The Day I Ate Whatever I Wanted: And Other Small Acts of Liberation

by Elizabeth Berg

Exhilarating short stories of women breaking free from convention

Every now and then, right in the middle of an ordinary day, a woman rebels, kicks up her heels, and commits a small act of liberation.

What would you do, if you were going to break out and away? Go AWOL from Weight Watchers and spend an entire day eating every single thing you want–and then some? Start a dating service for people over fifty to reclaim the razzle-dazzle in your life–or your marriage? Seek comfort in the face of aging, look for love in the midst of loss, find friendship in the most surprising of places?

Imagine that the people in these wonderful stories–who do all of these things and more–are asking What would you do, if nobody was looking?

Genres: Short Stories, Fiction, Book Club, Humor, Chick Lit, Audiobook, Womens

256 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2008

About the author

Elizabeth Berg is an American novelist.
She was born in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and lived in Boston prior to her residence in Chicago. She studied English and Humanities at the University of Minnesota, but later ended up with a nursing degree. Her writing career started when she won an essay contest in Parents magazine. Since her debut novel in 1993, her novels have sold in large numbers and have received several awards and nominations, although some critics have tagged them as sentimental. She won the New England Book Awards in 1997.
The novels Durable Goods, Joy School, and True to Form form a trilogy about the 12-year-old Katie Nash, in part based on the author's own experience as a daughter in a military family. Her essay "The Pretend Knitter" appears in the anthology Knitting Yarns: Writers on Knitting, published by W. W. Norton & Company in November 2013.

Reviews

[E · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading Elizabeth Berg is kinda like eating apple pie a la mode: while you enjoy the flavor and guilty pleasure and rationalize that because it has apples it is nutritious, deep down inside you know you should be partaking of something more substantive. Nonetheless, we all need some dessert sometimes. This collection of short stories made me laugh out loud - particularly the title story, which should be read by anyone who ever tried to diet or "cut back" or went to Weight Watchers. (And there is the companion piece, "The Day I Ate Nothing I Even Remotely Wanted," which is also a day that many of us have tortured ourselves with.) There are touching stories here, too - a pair of elderly female friends battling choices of old age, a middle-aged married woman who fantasizes about reuniting with the man who got away - and enough of a sense of irony, self-deprecatory humor, and sarcasm to keep things from being icky sweet. "How to Make An Apple Pie" is narrated in a strong, true voice and has good advice about both pie and life. Yes, it's true that Berg's stuff is a pretty thin slice of a very particular type of life pie- white, middle to upper class, heterosexual, middle-aged, abled, mostly female, and very little deep pain. But this is why she makes for a nice treat when one wants a break from entrees of beefy nonfiction, postmodernism, and angst.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am not a fan of the short story genre. I don't like becoming emotionally invested in characters only to have them leave me a few pages later. (No, I do not have abandonment issues.) But, heck, I'd read the back of a cereal box if it was written by Elizabeth Berg. Fortunately, I was not disappointed and only a bit miffed at the brief time spent with her characters.

This is most definitely a women's book but it is NOT chick lit. The collection of stories are not light, romantic fluff. Rather they expound on the experience of women, not the club-hopping mini-skirt clad twenty and thirty-somethings but more mature women with wrinkles, a few extra pounds, grown children, and the weariness and wisdom that comes from life experience. I like these women, identify with these women, know these women. They are me, despite the differences in age, marital status, and life circumstances. At times Berg displays the dry wit for which I love her. There is also plenty of nostalgia, charm, and grit. I enjoyed all of the stories from the very first from which the title is drawn, to The Day I Ate Nothing I Even Remotely Wanted to Full Count. I was especially fond of How To Make An Apple Pie, written in letter format from an elderly woman to her former neighbor.

Berg is prone to repetition. I notice many similarities that pop up over and over again in her writing. But I do not mind this. It makes me feel as though I know her personally, recognize the bits of her that she sprinkles throughout her writing, a nod to an old friend. Granted, I am a re-reader. Many of my favorite books have enjoyed multiple readings and I've no doubt this will be one I'll visit again.

