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Garlic and Sapphires
Garlic and Sapphires: The Secret Life of a Critic in Disguise | Ruth Reichl
GARLIC AND SAPPHIRES is Ruth Reichl's riotous account of the many disguises she employs to dine anonymously. There is her stint as Molly Hollis, a frumpy blond with manicured nails and an off-beige Armani suit that Ruth takes on when reviewing Le Cirque. The result: her famous double review of the restaurant: first she ate there as Molly; and then as she was coddled and pampered on her visit there as Ruth, New York Times food critic. What is even more remarkable about Reichl's spy games is that as she takes on these various disguises, she finds herself changed not just superficially, but in character as well. She gives a remarkable account of how one's outer appearance can very much influence one's inner character, expectations, and appetites. As she writes, "Every restaurant is a theater . . . even the modest restaurants offer the opportunity to become someone else, at least for a little while." GARLIC AND SAPPHIRES is a reflection on personal identity and role playing in the decadent, epicurean theaters of the restaurant world.
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RamsFan1963
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1. Banana 🍌
2. The tagged books had so many great meals. Really made being a food critic sound like a glamorous occupation.
Thank you for the tag @TheSpineView #Two4Tuesday
Wanna play? @audraelizabeth @Buechersuechtling @ReadingIsMyHobby @Onceuponatime @TheBookDream @Daisey @Bookishlie @Sharpeipup @Cuilin @ReadingFeedsTheSoul @Lucy_Anywhere @Onepageatatime88 @SpiderGoddess

TheSpineView 💛🍌💛 Thanks for playing! 1mo
46 likes1 comment
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Sparklemn
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Pickpick

Great fun to hear how Ruth took on different looks and personalities to dine undercover as a NY Times food critic. Personally, I‘d find it exhausting! Looking forward to trying another of her books.

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Dragon
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Pickpick

I read this book during my lunch breaks at work. This book provides a look back at the past glory of the New York Times food critic. A job so important Ruth Reichl had to invent new persona to allow anonymous restaurant visits. Her chapter on the restaurant at the Twin Towers was poignant knowing what would happen a few years into the future. I really enjoyed this one and there‘s lots of recipes too. 👍👍🐉

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Tea_and_Starstuff
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Pickpick

This was tremendous fun! A memoir from the NYT food critic. Restaurants have her photo on the wall and a bounty for any staff that spots her...so going in disguise is clearly the answer! It's the story of food, but also the story of acting, and what it takes and what you learn from inhabiting a different person. It was an easy, fun read, and a peek behind the scenes of newspaper work in the paper news heyday.

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squirrelbrain
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#12booksof2022 #may

Like both @rockpools and @LeeRHarry May was a somewhat average month for reading; there were certainly no ‘amazing‘ reads.

Having said that, I did enjoy this book, gifted to me by @Cinfhen

Cinfhen Glad it made your list 🧡 2y
Andrew65 Looks good. 2y
59 likes2 comments
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Sapphire
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When I first started dating my now husband, he described me in an email to a friend as a “sapphire eyed beauty”. I fell in love with him; possibly in part because I liked me through his eyes. Definitely in part because he speaks like that. I also love the tagged book and author. #littenswanttoknow Please play if you have interest. I really do want to know!

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Awww I love it!! ❤️❤️ 2y
Leftcoastzen That‘s lovely! 2y
23 likes2 comments
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squirrelbrain
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Pickpick

I loved this! The author was the restaurant critic of the New York Times in the early/mid Nineties. She ends up wearing disguises in order not to be recognised and it‘s so interesting how she is treated when the restaurants don‘t know who she is. The book also includes some of her actual reviews alongside the back story of how she fared at each visit.

Thanks for sending it to me Cindy!

#booked2022 #includesarecipe
#pop22 #abookwitharecipeinit

vivastory I'd be curious to know how much weight a restaurant critics has now, or if like other critics they have to compete with social media buzz & online reviewers. Years & years ago I used to frequently read the restaurant reviews in the weekly alternative paper where I live & there were a few memorable instances where a favorable review turned a fairly new & beloved restaurant into a big success. 3y
squirrelbrain It‘s interesting to consider, isn‘t it? @vivastory There are still restaurant critics in many UK newspapers and magazines but they do tend to be quite London-focused. I bet the more local, quirky restaurants do quite well from social media but, of course, a bad review could do huge damage as well. 3y
Cinfhen So glad you enjoyed it 😁it definitely felt dated but still a great read 3y
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squirrelbrain
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Thanks for the tag @jenniferw88 !

The tagged is fabulous and will probably be 4.5 to 5 stars. It‘s a physical copy that @Cinfhen sent to me for a #pop22 prompt. 😘

Also reading We Own This City (physical), 3.5 to 4 stars and The Guncle (ebook) which could be a 5 star read…

I never highlight or mark books and but use sticky notes if I‘m using a book for study or work. I take pictures of quotes in books that I‘m reading for pleasure.

Cinfhen Yay!!! I‘m sooo happy you‘re enjoying- I love her writing style 3y
41 likes1 comment
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Gadolby
Pickpick

This was a fun read, vividly written and interesting. I can‘t believe how candidly she wrote about people at the Times. Discussion of her costumes and personas added meat to what might otherwise have been a sorry that was too light. I wish there was some thread tying back whether any of her personas had a lasting impression on her.

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squirrelbrain
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Look what‘s arrived Cindy! @Cinfhen

That didn‘t take long at all; I‘m surprised with the state of worldwide post at the moment. Thank you so much for sending it to me, along with your lovely note and the cute little extras! 😘

I hope you‘re all feeling better now….

Cinfhen Oh wow!! You‘re right!! That was quicker than expected 😊Enjoy 💙💛 3y
63 likes1 comment
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Cinfhen
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Pickpick

Ruth Reichl was The NewYork Times restaurant critic from 1993-1999. This older memoir highlights some of her more memorable meals and the antics involved in dining undetected in some of New York‘s must iconic restaurants. Part love letter to NY, part memoir and part cookbook this was a light and enjoyable read. Bittersweet to read about famed Windows of the World Restaurant which was lost to us on September 11, 2001.

Cinfhen This was my 7th book from @MallenNC #NYWD list @monalyisha 😃🎊🥰 (edited) 3y
squirrelbrain Sounds fab - stacked! 3y
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Cinfhen I‘m happy to send you the book @squirrelbrain I think you‘d like the NY descriptions too 3y
squirrelbrain That would be lovely thanks Cindy! 😘 I was going to include an actual recipe book for this prompt but that might be cheating slightly! 3y
MallenNC I loved the behind the scenes and especially the lengths she went to with disguises! I looked up a lot of the restaurants bc I was curious about which of them were still open. Windows on the World is sad. 3y
KarenUK Such a pretty photo! 💕 3y
Cinfhen Hi Helen!! Can you please email me your address? I‘m hoping to go to PO tomorrow @squirrelbrain 3y
squirrelbrain Doing it now! 3y
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Cinfhen
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#Booked2022 #PoP22 #IncludesARecipe another book from @MallenNC #NYWD list🧡 The life of a notable, NYT food critic and what it entails ~ really entertaining and for those who can only dream about dining in certain restaurants this book breaks down the facade. Very engaging so far

RaeLovesToRead This is one of the prompts I'm not looking forward to... it's a shame I already read this one because it ended on a random recipe for Sauerkraut 😄 3y
monalyisha @RaeLovesToRead Do you need suggestions? I have a few that I think might fit! If you like romance, the first one definitely does. 3y
monalyisha @RaeLovesToRead Double-check me on these next two because I read them awhile ago — but I‘m almost certain they‘ll work. 3y
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monalyisha @RaeLovesToRead If you do audio, I read all of Acevedo‘s books in that format. 3y
RaeLovesToRead @monalyisha Thanks for the suggestions! I don't read a lot of romance... come to think of it, I don't read a lot of cheerful stuff at all 😅😅 It won't hurt me to read something gentle and happy for a change... push the boundaries and all that 🤣🤣 Will definitely check these out!! 3y
RaeLovesToRead @monalyisha which one of these is your fave? 3y
monalyisha @RaeLovesToRead Hmmm…Kitchens of the Great Midwest is the most literary of the bunch. They‘re all different but I loved them all! 3y
monalyisha @RaeLovesToRead The Kindred Spirits Supper Club is the most “cheerful”, “gentle”, & “happy” if you‘re looking to really break out of your typical fare. But it‘s 100% a romance, first & foremost. 3y
Cinfhen @RaeLovesToRead I heard this one on audio or print is fun but literary-lite 3y
Cinfhen Also this was a slim book but really good 3y
RaeLovesToRead @monalyisha I'll have a think! Thanks for the suggestions! 😁😊 3y
RaeLovesToRead @Cinfhen I actually have Heartburn... does it contain a recipe? If so then Yay! because I won't need to buy a new book. But also Booooo! because I won't need to buy a new book! 🤣🤣 3y
monalyisha @RaeLovesToRead I know that quandary! If it helps, I also enjoyed Heartburn! Almost definitely recipes in it. Again, I read it years ago but that sounds right! 🙈 3y
RaeLovesToRead @monalyisha I can't believe so many books have recipes in them! (But then I'm the person who eats the baking not the person who does the baking! Haha) 3y
monalyisha @RaeLovesToRead Same. 👯‍♀️ 3y
Cinfhen Heartburn contains recipes @RaeLovesToRead 🥰 3y
Cinfhen I have a few more suggestions if you still want @RaeLovesToRead but they are NF!! 3y
RaeLovesToRead @Cinfhen Always happy to check out new books! I think I'm going to read Heartburn for the prompt, but may also check out the supper club one 😁 3y
Leftcoastzen Her beginnings were quite humble have you read 3y
Cortg @monalyisha @RaeLovesToRead Kitchens of the Great Midwest is the book I have planned for the #pop22 😀 3y
Cinfhen I read two other books by Reichl @Leftcoastzen and they were both very good. I find her down to earth and relatable. Maybe I‘ll pick up her first memoir that you mentioned 3y
Cinfhen Here are 2 more foodie memoirs with recipes that I really enjoyed @RaeLovesToRead 3y
RaeLovesToRead Oh wow! @Cinfhen @Leftcoastzen @monalyisha @Cortg So many suggestions! 💕 I wish there was a way to tag posts for later perusal. Let me grab a pen! 😄 3y
KarenUK This book sounds just my cuppa tea! 💕☕️ 3y
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MallenNC
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Pickpick

I really enjoyed this book! I am not really a foodie person but I loved reading about her experiences as a food critic, especially the lengths she went to be in disguise so her reviews could reflect what a typical customer would experience. She also did a great job describing the food and the experience in ways that made me interested. It‘s sad though how many of these restaurants have since closed.

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AutumnRLS
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Back to Ruth! I took a break late last year, but I think I'm ready to finish this now. I love her writing and already read her first two. I've got Save Me the Plums waiting for later too. ❤

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Come-read-with-me
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Pickpick

This was a fun, light read that takes you into the world of a food critical at the NYT. I loved reading about the personas Reichl created in order to get unbiased treatment in some of the best known restaurants in New York. She also includes some great recipes- my husband loves the hash browns! An enjoyable mental break!

Buechersuechtling If I just hadn‘t eaten too much Christmas-/Advent-bakery/sweets, your post would‘ve made me hungry. 🤤 4y
Come-read-with-me @Buechersuechtling LOL! These days my husband is always hungry! He says is is his Christmas tradition! 4y
StaceGhost I think I read save me the plums by her and it was brilliant! 4y
Come-read-with-me @StaceGhost OhI‘ll have to try it! 4y
rather_be_reading her books are supposed to be great! 4y
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AutumnRLS
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Yep. I'm all over the place again. #2020.

