What do you think?
Rate this book
White Jacket Required: A Culinary Coming-of-Age Story
What do you do when you've just graduated from college and aren't sure what your next step should be? Jenna Weber, whose Eat, Live, Run blog has a huge following, turned to culinary school--but to become a food writer, not a chef. Jenna's charming coming-of-age story follows her ups-and-downs as she confronts the rigors of training, gets her first job, deals with a family crisis, and enters into a love affair.
208 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 2012
7 people are currently reading
1118 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 125 reviews
June 29, 2018
This is the second book this week I have read and is now missing from my shelves. I can't remember if I reviewed it or not. I won't repeat the rant from the first book,Critical Care: A New Nurse Faces Death, Life, and Everything in Between. But I'm just as pissed off. How the hell do these books get deleted from our shelves?
August 23, 2012
I had high expectations because of all the bloggers I follow, I did think her writing was pretty good. The book is not written well, though. There is very little content and I never felt invested in the story or the characters. Her characters (friends, family) were one dimensional and boring. The story itself was pretty boring, too, and I felt like "why am I still reading this?" the whole time. I never once felt like I got to know the writer or feel any empathy for her because the writing was so blah.
She tells the story of her brother's death and it was a short chapter with very little transition, detail or emotion. I just don't get it. Something that life-changing would be more than 5 pages for me...I guess I just felt like this was a good place for her to try and connect with readers who can relate to grief and she just didn't.
She also comes across as very privileged and I just could not relate to her. I find it bizarre she went to culinary school to write about food. It feels disingenuous and insulting to people who want to be chefs and put in the time to do so.
I may try some of the recipes included in the book but that's about it.
Bottom line: this book failed to evoke any emotions or investment from me.
She tells the story of her brother's death and it was a short chapter with very little transition, detail or emotion. I just don't get it. Something that life-changing would be more than 5 pages for me...I guess I just felt like this was a good place for her to try and connect with readers who can relate to grief and she just didn't.
She also comes across as very privileged and I just could not relate to her. I find it bizarre she went to culinary school to write about food. It feels disingenuous and insulting to people who want to be chefs and put in the time to do so.
I may try some of the recipes included in the book but that's about it.
Bottom line: this book failed to evoke any emotions or investment from me.
September 6, 2012
'White Jacket Required' is depicted as heartwarming narrative of Jenna Weber's culinary journey and begins with how she discovered her passion for the culinary arts as a kid, giving us a sneak peek behind the face of the blogger we have come to know well.
However, one doesn't have to read beyond the introduction before discovering a tale of two Jennas. On page three in the first paragraph the key points in this episode is in direct conflict with her blog's version of these years. Similarly, one doesn't need to go beyond her first blog post to see that something is up with Jenna - we just don't know if it's Jenna or Jenna 2.0.
According to her book, it was Jenna's lifelong passion for cooking and becoming a food writer that fueled her desire to attend culinary school, something she considered "strange to me, coming from a family where everyone worked in PR and marketing. It was always assumed that after I finished college... I would... get a job at an agency..." (page 2). Earlier, she had felt disgruntled and out of place in the traditional college setting, and it was during a nervous breakdown in the school's psych office when she called her parents, tearfully begging to be allowed to drop out and attend culinary school instead. Her parents convinced her to stick it out, though, which Jenna thanks them for later as pursuing her degree in English helped her develop her skills as a writer. Unfortunately for Jenna, once in culinary school she finds the challenge of the program daunting and begins to doubt herself... again. During the holiday break three months into her studies, Jenna discovers her great-grandmother's recipe box hidden deep in her closet; her mom had placed it there at some point (page 89) and had forgotten to tell Jenna about it. This occurs in 2007. While perusing through the recipes, Jenna says she felt inspired to bake her way through them and write a book about the experience. This revelation encouraged Jenna to switch to the baking and pastry arts program (page 90). Each of these accounts is in direct conflict according to either time or circumstance as noted into her blog.
