Play Book Tag discussion

BooknBlues and I are reading this memoir by Ruth Reichl for July trim. It is debut though it has less than 5 tags.

Do join us if inspired.

Theresa, when do you plan to start?

Any time as I own a copy of the book. Most likely the middle of the month. I've got a 700 page fantasy read for my IRL Feminerdy Book Club by the 14th and I've read page 1. I also am halfway through another NF and I can't do 2 at a time.

Does mid-month work for you?

Mid-month works for me. I also own a DTB copy and I have another one NF -DTB I'm trying to finish. I seem to read my ebooks at a much quicker pace.

I read ebooks quicker too -- in part because I can adjust print and lighting so easily. Aging eyes.

I read it in 2007 (before I was posting reviews on Shelfari or GoodReads). Loved it.

Book Concierge wrote: "I read it in 2007 (before I was posting reviews on Shelfari or GoodReads). Loved it."

Reichl is a wonderful writer and speaker - I've read her published columns from time to time and heard her speak often, including judging some food competitions. Really looking forward to reading this and all the other books she's published - which I own and have in my kitchen TBR. Yes, I have kitchen bookshelves - not just for cookbooks but any books that touch on food - memoirs, essays, and mysteries.

I just started and even her author's note is engaging and funny. I found myself smiling all through the first chapter!

I think it will be a fast read, though the print in my paperback seems awfully tiny!

I am about a third throught. Loving it. Easy fun and interesting. Every chapter has a recipe. The one I just read had your 1960s era Devil's Food Cake with 7 minute frosting.I remember making those about 10 years after she was making them as a teen.

She did something like that in My Kitchen Year: 136 Recipes That Saved My Life: A Cookbook

I'm reading a couple of other books now, but can begin reading a chapter or 2 of this.

I just landed on the food tag so I might pick this up as a backup. I have Eating to Extinction: The World's Rarest Foods and Why We Need to Save Themup next.

NancyJ wrote: "I just landed on the food tag so I might pick this up as a backup. I have Eating to Extinction: The World's Rarest Foods and Why We Need to Save Themup next."

I read that and found it fascinating. There were a few items I wasn't so interested in and skimmed those chapters.

Oh, I just landed on "food" tag, too. I bet I can get this faster than the other one I selected.

I am enjoying it so much! Welcome all who are inspired to join in this. I am already halfway and have been reading leisurely, just as the mood and chapters pull me..

BTW it is tagged various iterations of mental illness, not just food or memoir, because of her mother. It's not heavy or depressing - sad yes but darkly comic sad.

I've begun reading and reading about her mother's awful cooking reminded me of my mother's awful cooking. Now my mother was a nurse, so nothing that was dangerous to eat, just not good and unappetizing.

I was a very fussy eater when I was younger and suspect it was in part because the food was not good.

She was though quite good at baking.

I've heard similar from friends. That first chapter was a great start to the book, actually.

My mother was a good cook, baker, and maker of preserves/pickles - won prizes at the county fair. She was a farmer's wife - part of the job so to speak. This was not gourmet but she did have some skills as a cake decorator including traditional wedding cakes -- when I was young and before 2 more siblings came along and her health deteriorated (damaged heart from rheumatic fever when she was a child - that was undiagnosed until she was in her late 50s). She made me a birthday cake once that had a doll in it and the cake was the skirt with elaborated decorative skirt. I've got a picture somewhere.

She also taught baking to 4-H groups. Of course I grew up during a time where primary social events were Grange and Lady's Aid Society meetings that all started off with a pot luck supper and everyone brought a dish to pass. There was much pride and competition involved. We all learned to cook and bake.

I've only got about 70 or 80 pages to go -- she's in her first marriage. I've put it aside to read a mystery as I just don't want to rush through it. Reichl's life is so different that I expected though I'm not sure exactly what I expected. I mean food and writing as a career hasn't even come up yet and she's in her early 20s. Very interesting woman.

I have copies around here of several more of her books. They are getting moved up in their respective TBR Towers.

I finished tonight and just loved it. I've moved up my TBR all her other works I own. I will be keeping my copy in the kitchen/dining area (I have that rare set up in NYC of an eat-in kitchen!) with my cookbooks. Not so much because of the recipes in them -- some of which I likely will try or resurrect my own favorite similar recipes - but to revisit essays when waiting for the pasta to cook.

Such an interesting life and journey to become a food critic and writer!

My Review.

So glad that you loved it. I am reading it slowly as I've been reading other books as well.

She is a great story teller.

I'm moving forward in it. I'm now at her senior year in Ann Arbor. I had to check her age and found she is 4 years older than me, so basically her senior of college corresponds with my senior year at high school.

So surprising when she talks about herself as fat because I've never seen her when she was heavier. I expect she only had baby fat and lost it as an adult, the opposite of me.

I was interested when she went to school in Canada to learn French and talked about her friend speaking to her parents in the formal vous instead of the tu. This was also discussed in the book I read recently and recommended to you, A Season for That: Lost and Found in the Other Southern France. I'm not sure if you saw my review, but wanted you to know that I think it is a good read.

BnB - glad you are enjoying it!

I found the learning French section fascinating, of course. As well as her entire experience in Canada. Think about how resourceful she was for her age! Of course that was the result of her family's situation and her upbringing where a good part of tge time she was treated as if an adult.

She was no doubt a bit plump and curvy and not at all fat, but was told she was fat.

Ruth is 7 years older than me - still a world and experiences I recognize.

I added that book you recommended to my TBR? Keep forgetting to look at your review. Tgey get lost with all the yearly challenge reviews. Will do so now!

Just read your review - the quote with the cows sold me.

Theresa wrote: "Just read your review - the quote with the cowssold me."

I'm pretty sure you will like this book and love his wife and children. He grows on you. When I read that scene with the cows, I immediately thought of you.

When Ruth worked for the summer at the French camp, there was someone who didn't realize she was American and that reminded me of Steve who had such good French that people didn't realize that he was American.

As much as she was shocked and saddened by having to go to school in Quebec, I was so glad she rose to the occasion. I think that she is very social and always able to find her place. She actually reminds me a little of a friend I have from college.

I've finished and posted my review- https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I think she is a pretty amazing woman.

She certainly was. So glad you enjoyed this too! And we both finally read it!

Theresa wrote: "She certainly was. So glad you enjoyed this too! And we both finally read it!"

I'm always happy when I've read a book that has sat on my shelf for years.

I didn’t get this book, but I have Comfort me with Apples which reminds me a little of the Paris Novel.

No apple recipes yet though. ( I need the print version!) We’re selling our property with the Apple tree, so I’m already sad about that. We have one more week and there are apple cakes in the oven right now.

I know what you mean about missing a special fruit tree. We had barlett pear trees when I was growing up but best of all a Northern Spy Apple tree - 2 in fact but the one at the edge of the yard was the most prolific. No apple is a better pie or crisp apple.

Enjoy those apple cakes honoring your apple tree! I think reading Comfort Me with Apples is the perfect read.