Love, Loss, and What We Ate: A Memoir

Writing reviews can be hard because should you focus on the writing itself, the person the book is about, or the person's personality? I'll try to do all three here. The book is written ok and the author, at times, tries to lift her writing to the level of her first husband's talent. I am ok with the way she writes and think it comes off fine. However, the telling of the book severely drags and makes reading it as easy as swimming in a pool of molasses. For example, she tells of her daughter's first solid food ceremony in India and it takes forever to have that scene finish. In terms of the author herself, her personality comes off as abrasive and reactionary. She blames everyone but herself, uses people like Teddy and Adam, but doesn't feel like it is her doing. I made myself finish the book only because I purchased it, but it was an unenjoyable chore.

Imagine sitting with a new dear friend, sharing a meal and childhood stories, sometimes laughing, sometimes crying, asking "then what", and leaving mesmerized and amazed at the resilience a soul can possess. That is this memoir. I've watched Top Chef for ten (!) years, and have always been impressed with Padma's grace and poise, even while eating something less than appetizing (hunk of fat, anyone?). Beyond being beautiful, Padma guides the chefs and the show through each season with humor and a gentle touch. I decided to read "Love, Loss, and What We Ate" partly because of the title, and partly because of the revelation that she'd been molested as a child. As a survivor, I was dying to know how she came out on the other side. I got so much more. There is an immediacy and intimacy to this book, that feels like she is just sitting at my table, having a cup of tea, which I think is really remarkable for anyone sharing their story.

I read this for a book club and had mostly positive and a few mixed feelings. This memoir is honest, which makes it compelling at times. Her story as an immigrant is both inspiring and poignant. I enjoyed the author's emotional articulation of food as a strength and refuge. I respected her decision to be true to her daughter's need to know her father. However I was conflicted about some of her choices about and around men - too complex to explain here, but suffice to say, not every woman would be comfortable with many choices. Yet I consistently admired her ambition, initiative and courage to own responsibility for her mistakes. I enjoyed insights into Indian food that I'd never thought about, such as what the author defines as comfort food, and the joy of making chutneys and pickled peppers. Makes me hungry for Indian food even now. Given the US is facing a critical election a week from today, I appreciate the personal stories of both Lakshmi and Hillary Clinton. A disturbingly high level of misogyny in America discourages, discounts and disparages the telling of women's stories. So I am grateful that one more ambitious, successful woman has chosen to give an honest accounting of her mistakes, her many accomplishments, and her life. (And to be clear, I view her ambition positively, in contrast to Rushdie, who appeared to find it inconvenient.) The writing is solid, not sophisticated. Overall it's a life story well told.

I admit that I ordered this kindlebook that is Love, Loss, and What We Ate A Memoir by Padma Lakshmi from money made at my current job via Amazon on May 20, 2019 (though I do keep an open mind to both reviewers who have received their products for free andor as gifts from Amazon vine the publishing company etc. in some way in addition to reviewers who paid for the products with money from their pocket). Anyhow, this kindlebook covers a very eventful life journey that includes among the following: details on some of her modeling work in multiple parts of Europe, the author’s confession that explains how some of the intellectual gifts of her first husband influenced her love for him, some parts in certain films that she had, her work on the Top Chef, a man in Milan who courted her and her admission on certain ways he changed her life, her life in France in connection with one of her work projects, multiple positive effects that “Teddy” had on her life, how she met Adam Dell, how Padma Lakshmi and a young jewelry designer named Tara Famiglietti became fast friends, Padma Lakshmi’s further evolution after Krishna arrived into her life, multiple recipes contained within the kindlebook, acknowledgements, and more.

Honestly shocked by how much I enjoyed this. A truly engrossing read. Surprisingly, I found a lot of this really relatable. I admire the balanced treatment she gives characters like ex husband Salman Rushdie and baby dady Adam, and I was struck by how deeply emotional all the parts with her deceased lover Teddy were. Some of these other reviews seem to have come away from this book thinking she is vapid and overly ambitious, but I can't help but detect a hint of sexism and slut shaming there. Say what you will but she is HONEST in this book. And damn can she describe food.

I loved watching Padma on top Chef. She is a beautiful, intelligent woman who did not want to be known only for her modeling career. Her book takes you to different cultures, experiencing the people, places and wonderful foods. She is candid about the mistakes that we all make in our lives and of her journey in coming to America. It is an interesting look at how the United States sets the tone for what constitutes beauty. This was an enjoyable read and insightful about how we view things with our limited perspective due to where we are born. Surprisingly, she has been very insecure about her looks due to cultural differences. It is eye opening how we view the things we do. She has spent time with very educated and interesting people and has had a life many of us can only dream about. She has had her share of personal disappointments and is very candid in her accounts of her life. I found myself tearful at the losses in her life and how we may not realize the full magnitude until it slips through our fingers.

Know very little about Padma , apart from that beauty and the beast famous relationship but I bought this as I love a good food memoir and it was also a Books and Books recommendation. I can see that this might not be for every one , she has had just a charmed life from modelling to tv , people do prefer a pity me struggle memoirs. I feel she glossed over her modelling days , giving a sugar coating of forgetting some one the more unsavoury elements of that world. She painted herself quite naively yet appeared for Helmut Newton! I did warm to her rather OTT love life of rich unsuitable men, honest health issues and now I am now going to try recipes .

Beautiful narrated book. Loved every page 💛

It's fascinating to be invited, with such charm and candour, to enter a life so very different from one's own. A thoroughly enjoyable read.

Poor. No cohesive structure at all, lots of blame and self pity, bad writing. And I'm a fan of Padma Lakshmi's. Disappointing.

Parma is incredibly honest - the good, the bad and the ugly. I have so much admiration for her after reading this and definitely intend to try some of the recipes!