In her very first blog post, armed with a degree in English and the completion of a writing workshop in Paris, she desired to become a writer of healthy cookbooks and a personal chef, specializing in nutrition (http://www.eatliverun.com/welcome-to-...). In her blog, it's not until she discovers her great-grandmother's recipe cards in either '05 or '06 (depending on which blog post you read - http://www.eatliverun.com/kindred-spi... and http://www.eatliverun.com/faq/) that the idea of attending culinary school is birthed. According to her blog posts, the recipes never inspired her to write a cookbook. Instead, she figures that to write about food well in general, she must learn as much about food as possible. Thus, she must attend culinary school to do that. Come to think of it, her book was pretty much already written before she first started talking about these recipes and cooking from them in 2011 (http://www.eatliverun.com/chocolate-p...). (Her first blog post of them is dated October 9, 2010, where she says she discovered them in 2005 - http://www.eatliverun.com/kindred-spi...) Sadly, there are more discrepancies.
The beginning years of her blog served as a food journal, logging her daily healthy eats complete with calorie count and exacting portion measurements, which contradicts with her smug attitude towards health freaks (page 12) and seemingly carefree, Parisian attitude towards food (page 118). I could go on and talk about other conflicts, like her on again-off again running; her anti-meat phase during culinary school - when in the book she tells the chef she's not a vegetarian; that she fails to mention the creation of her blog, which was the catalyst for her book deal; yada yada yada... Sacrebleu!
I love food because it's real, and real easy to tell what's good from what's bad, what's homemade and what's processed, what's real fruit versus wax fruit. With Jenna, I just can't tell what's real from what's false. I don't know if this says more about Jenna herself or the publishing world in general, but either way, it's disingenuous to pass something off as an autobiography when it's full of questionable truths. I would give 'White Jacket Required' a thumbs down. Save your $20 for your gas tank or a cappuccino... in France!
However, one doesn't have to read beyond the introduction before discovering a tale of two Jennas. On page three in the first paragraph the key points in this episode is in direct conflict with her blog's version of these years. Similarly, one doesn't need to go beyond her first blog post to see that something is up with Jenna - we just don't know if it's Jenna or Jenna 2.0.
According to her book, it was Jenna's lifelong passion for cooking and becoming a food writer that fueled her desire to attend culinary school, something she considered "strange to me, coming from a family where everyone worked in PR and marketing. It was always assumed that after I finished college... I would... get a job at an agency..." (page 2). Earlier, she had felt disgruntled and out of place in the traditional college setting, and it was during a nervous breakdown in the school's psych office when she called her parents, tearfully begging to be allowed to drop out and attend culinary school instead. Her parents convinced her to stick it out, though, which Jenna thanks them for later as pursuing her degree in English helped her develop her skills as a writer. Unfortunately for Jenna, once in culinary school she finds the challenge of the program daunting and begins to doubt herself... again. During the holiday break three months into her studies, Jenna discovers her great-grandmother's recipe box hidden deep in her closet; her mom had placed it there at some point (page 89) and had forgotten to tell Jenna about it. This occurs in 2007. While perusing through the recipes, Jenna says she felt inspired to bake her way through them and write a book about the experience. This revelation encouraged Jenna to switch to the baking and pastry arts program (page 90). Each of these accounts is in direct conflict according to either time or circumstance as noted into her blog.
In her very first blog post, armed with a degree in English and the completion of a writing workshop in Paris, she desired to become a writer of healthy cookbooks and a personal chef, specializing in nutrition (http://www.eatliverun.com/welcome-to-...). In her blog, it's not until she discovers her great-grandmother's recipe cards in either '05 or '06 (depending on which blog post you read - http://www.eatliverun.com/kindred-spi... and http://www.eatliverun.com/faq/) that the idea of attending culinary school is birthed. According to her blog posts, the recipes never inspired her to write a cookbook. Instead, she figures that to write about food well in general, she must learn as much about food as possible. Thus, she must attend culinary school to do that. Come to think of it, her book was pretty much already written before she first started talking about these recipes and cooking from them in 2011 (http://www.eatliverun.com/chocolate-p...). (Her first blog post of them is dated October 9, 2010, where she says she discovered them in 2005 - http://www.eatliverun.com/kindred-spi...) Sadly, there are more discrepancies.
The beginning years of her blog served as a food journal, logging her daily healthy eats complete with calorie count and exacting portion measurements, which contradicts with her smug attitude towards health freaks (page 12) and seemingly carefree, Parisian attitude towards food (page 118). I could go on and talk about other conflicts, like her on again-off again running; her anti-meat phase during culinary school - when in the book she tells the chef she's not a vegetarian; that she fails to mention the creation of her blog, which was the catalyst for her book deal; yada yada yada... Sacrebleu!
