that served as jumping off points for wild conjectures and conclusions drawn by the author. Several chapters (Eva Braun’s in particular) weren’t even about the women at all, but were thinly veiled stories about the men. That being said, I did enjoy reading this and am super fascinated on this topic, so I might pick up another one of her books!
Also, as an unrelated note, when I was reading Barbara Pym’s chapter I kept thinking - imagine if she had included a chapter about Enid Blyton!!
The actual premise behind this book is so far up my alley that it might almost have bumped it up to a 4 star read, but ultimately there were a few issues that made the book fall short for me. For a book theoretically about the foods that the subjects of each chapter ate, I found myself wanting more about - surprise surprise - the actual foods they ate. At times the food mentioned felt more like throwaway, oblique references that served as jumping off points for wild conjectures and conclusions drawn by the author. Several chapters (Eva Braun’s in particular) weren’t even about the women at all, but were thinly veiled stories about the men. That being said, I did enjoy reading this and am super fascinated on this topic, so I might pick up another one of her books!
Also, as an unrelated note, when I was reading Barbara Pym’s chapter I kept thinking - imagine if she had included a chapter about Enid Blyton!!
karen62's review
3.0
Not really food related, more of a brief history of 6 women. Okay, but not what I was expecting.
lizro1's review against another edition
1.5
I loved the premise of this book. The idea of “food stories” is something that deeply fascinates me and will stay with me. However, this book was WILDLY boring. The information presented was mildly interesting, but the presentation literally put me to sleep multiple times. Furthermore, the food stories of these women were often put second to the stories of the men in their lives, which I abhor. I would not recommend this book.