For You, Mom. Finally.

Previously published as Not Becoming My Mother

By: Ruth Reichl

Narrated by: Ruth Reichl

Bestselling author Ruth Reichl examines her mother's life-and gives voice to the unarticulated truths of a generation of exceptional women

A former New York Times restaurant critic, editor in chief of Gourmet, and the author of three bestselling memoirs, Ruth Reichl is a beloved cultural figure in the food world and beyond. Not Becoming My Mother is her openhearted investigation of the life of a woman she realizes she never really knew-her mother. Through letters and diaries-and a new afterword relating the wisdom she's gained after sharing her story-Reichl confronts the transition her mother made from a hopeful young woman to an increasingly unhappy older one and recognizes the huge sacrifices made to ensure that her daughter's life would not be as disappointing as her own.


Please note: This title was changed to For You Mom, Finally for the Penguin paperback edition. ©2009 Ruth Reichl; (P)2009 Penguin

Love all her books

This is the final book I've read of R. Reichl and have relished them. While this focused on her mother, I enjoyed her other books more which included her mother in the context of the rest of her own life. But I appreciate that Ruth felt she owes her mother a fuller account and brings a sympathetic understanding of her mother based on letters and diaries Ruth has found. I empathize more with the mother who has provided humorous stories in the other books. It is well worth listening to and I love it that R. Reichl narrates all her books.

Not a meal but a bite

Listened to this audiobook while I cooked (of course, how else to read Ruth Reichl?) the story of all our mothers after WWII, too true and too tragic. How well I know this story from my own mother's unhappy life. Aren't we lucky we missed being born a generation earlier? Anway, this was interesting as are all of Ruth's writings, but it was sort of over before it began. I found the topic interesting, but not a full meal. The narration was pretty good although less polished than a professional's...still nice to hear the emotion of the author since she is able to read with decent expression.

marvelous writer

narrations is personal. How interesting to have had all those letters to reference. Ruth is a heck of a person. you want to be her friend.
Wise, my mother was an extreme at times this was a great reflection/help.

Wanted more

Drats! I wish I had seen that this is not even 2 hours long. I hadn’t even finished my list of “to do’s” and it was over. I enjoy Ruth’s books very much. Many of the stories in this are already told in her other books but the insights into who her mother was, are worth reading - because I see much of me in her. I must work on that.

Reochl is lucky enough to make peace , even posthumously, with her difficult mother.

This book is very short and to the point. It makes particular sense having also read Tender at the Bone which shows the difficult relationship in action from Reichl’s point of view.