Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.49 AVERAGE
4.49 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Fatima was a favorite of mine on Top Chef. I was devastated to hear of her cancer battle and ultimate passing due to the odious disease. This book was heartbreaking because of how much life she had and that she deserved more time. I loved hearing about her relationship with food as well as the societal differences in Pakistan and the hardships she had growing up. I miss her.
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
emotional
sad
fast-paced
*This book was received as an Advanced Reviewer's copy from NetGalley.
Well, that was gut-wrenching. I love chef memoirs; just hearing about the trials and lessons experienced in order to make it in such a competitive field is captivating. While I had never heard of Fatima Ali before this book (which is a shame, I must have just missed the relevant seasons/episodes she was on for the food shows), her story is compelling.
Born in Pakistan, Fatima's life follows an unconventional route. After her mother divorces, she moves to America for a while, back to Pakistan, and this trend continues throughout her life, even as an adult. The common denominator though is food, and her love for it. Inspired initially by her father, and by other family members who touch her heart through food, her dream is to be a chef, so she pursues that goal with purpose, even if it is unconventional for her family.
This memoir is about more than food though. If you know Ali's story, then you already know what I'm about to say. If you don't, and don't want to know what happens in Ali's story, I suggest you stop reading this review here. Suffice to say, in the middle of pursuing her dreams, Ali hits some pretty harsh roadblocks. This book covers abuse, death, and many other hard topics.
Namely, cancer. A cancer that ultimately will overcome her and so bring this book to it's tearful end (yes, tearful, I definitely cried reading this one). Her passion for life and what she does, for being true to herself despite it not being accepted by her society at times, and her family's outpouring of love for her can't really help but touch you. And her narrative of the end days of her life, while tragic, are also insightful.
Ultimately, we should all regret that we won't get to taste Ali's food and can only hope she inspired many to carry on in her stead.
Review by M. Reynard 2022
Well, that was gut-wrenching. I love chef memoirs; just hearing about the trials and lessons experienced in order to make it in such a competitive field is captivating. While I had never heard of Fatima Ali before this book (which is a shame, I must have just missed the relevant seasons/episodes she was on for the food shows), her story is compelling.
Born in Pakistan, Fatima's life follows an unconventional route. After her mother divorces, she moves to America for a while, back to Pakistan, and this trend continues throughout her life, even as an adult. The common denominator though is food, and her love for it. Inspired initially by her father, and by other family members who touch her heart through food, her dream is to be a chef, so she pursues that goal with purpose, even if it is unconventional for her family.
This memoir is about more than food though. If you know Ali's story, then you already know what I'm about to say. If you don't, and don't want to know what happens in Ali's story, I suggest you stop reading this review here. Suffice to say, in the middle of pursuing her dreams, Ali hits some pretty harsh roadblocks. This book covers abuse, death, and many other hard topics.
Namely, cancer. A cancer that ultimately will overcome her and so bring this book to it's tearful end (yes, tearful, I definitely cried reading this one). Her passion for life and what she does, for being true to herself despite it not being accepted by her society at times, and her family's outpouring of love for her can't really help but touch you. And her narrative of the end days of her life, while tragic, are also insightful.
Ultimately, we should all regret that we won't get to taste Ali's food and can only hope she inspired many to carry on in her stead.
Review by M. Reynard 2022
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced