false http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1165722503m/8725.jpg 8725 12 Ruth Reichl's first book, the autobiographical <I>Tender at the Bone</I>, disarmed readers with its droll candor. The former restaurant critic of <I>The New York Times</I> and editor in chief of <I>Gourmet</I> magazine told great stories about growing up and loving food. <I>Comfort Me with Apples</I> begins where the first book ended, tracing Reichl's evolution from chef to food writer while detailing the dissolution of her first marriage, the start of a second, and motherhood at the age of 40. The book also limns a sensual journey, Reichl's awakening to the pleasures of sex as well as food, and also to love. Reichl interweaves her diverse coming-of-age narratives with passion (especially on the subject of food), wit, and a no-nonsense grace, all of which add up to a wonderful read--entertaining, but moving, too. <p> The story begins when Reichl, living in a '70s Berkeley commune, gets her first real job as a restaurant reviewer. Despite the incredulity of her in-the-movement roommates ("You're going to spend your life telling spoiled, rich people where to eat?" asks one), Reichl persists, traveling widely to polish her palate. In the doing she meets food luminaries such as Wolfgang Puck (a mad encounter in a produce market), M.F.K. Fisher (lunch and sweet reminiscences), and Alice Waters (a garlic feast), among others. Her trip to China, which includes clandestine dealings with a former chef, is particularly well handled. The ungluing of her first marriage is depicted in adroit emotional counterpoint to her soaring career, as is her discovery of love with her second husband, unspooled against her father's death. Reichl also provides recipes, such as Fall Mushroom Soup (made to comfort herself and her mother) that, unexpectedly and delightfully, deepen the narrative. <I>--Arthur Boehm</I> 77870 2001 Comfort Me with Apples: More Adventures at the Table total:2754|5:643|4:1285|3:701|2:108|1:17| 2754 10691 3584 365 4 2 false false Wed Apr 07 00:00:00 -0700 2004 Thu Mar 06 18:20:39 -0800 2008 Thu Mar 06 18:21:50 -0800 2008 Tender At the Bone, is as lush as its predecessor, if a little sickening as a comforting marriage splinters, a self is reinvented, and a longed-for child is gained and lost.

Though she's well-known for writing about food, Ruth Reichl is just as adep...more...]]> 2 2 false false Sun Jul 13 21:28:46 -0700 2008 Wed Jul 16 10:53:52 -0700 2008 more...]]> 4 1 false false Mon Oct 01 00:00:00 -0700 2007 Thu Oct 18 07:25:11 -0700 2007 Thu Oct 18 07:39:31 -0700 2007
In fact, I gained a distinct pleasure from having read "Garlic.." first, even though chronologi...more...]]> 4 1 false false Mon Oct 13 14:49:06 -0700 2008 Mon Oct 13 14:53:57 -0700 2008 more...]]> 5 1 false false Sat Sep 01 00:00:00 -0700 2007 Sun Sep 16 11:50:14 -0700 2007 Sun Sep 16 12:02:47 -0700 2007 more...]]> 2 1 false false Wed Aug 01 00:00:00 -0700 2007 Mon Sep 03 14:18:49 -0700 2007 Mon Sep 03 14:19:15 -0700 2007
TMI!

It would have comforted me if she had stuck an apple in her mouth ra...more...]]> 4 1 false false Fri May 25 06:26:45 -0700 2007 Fri May 25 06:38:26 -0700 2007 more...]]> 4 0 false false Sat Oct 17 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Sun Oct 18 22:16:31 -0700 2009 Sun Oct 18 22:16:31 -0700 2009 1 more...]]> 5 0 false false Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2009 Tue Nov 10 16:09:33 -0800 2009 Tue Nov 10 16:20:10 -0800 2009 more...]]> 3 0 false false Wed Jul 29 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Sat Jul 25 15:13:33 -0700 2009 Wed Jul 29 15:09:54 -0700 2009
That said, I was won over by...more...]]> 3 0 false false Mon Sep 28 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Thu Sep 17 08:21:39 -0700 2009 Mon Sep 28 21:26:32 -0700 2009 more...]]> 5 0 false false Mon Jun 01 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Mon Jun 22 20:20:49 -0700 2009 Mon Jun 22 20:26:47 -0700 2009 more...]]> 3 0 false false Wed Aug 01 00:00:00 -0700 2007 Mon Jan 12 10:18:14 -0800 2009 Mon Jan 12 10:24:46 -0800 2009 more...]]> 3 1 false false Tue Aug 14 06:38:10 -0700 2007 Tue Aug 14 06:42:17 -0700 2007 Tender at the Bone) at the airport, finish it on the plane, then leave it in the seat pocket in front of you.]]> 3 0 false false Wed Apr 01 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Sun May 17 15:45:16 -0700 2009 Sun May 17 15:52:23 -0700 2009 more...]]> 5 0 false false Sun Mar 22 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Sat Mar 21 12:32:26 -0700 2009 Sun Mar 22 12:06:16 -0700 2009 Tender at the Bone a few years ago and liked it - this tells Reichl's story from her early adult years. In the first part, she is living in a hippie commune in Berkeley, but working as a restaurant critic going to expensive restaurants - I loved the writing about how she negotiated her way b...more...]]> 2 1 false false Tue Jun 03 20:11:12 -0700 2008 Tue Jun 03 20:12:13 -0700 2008 3 0 false false Thu Jun 18 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Mon Jun 29 17:56:27 -0700 2009 Mon Jun 29 18:01:07 -0700 2009 more...]]> 4 0 false false Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2009 Mon Dec 22 14:17:07 -0800 2008 Sun Jan 25 18:09:27 -0800 2009 more...]]> 3 0 false false Wed Mar 18 16:18:25 -0700 2009 Thu Apr 09 16:08:19 -0700 2009 more...]]> http://www.goodreads.com/book_link/follow/8?book_id=8725