Book Review - Michael Cecchi- Azzolina's Your Table is Ready: Tales of a New York City Maitre D'

Thank you to NetGalley and Libro FM for providing me with both digital and audio copies of Michael Cecchi-Azzolina’s memoir, Your Table is Ready: Tales of a New York City Maitre D’.

I appreciate having access to both the digital and audio arcs, but decided to go with the audio, as it was narrated by the author. Authors are not always the ideal person to narrate their books, but Cecchi-Azzolina is a larger-than-life type of person and a riot. His memoir is filled with outrageous stories, but hearing them in his heavy New York accent with the thrill in his voice, lended to the overall experience.

Your Table is Ready is a great pick for anyone who would like a behind-the- scenes look at the restaurant industry. It has shades of Anthony Bourdain’s Kitchen Confidential, but instead of a chef’s perspective, Cecchi-Azzolina gives us a glimpse of the chaos happening in the front of house. The chaos that professionals in high-end dining manage to conceal from patrons, usually giving us a calm restaurant experience. Primarily set in the 1980’s, Cecchi-Azzolina’s career in the restaurant industry was drug-fueled and rife with sexism among other aspects of the era that would be considered taboo now. He also speaks of the many friends and colleagues that he lost to the AIDS epidemic, ending the memoir with a very touching tribute. As much as his memoir is a look at the restaurant industry, it is also a peek into the norms of a different era.

Cecchi-Azzolina has plenty of wild stories, including getting entangled with the mob. I’m not going to give the story away, but it’s intense and will have you worried as it unfolds.

Towards the end of the book, I had the surreal experience of realizing that I have friends in common with the author. Cecchi-Azzolina is also an actor and my friends were producers of one of his films. However, the story is better than that, as one of Cecchi-Azzolina’s customers helped fund the film. I immediately paused the audio and called my friend, who had only nice things to say about Cecchi-Azzolina, mentioning that he was the kind of guy, who “always knows a guy.” This confirms my impression of him from his book- he’s a character in the best possible sense!

Your Table is Ready is a fun, fast-paced, engaging read. I’ve never worked in the restaurant industry, but I find the behind-the-scenes of it to be fascinating. It has made me more aware and appreciative of the complexities of running a successful restaurant.

Book Review- James Reginato's Growing Up Getty: The Story of America's Most Unconventional Dynasty

Thank you to LibroFM and Simon and Schuster Audio for a copy of James Reginato’s Growing Up Getty: The Story of America’s Most Unconventional Dynasty.

Growing up in Southern California, the Getty name was part of my landscape. I went from visiting their incredible namesake museums to having a huge preteen crush on Balthazar Getty, who is just a few years older than me. I couldn’t help but be drawn to Reginato’s Growing up Getty, and I was not disappointed.

Reginato explores the humble beginnings of the Getty dynasty, which really came to fruition through the shrewd oil investments of J. Paul Getty in the early 1900’s. His father, who was also very financially successful, gave J. Paul Getty money for his initial investments, which he in turn, grew substantially. As much as J. Paul is known for his wealth, he is also known for his five marriages. J. Paul had five sons. Reginato explores these children and their off-spring, showing how each member of the Getty family has contributed to the Getty legacy.

I learned that many members of the Getty family are quite reserved and although they have contributed money, time, and ideas to better society, they have kept out of the limelight. Of those who have been in the public eye, Balthazar is famous for his acting career and youthful bad-boy behavior, and John Paul Getty III, is famous for having been kidnapped and held for ransom. The story of the kidnapping was made into a recent film starring Michelle Williams called, All the Money in the World. Reginato’s discussion of the kidnapping attempts to refute the popular mythology that J.Paul Getty was so miserly, that he coldly refused to pay the ransom. Reginato pitches an alternative scenario, where Getty is hampered by his money, power, and fame, making it a difficult decision to cave to the kidnapper’s demands.

Reginato paints a picture of a complex family tree, with diverse interests and desires. Some are using their money to work on environmental issues, some have been sidelined by addiction problems, and some are trying to strike out on their own. Its begs the question of what would the reader do if their problems were more about how to handle a legacy, than how to financially survive? I found much to admire in many of the Gettys. I was fascinated by their family rituals and deep connections in the United Kingdoms. They live in a world that is so exclusive and elusive, that I enjoyed the glimpse that Reginato provided. A fun and utterly enthralling read.

Book Review- Jennette McCurdy's I'm Glad My Mom Died

Thank you to Libro FM and Simon & Schuster Audio for a copy of Jennette McCurdy’s memoir, I’m Glad My Mom Died.

Nickelodeon child star Jennette McCurdy recounts a deeply troubled relationship with her mother, including emotional abuse that lead to a severe eating disorder. McCurdy’s mother had a long battle with reoccurring cancer, eventually passing away when McCurdy was in her twenties. McCurdy candidly explains the relief she felt with her mother gone and her struggle to overcome the toxicity of her upbringing.

I’m Glad My Mom Died is the hot non-fiction book of late summer 2022. I work as a bookseller and it is impossible to get in stock. Customers ask for it in hushed tones, as if saying the title aloud might bring bad luck. I don’t remember the last time a book has initiated so many interesting conversations.

I was drawn to the title. I had not previously heard of McCurdy, as she is a younger generation and I never watched her shows on Nickelodeon. A majority of the customers seeking her book are fans, however, you do not need to be a fan to appreciate her memoir. I’m generally drawn to non-fiction titles dealing with death and mother/daughter relationships, which is why the title, especially paired with the cover photo, made it appealing. Unlike McCurdy, I had a mostly wonderful relationship with my mom, but I can relate to that taboo sense of relief when a parent dies and you have the freedom of breaking away from your childhood, including family expectations.

This memoir is shocking! McCurdy’s mom uses her daughter as a proxy to chase after unfulfilled ambitions. McCurdy would do anything to please her mom and keep harmony in their household, which included relationship tension between her parents. In her focus on being a people-pleaser, McCurdy feels pressure to be perfect, including attending a strict schedule of extra-curricular classes aimed at improving her chances in Hollywood. McCurdy’s body is scrutinized as her mom, who also has an eating disorder, is proud of her daughter’s restrictive eating. The calorie restriction is not only to keep McCurdy thin, but to help delay puberty and keep her looking young to book kid parts. McCurdy develops a fear of puberty. McCurdy uses humor to lighten the topics and perhaps to deflect from truly difficult memories. Her pacing and sarcasm made me laugh. She has a strong comedic sensibility, but ultimately her memoir just made me feel really sad for her situation.

The feeling of hope comes towards the end, after her mother dies. McCurdy can finally let go of toxic relationships, not only the one with her mother, and make efforts to change her self-destructive tendencies. She feels empowered to make positive choices for her own health and happiness. She’s a strong woman.

If you can get your hands on a copy of I’m Glad My Mom Died, you should read it. If not, the audio version, read by McCurdy is a great option. It’s the non-fiction book of the season and definitely a pop-culture moment.

Side note, after finishing the book and doing a little internet digging about McCurdy, I discovered the book was originally a stage play that ran in Hollywood. I hope she reboots her play as i’d love to see it. Also, I had never seen her acting and watched a few clips. Specifically, I watched a bit of Sam & Cat, which she co-starred with Ariana Grande. The show is a cheesy comedy for kids and McCurdy is fine in her role, but Grande is shockingly unwatchable. I guess it’s different looking at it from the perspective of an adult, but I’m really glad that this show wasn’t on my step-kids radar when they visited us! Grande’s squeaky, babyish voice is going to haunt my nightmares.