I love food because it's real, and real easy to tell what's good from what's bad, what's homemade and what's processed, what's real fruit versus wax fruit. With Jenna, I just can't tell what's real from what's false. I don't know if this says more about Jenna herself or the publishing world in general, but either way, it's disingenuous to pass something off as an autobiography when it's full of questionable truths. I would give 'White Jacket Required' a thumbs down. Save your $20 for your gas tank or a cappuccino... in France!
July 24, 2012
Disclaimer: I won an advanced copy of this book through Goodreads First Reads program.
As a book of its own accord, it's just okay. But compared to other bloggers-turned-authors, Weber is a better writer and I would certainly hope so with her English degree. But that also may just be due to the fact that she isn't trying to write a "how-to" book or claim she is an authority on anything (see: Tina Haupert and Caitlin Boyle among others). It's a quick, easy read that is littered with recipes - some pertinent to the story, others completely unrelated. The story itself has the potential to be a good one but it seems a little disconnected, contrived, and very abruptly ended. I would have loved to hear more about her experience in California and actually becoming a food/wine writer and her development of recipes. She hardly discusses her blog at all or her contributions to other websites. This book was 80% culinary school, 5% typical 20-something drama, 5% her brother's death, and 5% California. I didn't think it was particularly well written or well edited and just fell a little flat for me. It's almost like she was trying to make a novel out of her memoir and it didn't really work.
As a book of its own accord, it's just okay. But compared to other bloggers-turned-authors, Weber is a better writer and I would certainly hope so with her English degree. But that also may just be due to the fact that she isn't trying to write a "how-to" book or claim she is an authority on anything (see: Tina Haupert and Caitlin Boyle among others). It's a quick, easy read that is littered with recipes - some pertinent to the story, others completely unrelated. The story itself has the potential to be a good one but it seems a little disconnected, contrived, and very abruptly ended. I would have loved to hear more about her experience in California and actually becoming a food/wine writer and her development of recipes. She hardly discusses her blog at all or her contributions to other websites. This book was 80% culinary school, 5% typical 20-something drama, 5% her brother's death, and 5% California. I didn't think it was particularly well written or well edited and just fell a little flat for me. It's almost like she was trying to make a novel out of her memoir and it didn't really work.
December 19, 2012
The only reason I finished this book is because it was over before I made up my mind to give up on it. This was a quick one, only 450 pages in a phone ereader, so maybe 150 pages IRL? I have periodically read the author's blog and enjoyed it as it evolved (I started reading around the time she was working in the bakery), but I don't think she's developed her style enough to make the jump from blog-length writing to memoir/novel-length writing. Also, an editor of any sort seemed to be completely absent from the whole writing process. In the first two pages alone, I mentally rewrote multiple sentences. The superficial nature of the narrative was also quite disappointing. Some pretty emotionally meaty events were described in the book, but they were treated in such a superficial manner, no emotion was conveyed and none was evoked either. The most heartfelt scene in the whole book was an brief exchange the author had a with a receptionist at a local gym. I did enjoy the format, each chapter concludes with some recipes relevant to the events just described. If you need a quick (emphasis on quick) brainless read, this unfortunately may be it, but honestly, there are probably more satisfying brainless reads out there.
December 31, 2014
I received a copy of this book as a "first-reads" from Goodreads.
I'll be the first to admit I have a total girl-crush on Jenna Weber. I read her blog daily and find myself constantly wishing we were close friends who could call each other up to hang out, drink some wine, and try out new recipes. I wanted so badly to love her book. But unfortunately for me it was just okay. It's definitely a quick and easy read, but I just felt like something was missing. It seemed a little choppy- too much to tell and not enough time going into real details. I would have loved to hear more about how she really got into the food/wine writing and where she comes up with some of her recipes. It also had a somewhat abrupt ending, which left me confused and wishing there was more. I'll definitely be trying out the recipes included the book and will continue to be an avid blog reader... just wish the book had a little more to offer.