[☮Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maybe 3.5 stars. A very light listen to E Berg herself reading her short stories, many about middle agers and seniors trying to stick to a diet, or not... many saying chuck it all, we're old after all so what's the point of denying ourselves of life's pleasures? Those pleasures also include family and friends, emphasis on women who have been friends forever and are always there for each other. A few stories about dreaming how old loves have aged and would it be worthwhile to meet them again after so much time.

Berg knows these women, knows how to express their emotions, their joys, their regrets and secrets. Many of us know these women too and share those same regrets and secrets. Always a privilege and a pleasure to read Berg, even her earlier works.

[Jeanette (Ms. Feisty) · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are thirteen stories in this collection. I enjoyed reading all of them. My two favorites were:

Rain, about a guy who gives up the rat race to live a simpler life.

The Only One of Millions Just Like Him, about letting go of a beloved elderly dog.


With Elizabeth Berg, I always find something to enjoy, even in the stories I can't relate to. She makes observations about humans and life in general that are amusing or profound or both. You think to yourself, "Oh, it's sappy and sentimental." But then you find your eyes getting a little misty, or laughing out loud in spite of your cynicism.

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

She always writes good stuff and this collection of short stories is no different.

[Dotty Schmid · Rating 2 out of 5]

Short stories do not thrill me and this is the first book where I got through all of them.
All in all, a bit depressing. All of the stories are about overweight, aging women that are trying to feel alright about themselves. There were moments of goodness but I do not recommend.

[Jane Stewart · Rating 2 out of 5]

My feelings while reading this: sadness, regret, loneliness, loss of loved ones, bittersweet reminiscing, pleasant comfort.

REVIEWER’S OPINION:
This book has about thirteen short stories. One has stories within a story. Each story is about different, unrelated people. Almost every story has sadness – in different ways. In most stories someone is dying or will die of cancer, leukemia, brain tumor, or similar. In one story, someone regrets that she was cruel and mean to a date years ago. He now has cancer. Another woman was sad within her marriage, gets a divorce, and now is sad and struggles to accept that her ex-husband has moved on. Most stories have reminiscing about the past. Most stories are about people in midlife or later. The beginning story is sad in a different way. The narrator lives every day with the unpleasantness of trying not to eat too much. She attends Weight Watcher meetings. It seems her greatest joy in life is eating fattening and junk food. Another story was about an eleven-year-old girl who has internal conflicts about eating food. In the end she has a sad realization.

In addition to sadness, there is loneliness. There is regret. I hoped that I wouldn’t be in those situations. In a couple of stories the endings have hopefulness, like the couple whose dog dies, and they decide to get a replacement puppy. The stories are true-to-life. Sad things happen to most people. There is always death coming. I prefer books that keep me away from those thoughts. I want to escape the sadnesses of life. I want to feel good. So for that reason I do not recommend this for myself. But I know some readers appreciate this kind of thing. Since I listened to this as an audiobook, I had more tolerance for lack of entertainment value. I can say this was not boring, and I did NOT feel that I wanted it to be over. In fact at times I felt a pleasant comfort – like being at a family gathering and reminiscing with relatives and friends. But if I were “reading” as opposed to listening, I might have felt more negatives about it.

The Booklist review mentions “the insatiable appetite for rich and comforting foods stems from a deeper hunger for enveloping and sustaining love.” That’s a fitting theme for some of the stories.

DATA:
Unabridged audiobook length: 8 hours. Narrator and Author: Elizabeth Berg. Swearing language: strong (used about two or three times) including a religious swear word. Sexual content: none. Setting: current day various locations in the U.S. Copyright: 2008. Genre: memoirs fiction.

[Genevieve Dazet · Rating 2 out of 5]

Subtitle: And Other Small Acts of Liberation

I listened to this on audio, and it was a pleasant enough collection. I have mixed feelings about the author reading his or her own work. Sometimes it's great, but most of the time I understand why actors are hired for the job. In this case, Berg had a surprisingly annoying voice (I had 'pictured' it as so nice!), but not so irritating that I had to stop listening.

