Comfort Me with Apples: More Adventures at the Table (Random House Reader's Circle)

I am in the middle of this book, and I can't put it down! I'm somewhat of a food lover, and so is a friend of mine, and while on vacation I went to a local thrift store and stumbled upon Tender at the Bone, Ruth Reichl's first book, and fell in love with her life story, and found myself being taken on a journey of discovery of life, food, and places. I immediately looked up other books by her, and found the next novel, Comfort me with Apples on Amazon, and I have to say that I'm being taken on one heck of a roller coaster ride through her marriage, her personal self discovery journey, and again new places, new dishes, and wondering what she will do next!I have described the scenes unfolding in just the first few chapters to many of my friends, leaving their mouths watering, and minds intrigued to know more. I can't pass on my books as they contain recipes I intend to make.I encourage you if you haven't read any of Ruth Reichl's novels, please get one and dive into her world, feed your senses with her knack story-telling that will take you places that you can almost see, smell , and then taste the very foods that made her who she is today!

Good to learn a bit more about the early days of Ruth Reichl’s career and path to success! Thank you!

Arrived promptly, in good condition, great book. Spoilers ahead: if you started with Garlic and Sapphires, and are looking for the same sort of foodie/flavor discussion that was present in that book, it's not as present in this one. It's still there, Reichl is great at bringing to life flavors that you are vaguely aware of but don't really know how to process, but it felt to me that the book isn't as dedicated to food as Garlic and Sapphires. The recipes in the book are great and a lot of fun, some of them take a lot of work and a lot of prep. The only thing that disappointed me was the lessening of food discussion. It was great to read about the author's life and background, and her journey, though. Good book

Oh how I admire a woman who can eat anything! Eat anything without recoiling, and not get sick or even grossed out. That wouldn't be me, not ever.This mémoir is a sort of prequel to Reichl's earlier Tender At The Bone and covers her strongly developing passions for cooking, for writing, and for loving. The writing is so good and uncomplicated that her words create a movie in my mind's eye as I read; a completely pleasurable experience. She writes candidly of her first marriage and its dissolution, her various lovers along the way, and all the great chefs she knew and worked with when nobody beyond California had heard of them.I very much enjoyed this book and expect you will, too.

I became a fan on Ruth Reichl after I read her book Garlic and Sapphires. This book, while well written was at times tough to read. You wanted to cheer her on, help her make decisions, and at times I found her indecision frustrating . The recipes at the end of the chapter appeared to be our of place and a little intrusive to the story. They would have been better indexed at the end. That said, our book club having read too many serious books is reading Ruth's books and then discussing them while creating and eating a Ruth Reichl dinner. Her recipes are five stars for sure.

Song of Songs is the source for the title. "Stay me with flagons, comfort me with apples: for I am sick of love." This sequel to Tender at the Bone takes up where the book stops and describes Reichl gradual rise from writer for a small publication to Gourmet magazine. Along the way, she has lovers, discards one husband to take another, has and loses a beloved child. Told with honesty and interspersed with recipes, it is almost impossible to put down.

I was do disappointed by this book.First, I should say that I love Ruth Reichl. Her other books charmed me utterly and made my mouth water. So I was certain I'd love this one too and when I saw it on sale for Kindle, I grabbed it right away.Unfortunately, though, it simply wasn't for me.What I was expecting was a memoir about food, and while there is certainly some food in the book, the book is actually mostly about the author's affairs and crumbling marriage. It's a topic I find difficult and painful and I never would have picked up this book if I'd known what it was actually about. I made it about 45% of the way into the book according to Kindle before I put it down in bitter disappointment, realizing that it wasn't going to turn into a book about food and leave behind the ever-present infidelity storyline anytime soon.All that said, if you like Reichl's writing - the writing is still good. If you want to read about a series of affairs with a smattering of meals throughout, this may be a book for you. But if you, like me, were expecting a celebration of food and life, this is NOT it. Go grab Reichl's Garlic and Sapphires instead.

This was not up to the level of her earlier books. This is not due to her writing which remains engaging, but to the subject. Less focus on food and foodies and more on the corporate machinations of magazine publishing. The characters are just not as interesting.

Loved it all, recipes history and pictures at the end, Good humour, balance between laughs and sadness.I really enjoyed the read.