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AvidReader25
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Book club looks a bit different this year, but I‘m still grateful for these women and the spirited discussions we always have! #bookclub

SheReadsAndWrites How is the book?! I love Ruth Reichl. I really enjoyed Tender At The Bone. 4y
AvidReader25 @SheReadsAndWrites I loved it! It was the first Reichl I‘d read and I immediately followed it with Save Me the Plums. She has such a gift for description. 4y
SheReadsAndWrites Oh good! I need to read those. Tender At The Bone was SO GOOD!!! 4y
31 likes3 comments
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AvidReader25
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The second half of my top ten for the year: Daisy Jones & the Six, I‘d Rather Be Reading, The Dutch House, the Inspector Gamache series, and Garlic and Sapphires

Runners Up: Where the Crawdads Sing, Educated, The Lager Queen of Minnesota, Just Mercy, Recursion, Once Upon a River, and Being Mortal. (I tried to limit it to 10, but I just couldn‘t!)

#2019 #toptenbooks

smilingshelves I have Garlic and Sapphires out from the library right now. Can't wait to read it! 5y
Reviewsbylola I can‘t wait to read The Dutch House. 5y
AvidReader25 @smilingshelves I got it out from the library because I kept hearing about Save Me the Plums but the wait was too long. I read this one and fell in love with it. Then I read Plums and the two pair perfectly together! 5y
AvidReader25 @Reviewsbylola it‘s not a big action novel, it‘s a quiet meditation on a family relationship. I loved it! 5y
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AvidReader25
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From Ben Folds‘ memoir to finishing the Little House on the Prairie series, this has been a fascinating reading month.

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AvidReader25
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Pickpick

I adored this one! The famous New York Times food critic describes dining experiences that left her in ecstasy or agony. She wore disguises to her meals, easing wigs on to her head and new shrugging on new personalities. Her descriptions make you taste each morsel alongside her. She describes taste and texture, the tiniest notes in each dish along side the bustling streets of the city. Just wonderful!

Christine Agreed! ❤️ 5y
24 likes1 comment
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jenreads7
Pickpick

I enjoyed this book! It made me think about food differently, and I love how she explained the disguises and addressed how people are treated differently and made to feel inferior based on their physical appearance and other factors. I am even more determined to be kind to others! I didn‘t think a book about a food critic‘s job was for me, but I was wrong! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ #mmdbookclub #modernmrsdarcy

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jenreads7
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I started listening to this yesterday. It‘s the #mmdbookclub selection for July. I don‘t consider myself a foodie, but it‘s interesting so far (21% in)! #modernmrsdarcy

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Lauren.Archer
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Pickpick

Every time I read a book by Reichl, I feel like she is giving us an intimate piece of herself. She utterly seems wonderful and I love her rich stories. Highly recommend this one.

Read my full review: https://obsessedbookaholic.com/2019/07/07/garlic-and-sapphires-the-secret-life-o...

catebutler Can‘t wait to read this one! 5y
AileenRR I love her, too! 5y
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Suelizbeth
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Pickpick

I had originally intended to listen to the audiobook, because I've listened to 2 of her books on audio, but somehow, for me, this book lent itself to the act of reading. As most of us will never be the food critic for the New York Times, this is an eye-opening look at that world. I loved reading her columns and her recipes, but the best parts are her personal interactions. Whether you read or listen, this is a wonderful book!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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Lauren.Archer
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It is too windy at the beach to get a good shot, but whatever. Starting this one for MMD book club.

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Pam.Kokomo
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Pickpick

Such fun!

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suvata
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Mehso-so

I am basically a meat and potatoes kind of girl. I like a common selection of vegetables. I like a small amount of foreign food which could be classified as: American Chinese, American Japanese, American Greek, Some Middle Eastern cuisine, oh, and pizza which I really don‘t think comes from Italy. This book was clearly not written for people like me. I am not a “food warrior“ or restaurant critic. But I did enjoy the stories in this book.