I'll be the first to admit I have a total girl-crush on Jenna Weber. I read her blog daily and find myself constantly wishing we were close friends who could call each other up to hang out, drink some wine, and try out new recipes. I wanted so badly to love her book. But unfortunately for me it was just okay. It's definitely a quick and easy read, but I just felt like something was missing. It seemed a little choppy- too much to tell and not enough time going into real details. I would have loved to hear more about how she really got into the food/wine writing and where she comes up with some of her recipes. It also had a somewhat abrupt ending, which left me confused and wishing there was more. I'll definitely be trying out the recipes included the book and will continue to be an avid blog reader... just wish the book had a little more to offer.
February 13, 2013
I'm a big fan of the culinary memoir and this is one of the weakest I've ever read. The story does not feel genuine, and seems fake and manufactured. I wouldn't even care if the whole story wasn't true-to-life if it was at least well-written, with feeling, details, and description, but it lacks all of these. Weber's story is not believable and there are many inconsistencies and missing pieces. For example, Weber talks of her nervousness and anticipation about starting school but then remarks that she's been taking the Basic Skills class for over a week already. There are inconsistencies with the timeline she has previously presented on her blog as well. It makes me feel like at least half the book was just made up. The writing is not absolutely terrible, but it's about freshman English major level. It could have used a better editor as well.
The recipes at the end of each chapter seem decent enough, but many times they do not tie in well with the story or the tie-in seems very forced. I'm not at all convinced Ms. Weber loves food, as she never describes what she loves about it with any emotion. Compared to A Handmade Life, by Molly Wizenberg, where I was bawling half-way through, Weber's book is mindless fluff. I know from reading her blog that she was working on it for a very long time (the release was delayed so she could make revisions), and I just have to wonder what she was doing all that time. The book jumps around a lot, lacks any character development (for Ms. Weber or anyone else) and is very boring. Really disappointing.
The recipes at the end of each chapter seem decent enough, but many times they do not tie in well with the story or the tie-in seems very forced. I'm not at all convinced Ms. Weber loves food, as she never describes what she loves about it with any emotion. Compared to A Handmade Life, by Molly Wizenberg, where I was bawling half-way through, Weber's book is mindless fluff. I know from reading her blog that she was working on it for a very long time (the release was delayed so she could make revisions), and I just have to wonder what she was doing all that time. The book jumps around a lot, lacks any character development (for Ms. Weber or anyone else) and is very boring. Really disappointing.
February 26, 2013
I really, really wanted to love this book. I've read many, many food memoirs - they're a favorite genre - and have followed Jenna Weber's blog for a few years now. I was looking forward to this account of her time in culinary school, and I'm really quite disappointed.
Her writing here - unlike her blog, which is fresh and genuine - was stale and seemed lacking in maturity. As my high school English teachers always said, a good writer should "show, not tell." Jenna tells. The dialogue felt both generic and contrived rather than authentic.
The pace was way too quick, and it felt like she merely skimmed the surface of this important season of her life without really bringing the reader into it, in order to cram everything into 160 pages. I read it from cover to cover in two and a half hours, and when I was finished, I thought, "Really? That's it?"
A funny thing that stood out to me - and perhaps this was because I read the book in one sitting - was that she seemed always to be exhausted and going to bed. She admits to being an introvert who cherishes her alone time, and that's fine, but she could have reflected so much more deeply on her experiences and what she was going through. Instead, she focused on the surface of things.
On the upside, I'm looking forward to trying many of the recipes that were included.
In summary, I just wanted this book to be so much more. Jenna has had an interesting journey, and she could have taken us along with her so much more deeply. I hope her next attempt is more successful.
Her writing here - unlike her blog, which is fresh and genuine - was stale and seemed lacking in maturity. As my high school English teachers always said, a good writer should "show, not tell." Jenna tells. The dialogue felt both generic and contrived rather than authentic.
The pace was way too quick, and it felt like she merely skimmed the surface of this important season of her life without really bringing the reader into it, in order to cram everything into 160 pages. I read it from cover to cover in two and a half hours, and when I was finished, I thought, "Really? That's it?"
A funny thing that stood out to me - and perhaps this was because I read the book in one sitting - was that she seemed always to be exhausted and going to bed. She admits to being an introvert who cherishes her alone time, and that's fine, but she could have reflected so much more deeply on her experiences and what she was going through. Instead, she focused on the surface of things.
On the upside, I'm looking forward to trying many of the recipes that were included.
