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My First Popsicle: An Anthology of Food and Feelings
A warm and relateable collection of essays exploring the memories we associate with different meals in our lives, from a spectrum of talented creators
What is your most poignant memory surrounding food?
Of all the essentials for survival: oxygen, water, sleep, and food, only food is a vast treasure trove of memory and of sensory experience. Food is a portal to culture, to times past, to disgust, to comfort, to love: no matter one's feelings about a particular dish, they are hardly ever neutral.
In MY FIRST POPSICLE, Zosia Mamet has curated some of the most prominent voices in art and culture to tackle the topic of food in its elegance, its profundity, and its incidental charm. With contributions from Stephanie Danler on vinaigrette and starting over, Anita Lo on the cultural responsibility of dumplings, Tony Hale on his obsession with desserts at chain restaurants, Patti LuPone on childhood memories of seeking out shellfish, Gabourey Sidibe on her connections with her father and the Senegalese dish Poullet Yassa, Andrew Rannells on his nostalgia for Jell-O Cake, Sloane Crosley on the pesto that got her through the early months of the pandemic, Michelle Buteau on her love for all things pasta, Jia Tolentino on the chicken dish she makes to escape reality, and more, MY FIRST POPSICLE is as much an ode to food and emotion as it is to life. After all, the two are inseparable.
What is your most poignant memory surrounding food?
Of all the essentials for survival: oxygen, water, sleep, and food, only food is a vast treasure trove of memory and of sensory experience. Food is a portal to culture, to times past, to disgust, to comfort, to love: no matter one's feelings about a particular dish, they are hardly ever neutral.
In MY FIRST POPSICLE, Zosia Mamet has curated some of the most prominent voices in art and culture to tackle the topic of food in its elegance, its profundity, and its incidental charm. With contributions from Stephanie Danler on vinaigrette and starting over, Anita Lo on the cultural responsibility of dumplings, Tony Hale on his obsession with desserts at chain restaurants, Patti LuPone on childhood memories of seeking out shellfish, Gabourey Sidibe on her connections with her father and the Senegalese dish Poullet Yassa, Andrew Rannells on his nostalgia for Jell-O Cake, Sloane Crosley on the pesto that got her through the early months of the pandemic, Michelle Buteau on her love for all things pasta, Jia Tolentino on the chicken dish she makes to escape reality, and more, MY FIRST POPSICLE is as much an ode to food and emotion as it is to life. After all, the two are inseparable.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published November 1, 2022
67 people are currently reading
4045 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 192 reviews
November 9, 2022
I was very excited for this one. I love essay collections and food writing.
Like all collaborative works, some essays were stronger than other. Some of them were so lackluster I wondered why they were included *cough Beanie Feldstein* Busy Phillips is a great narrator and she really brought life and charm to the two stories she narrated. I laughed at Tony Hale's ode to chain restaurant desserts (the Pizzookie from BJ's is my favorite.) Gabourey Sidibe's story about her complicated relationship with her father and perfecting his signature dish was my favorite of the collection. If you're going to pick it up, I recommend the audiobook. Not every contributor narrates their own story, but most do.
Like all collaborative works, some essays were stronger than other. Some of them were so lackluster I wondered why they were included *cough Beanie Feldstein* Busy Phillips is a great narrator and she really brought life and charm to the two stories she narrated. I laughed at Tony Hale's ode to chain restaurant desserts (the Pizzookie from BJ's is my favorite.) Gabourey Sidibe's story about her complicated relationship with her father and perfecting his signature dish was my favorite of the collection. If you're going to pick it up, I recommend the audiobook. Not every contributor narrates their own story, but most do.
December 1, 2022
Great idea, but the actual execution is a bit hit and miss. As it is now, I would class this as a coffee table book and that's a shame, as it could be so much more.
