Save Me the Plums: My Gourmet Memoir

Reichl's writing style is approachable, and the story is captivating enough to have kept me reading despite never having read Gourmet magazine before. I mainly stuck with this one for the food writing - the descriptions of various meals were the highlight for me, though I wish there were more.

However, I will say that this book's biggest weakness is the detachment from reality. Not only is the vast majority of the dialogue bizarrely unrealistic (especially when it comes to the author's child), but I find it hard to believe - as with most memoirs - that the author is able to recount, in detail, conversations that took place two decades ago.

Along with that there is the fact that the author is set on convincing readers that she is down to earth and just like everyone else, and that the Condé Nast editor-in-chief lifestyle just isn't natural for her. Yet her normal lifestyle is downright extravagant - maybe not in comparison to having a yearly clothing budget paid for by your employer, but enough to set her apart from the average American before she even took on the role. This isn't something I'd hold against her - or anyone - but the way she draws attention to it over and over becomes grating.

All in all, it's an easy read and I'd recommend it to anyone interested in the culinary world.