The title of Love, Loss and What We Ate is what sparked my interest: what could be more relatable? I knew nothing about Padma Lakshmi and didn’t even recognize her name. But it doesn’t matter; anyone can find aspects of her story engaging. She writes with honesty and simplicity about the events of her life. Although she has been a model, actress, foodie, and was even married to the likes of Salman Rushdie, we can relate to her tales of cooking, childhood, career moves, relationships, and motherhood. She writes with a curious blend of candor and self-consciousness, which is both endearing and a little uncomfortable at times. But she draws you in, and it feels like you’re listening to a story from a friend: honest, uncensored, and intimate. You want to accept Padma for who she is: a flawed and interesting person, like each of us.
I listened to the audio version, read by the author, which brings her stories and humor even more to life.