In Ruth Reichl’s, Tender at the Bone, the reader witnesses the impact that food can have on peoples lives along with the relationships we form through food. Food becomes a catalyst in Ruth’s life, finding her true identity and the people she wants to surround herself with for the rest of her life. Ruth Reichl’s love and passion for food opens up a world unimagined in educating her and nurturing her into the women she is today. Ruth is determined to escape the negativity and control her mother has attempted to put on her since she was little, and live a life full of love and happiness through overcoming her deepest fears. In order to understand Ruth’s growth in life, it’s equally important to understand the decline of Ruth’s mother and how they
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As Ruth blossoms in a life full of love and passion for her job, we notice her mother suffer and feel a lack of fulfillment in life. Ruth, unlike her mother was able to accept new cultures, people, and places because of the different environments she was forced into by her parents. These new environments enable Ruth to find role models and people to look up. Ruth’s mother never provided sufficient involvement in her life which led Ruth to find other avenues of inspiration. “ My mother was still in Europe, trying to finish her book, and it never occurred to dad that I might like company on my first trip to college” (Riechl, 106). This shows the Ruth’s families inability to be there for Ruth at one of the most exciting parts of her life. Ruth is forced to move in alone and left to fend for herself like most of the situations her parents have placed her in throughout her life. Whether it was working with Henry at the L’Escargot, traveling Tunis with Serahfina, or the unique atmosphere of working at the Swallow, Ruth lived a life full of adventure and with people from all corners of the world. But when thinking about helpful role models along the way of seeking fulfillment in life, Ruth attributes most of the credit to her Aunt Birdie and Alice. “ They had prepared me for the world”(Riechl, 255). In the later half of the novel Ruth once agains has to aid her mother when plaining a party …show more content…
Ruth flourishes in her life cooking and writing food reviews, when her mother constantly tries to put her down and questions her life ambitions. In the end we see the complete shift of the woman Ruth has become living happy, healthy life with a husband she adores. Ruth’s mother on the other hand is suffering from bi-polar depression and needs help from the people around her. Despite it all, Ruth became a stronger and better person, from learning to nurture herself and find what makes her happy in life where food becoming the driving force behind it
As Ruth blossoms in a life full of love and passion for her job, we notice her mother suffer and feel a lack of fulfillment in life. Ruth, unlike her mother was able to accept new cultures, people, and places because of the different environments she was forced into by her parents. These new environments enable Ruth to find role models and people to look up. Ruth’s mother never provided sufficient involvement in her life which led Ruth to find other avenues of inspiration. “ My mother was still in Europe, trying to finish her book, and it never occurred to dad that I might like company on my first trip to college” (Riechl, 106). This shows the Ruth’s families inability to be there for Ruth at one of the most exciting parts of her life. Ruth is forced to move in alone and left to fend for herself like most of the situations her parents have placed her in throughout her life. Whether it was working with Henry at the L’Escargot, traveling Tunis with Serahfina, or the unique atmosphere of working at the Swallow, Ruth lived a life full of adventure and with people from all corners of the world. But when thinking about helpful role models along the way of seeking fulfillment in life, Ruth attributes most of the credit to her Aunt Birdie and Alice. “ They had prepared me for the world”(Riechl, 255). In the later half of the novel Ruth once agains has to aid her mother when plaining a party …show more content…
Ruth flourishes in her life cooking and writing food reviews, when her mother constantly tries to put her down and questions her life ambitions. In the end we see the complete shift of the woman Ruth has become living happy, healthy life with a husband she adores. Ruth’s mother on the other hand is suffering from bi-polar depression and needs help from the people around her. Despite it all, Ruth became a stronger and better person, from learning to nurture herself and find what makes her happy in life where food becoming the driving force behind it