When Ruth Reichl came to NPL a few years ago as part of our Salon at 615 series, you can bet I was there. I even got to ask her a question - what is the worst thing she’d ever eaten (lobster with cinnamon - ew, right?). I have loved her and loved her writing for a long time. So when I saw that she had a new book coming out, I was excited.

Reichl’s latest fiction release, The Paris Novel, was an excellent addition to her storied catalog. Stella likes her regimented, predictable, if boring, life in New York City. She enjoys her job as a copy editor, but she can’t help but think there is something else to life. Then suddenly her estranged mother dies, leaving Stella with a small inheritance and the requirement that she use the money to go to Paris. Even then, she hesitates. It’s not until her boss basically pushes her out the door, that Stella decides to go on this one adventure. Thanks to her mother’s demands, Stella finds herself with a magic dress, a comfortable bookshop, and some friends.

This being a Ruth Reichl book, I expected there to be more food in the story, especially in the beginning. Although I must say, I did enjoy the addition of the fashion component. I’ve never been to Paris, but as I was reading, I was imagining what my trip might be like vs. Stella’s actual experience. Stella got to try on gorgeous couture clothes, eat scrumptious foods, and meet famous chefs. If I were to go to Paris by myself, I’d probably just spend the days going to museums. So there was something to the fantastical nature of Stella’s journey that appealed to me. No way would this ever happen in real life.

The new book is good, but I think my favorite of hers will always be Garlic and Sapphires, which chronicles the years she spent as the food critic for the New York Times. She used to dress in disguises to go out to eat so that the chefs wouldn’t recognize her. That sounds like a fun job. I also really enjoy Delicious, which is her first fiction book, and was written to help her deal with the loss of her editor job at Gourmet, after the magazine was shuttered.

I love Ruth Reichl. You can't go wrong with any of these. If you are into food, you should be into Ruth. Check any and all of these out today!

Happy Ruthing…
:) Amanda