My First Popsicle could be an unusual cook book or it could be a lovely collection of essays with the added bonus of a collection of recipes. In order to achieve this, it needs a good dose of editing. Instead of including 1000 stories, some just a few lines long, it should be reduce to does few who really deliver on the aim of the collection. In the process elevating the book to another level, and it does deserve that as some of the stories are so touching, while others are so funny it made me want to read more by those authors.
Book from NetGalley with many thanks to the publisher!
My First Popsicle could be an unusual cook book or it could be a lovely collection of essays with the added bonus of a collection of recipes. In order to achieve this, it needs a good dose of editing. Instead of including 1000 stories, some just a few lines long, it should be reduce to does few who really deliver on the aim of the collection. In the process elevating the book to another level, and it does deserve that as some of the stories are so touching, while others are so funny it made me want to read more by those authors.
Book from NetGalley with many thanks to the publisher!
October 14, 2023
This was such a great audiobook. Each essay was narrated by its author or someone chosen in lieu of the author. I laughed, I cried. Family & food & belonging & grief & connection. Such a good collection.
November 6, 2022
This was extremely uneven in tone and style, which I did expect to some extent, but it was jarring to go from some heartfelt story about childhood neglect to David Sedaris' insane ramblings about hot dogs.
I didn't find any of the stories that were supposed to be funny particularly funny. There were a few that were heartwarming and a few others which were sad and well written, but I doubt any of them will stick with me.
I didn't find any of the stories that were supposed to be funny particularly funny. There were a few that were heartwarming and a few others which were sad and well written, but I doubt any of them will stick with me.
December 24, 2022
I picked this up on a whim and I'm really glad I did! I realized late this year I love media that talks about food so I wanted to delve more into the genre by starting to explore some non-fiction about it. And I gotta say, this was a really good start! My First Popsicle had a whole variety of essays and stories ranging in tone and it was delightful 🥰 My favourite was the one talking about the Russian mother and how much of a character she was. I also loved that they included recipes as well!
Overall if you're looking for some food related essays I really recommend this!
#IndigoEmployee
Overall if you're looking for some food related essays I really recommend this!
#IndigoEmployee
November 15, 2022
I loved the concept for this collection - short stories written by a diverse group of people about a specific food and its impact on their life. Some were sweet, some were serious. Most memorable stories for me were from Rosie Perez, Stephanie Danler, Andrew Bevan, and Kaley Cuoco.
Thanks Libro FM for the complimentary audiobook!
Thanks Libro FM for the complimentary audiobook!
May 25, 2025
I have no feelings about this book
November 4, 2022
Thank you to libro.fm for providing me with an ALC of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
I was intrigued by the idea of this kind of anthology, and actually wondered why no one had done anything like this before. Food is closely linked to emotions for so many of us, and it's so obvious in many of the stories in this anthology. Beware though - quite a few of these authors really get vulnerable and talk about topics that can be triggering, including eating disorders, racism, and at least one story is about emotional abuse.
I adored hearing the stories that were narrated by the authors themselves, and was blown away by the all-star cast. Listening to big names like Patti LuPone, Gabourey Sidibe, and Ted Danson talking about their own associations between food and feelings was eye-opening, while other authors were unknown to me, and still others chose to have their essays narrated by someone else entirely. I get that it can be difficult to talk about some deep issues.
Some of the stories hit home a little more than others, however. There were a few that just felt as though they were surface level, while others got truly vulnerable. I would have liked to really see the vulnerability in all the stories, and see how food intertwines with those emotions. I especially liked the story where the instructions for the recipe was interspersed with the story of a woman's relationship with her controlling father, and found it to be incredibly moving.
However, this one is hard to fully describe. It's not quite a cookbook and not quite a coffee table book, but rather something in-between. There's recipes and snippets of insight into the lives of others, and I'm curious to see about testing some of those recipes that are included.
I was intrigued by the idea of this kind of anthology, and actually wondered why no one had done anything like this before. Food is closely linked to emotions for so many of us, and it's so obvious in many of the stories in this anthology. Beware though - quite a few of these authors really get vulnerable and talk about topics that can be triggering, including eating disorders, racism, and at least one story is about emotional abuse.