I was hoping this was a series of weight-related fictional anecdotes, but only two focused on the struggles of healthy eating and weight loss. I'm always on the lookout for good books about that issue!

The rest of the stories ranged from reuniting with an old high school boyfriend to watching a friend die to an adolescent realizing how awkward she is, a woman who can't get over her ex-husband and one who takes her friend away from her confining nursing home; thirteen stories in all...none are particularly uplifting, and I was disappointed at this as generally Berg is good for comfort reading. I found myself disgusted as most of the individual heroines.

[Kelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book read for visit by Elizabeth Berg and for book discussion group

I adore Elizabeth Berg! She has been to our library twice. She is an engaging speaker and an all-around fun person!

I usually don't read short stories so I wasn't sure how I would feel about this collection. I enjoyed each and every story. First of all, who can resist a story called, "The Day I Ate Whatever I Wanted"? Ms. Berg writes characters that each of us know; her characters speak and act like real people.

I'm now waiting patiently for her new book, "Arthur Trulove"!

[A · Rating 4 out of 5]

Berg has an uncanny ability to draw you so deeply into her character’s lives that you feel as if you know them. I often found myself smiling as I read about them, loving how Michael (in the story “Rain”) left his high-powered city job for life in the county. Berg describes everything from how he built his home, to the spaghetti sauce his friends made using the riches in his garden, to the minute ways in which Michael changed when the uncertainties of life finally took their toll. Berg’s stories tug and your heartstrings, each in a different way.

As a foodie I also must mention how much I appreciated Berg’s attention to culinary detail. She doesn’t simply tell you that Michael and his friends enjoyed spaghetti sauce, she shows you how it was made and invites you to taste it in your mind’s eye: “onion and garlic… were sauteed in olive oil, basil and oregano and tomatoes still warm from the sun,” the main character writes. “I added a little honey and a little red wine and we let the sauce cook down, and then we ate outside, watching the sky redden, then purple, then go black and starry. Maybe it was the wood burning stove, but I have never tasted better marinara.”

My favorite story in the collection is titled “How to Make Apple Pie.” It’s told from the perspective of an 86-year-old woman, named Flo, writing a letter to a women who grew up next door. The way Berg characterized this narrator was so endearing I found myself wishing I was the recipient of her letter, which describes her prized recipe with instructions like: “The filling is a matter of sniff and add a bit of this, sniff and add a bit of that.” Overall Flo’s tone made me laugh, being both specific and vague at the same time, and reminding me so much of how my own grandmother outlines her recipes. “Add just a touch of nutmeg, nutmeg must always work undercover, where you taste it but you don’t know what it is. Like mace in sweet rolls or coffee in chocolate cake,” Flo continues, then cautions: “Your nose is your guide… Now if you have a cold, forget about making pie or anything else. Go over someplace like the Olive Garden and load up on all the garlic, that you will taste.”

I could go on and on about Flo – that’s how much I liked her – and while not all the stories in this book touched me so deeply, I have to say, I plan to buy the book just for this one story.

In addition to “Rain” and “How to Make and Apple Pie,” other stories I particularly enjoyed include: “The Day I Ate Whatever I Wanted, ” “Full Count,” and “The Day I Ate Nothing I Even Remotely Wanted.”

[Jodi · Rating 3 out of 5]

A collection of short stories about women at various stages in their lives. Many of the stories dealt with how we as women, tend to deny ourselves things we would like because we are so busy taking care of others. 3 stories in particular stand out in my memory and I will mention them below.

"The Day I Ate Whatever I Wanted" and "The Day I Ate Nothing I Wanted": In a culture so obsessed with appearances women are often so concerned with their weight and are constantly dieting or trying to loose weight. Both of these stories address this exactly. In the one story the woman left a Weight Watchers meeting tired of denying herself everything and decided for one day, enjoying what she ate wouldn't hurt her. Boy did she enjoy herself! In the other story the lady talks about how she wants to enjoy so many things but sticks to her bland diet but isn't too happy. If only we as women could learn to live in moderation and be happier with our physical and emotional selves. Also, we lose focus on the joy in life if we are concentrating only on our weight!

