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meme_too2's review against another edition
5.0
Growing up in the 50's kind of makes me sad--avocado appliances, horrible hairdos, TV dinners. Ruth had a mother who loved to entertain, but didn't have any sense of taste, or reality. She served moldy food and didn't realize people could be offended, let alone get sick, from her efforts. Ruth taught herself how to cook, then happened on miracle after miracle of rubbing shoulders with experts who willingly shared with her the gift of glorious cooking. She is alive and well, past editor of the now defunct Gourmet magazine, but still active as a food critic and great appreciator of delectable food. I loved every inch of her journey!
caryart's review against another edition
4.0
Just about anything can be engaging when an author is passionate about her subject. To read an entire book written lovingly about food -- that daily habit that can range from the excruciatingly mundane to the exquisitely pleasurable -- is a nice way to become a bit more aware of the moment, to sit back and enjoy what I'm eating, and to think creatively about flavor, texture, color, sensation.
sleepingsaha's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
TW for the use of language that I would now consider to be offensive, but I understand that may not have been the case at the time of publication
This was a very quick and entertaining read! I loved her descriptions about food and the places where she lived. Learning about her family dynamics was also really interesting, I wish she had expanded on certain sections, like her time at boarding school -- I would've kept reading and will be checking out her other books!
This was a very quick and entertaining read! I loved her descriptions about food and the places where she lived. Learning about her family dynamics was also really interesting, I wish she had expanded on certain sections, like her time at boarding school -- I would've kept reading and will be checking out her other books!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness
lprnana6572's review against another edition
4.0
Just goes to show you that you sometimes do the opposite of what you were raised with and that one influential adult can make all the difference.
leeleeski's review against another edition
4.0
A good read about a very interesting writer. Ends a bit abruptly but fun.
blrosene's review against another edition
Books like this are absolute candy for me. Love a food-based memoir.
luvlacandi's review against another edition
5.0
One of my favorite books I've ever read! The stories take you away and leave you wanting more.
ilovestory's review against another edition
4.0
Interesting memoir of a chef/restaurant reviewer/overall interesting person, with recipes interspersed throughout.
asurges's review against another edition
5.0
I've already read this book about, oh, maybe six or seven times, but I always come back to it when I want a familiar and comforting book, like I did recently. Ruth Reichl is the editor of Gourmet magazine and was the food critic for the NY Times. This book--the first of three (so far, as I hear a fourth is coming out--is about how Ruth came from a home with a bipolar mother who would inadventently give guests food poisoning, mostly by serving expired and spoiled food. This book is a collection of short essays in chronological order that highlight certain points in Reichl's life in which she learns more about food and how it affects people and her. If you're looking for a nice, easy read with a nice voice and recipes (the brownie one is pretty good), you might be up for this one.
gurk's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
4.25