2024 the best of us a memoir review

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(as of Nov 29, 2024 03:07:10 UTC - Details)

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • In her long-awaited memoir, Ina Garten—aka the Barefoot Contessa, author of thirteen bestselling cookbooks, beloved Food Network personality, Instagram sensation, and cultural icon—shares her personal story with readers hungry for a seat at her table.

A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR: The New York Times Book Review, Time, The New Yorker, Vanity Fair

Here, for the first time, Ina Garten presents an intimate, entertaining, and inspiring account of her remarkable journey. Ina’s gift is to make everything look easy, yet all her accomplishments have been the result of hard work, audacious choices, and exquisite attention to detail. In her unmistakable voice (no one tells a story like Ina), she brings her past and her process to life in a high-spirited and no-holds-barred memoir that chronicles decades of personal challenges, adventures (and misadventures) and unexpected career twists, all delivered with her signature combination of playfulness and purpose.
 
From a difficult childhood to meeting the love of her life, Jeffrey, and marrying him while still in college, from a boring bureaucratic job in Washington, D.C., to answering an ad for a specialty food store in the Hamptons, from the owner of one Barefoot Contessa shop to author of bestselling cookbooks and celebrated television host, Ina has blazed her own trail and, in the meantime, taught millions of people how to cook and entertain. Now, she invites them to come closer to experience her story in vivid detail and to share the important life lessons she learned along the way: do what you love because if you love it you’ll be really good at it, swing for the fences, and always Be Ready When the Luck Happens.

From the Publisher

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Crown (October 1, 2024)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 320 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0593799895
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0593799895
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.4 x 1.06 x 9.43 inches
Reviewer: Kathy
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Great Read!
Review: This book has everything! Ina’s life is so interesting! She tells her story with true heart. She is fun loving, serious, and completely going rogue at times. I love her story and this book!

Reviewer: Marie
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: A delightful read about an amazing woman
Review: I really didn’t know very much about Ina Garten other than that she was a cook book author. It was a delight to find out she is so much more than that. This is an upbeat tale of one woman’s determination on the road to a creative, happy, and successful life. I enjoyed every minute spent reading it. In fact, on Election Day I was so happy I still had a ways to go, as it was my safe spot to turn to when reality was so disappointing and worrisome.

Reviewer: Thoughts by CJ
Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Ina knows a thing or two
Review: I love to read autobiographies. Ina not only tells a great story, but has truly led a fascinating life despite a difficult and heart wrenching childhood of emotional neglect. I was 100% on board for the ride until the last 10% of the book when there was much celebrity name dropping. So many of us are tired of the celebrity culture. I love Ina’s cookbooks. I haven’t watched her show, but I might try the original series. Not interested in watching fake cooking with superstar celebrities. Excellent personal stories about Ina and her husband. She shares many joyful and insightful life nuggets, that if you can stop around 90% you’ll have a very enjoyable read. Thank you, Ina!

Reviewer: mary kay peterson
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Ina Garten…..Gotta love her
Review: Witty. Human. Real. True grit and honest. Perseverance. That’s Ina. Her writing is like she sitting with ,e and just talking. Her energy is infectious. Fun, very enjoyable book.

Reviewer: Nora2010
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Pure Ina
Review: I preordered and started reading the moment it arrived, the on the plane and final 3:00 am in my hotel room. The first part of the book, maybe 90 pages or so covers Ina’s early life. This part of the book felt a little like the editors made her tell this part of her story. While it certainly provided some context for her life, it didn’t feel like it was Ina’s typical warm, engaging style. That all changed when we entered the “Barefoot” years. From here the book revealed her passion, tenacity, style and was easily relatable. Ina writes with warmth and humor; she makes you feel what she feels. The book draws you in and somehow makes you reflect on your own “luck” and readiness. This is a wonderful book on so many levels and I can see myself going back and rereading portions whenever I need a reminder to live my life with a little more grace, style and humor.

Reviewer: Shy Reviewer
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Great read
Review: Wonderful story, great imaginary and inspiration left me wanying to find some cookbooks or watching Ina's shows. Wish there was more to read!

Reviewer: Quinn
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Ina is a fun, classy lady
Review: I really liked this book, because I really like Ina Garten. She is a class act, straightforward, but never blaming or dwelling on her misfortunes. She is aware of her luck and privilege, but worked very hard in the face of her own doubts about herself. Not the deepest of memoirs, but a feel-good story. Leaves me feeling happy for her, as one would for the success of a dear friend or loved one. Very enjoyable.

Reviewer: Anonymous
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Yay, Ina!
Review: I’ll confess, I am an Ina Garten fan. Meaning, I own and USE all 12 of her cookbooks, all the time! So it was natural for me to want to read about this amazing woman’s life. Which I have found fascinating and her style is fun and easy to read. A role model for persevering, being willing and able to change courses, keeping love alive with Jeffry through out the changing times in life, pursuing your dream, being willing to take chances. Just a fabulous book!

Reviewer: Olga Russell
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: I really enjoyed this memoir and am glad I bought the book.

Reviewer: Amazon Customer
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: It’s what I was interested in. Ina Garten biography.

Reviewer: ANA CAROLINA JIMENEZ
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: I absolutely love how Ina, in a vulnerable and loving way, opens her heart and shares her life story with all of us. I relate to many moments and feelings. Thank you 🙏🏻

Reviewer: Amazon Customer
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: This book is a pure joy with Ina sharing her life story in a most entertaining way. So well written. Ina has been such a teacher to me with her accurate amounts, concise instructions and the happiest of attitudes; a real inspiration. I used to think that her and Jeffrey would make the best parents (hell I would be their kid),yet Ina reveals how that was not meant to be in her journey; thank you for sharing. I can honestly say that I love Ina Garten for bringing so much to my life and helping me in turn to always give my best to others.This book is a must read for all of us who love Ina, thank you from the bottom of our hearts. XO

Reviewer: Ed Baines
Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: I really enjoyed the journey. Kind of 1960s lack of personal ambition to an almost accidental discovery of how good and talented the author could be, and was, at business while enjoying what she loved to do and mentoring young emplyees. I could easily read it again, and recommend it to others.