The final story that I enjoyed was "Sin City" and this one also had a self denial theme in it. However, in this case it was how we do not spend money on things for ourselves because we feel guilty about it. The lady in this story decides to go against her thinking and buys herself a suitcase full of new clothes, a new bracelet, and hops on a plane to Las Vegas with no prior planning. On the way she meets a new gentleman friend and her life changes forever. Sometimes, we need to splurge on ourselves to make ourselves feel better. After all we take care of everyone else, so why not us?

I need to remember to take care of myself and enjoy life a little more like the characters finally did in two of the stories I mentioned above. Moderation is the key to happiness!

[Marie limousin · Rating 5 out of 5]

The stories are little jewels of life of various women mostly a little older and mostly a little overweight. There are themes of self acceptance and self fulfillment and of female friendships and new and old love. My favorite is the apple pie recipe. Check it out!

[Lori]

As with anything that EB writes, it was GOOD! Can EB even write a meaningless sentence? I think not.

[joanna · Rating 2 out of 5]

first impression: i am just annoyed at what seems to be blatant pandering to female readers: the bright pink color scheme, the diet themed title, etc. (i do realize however that neither of those things may have been the choice of the author.) so far, the writing is confessional, sometimes amusing, although i don't find such an obsession with weight watchers that hilarious.

ok, i didn't finish this book in time for the book club meeting (highly unusual. in opposite world.) but my fellow book clubbers insisted that the stories get only better as you go on. i think i was allowing my initial annoyance to cloud my judgment. there are some really beautiful observations that play out in a few of the stories that i did get to. the author has a way of getting to the heart of the emotions of a single moment. i believe that there are moments throughout the stories that women of all ages can relate to, so perhaps the "pandering" makes sense.

so far, the stories follow a sort of formulaeic pattern of experience and memory, emotion and physicality, and they all seem to end on a sort of philosophical plane. which, and you'll sense a pattern here, annoyed me at first. but then i guess that's what you do with short stories - everything has to be wrapped up in this little package, and since it's only a glimpse into the whole story, there really is no "ending". so i guess that's the significance of finishing with a questing thought or a random memory.

(update) i finally returned this book to the library today. i did not read all of it, but at the encouragement of all of my book club members who did finish the book, i read the last short story, entitled "Sin City" and it was excellent. i skimmed through the other stories i hadn't gotten to, and as they all seemed to be about dieting, i declared the whole thing a wash. i don't recommend this whole book, i recommend "sin city" and a few of the other stories that were more about life, loss, love, and friendship.

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a series of shorts (both fiction and non) that revolve around women and their small acts of personal liberation. Some stories were okay while others were a real gem.

I especially liked the first short of Berg's day where she ate whatever she wanted. I cheered her the whole way through (even to her next day weigh-in at Weight Watchers.) If you don't really like Berg's writing style, the book is still worth a pick up if ONLY to read this first story. The other story that was wonderful was Double Dieting (I think that's the title.) It's a story of a woman who has been on a diet her whole life and her husband of many years decides he wants to lose a few himself. They diet together. It's hysterical! I especially loved the ending with a cake for dinner with side of pizza for dessert. There is real comfort in being married to a friend and lover for so many years. The other exceptional piece was a letter from an elderly widow to a young married about how to make an apple pie. It's has just the right touch of emotion.

It would make a great beach/pool book. Sample the stories you like and pass on the others you don't - kind of like eating at a good restaurant.

