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cojack's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars. This is truly a love letter from the author to her mom, Alice Waters. And there's nothing wrong with that. Growing up in a rarefied existence as the only child of one of the pioneers of the American farm-to-table movement and one of the best known chefs in the world has to generate some good stories, and this does for the most part. The problem is that it isn't compelling reading at all. I didn't need or want dirt or trauma or anything like that, but this floats along at such a slow pace that it makes for dull reading here and there. Singer has lived a charmed for sure, and she knows it and is grateful. I'm a Bay Area native and have lived here most of my life. I love to cook, am somewhat familiar with food scene, I've toured the Edible Schoolyard, eaten at both Chez Panisse and the Cafe several times, so the book piqued my interest. But I can see where this book would totally bug people. Singer is the poster child for a particular kind of Berkeley privileged upbringing. It's always been hard to describe what upper class artsy Berkeley folks are like to people don't who live here, but this book lays it out well. (No use for fake tans and designer clothes, but definitely a $350 spoon for cooking an egg over the custom hearth in your kitchen kind of thing.) Singer also loves a 10-cent word, making much of the prose stilted or overwritten. This puts her at an even further remove from the reader. I mean, she is extremely well educated (undergrad at Yale, PhD from Cambridge), so maybe this is just her and how she talks. But I laughed out loud at the language a few times. Again, nothing against her. She seems like a lovely person who has a wonderful relationship with her very famous mom. Now that I think about it, this book made her mom super relatable. Maybe that was the goal all along? After reading this, I feel like I would like to hang out with Alice Waters.
north_of_55's review against another edition
informative
slow-paced
2.0
I found the wording to be too much; overly flowery. The stories were interesting but I really had to make myself continue. I try to read from a variety of genres and this was a pick for my book club. I wanted to enjoy it more
themartinmama's review against another edition
3.0
Great recipes and her descriptions of summers away from home are rich, especially after two years of so little travel myself.
rallidaerule's review against another edition
5.0
A lovely wandering book that someone who loves good food and cooking would likely greatly enjoy. Fanny tells us funny, touching and adventurous stories of her experience growing up as her mother created the farm to table movement.
I need to eat a good salad now. Looking forward to trying some new recipes.
I need to eat a good salad now. Looking forward to trying some new recipes.
afran122's review
4.0
This book reads like fantasy of food world. I’m in awe and jealous of the stories included, but I was also genuinely interested in making the recipes. This boasts a style of slow living that feels, at times, unique to the upper west coast. None of these recipes are quick and easy, and I haven’t actually accomplished any of them, but I’m inspired.
kimberly_w's review against another edition
4.0
I listened to the audio version of this book and it was lovely. It did often make me hungry though! And as interesting as Fanny herself is, you will learn a lot about her mother as well.