Garlic and Sapphires (Abridged): The Secret Life of a Critic in Disguise Audiobook

" Pleasantly surprised to find theres more to Ruth Reichl than she shows on Top Chef. "

" I thought the writing was mediocre. She was redundant and egotistical. I read 2/3 of it & couldn't do anymore. I'm not one of those people who has to finish a book... "

" I enjoyed some of Garlic & Sapphires, but the book got off to the wrong note for me in its opening scenes. Reichl describes being recognized on her flight to NYC in a way that seems downright unbelievable. Many other scenes seem exaggerated and far-fetched, which is a shame, since Reichl's story should be engaging and interesting without inflation. "

" Absolutely loved this book - the upsides and downsides of being a food critic. Ruth is amazing! "

" just love her sense of humor, great book! "

" Such a fun, fantastical life of a food critic told from a relatable point of view, this book feels like a friend and inspiration all wrapped up in one. "

" Shorty after I read this book, I found myself at no loss for some great foodie vernacular. My friends were very impressed. A fun read! "

" This book was great just as the other two before it. However, please read Tender at the Bone first followed by Comfort me with Apples before reading this book. "

" Reich writes of her years as a food editor for the NYT and it is great fun to read as well as giving insights "

" Really 3.5 stars. Reichl is a strong writer, and I liked this book a lot, but I like her two earlier memoirs better ("Tender at the Bone" and "Comfort Me with Apples"). "

" About Ruth Reichl's 6-year tenure as New York Times food critic, when she disguised herself many times. As interesting as her take on food and restaurants, so too her insights into her personality changes when she donned various looks and was treated differently by restaurant staff. "

" Loved it. She is a very entertaining writer "

" Loved this inside look into the life of a food critic! "

" LOVE, LOVE, LOVE THIS BOOK!!! "

" I liked the stories of her disguises and the various experiences she had in the restaurants, but the recipes seemed out of place, and the ending was too abrupt. She's a good writer, but I don't think this is her best work. "

" A very enjoyable read. Reichl's style is very pleasant, and it's nice to see the behind-the-scenes life of a reviewer. The meditations on persona are a bit less successful, but it doesn't detract from enjoyment of the book, only prevents it from being something deeper. "

" This book has a few issues- the reviews often seem repetitive (same tone and voice as the story preceding it). The recipes are fine, though I'm not sure how necessary. But overall? This is a little gem indeed. I found it extremely enjoyable to read! "

" Very nice food book. I learned a lot about food and even got some great recipe ideas. The book made me hungry. "

" Fun read about the life of a food critic in New York City. "

" Because I listened to the audiobook, its hard to tell whether or not I liked the reader or the content of the book itself. Entertaining and funny either way...or I think so, at least... "

" I listened to the audio of this last year (I'll listen to almost anything in the car) "

" Really enjoyed. Unique like at an interesting life. "

" Loved this book - such a fun read, and made me add "food critic" to my list of dream jobs! "

" My sister gave me this book to read and I really enjoyed her humor and writing style. Made me hungry though:) "

" So fun to get a look at the business of critiquing food. Wouldn't we all love to be in her shoes... "

" This is a funny book, but working at the NY Times apparently is not. While I enjoyed reading about Ruth's escapades, I began to wonder if she would ever tire of her "job." The ending did not disappoint. "

" This book was SO fun!!! I loved her witty writing style, her stories and her description of the food she ate! If you love to cook or eat or both... this is totally worth it!!!! "

" Kind of abrupt ending, but very insightful read about elite foodies in NYC. "

" Awesome read for people who love food! Makes me want to try all the fab new restaurants in town!<br/> "

" started off strong but got way too into the disguises which got boring. "

" Even more than her disguises she used to remain anonymous as the NY Times restaurant critic, I loved her descriptions of just tasting food. The full sensory experience of some of the dishes she experienced seemed to transport beyond time and place. I wanted to taste it all with her! "

" i thought this would be funny, and while it had it's moments, it had a much more contemplative tone. ruth reichl's food writing is outstanding and i enjoyed those passages the most, despite the fact that she mostly described courses of dead animal parts ;) "

" 4.5 - I really enjoyed this. Great combo of memoir, info about an interesting topic I don't know about, but would like to know more, restaurant reviews and recipes. I think it falls under the &quot;true enough&quot; slogan, but who cares. "

" Bookclub read. Very amusing tale of a food critic and her efforts to be anonymous. It was very interesting how she found herself assuming the characters of the disguises she assumed, and then what she learns about herself. Very well done, with some great recipes I want to try. "

" It was interesting to read about the life of a food critic, but I felt that this was a bit braggadocio. I much preferred her first book. "