In summary, I just wanted this book to be so much more. Jenna has had an interesting journey, and she could have taken us along with her so much more deeply. I hope her next attempt is more successful.
March 25, 2014
Really, Jenna....so important for you to change your name post-marriage that your author's name on Goodreads is different than the one you published the book under? Makes me want to deduct another star, especially since she traded a decent name for one that's a little less mellifluous, shall we say....but I digress. I like cooking and cooking shows. I like blogs, especially food blogs. And I like memoirs, so I should have liked this book. But just because someone has a great food blog doesn't mean that her life story is interesting enough to warrant a book contract. Hell, even her blog's title is derivative of Elizabeth Gilbert's work. Even the tragedy that distinguishes her life from everyone else's, and I'm sorry for her loss, was told in such an uninteresting way that it didn't seem to have impacted her life path very much. Culinary school just isn't that interesting in the age of celebrity chefs, and neither is trying to make one's way as a food writer/blogger. And how she dumped her long-time boyfriend for some guy she met on a trip wasn't really worth reading about either, even if she did marry him later (after the book was written.)
July 26, 2012
I received a copy of this book as a "first-reads" from Goodreads. I was an avid follower of Jenna's EatLiveRun blog a few years ago, and I still occasionally visit her blog to see her latest recipe. I did enjoy this book, as I felt it gave a lot of background into decisions that led her to her current career path that I had followed. It was quick, easy and fun to read. I enjoyed learning about her journey. However, I do feel it could have been better and I wished it could have been better as I know her passion for writing. This would be great book for older young adults who are looking to find themselves or find a direction, as I loved how Jenna did listen to her heart and trust it where it would lead her. A lesson to my younger self, perhaps. I felt some of the recipes didn't always flow with the story she was telling, and sometime a food would be mentioned that I would want to try, but it wouldn't be in the recipe section. But as I enjoy cooking for fun, I'm looking forward to trying the recipes.
March 28, 2018
Meh.
Spotty timeline without enough context clues to place yourself IN the book.
Really poor - annoyingly poor - editing (("though" where there should be a "thought". semicolons where there should be commas. shoddy grammar, punctuation, and capitalization in general. (illustrating a pet peeve of my own: the title U.S. Marine should be capitalized!) ))
Having zero familiarity with Weber's blog at all, I was under the impression that the book was about a chef's journey through culinary school. While the book in general is fairly gauzy and light on detail, the breeziest topic of all is the supposed meat of it - the culinary school day-to-day and process. The author's *mom's* dinners are described in far more detail than those of Weber herself... sigh.
And finally, though the book is peppered throughout with recipes, they are for dishes that not only include, but stress the importance of, things such as Lawry's grocery-shelf marinade, or involve Pilsbury crescent dough. From a *pastry chef*, y'all. Say what??!
Pass.
Spotty timeline without enough context clues to place yourself IN the book.
Really poor - annoyingly poor - editing (("though" where there should be a "thought". semicolons where there should be commas. shoddy grammar, punctuation, and capitalization in general. (illustrating a pet peeve of my own: the title U.S. Marine should be capitalized!) ))
Having zero familiarity with Weber's blog at all, I was under the impression that the book was about a chef's journey through culinary school. While the book in general is fairly gauzy and light on detail, the breeziest topic of all is the supposed meat of it - the culinary school day-to-day and process. The author's *mom's* dinners are described in far more detail than those of Weber herself... sigh.
And finally, though the book is peppered throughout with recipes, they are for dishes that not only include, but stress the importance of, things such as Lawry's grocery-shelf marinade, or involve Pilsbury crescent dough. From a *pastry chef*, y'all. Say what??!
Pass.
September 15, 2012
I was really looking forward to reading this book, as I've read Jenna's blog for a couple years now. For all of the hints at the work and time she put into writing it, I expected a bit more.
Jenna just seems more honest in her blog, and takes better care with her subject matter in that media, as well. The book feels a bit rushed-through and superficial.
Also, I personally think that the most remarkable avenues and incidences of Jenna's life thus far have played out since she moved to California--this book ends abruptly, just as she's making that move. Jenna is currently in her mid-to-late twenties, so dropping all she knew, picking up and moving clear across the country three years ago should feature more prominently in a "coming of age" story.
