Rating: 
Summary: 5 Stars Compared to Any Other Book
Review: This is a great book. It just suffers by comparison to its predecessor. Before I bought it, I read other reviews that mentioned this book's emphasis on Ms. Reichl's relationships with her husbands and lovers. I didn't think that emphasis would make the book any less enjoyable for me than Tender at the Bone, but it did. Still, if you've read the first one, you'll no doubt want to hear more of the author's very interesting life and her honest and informed observations.
Rating: 
Summary: Enjoyable, but too much information
Review: Ruth Reichl has produced another work which will prompt devotees of food and drink to salivate. However, this is also an example of a sequel paling in the shadow of the work which precedes it. While "Comfort Me With Apples" is a satisfying book it seems a bit disappointing in light of the perfection of "Tender at the Bone".Reichl's anecdotes are intriguing and her accomplishments are extremely impressive -- and even more so in that she presents them in a fashion that is totally devoid of ego. One gets the impression that she attributes her successes to circumstance and good fortune (and a persistent appetite and interest in adventure). What made this work appear disappointing in light of its predecessor was a surfeit of information about Reichl's affairs, the disintegration of her marriage, and adoption woes. While these aren't necessarily inappropriate, they do seem to detract from her uplifting anecdotes about her work as a food writer and experiences as a devotee of fine eating. Overall, however, this is a worthwhile book. Readers are cautioned, however, that it is a definite sequel and should only be read following "Tender at the Bone".
Rating: 
Summary: Even better than TENDER AT THE BONE
Review: Let me start by saying that I reveled in TENDER AT THE BONE, so author Ruth Reichl had a hard act to follow. But one doesn't get to be Editor-in-Chief of GOURMET Magazine, by way of being head restaurant reviewer at both the LOS ANGELES TIMES and the NEW YORK TIMES, if one can't write. Not surprisingly, Reichl writes like a dream. She shares with her readers that M.F.K. Fisher was her favorite food essayist, but I think that I like Reichl's prose better. Reichl has lead a amazing life, at least by food standards. By a fortuitous combination of circumstances, she has been in the right kitchens at the right moments. And nobody penning a memoir could be more open that Reichl is here. COMFORT ME WITH APPLES is a fascinating, touching book. It must be considered required reading for anyone with an interest in great cooking.
Rating:
Summary: Riveting story for foodies who like read.
Review: Ruth Reichl is fascinating. I am not finished with the second book but I don't want it to end. I have loved her columns in the New York Times but the books really tell the story of a tough background but a true survivor. The recipes make my mouth water.
Rating:
Summary: Not nearly as good as Tender on the Bone
Review: After thoroughly enjoying "Tender on The Bone," I eagerly awaited the publication of Reichl's latest work. While the book is well written, it lacked both the wit and sparkle that made "Tender" such a hit for me. While both books are autobiographical, the first focused more on the humor and tenderness of the events in her life (and of course the food), and this one seems to focus more on her life (and the food). If this is your first Reichl exploration, stop...click over to "other books by this author," and order a copy of "Tender on The Bone." If you are a Reichl fan, this is a decent read, but wait for the paperback.
Rating:
Summary: two steps forward, one step back
Review: I must preface this by saying that I thoroughly enjoyed Tender at the Bone and several years of Ms. Reichl's restaurant reviews in the NYTimes. I did, however, let my 23 year subscription to Gourmet Magazine lapse a few issues after she took over as editrix, because I couldn't bear the new, too casual style where I could no longer distinguish ads from articles, and celebrity seemed more important than good food. So why buy the book? Because she's a wonderful, compelling, clever writer with a keen sense of taste and style. No slave to food fashion, her descriptions of meals, both complex and simple, are sublime and witty. I could have done with less of her sexual encounters, but the late chapters about her children were lovely, though painful. Flaws and all, it was a most entertaining read.
Rating:
Summary: Simply the best...
Review: Ruth Reichl is simply one of the best writers I have ever read. I was lucky enough to be off of work today so I was able to read all day long and finished this book in one day. What a splendid way to spend the day. I was totally transported into Ruth's world. I just feel so lucky to have read this book. Do not hesitate to buy it. It is one rewarding, not to mention engrossing, journey. Thank you for sharing your story Ms. Reichl.
Rating:
Summary: Sweet Potato Pie Recipe is great!
Review: Yes, it's a great book, a fabulous followup to "Tender at the Bone." Don't forget the fabulous recipes included in the book. The Sweet Potato Pie is now a family staple at my house, and I've made a note to consult the "Big Chocolate Cake" recipe the next time I need to make cake for a huge crowd. (It's a recipe that creates two 13x9x2 chocolate cake layers plus enough icing to cover them.) Some of the other recipes are a bit fancier, or perhaps a bit more fragile than my cooking schedule will allow, but I plan to try plenty more of them. Her books are a good reminder that there ought to be more to the act of eating a meal than simply consuming calories in mass quantities. If you're bored with cooking or eating out, this book might well remind you to notice more carefully what you're experiencing with each bite.
Rating:
Summary: Keep up the Good Work, Ruth.
Review: I eagerly awaited the publication of Ruth Reichl's, "Comfort Me with Apples" as I had so thoroughly enjoyed her first book, "Tender at the Bone". Ms Reichl, I believe, has the potential to become the MFK Fisher of our generation. Weaving recipes and narrative together in a seamless synthesis, the author creates a brilliant tapestry of images, tastes, aromas, sensations and sentiments. While many autobiographers tend either toward self-accusation or self-aggrandizement, Ms. Reichl's style is neither. Her narrator's voice is sumptuous in the description of important events without being biased. The reader is afforded the opportunity to synthesize his or her opinion of the situation and continue reading without prejudice. By describing her reactions to a situation within the context of her culinary background , we gain vivid insight into her emotional state of mind. The account of a semi-disastrous trip to Barcelona for a cross-cultural cooking conclave proves the vehicle by which Ms. Reichl eloquently puts closure to the most touching tale of the autobiography. Devastated by losing the fight to retain her almost-adopted daughter Gavi, Reichl takes the trip abroad anyway, most likely against her better judgment. When asked why she made the trip, Reichl responds, "When I got on the plane," I said slowly. "I didn't really know why I was coming. But I do now. I needed to find out that sometimes even your best is not good enough. And that in those times you have to give it everything you've got. And then move on." I heartily recommend this book to any reader; one needn't be a 'foodie' to gain something from Ms. Reichl's tales of the kitchen (and the bedroom and living room and commune, etc!!!).
Rating:
Summary: Terrific from start to finish
Review: As a big fan of "Tender at the Bone", I eagerly looked forward to Ruth's sequel. And she does not disappoint. Although I felt "Tender at the Bone" was better in terms describing the people in her life (who formed her love of cuisine), "Comfort Me with Apples" gives a better sense of who Ruth really is herself and how she developed her talents more fully. The only time I had to put the book down was after reading about the heartbreaking loss of her daughter, which Ruth relates with great tenderness. I highly recommend this book and look forward to the next chapter of her extraordinary life.
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