* Save Me The Plums by Ruth Reichl

Save Me the Plums: My Gourmet Memoir recounts Ruth Reichl’s tenure as the editor of Gourmet, which was shuttered in 2009, following the latest recession. Unlike her earlier memoirs, one about her mother and the other about her adventures as a food critic, this one disappointed me. At times, it seemed to be no more than a vacuous recitation of the luxuries afforded by the publisher (first-class travel, a generous clothing allowance, and an apparently bottomless expense account), rubbing shoulders with celebrities, and inane office politics. Still, there are several sweet personal stories about her son and interesting ruminations about the strange world of high-end dining.