Ina Garten's memoir is a delightful read that highlights her journey from a challenging childhood to becoming a celebrated cookbook author and Food Network star. The book emphasizes the importance of hard work and a bit of luck in achieving success, resonating deeply with many women of her generation.
Ina Garten's memoir, 'Be Ready When the Luck Happens,' is a captivating account of her life, filled with personal struggles and triumphs. The book starts with her difficult upbringing, marked by emotionally distant and abusive parents, which shaped her early years. Despite these challenges, Ina's life took a turn for the better when she met her future husband and pursued a career in economics, eventually leading her to open a gourmet food store in the Hamptons. This store became the foundation of her brand, the Barefoot Contessa. The memoir details her journey from a harried food store owner to a renowned cookbook author and Food Network star, emphasizing the role of hard work and a bit of luck in her success. The second half of the book reads like a Who's Who of the last 40 years, featuring influential figures from the food, political, and literary worlds. For many women born in the late 1940s and 1950s, Ina's story will resonate deeply, particularly her rebellion against traditional gender roles. The book is a rich smorgasbord of life experiences, though it includes only a few recipes and should not be expected to be a cookbook.
Quick quotes
My parents had more of a “my way or the highway” approach to child-rearing, and any attempts at noncompliance were met with pretty serious anger.
If my father told me to do six things, and I only accomplished five, there’d be hell to pay.
What goes in early goes deep.