Cathythoughts Great cover 👍🏻 5y
53 likes1 comment
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Julsmarshall
Pickpick

Fantastic! If you enjoy eating in restaurants, cook, or eat, give this one a try. While some of the food and fashion references could be consulates, I thought they enhanced the structure and setting of the story. This book made me smile, salivate, cringe, and think about all the things I love (and don‘t love) about restaurants. I can‘t wait to read her new book! Highly recommend! #MountTBR ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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Julsmarshall
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Loving this so far! #MountTBR #foodie

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Eggbeater
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Pickpick

I grew up working class and tend towards a fast food palate. When I've gone to fancy French restaurants, I've been tempted to stick the excess silverware in my purse.

However, this memoir is fun because it is more about a woman who has to become the ultimate chameleon in order to do her job, and she really gets carried away with it.

I'm still not convinced I'd ever want to try a dish called "suckling pig." No judgment, rich people. ?

readordierachel Love this review 👍🏼 5y
BookNAround I love that you clearly keep the extra Subway napkins like I do. Real classy at my house. 😂 5y
Eggbeater @BookNAround 😂 We're not wasting a free napkin! 5y
BooknerdsLife Love your review 😂 5y
62 likes4 comments
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Bookish_B
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So while visiting Asheville this past week I did some book shopping because, of course. I picked up "Little" and "Tin Man" at Malaprop's. I got "Garlic and Sapphires" and a gorgeous 1945 edition of "The Age of Innocence" at The Captain's Bookshelf. And the ADORABLE Jane Austen tea towel was from the Biltmore Estate gift shop. I love it so much!

LeahBergen Wonderful! I love the tea towel. 😍 5y
31 likes1 comment
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Leftcoastzen
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Pickpick

#booked2019 #FoodOrBeverageOnCover This book is about Ruths‘ time as the NY Times restaurant critic.Her love of food & interesting people shines through in every book she writes.I had read her 1st ,Tender at the Bone & the 2nd, Comfort Me with Apples each can stand alone.Though she went to school for art history , Ruth always had a passion for food & in different ways , made a living from it.She details her reviews w/ recipes.published in 2005🔽

Leftcoastzen Many restaurants are gone , most poignantly,Windows On The World that was in the World Trade Center.But these luscious and pointed reviews might make your mouth water & make you appreciate a good meal out even more. 5y
cathipink I listened to her newest and loved it. Excited to go back and read her other books. 5y
Leftcoastzen @cathipink I‘m looking forward to it! 5y
Cinfhen I read ( I meant I listened to the author read) and enjoyed 5y
Leftcoastzen @Cinfhen that‘s on my list too! 5y
56 likes5 comments
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GinaKButler
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Just started this on audio...so much fun so far!

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Naj
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Mehso-so

2/5 🌟
I flew through the first half but then things got boring, repetitive and I started getting annoyed by the author's various disguises. It started following a predictable pattern of disguise - restaurant experience - self discovery, repeated ad nauseam to the point where I had to force myself to read more. The only silver lining was the food. I wish there was more food, less backstory of the disguises, and a shorter book.

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Naj
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😂😂😂 this made me choke on my tea. The author's having dinner with a pretentious lawyer.

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Becker
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Foodies will love this.

catebutler Her books are so good! I definitely enjoy a good food memoir. 6y
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SamanthaMarie
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Pickpick

I was eating lunch and reading this book when all of a sudden I heard little snores on the couch next to me. Sweet boy. Gave me enough time to finish another Ruth Reichl. I have just a couple left about her mom and I will have read them all. This too, was good. I love the food descriptions and a peek into the life of a food critic.

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umbrellagirl
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Usually weekend mornings mean getting up early and going for a run but today it‘s raining and I‘m having a lie in. This book has recipes and with all the restaurant reviews, I suddenly want to eat everything in sight. 🥐

umbrellagirl @Nebklvr I haven‘t but I‘m enjoying this one. I‘d definitely look for her other two once I‘ve finished this. 7y
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umbrellagirl
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Reading about all of the delicious Indian food in Punjabi Widows made me crave curry. I wonder this next book will make me want to eat.