I adored hearing the stories that were narrated by the authors themselves, and was blown away by the all-star cast. Listening to big names like Patti LuPone, Gabourey Sidibe, and Ted Danson talking about their own associations between food and feelings was eye-opening, while other authors were unknown to me, and still others chose to have their essays narrated by someone else entirely. I get that it can be difficult to talk about some deep issues.
Some of the stories hit home a little more than others, however. There were a few that just felt as though they were surface level, while others got truly vulnerable. I would have liked to really see the vulnerability in all the stories, and see how food intertwines with those emotions. I especially liked the story where the instructions for the recipe was interspersed with the story of a woman's relationship with her controlling father, and found it to be incredibly moving.
However, this one is hard to fully describe. It's not quite a cookbook and not quite a coffee table book, but rather something in-between. There's recipes and snippets of insight into the lives of others, and I'm curious to see about testing some of those recipes that are included.
December 22, 2022
This was our Road Trip book. There are so many different essays written by a variety of people. We listened to it, and I loved that the narrator changes from essay to essay. Some essays are very short; some longer. Some made me laugh out loud while others made me sad. A Few of my Favorites: Poulet Yassa, A Good Cook is Hard to Find and Ball Buster.
January 27, 2023
There’s few things I enjoy reading about more than food. Food description in books always makes me feel warm and cosy inside.
I definitely got this feeling with this book, however, as is often the case with essay collections I enjoyed some more than others.
I was slightly concerned going into this that being British I wouldn’t be familiar with some of the writers, and although this was the case it didn’t hinder my reading experience and when I enjoyed a chapter I would then go and look up the author to find out a little more about them.
Overall this was an enjoyable read and I enjoyed the concept, it was a book that I would pick up and read an essay or 2 at a time rather than all in one sitting which I enjoy with an essay collection. It also made me think about my own food memories which was lovely and nostalgic.
Thank you to Net Galley for providing an arc in exchange of review.
I definitely got this feeling with this book, however, as is often the case with essay collections I enjoyed some more than others.
I was slightly concerned going into this that being British I wouldn’t be familiar with some of the writers, and although this was the case it didn’t hinder my reading experience and when I enjoyed a chapter I would then go and look up the author to find out a little more about them.
Overall this was an enjoyable read and I enjoyed the concept, it was a book that I would pick up and read an essay or 2 at a time rather than all in one sitting which I enjoy with an essay collection. It also made me think about my own food memories which was lovely and nostalgic.
Thank you to Net Galley for providing an arc in exchange of review.
August 9, 2023
9 August 2023 - Hey, if I have the guts to mark an Agatha Christie novel as DNF and give it one star, I should have zero guilt about doing the same to this book.
I started this on 6 August 2023, and I loved the first story (Patti Smith's), but I found myself skimming through the next few. As I said before, I have more life behind me than ahead of me, and I refuse to give another minute of my precious life to this book.
My First Popsicle: An Anthology of Food and Feelings was a brilliant idea, but the result was disappointing. Yes, essays will be uneven because of the various authors, however, the publisher should have demanded a minimum and a maximum word count and assigned an editor to give the book a sense of cohesion.
Further ramblings below...
7 August 2023 - Wow! I am a few stories in, and it is so uneven. Given that this is an anthology, I was not expecting there to be sameness from story to story. However, the story length and depth varies so much. Patti LuPone, I wanted more fromyou and less -- far less -- from the self-indulgent wankfest on breaking up and Chef Boyardee!
6 August 2023 - I know two things:
1) Nepo babies get a good deal of flack -- some justified, some not.
2) I am not a published author, so I should shut my pie hole.
Alas, I am a professional writer, and I need to call out Zosia because I expected a bit more from the daughter of writer David Mamet! WTF is this sentence?
