Reviews - Savor: A Chef's Hunger for More

147 reviews for:

Savor: A Chef's Hunger for More

this is a 6 star book. it's a memoir by fatima ali, recounted in the last weeks of her life -- in her words and transcribed by a collaborator, with the writing of her mother woven in.

the writing is gorgeous, the descriptions of food (fatima was a rising star chef), images of her pakistani hometown and the kitchens she would find herself in, and the portrait of her family are extraordinary. one of the best books i've read (maybe ever).

wow there are actual tears streaming down my face ok

heidinay's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous emotional sad medium-paced

Astounding how much she squeezed into less life than I have already lived. Heartbreaking not only in her diagnosis but in the incompetence and negligence of the American healthcare system.

Hammers the points and feelings home a bit hard, maybe, but you really connect with both Fatima and her mom.

jazhandz's review

3.5

emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

It took me some time to really settle in with this book; the opening chapters were far too slow, and I didn’t care for the Farezeh chapters. (And overall I didn’t care for Tarajia Morrell’s writing, which made things difficult.) I’m overall glad that I stuck with it. It’s a good story, and Fatima’s voice is strong and moving. Each section of the book was stronger than the previous.

Content Warnings

curlykew's review

4.25

adventurous emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring sad medium-paced

arisa9290275's review

5.0

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

5.0.

Savor is a memoir by Fatima Ali, a Pakistani chef who broke all expectations of the conservative and hetero patriarchy to leave her home country and follow her culinary dreams in the U.S. She made this book to leave behind her legacy after she was diagnosed with terminal cancer. There are some accounts from her mother sprinkled in that provide more perspective on who Fatima was a person and made me cry like a baby.

As someone who enjoys cooking and eating food, I loved this book for its vivid descriptions of the meals that made Fatima and the memories it left for her when she missed her family. I also loved the book as it gave me the opportunity to learn more about not only her childhood in Pakistan but also the experiences of attending CIA and climbing the ranks as a woman of color.

Fatima's story is inspirational and colorful and I wish I had kept up with her achievements more earlier on. Perhaps I will go back and watch some of the episodes of Top Chef.