Saturday, June 11, 2011

Library Loot ~ June 8-14

Garlic and Sapphires: The Secret Life of a Critic in Disguise ~ by Ruth Reichl, 2005, memoir

I first heard of this book about "adventures in deception" on Brigid Daull Brockway's blog On Words.  She wrote:
"Knowing that critics get all kinds of special treatment, Reichl developed several characters — each with her own clothing, hair, accessories, and personality — so she could get an idea of what her readers can realistically expect to experience.  Reichl says she was surprised to discover that each of her personae was treated a different way, and not just at restaurants.  Her loud, gregarious redhead got lots of attention and made friends wherever she went.  Her quiet, little old lady was often ignored and usually got poor service."
I recognized myself in those words.  I actually make friends wherever I go, but ... !  Although I haven't become stupid as I aged, I am treated more and more as someone who is mindless and simple, or at least as someone who isn't worthy of interest.  Granted, I'm old, but I am neither little nor quiet.  Apparently "wait staff" (as they are now called) assume "old lady" equals low tips.

I always leave a twenty percent tip, except for the time I left TWO PENNIES very prominently placed on the table.  That was over 30 years ago, when we two working women were the first to be seated in one section of a very nice restaurant, but the last to be waited on and the last to be served in a roomful of workers.  We soon noticed that every other table had at least one man.  I had not yet reached management level in my job, and we two women needed to eat quickly and get back to work.  Thus, the tip of two pennies, giving the waiter our "two cents worth."

I wanted to read about Ruth Reichl's adventures, to see how she dealt with being treated like a worthless old lady.  I'm loving the book so far.

Library Loot is a weekly meme co-hosted by Claire from The Captive Reader and Marg from The Adventures of an Intrepid Reader that encourages bloggers to share the books they’ve checked out from the library.  Claire has the Mister Linky this week, if you'd like to share a list of the loot you brought home.

4 comments:

Helen's Book Blog said...

You are too funny! I can't imagine you as the "little old lady" personae. It's definitely irritating when we notice that we aren't being given equal treatment.

Bonnie Jacobs said...

Okay, Helen, I agree that I am neither little nor a lady. But at 71, I do get to claim being old. That seems to be enough to make the eyes of youngsters waiting on tables skim right over me. Most of the time. There are some who are good as gold, and these are the ones who still seem to be following the maxim of respecting their elders.

Silsbee said...

Found this post through Library Loot. :)

This is the sort of review that makes me pine even more for more time to read! It looks like the kind of book I could gobble up in a day, just because it's so revealing and interesting. Heck, I'm gonna add it to my list just in case...

Anonymous said...

I have only ever heard wonderful things about Reichl's books but I haven't read any of them for myself yet! I do have Tender at the Bone waiting on my bookshelf and I'm definitely looking forward to it. Enjoy your loot!