Ultimately, I think that Jenna is a decent writer, but that her skill is (as of yet) underdeveloped for this kind of undertaking.
One good thing: the recipes sprinkled throughout the book are useful!
Jenna just seems more honest in her blog, and takes better care with her subject matter in that media, as well. The book feels a bit rushed-through and superficial.
Also, I personally think that the most remarkable avenues and incidences of Jenna's life thus far have played out since she moved to California--this book ends abruptly, just as she's making that move. Jenna is currently in her mid-to-late twenties, so dropping all she knew, picking up and moving clear across the country three years ago should feature more prominently in a "coming of age" story.
Ultimately, I think that Jenna is a decent writer, but that her skill is (as of yet) underdeveloped for this kind of undertaking.
One good thing: the recipes sprinkled throughout the book are useful!
December 31, 2016
I loved reading Jenna's blog Eat, Live, Run several years ago so I was looking forward to reading her book. She was relatable and I made several of her recipes over the last few years.
White Jacket Required is Jenna's story of her journey through culinary school. After graduating from university the job market was tough and she wanted to follow her passion to become a food writer. She figured that in order to write about food she should know how to cook good food so culinary school would give her credibility as a good writer. The book is a combination of her memoir with some of her favourite recipes included at the end of chapters.
The book was a quick read and interesting enough. Jenna's writing is a bit all over the place. Stories jump around and are never fully fleshed out. The ending of the book feels abrupt. I felt like the potential was there for a really good story, it just wasn't completely realized.
White Jacket Required is Jenna's story of her journey through culinary school. After graduating from university the job market was tough and she wanted to follow her passion to become a food writer. She figured that in order to write about food she should know how to cook good food so culinary school would give her credibility as a good writer. The book is a combination of her memoir with some of her favourite recipes included at the end of chapters.
The book was a quick read and interesting enough. Jenna's writing is a bit all over the place. Stories jump around and are never fully fleshed out. The ending of the book feels abrupt. I felt like the potential was there for a really good story, it just wasn't completely realized.
June 17, 2017
Review originally appeared on BlogsLikeaGirl.com http://blogslikeagirl.com/book-review...
White Jacket Required was written by Jenna Weber, the blogger at Eat, Live, Run, which I read on and off. It’s a “memoir” of her post graduate time in culinary school. I say “memoir” because this book only covers the surface of Jenna’s feelings and kind of scans over her time in culinary school. Seriously, this book should have been longer and more in-depth. We only touch on certain points of culinary school and hop around a lot.
That said, despite its problems, I can’t say I didn’t enjoy it. It’s a light (very light) read and considering I got it for $3 and free shipping off Amazon, I can’t complain about the price. I wanted a fluffy kind of read to break up the more intense stuff I’ve been tackling and I got it with this book.
White Jacket Required was written by Jenna Weber, the blogger at Eat, Live, Run, which I read on and off. It’s a “memoir” of her post graduate time in culinary school. I say “memoir” because this book only covers the surface of Jenna’s feelings and kind of scans over her time in culinary school. Seriously, this book should have been longer and more in-depth. We only touch on certain points of culinary school and hop around a lot.
That said, despite its problems, I can’t say I didn’t enjoy it. It’s a light (very light) read and considering I got it for $3 and free shipping off Amazon, I can’t complain about the price. I wanted a fluffy kind of read to break up the more intense stuff I’ve been tackling and I got it with this book.
September 2, 2012
This is a beautifully written book about following your dreams and having a job you are passionate about. Jenna gives an inside look at going to culinary school in Florida and the opportunities that present themselves afterwards. The book is also full of great looking recipes that correspond to her stories. Jenna's blog was the first I ever read. I found it about 3 years ago and have looked forward to each and every post since. I was very excited to find out she was writing a book and Jenna did not disappoint! She thoughtfully tells her story with humor and grace through tragedy and triumph. It is inspiring that someone so young has already written a memoir. I hope that she follows it up with a second book soon!
August 30, 2017
I picked up this book because I love cooking and baking and wanted to understand more about what it is like to go to culinary school - sort of live vicariously through someone else. I found the writing in this book so frustrating! Without knowing the author as a blogger, I could not have cared less about her very minor running program. When she dedicated quite a bit of time explaining how she had to forgive herself for giving up on her plans to run a half marathon,it felt very out of place. Also, the recipes at the end of chapters felt very forced. Who remembers with detail what they ordered in a restaurant several years ago? This was a very disappointing read, and I have to admit I could not finish the book with only two chapters left because there were too many insignificant tangents.
