AliCorbin reviewed Tender at the bone by Ruth Reichl
Review of 'Tender at the bone' on 'Goodreads'
3 stars
A fun vacation read.
282 pages
English language
Published Jan. 6, 1999 by Broadway Books.
3 stars
(3 reviews)
For better or worse, almost all of us grow up at the table. It is in this setting that Ruth Reichl's brilliantly written memoir takes its form. For, at a very early age, Reichl discovered that "food could be a way of making sense of the world . . . if you watched people as they ate, you could find out who they were." Tender at the Bone is the story of a life determined, enhanced, and defined in equal measure by unforgettable people, the love of tales well told, and a passion for food. In other words, the stuff of the best literature. The journey begins with Reichl's mother, the notorious food-poisoner known for-evermore as the Queen of Mold, and moves on to the fabled Mrs. Peavey, onetime Baltimore socialite millionaress, who, for a brief but poignant moment, was retained as the Reichls' maid. Then we are introduced to …
For better or worse, almost all of us grow up at the table. It is in this setting that Ruth Reichl's brilliantly written memoir takes its form. For, at a very early age, Reichl discovered that "food could be a way of making sense of the world . . . if you watched people as they ate, you could find out who they were." Tender at the Bone is the story of a life determined, enhanced, and defined in equal measure by unforgettable people, the love of tales well told, and a passion for food. In other words, the stuff of the best literature. The journey begins with Reichl's mother, the notorious food-poisoner known for-evermore as the Queen of Mold, and moves on to the fabled Mrs. Peavey, onetime Baltimore socialite millionaress, who, for a brief but poignant moment, was retained as the Reichls' maid. Then we are introduced to Monsieur du Croix, the gourmand, who so understood and yet was awed by this prodigious child at his dinner table that when he introduced Ruth to the souffle, he could only exclaim, "What a pleasure to watch a child eat her first souffle!" Then, fast-forward to the politically correct table set in Berkeley in the 1970s, and the food revolution that Ruth watched and participated in as organic became the norm. But this sampling doesn't do this character-rich book justice. After all, this is just a taste.Tender at the Bone is a remembrance of Ruth Reichl's childhood into young adulthood, redolent with the atmosphere, good humor, and angst of a sensualist coming-of-age.From the Hardcover edition.
Sandra reviewed Tender at the bone by Ruth Reichl
Review of 'Tender at the bone' on 'Goodreads'
3 stars
2 1/2 stars.
This was an okay read, it was fine. It was, to me, the culinary equivalent of fried pork chops and mashed potatoes with a side of canned corn. Haha and therein lies the problem. I am not a foodie. I just don't care about food all that much. To me food is utilitarian, I eat for fuel to keep my body operating. I just don't think about food all that much, I don't care, I'm somewhat picky. I don't eat fish or any sea food. I would NEVER eat any creature's liver I don't care, pate or not. I would not eat a thymus gland, pigs feet, fish eggs, tripe, game bird, or any wild animal unless it was end times and I didn't have a choice. I would gladly injested a pill in replacement for meals (as long as it filled me up and I didn't …
2 1/2 stars.
This was an okay read, it was fine. It was, to me, the culinary equivalent of fried pork chops and mashed potatoes with a side of canned corn. Haha and therein lies the problem. I am not a foodie. I just don't care about food all that much. To me food is utilitarian, I eat for fuel to keep my body operating. I just don't think about food all that much, I don't care, I'm somewhat picky. I don't eat fish or any sea food. I would NEVER eat any creature's liver I don't care, pate or not. I would not eat a thymus gland, pigs feet, fish eggs, tripe, game bird, or any wild animal unless it was end times and I didn't have a choice. I would gladly injested a pill in replacement for meals (as long as it filled me up and I didn't feel hunger pangs) as I don't particularly care about being bothered with planning meals, eating, cleaning up afterwards. I don't take a bite of food or sip of wine and wax poetic about flavors and textures and mental associations. It all seems a bit pretentious and over the top to me. It's just food. I can't be bothered. I know I'm weird and boring. So be it.
Reading a book about a love affair with food, how it all began, developed through life, just doesn't float my boat because I don't relate. I can understand in an intellectual way why some people care more about food than I do. That's fine. I should have known going into this book that I was NOT one of those people and hence the book kind of falling flat for me. So read it if you care about the culinary arts, are a sensual creature who feels pleasure because of colors and textures and odors. It might be your cup of tea. My cup of tea is made with a tea bag with Lipton's stamped on it.
Subjects
- Reichl, Ruth
- Cookery