Reichl's life was filled with hardships, but the way she writes about it makes it all seem kind of charmed. What a life she's lived, and what a gift she has to be able to share it with the world so eloquently. This book takes a look at her relationship with food from childhood to the very beginnings of her career as a food critic.

I had a feeling after I finished Save Me the Plums, but now I can officially say that Ruth Reichl is one of my favorite authors. I fly through her food memoirs (nonfiction with an admitted amount of embroidery), since they read like travelogues masterfully spanning decades and continents. This one had me aching to travel to Europe and connect with people through food. The stories are great, but the writing is better. There's something indulgent about reading her words.

If you can, I'd check out this version which includes the author's note & some bonus photos at the end. It was fun to put faces to the colorful cast of characters. I'm glad that I own this book so I can look back at the recipes she included in each chapter.

Also worth noting that Reichl's relationship with her mother and the theme of mental health was particularly intriguing in this book.