Traci1 How was the Punjabi Widows book? I've got the audio set to listen to after I finish Dune. 7y
Swe_Eva Garlic and Sapphires is really funny (and mouthwatering, of course). 7y
umbrellagirl @Traci1 I loved it! 7y
umbrellagirl @Swe_Eva I‘m enjoying it. And now I‘m hungry again 🤣 7y
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AvalonBourne
Pickpick

I loved this! I loved Gourmet so much, and this memoir offered such enticing descriptions of food that reminded me of the style of Gourmet. It also covers the 90s, and it‘s neat to compare the food scene then to now.

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umbrellagirl
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Book haul aka visiting mum and raiding her shelves! She had a few of my TBR and loads of other good stuff. #bookhaul

Itchyfeetreader Not sure when it changed but now my parents pilfer from me rather than the other way round! 7y
umbrellagirl @Itchyfeetreader We do that as well. Probably 25% of her shelves were my castoffs or things she “borrowed”. 7y
LeahBergen I just finished (and loved) The Diary of a Bookseller. Katherine is an old fave! 7y
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tinaisreading
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Pickpick

I love food and everything about it - including food shows and memoirs, so it's no surprise that I enjoyed this book. My favorite aspect was seeing what goes into being a food critic and the behind-the-scenes look at every review Reichl features here. At times the characters and their import seemed a bit exaggerated, but overall really good.

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Ashley_Morgan
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Window seat reading today.

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leslieisreading
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Combed through my shelves to find #drinksoncovers and this was the best I came up with. And now I want pasta (even though it's pre-8 am and I just had my breakfast). #anditsaugust

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Julsmarshall
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@Leelee.reads Thank you so much! I loved your just for fun package! I've been wanting to read both of these for forever-and don't own either one 😄What a sweet and thoughtful surprise, and it came on a day I really needed it 😘 feeling a little spoiled! #restingbookface #bookmailisthebestmail

Leelee.reads Yay! 😊 7y
57 likes1 comment
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Sweettartlaura
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Pickpick

2 reviews...
1) Libby - not so great - had a hard time connecting a couple times, even though I thought this was downloaded to my device
2) the book - charming❤️. Made me wish I could be a foodie, where every meal could be an adventure. Also fun to hear how the author interacted with her disguise characters - she found her best self, her worst self, & her mother all waiting to interact in the real world through her.
Plus... Recipes!😋

EvieBee I love her books...and her. 7y
36 likes1 comment
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Sweettartlaura
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Trying an audiobook on Libby. Any other users out there? What's the difference between it & regular Overdrive?

Blueberry I never heard of Libby? 7y
susanw I just downloaded it. I'm trying to figure out the difference also. 7y
underthebelljar To me it seems like the only difference is Libby runs a lot smoother than Overdrive on my device. I wasn't able to read ebooks in the Overdrive app but with Libby I can. Just seems more user friendly to me but no real big differences. 7y
Sweettartlaura @BookishJess & @susanw I wonder if this will eventually replace Overdrive??? It looks like they're from the same company, so it's even weirder that they'd have two apps so very, very close 🤔 7y
Sweettartlaura @Blueberry It's another reading app, and as you can see from above, it's really no different from Overdrive - as @BookishJess says, you may find it more user-friendly, or you may just want to stick with what you know 🙂 7y
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Leftcoastzen
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#readingwomenmonth #booksaboutfood I've read her earlier books "Tender at the bone" and "Comfort Me With Apples"both autobiographical,funny, & what kept leading her back to food writing."Garlic" about her time as New York Times food critic.MFK Fisher, the grand dame of food writing,5 of her titles in 1 volume,beginning with "Serve it Forth" published in 1937.She equates the art of eating with the art of living,part travel,memoir & food .?Yum.

lynneamch Love her! So glad ypu posted! 7y
14 likes1 comment
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PageThirtySeven
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Pickpick

I loved this restaurant critic's memoir. About so much more than food and expensive dining, Ruth Reichl does a great job of storytelling, using dining vignettes to reflect on her past, present, and future. (The food descriptions are nice, too!) Reichl's approach to cuisine feels very accessible, as well, and I appreciated her honesty, self-criticism, and humor.