Book Review: My Fat Dad

Cover provided by author

Reading My Fat Dad: A Memoir of Food, Love, and Family with Recipes, was something I looked forward to doing. I’m working on my own memoir-recipe fusion book and wanted to see how someone else might do it. I was not disappointed.

NOTE: I received a free copy of this book for review, however I am under no obligation to write about it positively or otherwise.

SUMMARY OF MY FAT DAD

Each chapter starts off with memoir — the author shares a part of her life — and ends with recipes that were mentioned in the chapter. Each chapter builds upon the ones before it, developing a rich tapestry of what it was like to grow up through Dawn Lerman’s eyes.

WHAT WORKED FOR ME

Lerman’s voice is strong. I almost felt like we were in her living room, with me listening to her weave her tale with rapt attention. I also ear-marked several of the recipes to try on my own later.

WHAT DIDN’T WORK FOR ME

I felt like she didn’t know how to wrap up the end of the book. Perhaps she hasn’t fully processed the emotions … or, more likely … her life is interesting enough to fill more than one book! The last chapter or two felt forced.

SIDE NOTE ABOUT MY FAT DAD

Not long before I read this book, I was introduced to Gary Chapman’s The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love that Lasts and my fiance and I even attended one of his live seminars. I found it interesting as I read My Fat Dad how clear it was that the author and her mother spoke in different love languages, leading to Lerman not feeling loved by her mother.

RECOMMENDATION

This is a very well written book and if you’re like me in that so many of life experiences are remembered through the lens of food, this is a enjoyable must read.