August 5, 2012
Disclaimer: I received this as part of the GoodReads giveaways.
This book was a very easy and quick read. It would be suitable for a middle schooler if the subject content would be appealing for that age. I felt that there was much to be desired and if written by a more established author would have been more fulfilling. That said, it kept me interested enough that I finished it in very little time.
This book was a very easy and quick read. It would be suitable for a middle schooler if the subject content would be appealing for that age. I felt that there was much to be desired and if written by a more established author would have been more fulfilling. That said, it kept me interested enough that I finished it in very little time.
May 19, 2014
Jenny's blog was one of the earlier blogs I followed back in early 2011. I really enjoy her writings especially about healthy eating, so naturally I looked forward to reading her debut book. Sadly, the writing on her coming-of-age was really flat. The tone was a bit pretentious as well... However, the recipes she had included at the end of every chapter seem delicious and simple for me to want to give it a go.
June 27, 2014
As a stand alone book it's a relatively interesting read but if you've read her blog for years as I have you'll notice a lot if contradictions. This is normal, most editors will change timelines etc for better flow but when you've lived your life in the public eye as much as Jenna has it can prove problematic.
While she's no Julie Powell, the section about her brother's death is heartbreaking.
While she's no Julie Powell, the section about her brother's death is heartbreaking.
September 18, 2012
I read this book because I've read Jenna's blog for a long time. The book is a quick read with a lot of great recipes. That's where my positive recommendation ends. The dialogue is very forced. There is basically no discernible plot and I just wanted to finish reading it so I could move on. I think there was a lot Jenna could have done with the topics in the book, but the book just falls short.
September 11, 2012
I couldn't get over the mistake on page 12. It's Marion Square Park not Miriam Square Park. Boo.
January 8, 2014
I'm a huge fan of Weber's blog and am only now getting around to reading her memoir. I liked learner about the blogger behind all the posts I love so much.
December 27, 2019
This was a pretty good book. I wouldn't say amazing but I mostly got what I wanted. I wanted a look into the culinary world. She didn't become a chef but did give me a look into culinary school. Though honestly the part I was most inspired by what the small parts about Charleston. If the city is like she describes I can't wait to visit there. But otherwise it was just something to read. I have never heard of or read her blog before this but did read some of the reviews after reading 70 percent of this and was surprised by some talking about discrepancies between the two. Though I understand polishing things for a book from the more real like day to day blog, I don't really like that this made me feel like I couldn't trust the word of the author to know what was actually true. I also found it a little hard to relate to her at times as she apparently naturally likes very healthy meals (all well and fine) all the time and mentions at one point that she would sneak a chocolate chip or two at work. Heaven forbid, a chocolate chip or two. But that's just me.
Overall, a decent book.
Overall, a decent book.
June 29, 2017
This book was just a fun summer read. I loved it because it was a story of someone's journey through culinary school, and because I love baking it just made for a fun read. The plot is nothing revolutionary, but then again it's just supposed to be a book about a snippet of someone's life. What really made this book fun for me was the recipes at the end of every chapter that usually had to do with what was talked about within the chapter. Now I feel inspired to go to pastry school! ..... although it probably won't happen haha
November 27, 2019
I love a good chef's story but this was disappointing. I didn't enjoy the writing style so I didn't feel her connection with food. When she did talk about cooking or food, it was in a casual way or how she threw together a healthy breakfast. The ending was abrupt; I actually flipped back a page in my reader to see if I accidentally skipped a page or something.
March 22, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
I’ll read any cooking related memoir in print and this one had its own beauties and turns and goodness. And recipes of course. It’s a simple story but there’s also the pain of loss and the bigger questions of where life’s path leads and where we must turn even when it doesn’t make sense. I enjoyed…
I’ll read any cooking related memoir in print and this one had its own beauties and turns and goodness. And recipes of course. It’s a simple story but there’s also the pain of loss and the bigger questions of where life’s path leads and where we must turn even when it doesn’t make sense. I enjoyed…
January 8, 2020
This book wasn’t what I expected and I felt it lacked continuity. I was anticipating something like a raunchless Kitchen Confidential and it read more like a handful of sporadic diary entries.
