Not Becoming My Mother

Not Becoming My Mother (2009) by Ruth Reichl. Reichl explores the past in this slim volume, documenting the ways in which her mother sacrificed so that she, Reichl, would not have to become her mother. Notably memorable are her memories of her mother's cooking, which has to be the worst ever. As Reichl puts it, "my mother was a great example of everything I didn't want to be, and to this day I wake up every morning grateful that I'm not her." This is an affectionate memoir about a mother who, truth be told, was not really a very good mother. Reichl seems to have turned out all right, however, so it wasn't a complete waste. Grade: B