At the sight of "My point being that at the end of the day", I contemplated hurling the book across the room. Each of these statements is so grating, but the pairing is uber-annoying.
I started this on 6 August 2023, and I loved the first story (Patti Smith's), but I found myself skimming through the next few. As I said before, I have more life behind me than ahead of me, and I refuse to give another minute of my precious life to this book.
My First Popsicle: An Anthology of Food and Feelings was a brilliant idea, but the result was disappointing. Yes, essays will be uneven because of the various authors, however, the publisher should have demanded a minimum and a maximum word count and assigned an editor to give the book a sense of cohesion.
Further ramblings below...
7 August 2023 - Wow! I am a few stories in, and it is so uneven. Given that this is an anthology, I was not expecting there to be sameness from story to story. However, the story length and depth varies so much. Patti LuPone, I wanted more fromyou and less -- far less -- from the self-indulgent wankfest on breaking up and Chef Boyardee!
6 August 2023 - I know two things:
1) Nepo babies get a good deal of flack -- some justified, some not.
2) I am not a published author, so I should shut my pie hole.
Alas, I am a professional writer, and I need to call out Zosia because I expected a bit more from the daughter of writer David Mamet! WTF is this sentence?
My point being that at the end of the day we all have thoughts and feelings and emotions when it comes to food; certain foods more than others.
At the sight of "My point being that at the end of the day", I contemplated hurling the book across the room. Each of these statements is so grating, but the pairing is uber-annoying.
October 1, 2022
I was very kindly given an e-ARC of this book via Netgalley and Icon Books.
A collection of essays, recipes and musings by a variety of writers and famous faces, 'My First Popsicle' gives its authors a simple thesis - talk about food and feelings. Some take it very literally, writing short comments about the food that brings them the most joy, food that brings nostalgia for childhoods both happy and sad, food that summons the seasons. Others ruminate on life, on wellness, on friendship and relationships and how food integrates itself into these experiences.
I really enjoyed this book. Like all essay collections, there are a few I didn't get on with, but more that I loved. It felt very comforting to read. It made me think about food and feelings in my own life, of things cooked by my grandmothers, of food experiences I've shared. Certainly, the essay that spoke to me was about 'solitude food' vs 'sad food' - something I feel as though my university years were littered with. Zosia Mamet's closing essay was also a particular highlight because of how delightfully Christmas-y it was. Yes, it's October, but it's still a wonderful part of the season.
There's no rhyme or reason to the contributors and that gave this collection a real charm. The seasoned essayist and writers rub shoulders with actors and TV personalities that made everything seem just a bit more personal. If you're a food lover, run don't walk to pick up this collection and sink into it like a grilled cheese in a bowl of tomato soup.
'My First Popsicle' will be available November 3rd.
A collection of essays, recipes and musings by a variety of writers and famous faces, 'My First Popsicle' gives its authors a simple thesis - talk about food and feelings. Some take it very literally, writing short comments about the food that brings them the most joy, food that brings nostalgia for childhoods both happy and sad, food that summons the seasons. Others ruminate on life, on wellness, on friendship and relationships and how food integrates itself into these experiences.
I really enjoyed this book. Like all essay collections, there are a few I didn't get on with, but more that I loved. It felt very comforting to read. It made me think about food and feelings in my own life, of things cooked by my grandmothers, of food experiences I've shared. Certainly, the essay that spoke to me was about 'solitude food' vs 'sad food' - something I feel as though my university years were littered with. Zosia Mamet's closing essay was also a particular highlight because of how delightfully Christmas-y it was. Yes, it's October, but it's still a wonderful part of the season.
There's no rhyme or reason to the contributors and that gave this collection a real charm. The seasoned essayist and writers rub shoulders with actors and TV personalities that made everything seem just a bit more personal. If you're a food lover, run don't walk to pick up this collection and sink into it like a grilled cheese in a bowl of tomato soup.
'My First Popsicle' will be available November 3rd.