December 4, 2021
What a snob. I can’t believe I made it to the end.
March 17, 2017
I've never read Weber's blog but I loved her memoir.
August 28, 2012
"White Jacket Required, A Culinary Coming-of-Age Story" by Jenna Weber is indeed a coming of age story Jenna has a great boyfriend, a loving family and is living the American dream. It is great to have it all, and this young woman does. She is a child of privilege who aspires to be a food writer.
With this goal in mind and after completing her college education, she moves clear across Florida to attend a branch of Le Cordon Bleu where cooking is taught and chefs are created. This book chronicles her trip through culinary school as she sorts out what sort of cooking appeals most to her, and lands squarely on baking.
Her writing, as she begins her book is liberally sprinkle with adjectives as most food writing is these days. She also adds a scattering of recipes, a couple at the end of each chapter. These recipes are good enough to be worth the cost of admission all by themselves.
After school, Jenna manages to serve her internship at a country club near her family's home, and then in an organic supermarket bakery. Her dream to be a food writer is, of course, fulfilled by her blog, entitled "Eat, Live, Run" - a clever play on name recognition, and by this book that is out this year from Sterling.
We ride along as she sorts through boyfriends and job offers in wine country, and it is a pretty nice ride. But, as it always does, life pulls Jenna up short, and we see this young woman mature on the pages of this book. Her writing style tightens; her heart and soul begin to emerge without adjectives, but with the truth born of pain. It is fascinating to watch this young writer begin to come of age. Today she lives and writes in San Francisco, having made a clean break with the world of her childhood.
Because this is a culinary journey and one with recipes, I followed my rule of thumb to actually prepare at least three recipes from each book I review. One of the recipes came to Jenna from her friend Adam. He prepared this cheesecake during an audition meal at a vineyard. It is a very nice and made with, of all things refrigerated crescent rolls. Once I read the recipe, I had to try it. I also baked up a batch of Jenna's Old-Fashioned Potato Rolls, which are very like my mother's recipe and are light, fluffy and have that special flavor that only fresh yeast rolls have. I also made her Lemon-Brown Sugar Chicken - a nice treatment for boneless chicken breasts.
This book gives one the rare privilege of seeing a young woman come of age in the kitchen and in the world through her own recollections. It is a refreshing read.
With this goal in mind and after completing her college education, she moves clear across Florida to attend a branch of Le Cordon Bleu where cooking is taught and chefs are created. This book chronicles her trip through culinary school as she sorts out what sort of cooking appeals most to her, and lands squarely on baking.
Her writing, as she begins her book is liberally sprinkle with adjectives as most food writing is these days. She also adds a scattering of recipes, a couple at the end of each chapter. These recipes are good enough to be worth the cost of admission all by themselves.
After school, Jenna manages to serve her internship at a country club near her family's home, and then in an organic supermarket bakery. Her dream to be a food writer is, of course, fulfilled by her blog, entitled "Eat, Live, Run" - a clever play on name recognition, and by this book that is out this year from Sterling.
We ride along as she sorts through boyfriends and job offers in wine country, and it is a pretty nice ride. But, as it always does, life pulls Jenna up short, and we see this young woman mature on the pages of this book. Her writing style tightens; her heart and soul begin to emerge without adjectives, but with the truth born of pain. It is fascinating to watch this young writer begin to come of age. Today she lives and writes in San Francisco, having made a clean break with the world of her childhood.
Because this is a culinary journey and one with recipes, I followed my rule of thumb to actually prepare at least three recipes from each book I review. One of the recipes came to Jenna from her friend Adam. He prepared this cheesecake during an audition meal at a vineyard. It is a very nice and made with, of all things refrigerated crescent rolls. Once I read the recipe, I had to try it. I also baked up a batch of Jenna's Old-Fashioned Potato Rolls, which are very like my mother's recipe and are light, fluffy and have that special flavor that only fresh yeast rolls have. I also made her Lemon-Brown Sugar Chicken - a nice treatment for boneless chicken breasts.
This book gives one the rare privilege of seeing a young woman come of age in the kitchen and in the world through her own recollections. It is a refreshing read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 125 reviews