[Evanston Public Library]

Berg’s wonderful short stories—witty and droll yet expressing a knowing sympathy for her characters—are perfectly crafted gems of self discovery, change, and renewal. The stories contain a broad range of personalities and situations: the pre-teen on the edge of puberty whose self image as a cute girl is devastatingly changed when she overhears a cousin call her a fatty; the older couple reduced to ridiculous displays grief and wondering if life’s worth living when their aged dog is dying; a recipe for apple pie in a charming, chatty letter that reveals a great deal about the love for simple things the writer wishes to share; and my favorite about three women friends of a certain age who make a pact to reconnect with old flames and return to a dinner gathering to report on the results (the rapid-fire dialogue in this one is simply spot on). The title story is about every dieter’s dream rebellion. For a whole day the narrator splurges on whatever foods she wants, and delights in recounting her choices and the delicious sinfulness of it all. Why don’t you splurge on this gourmet selection of great reading? I promise it’s low cal, but oh, so yummy. (Barbara L., Reader’s Services)

[Kristin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I will with guilt, admit I quickly grabbed this book as my son and I were leaving the library 5 min. before closing and I solely based it on well, the title... The Day I Ate Whatever I wanted. Hello?? And the picture caught my attention.

I've been having a stressful time in my life and struggling to read a couple different books so this book of short stories was perfect timing for me. Some were light, some were sad but most had a steady flow of humor which I really enjoyed and breezed through this book pretty quick.

The only story I didn't care for was about an eldery woman trying to write a letter to an acquaintance to give her an apple pie recipe. For a short story, it was long and kept on going. The elderly woman just couldn't seem to spit out that recipe but I guess we all can't have our pie and eat it too? I couldn't resist. lol

The remaining stories were all pretty good and I would recommend this to someone looking for a light read.

[Joan Bannan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elizabeth Berg is a great writer. I'm looking forward to reading more by her.

I usually prefer full-length novels, but these short stories were enjoyable. Elizabeth has great insight into the emotional struggles with weight and aging. Though not captivating like a novel, it was very entertaining.

I read this for my book club. I'm looking forward to a lively discussion.

[Joanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed listening to the author read these stories. As with most short story collections, some of the stories were better than others. In particular, I enjoyed the story that was a letter reading a recipe for making apple pie and the story about Michael. I think I enjoyed listening to these stories more than I would have liked reading them -- the author reading them aloud made them feel like a conversation with a favorite aunt or an old friend.

I also was glad to hear a shout out to Nora Ephron's I Feel Bad About My Neck. That book kept coming to mind as a great parallel read with this one.

[Dru · Rating 3 out of 5]

These short stories mostly center around characters in their late fifties - sixties who pride themselves on homemade cooking and living the prime of their lives in a much simpler time. Maybe by sheer proxy of my age (late 20's), I found them to be charming and sassy, but also a little sad. They seemed to carry around great sorrow with them that shone through even happy or silly moments. They lived full lives: husband, children, grandchildren and are now at an age where they feel they can finally live for themselves. That perhaps is the greatest sadness - that they felt they couldn't live for themselves before now.

[Kathy McC · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some of the stories resonated with me and some did not.

This quotation is for Kourtney, "Hot dogs? Well, I live in Chicago, where we know what hot dogs are and how they should be served. Portillo's hot dogs are good, and their tamales, oh my!"

This was my favorite from the book, "It's like you live your life opening doors. One after the other. You open a door onto a hallway, which leads to another door, which leads to another hallway. But then one day you open a door and it's to a closet. It doesn't go anywhere. And it's dark in there."

[Annette · Rating 5 out of 5]

I guess I'm learning to love short stories. I reserved this title because I read Berg's "Dream When You're Feeling Blue" and absolutely loved it. This had wonderful stories. Another reviewer wrote that Berg writes about ordinary people doing ordinary things and this hits it right on. She writes with such an easy, flowing manner and it is such a pleasure to read.

[Nicole Venere · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!
It was a ton of individual stories told from the woman's perspective. Situations we have all (as women) been in. I actually listened to this book. The author is the narrator and the voice of the book. The name of the book is deceiving -- only a few parts were about food but by Gosh were those parts side-splitting funny. Awesome beach read/listen.

