Summer Reads: Delicious! by Ruth Reichl

Ruth_Reichl_Delicious_coverFor many, Ruth Reichl needs no introduction. Author of The New York Times bestselling memoirs Tender at the Bone and Comfort Me with Apples, she’s been one of my favourite food writers for a long time. Formerly a restaurant critic for both The Los Angeles Times and The New York Times, Reichl also penned Garlic and Sapphires about her time “under cover” but she is perhaps best known as the Editor in Chief of Gourmet Magazine for 10 years until it closed in 2009.  You can read more about her illustrious career in food writing hereDelicious! is Reichl’s fiction debut – a novel essentially about family and friends, about learning to let go of the hurt of the past to embrace the future.

The book tells the story of young Billie Breslin, a wannabe food-writer from California whose extraordinary palate lands her a job at the New York food magazine (“the book” as it’s known). Delicious! The beginning of the story holds a lot of promise for her career as a food writer, but early on, her dreams of food writing fame are dashed as the publication shuts down unexpectedly. In a strange twist of fate, Billie is the only employee to be kept on as the intern who must respond to questions (and complaints) about the magazine’s recipes – to honour their “money back guarantee”. But far from being the dull job it could have been, this leads to a discovery that will change Billie’s life – and keep you turning the pages of the novel – it’s definitely a case of “Just one more chapter” – you will probably end up reading this in one sitting!

I won’t reveal too much because this is a must-read for the summer, but the story tells of Billie’s discovery of hidden letters between a certain 12 year-old, Lulu Swan to James Beard (yes, THAT James Beard) during World War II and what unfolds is part (food) history, part mystery.  It will have you on the edge of your (pool) chair – it’s an easy read but not a fluffy one – lots to digest!

Ruth_Reichl_Delicious_cover

 

 

 

Buy Delicious! on on Amazon (this link should bring you to the Amazon store closest to you). Or for free worldwide shipping, buy from The Book Depository.

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A Delicious! giveaway for Canadian readers!

Thanks to the kind folks at Random House Canada, I have one copy of “Delicious!” to giveaway to a lucky Canadian reader.

How to enter:

There are 2 ways to enter (maximum of two entries per person for the duration of the contest).

1. Leave  a comment on this post telling me what your favourite type of book to read in the summer is.
2. Tweet the following message: Enter to win @ruthreichl ‘s “Delicious!” from @RandomHouseCA + @eatlivtravwrite (Canada)  Details: http://bit.ly/1hG148x  then come back to leave a second comment letting me know you did.

Eligibility and contest rules:

– Open to Canadian residents only.
– No purchase of any product necessary for entry.
– Winner will be chosen randomly (using www.random.org) from all qualified entries on Sunday June 15th 2014 after 6pm EST.
– Winner will be notified via email Monday June 16th 2014.

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Disclosure: I was provided with a copy of “Delicious!” for review purposes.  I was not asked to write about the book, nor am I being compensated for doing do. All opinions 100% my own.

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Please note: The product links from Amazon, Amazon.ca and The Book Depository are affiliate links. If you click on these links and purchase the product I have linked to or any other product, I will receive a small percentage of the sale price.

39 thoughts on “Summer Reads: Delicious! by Ruth Reichl”

  1. My favourite type of book to read is always about FOOD! 🙂 Especially when there is a twist of fate…those are the best. Thanks for the chance to win! I’ll keep my fingers crossed!

    Reply
  2. My favourite type of book to read during Summer are about Travel, anything that will transport me to another place and of course about Food. This book must be a fascinating read.

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  3. I love reading chick lit books! They are such an easy read while tanning at the beach or by the pool! Great contest. 🙂

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  4. I don’t really have a favourite type of book to read in the summer. I love variety in my books and usually alternate between science fiction then chick lit then mystery then something really scary then historical or biographical… My summer criteria is more about the portability of the book – if I’m going to the beach it has to fit in my beach bag, hiking then a picnic means it has to be easy to carry without adding too much extra weight.

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  5. My favourite type of book to read in the summer is a Chick Lit book, like the books written by Emily Giffin.

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  6. Any book that will take me away for the day while I sit in the sun by the water, but a book about food is a bonus!

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  7. I like to balance a summer cookbook with a good biography or collection of short stories (perfect for a quick trip to the park).

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  8. I actually just finished Delicious tonight, but I was reading my mum’s copy and would absolutely love to have my own. It was so fabulous and me and my mum are dying to try out the recipe in the back of the book!

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    • And shoot, I was so excited to gush about “Delicious!” I forgot to write about my favourite kinds of summer reads! I like to read books that are easy reads, but still emotionally true, creatively picturesque, and engaging. I recommend “The Perfume Collector” by Kathleen Tessaro for anyone looking!

      Reply
  9. I tweeted about the contest 🙂 This book sounds completely satisfying for both my passion for food and reading!

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  10. My summer reads usually involve one fluffy chick lit and one intense human rights book…with a smattering of food literature and irish chronicles thrown in!!

    Reply

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