Blue Plate Special: An Autobiography of My Appetites Paperback – May 6, 2014

I loved this book, not only a beautiful story of someone's life but recipes added, which were great! It made me realize how important it is to keep a journal. After completing this book I admired this woman for her courage, positive attitude, adjustment to whatever changes happened in her life, her travels, relationships and wish her continued success in whatever she does.....

I was excited to read a new memoir with food. But I wish there was more food in it. That's why it got 4 stars instead of 5. At times it was just someone's bio I was reading. Then there would be a recipe. I have enjoyed other books in this genre so much more. Apron Anxiety: My Messy Affairs In and Out of the Kitchen by Alyssa Shelasky was very good. As wasAll Gone: A Memoir of My Mother's Dementia. With Refreshments by Alex Witchel. And My Berlin Kitchen: A Love Story (with Recipes) by Luisa Weiss. These were three recent reads that I just devoured. Blue Plate Special just did not have enough foodie mentions for me. It is an easy read though. Each chapter is small and concise and it flows nicely. I believe this would be of interest to Ms. Christensen's fans of her books. She is very honest and forthright with her life.

I agree with a previous poster that this autobiography is probably only interesting to those who are a fan of the author's books and want to know more about her life. For the rest of us, it is just another angst-filled memoir with some sprinkled-in recipes, of which there are already many on the shelves. Even the foodie connection is somewhat disappointing, often centered on eating instant soup. Well-written but mostly a long list of jobs, apartments and boyfriends. Why do relatively-unknown people think others want to read all about their problems? I guess it's an ego thing.

This book came my way by happen-chance. Visiting a friend, I picked the book out from a selection on the bookshelf and wound up losing the book on the subway. The result was that I had to purchase a replacement book. I am not acquainted with the author's other books - which I believe are novels. Those novels may be be well done - but whatever skill that may be in evidence in those novels, of an adroit touch with the fictional universe, has not translated to the memoir form.I feel compelled to write a review because Amazon has asked me to - since I purchased the book (as they do when you purchase) - but more so because - unusually, I found the book annoying. The author seems unconscious that her unpleasant carping regarding her life is grating. One wishes to say to her, as gently as possible: grow up. I did not find myself feeling sympathetic at all. As important as her litany of travails are to her - and in some few instances objectively so - she did not persuade me to like her or that I should be concerned. She appears to be someone who has little appreciation of the lives of the people around her.When one reads a memoir there is an expectation that one will be entertained. As must be clear, I wasn't entertained. I experienced the book as one long gripe session. There is very little that is radiant or transcendent about the experiences disclosed here. The author does not appear to have a love of human nature - or differences in culture or upbringing - that makes the memoir by the skillful raconteur so compelling. It is clear that the author was disappointed by the adult world around her growing up - and never succeeded in reaching for a larger view of life.One also has the vague sense that this book was written as pay-back for a life time of perceived slights, both large and small, serious and unimportant. It was a hard book to finish and I must admit I just scanned the last third or fourth of the book.My regret is that by buying the book I have given 'support' to this kind of (almost sleazy) small time 'payback'.

At first, I thought, this is not going to be great...and it was! A book that you put down, go to sleep, wake up, start reading again!Sort of like Blood , Bones , and Butter , also some Anne Tyler books....You get very engrossed into the character and where it takes her....Why did I , at first, Sort of Back away? I don't like Blue Plate Specials much, as they were in Early New England....my studies with a French Chef, exalted so much more...

Love this memoirs. There are so many memory lane stories with food that tell of a perfect childhood , all the sugary sweet cakes and perfume of joy that can stick in your throat. Kate moans, bitches , eats , wants , is mean, drunk , lusts , loves and finally through writing and luck seems to be ok. This is a book to cheer you on a bad day.

Absolutely gripping and superb! I loved this book so much. You don't have to know anything going into this book to completely enjoy it. Just do it.

Fellow alumna of Reed College. Compelling story of ambition and yearnings, family tug-of-war and food cravings.

Good book, although I mistakenly thought there would be more food/recipe content, but I still enjoyed it !! Well written.