Delicious!: A Novel

One of the most fascinating novels to read that possesses a bit of atmosphere and pleasure to the story and characters. Ruth Reichl lends her expertise of the food world and adds much dimension to the staff of Delicious! Magazine. The book contains a smorgasbord of individuals that bring the story to life, and it is a story that will leave readers wanting to read more. Based on fact and fiction, Reichl interplays fast paced moments at the magazine to the subtle and intimate ones displayed in the letters written by a young food aficionado Lulu Swan to Mr. Beard. The book weaves the past and the present within two sections. The letters that Lulu writes to Mr. Beard begin in book two, and are the most interesting parts of the novel that resonates with discovery but also sadness. Before the letters are found, members of the Delicious team are told that the magazine was folding due to lack of readership and technology dictating the direction to where magazine publications were headed. But while attempting to find the recipe for Nutty Apricot Cookies in back issues of the magazine, Billie and Sammy stumble over a letter dated November 3, 1942. So begins their journey away from what they had intentionally were looking for but delving into the lives of Mr. Beard and Lulu. It will be an enchanting trip to the past that eventually will lead to their finding Lulu years later and still alive, but a woman that lived a life of mystery and secrecy that she had kept from everyone closest to her. And surprisingly was willing to share to Sammy and Billie. Delicious is one of those books that may be read more than once and also shared with others. Indeed, the story includes a mix of emotions that are heartfelt and of laughter and joy because of the very lively characters.

I really liked this novel when i was reading it. A lot. It kept me up late a couple of nights, when I just wanted to read one more page... The plot is excellently well-paced, and mostly makes sense. The secondary characters, too, are vividly drawn and really come alive. It's a bit of a problemthat Billie- our narrator- is something of a Mary Sue. Irreproachable palate! brilliant cook (though she's off that for much of the novel)! Superb writer! And even though she is Insecure, she is charismatic enough that everyone she meets- except one- basically fawns all over her. The writing is good enough that this does not really become annoying as I read it; just when i finished and stopped back to think. On the other hand- a fairly transparent Mary Sue like this might be the ideal narrator for this novel- and I DID love all the vivid sketches of the other characters. In that sense, it's very character-driven. The bits about what people think is "following a recipe", vs what is actually following a recipe, were great, and accurate. I mostly cook from recipes... but i vary them. I didn't realize how much I did until I did a stint as a volunteer test cook for Cook's Illustrated, and had to follow the recipes PRECISELY; I had not realized before that how much I varied them (generally successfully, I'll add!). I will definitely try making the gingerbread, too! Recommended for foodies. I'll shelve it alongside Poppy Brite's "Liquor" series.

What is not to like. It has like able characters, interesting story and a foodie’s dream. Totally charming. Recommend.

"Delicious!" was recommended to me by a friend. As she and I are not always in agreement as to what we each enjoy reading, I was a little reluctant to put this book on reserve at the library, but reserve it I did, later downloading to my Nook. I'm not quite finished reading, but I can honestly say I have never been so charmed by a book as I am by this one. I really find it hard to put down, such is the "delicious" story Ruth has told, peopled with characters so beautifully drawn that I know I'm going to miss spending time with them when I come to the story's end. I've even ordered a copy to share with friends I want to enjoy, hopefully, the same experience I'm enjoying. I was not familiar with the author, but since acquiring the book, I've learned that she has been, for a long while, a food critic, and this forms the hook for this delightful story, Billie not a food critic but instead a woman who can identify, by taste and smell, ingredients in foods, knowing what extra they might need or what makes them extraordinarily special. In the process of working for the publishers of the food magazine "Delicious," Billie finds herself encountering the most memorable and lovely people, eventually coming upon a "mystery" of sorts which will lead her, I'm sure, to what is going to be the most satisfying of endings. I'll add to this review when I finish reading; I know that when the book is complete I'm going to want more of these people, but, unless there's a sequel, that won't be. Later: Well I finished the final section of the book and I wasn't disappointed...except from the stand- point of having to leave the story and characters behind. I said it earlier, I'll say it again: I've not read anything as charming and as irresistible as this book has been. You will not be disappointed.

There is a recipe for cookies that is mentioned in this book called "Snowballs" which doesn't quite work for most of the people that try it. The ingredients are good; but it's all just too much. That is this book in a nutshell. I have loved all of Ruth Reichl's writing before this point. It always struck me as crafted and contained. This book has a lot of interesting points: stories that revolve around food and the kitchen (of course), traveling, different shops, other characeters life stories and personal lives, chefs, history, a mystery, a romance, a tragedy, descriptions of food, the narrator's own personal growth. It's just all a bit too much. Characters don't feel developed and their stories feel half told, plots take off and trail off, and the elusive mystery letter writer doesn't feel as compelling as I think they want you to find her. She's rather too pragmatic and logical to find yourself loving her as you would a rebel (like Scout or Harriet the Spy) and too realistic to be the elusive little pixie you are playing hide and seek with through the letter files. It's an interesting enough book to keep you going, but it's far and away from Reichl's best work. After anticipating this book so much, I have to say I was rather dissapointed. But at the same time, I hope she tries her hand at fiction again and maybe concentrates and distills the story down. There was enough material in this one tome for several books and the writing was interesting and good in many spots. I just think there was too much she tried to cover which left you with both the feeling of having too much and not enough.

The beginning is so promising, so full of Reich-ly goodness, with Billie, the main character, who is blessed with a perfect palate. She moves to NYC, into the food magazine world and a cast of great personalities: Maggie the vitriolic test kitchen overlord, Sal, the cheese shop owner who giver Billie (and the reader) a priceless tour of culinary downtown; Jake, the magazine owner and Sherman, his smoothie-loving dog; Sammy, the eccentric travel editor..... Wow, you think, this is Reichl at her best, combining food with insight and wacky people. And then we take a detour into a secret room and WWII letters to James Beard, and all those great characters go flying out the window, to appear every now and then on the sidelines. I was so happy to find this book, because I love Ruth Reichl's writing, but it almost seems like she started the book and someone else finished it. The obvious love lavished on the characters vanishes into a paint-by-numbers romance/mystery. While it is interesting to find out that milkweed can taste like cheese, and fun to identify barely-cloaked celebrities (wow, Thursday is April at the Spotted Pig!), I felt let down.

I'm not sure what people expected of this novel, but I took it for what it was, and thoroughly enjoyed it. It has the most likeable characters in it, it has some mystery, some fun, some tension, lots of interesting information, and moves along at a good pace. Will it change the world-no; will it move you to greatness-no; does it have socially redeeming values--well, now you got me, depends on how you view life and your life in general. There is no nastiness, no offensive language (seems good to know you can write a book devoid of four letter words that add nothing). This is a book to read and enjoy why you read. It will make you feel good about having passion and caring, it makes you realize that life is a very full habit and most of us know, whether we realize it or not, much of our lives center around food and traditions food brings. And, I cannot leave until I say I was so thankful for the recipe because spice cake is my favorite of all, and I can't wait to try this one!

Interesting story. Tasty too.

I prefer her non-fiction books

This was an exciting book right from page 1. The story was well written and you could easily see in your minds eye what was happening . Thanks!!!

a wee bit predictable but delicious nonethless!

Always a pleasure reading RUTH Reichl! I have most of her books, plus Gourmet’s Remembering Paris and Endless Feasts! 💖 JOYFUL reading for a foodie! 😋😋😋

I loved all the characters Ruth brought to life, very believable & real. The story was spellbinding, I had to know what happened to Lulu too, a lovely love story was also generously intertwined. I really hope Ruth writes another novel.