[Bonnie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Either thought this below her standards or else the topic simply didn't interest me. Did not finish reading.

[chickienuggies™ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very enjoyable collection of stories. I think the synopsis on the back of the book did it SO dirty because I thought initially that it would read like a cringey self-help book trying too hard to appeal to middle-aged women. This was not the case though. Ultimately, all the stories were well-written and relatable. They cover a wide scope of topics related to womanhood and some of the struggles that come with it, especially things to do with weight and eating. This book had some of the BEST food descriptions I've read and made me very hungry - I went out and got ChungChun & a cookie after reading it. ANYways, the various topics are dealt with in very realistic ways and from varying perspectives - from the view of a girl on the brink of womanhood to women who must grapple with the threat of death and loss in older age. There wasn't one story I didn't like, and it also fulfilled my need for grandma-type humour. A pretty solid 4 overall.

[Rachel Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has absolutely, positively shot to the top of my all-time favorites list — I loved every single word. I adore Elizabeth Berg’s writing but may not have stumbled upon this collection of short stories without hearing it be recommended on the What Should I Read Next? podcast hosted by Anne Bogel. The essays are so heartfelt and the characters in each chapter are developed with unbelievable depth, which is a special feat considering that each story stands alone; Berg doesn’t have much time to craft each character so beautifully and realistically, and yet she does, every time. I am not much of a re-reader but I am already excited at the prospect of reading these stories again and again...and again and again!

[Gina Baldyga · Rating 4 out of 5]

A somewhat mixed collection of short stories, mostly sweet and intended for women of a certain age. The very last page is the crux of it — referencing the perfect weight of a baby in your arms with the feel of a toddler’s hand in your own, but that time does not stand still. Just when your heart feels wrung out, she reminds you how that is actually a blessing.

[Believeit2seeit · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious and relatable.

[Erica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Holy crud, I'm only five minutes in and I really REALLY want donuts. I don't even LIKE donuts. But I want them. I think I love this woman.

A few days later...
While I don't love every single story, "How to make an apple pie" is so charming, I find I'm sitting at my desk grinning like some ridiculous moron and I'm even a tad bit teary. I absolutely love this story. And I wish I had some apples; I'd make a pie when I got home.

And now I'm done. I have finished this audiobook, read by the author.

As with most short story collections, some stories are wonderful, some are memorable, and some cease to exist in my mind the moment they were finished. I don't know that I agree the stories represent "small acts of liberation" as a whole but that didn't discourage me from enjoying the stories on their own terms.

My favorites were:
"The Day I Ate Whatever I Wanted" It's the first story, the one that made me crave donuts. It just seemed to joyous, so fun, so arms-wide-open-while-spinning to me. I loved it and was very sad to not have lots of delicious food nearby at the time.

"Sin City" with Rita, a widow, who decides to shake things up and visit Las Vegas for the first time. I hope when I'm on my own and have time to spare that I continue to be fun and sometimes frivolous, as Rita remembers to do.

And the one I loved most, "How to Bake an Apple Pie" So very charming. It reminded me of a letter I might have received from my grandmother. She made apple pie the very same way and her letters used to have that element of memory and chit chat. For that reason, among many others, I will always hold this particular story close.

[Casey · Rating 2 out of 5]

Couldn't figure how do do a half a star - as in 2 and a half - so I went with 2. That being said, some of the stories in this book were fun, enchanting and/or sad. Others were totally annoying and made me crazy. But now that I've finished I couldn't give you the names of any of the stories, or what the plot of a particular story was. Sad. Easy to see that this book just didn't stay with me, it was something to read (and was for my book discussion group) so I read it. I doubt that I would suggest it to anyone, unless they needed a book for say a vacation or sitting on the beach. I've read 4 Elizabeth Berg books, and really I don't know why, I don't find them all that fabulous or anything, they are 'something to read', especially if my brain is tired. SO,...if your bain is tired but you still need something to read, this might be a book to consider, or not. (I hope that perhaps this has been helpful in some small way :)