March 3, 2023
Thank you Libro.fm for a free ALC of this title. All opinions are my own.
It’s done. 😓
The instructions couldn’t have been the same for everyone on what type of recipe is most important to you. Some personal essays were great and others fell into the realm of "why are you telling me this?????"
As a foodie and wannabe-chef, I was poised to love this book, but it was hit or miss.
If you want to get a copy of the recipes, check it out from your library or wait until the book hits clearance and buy it. But, it's not really a must read type of book, to me.
It’s done. 😓
The instructions couldn’t have been the same for everyone on what type of recipe is most important to you. Some personal essays were great and others fell into the realm of "why are you telling me this?????"
As a foodie and wannabe-chef, I was poised to love this book, but it was hit or miss.
If you want to get a copy of the recipes, check it out from your library or wait until the book hits clearance and buy it. But, it's not really a must read type of book, to me.
November 29, 2022
⭐️ 2.5/5 ⭐️
This collection needed some heavy editing.
There were too many essays, no real structure to how they were organized, and some of them lacked so much substance that I couldn’t believe it was even included.
Love the idea and some of the essays are genuinely great. But the lackluster ones bring down the whole book.
This collection needed some heavy editing.
There were too many essays, no real structure to how they were organized, and some of them lacked so much substance that I couldn’t believe it was even included.
Love the idea and some of the essays are genuinely great. But the lackluster ones bring down the whole book.
November 11, 2022
There are some really good essays in this book, and then there are a bunch that seem to just be "I asked my famous friend to be in this book!!" So...skip it.
July 27, 2023
Reflections and lessons learned/the content of this book made me feel…
“We were taking care of one another by cooking, and eating, by being in the same room. Acid chicken is a quiet reminder of this cyclical constant; this reason to be alive, and the lesson of 2020. The inevitability of weathering much deeper forms of destabilisation than the ones you walk into on purpose. And the necessity and pleasure of giving other people, and ourselves, a soft place to land”
How am I feeling? A bit crappy… I know, I’ll put on music/pick up a reading book/have a yummy snack! Food is obviously sustenance, but talking about meals and new foods tried is like having a permitted sneak into someone’s personality diary. It’s a staple of our family conversations, usually revolving around a meal and then a post meal relax - even my family define some of their soft toys by what they imaginatively eat (a snowman only eating eggs/waffles/sushi/pancakes? A shark eating regrowable monkeys legs…?). My father in laws favourite story is about the chicken kiev that they had on their wedding night (cut it open, and the butter flows out… I may have retold this in homage as many times as he has now!). But food… glorious food… a socially acceptable pleasurable sensory description.
I must talk about food at least five times a day, and think about it probably 20. As I type this I’m already dreaming of lunch, a reheated curry and naan bread from last night - I know how soft the meat will be, how delicious the cheese and spinach combined are, and how the rice will be that extra bit crisp from reheat - two different experiences from one batch of food prep - fab. From the cold ginsters on a bus or train, to the shared meals out with so many different friends, to the lone eating rotisserie chicken on a Sunday afternoon, to the late night news night kebabs, to the made up concoctions of childhood (quite often with the tv show commentary), I love the stuff. I can respect it, and it’s always served me well.
The variety of the takes on the brief in this book are brilliant - so many directions, but all coming back to a taste from a memory in a moment. As the warning at the start comes - not all good memories can be happy ones, as life can be shitty from other people. I may not have been familiar with all of the story tellers, but still really enjoyed - a book that made me feel grateful for the simple shares
“We were taking care of one another by cooking, and eating, by being in the same room. Acid chicken is a quiet reminder of this cyclical constant; this reason to be alive, and the lesson of 2020. The inevitability of weathering much deeper forms of destabilisation than the ones you walk into on purpose. And the necessity and pleasure of giving other people, and ourselves, a soft place to land”
How am I feeling? A bit crappy… I know, I’ll put on music/pick up a reading book/have a yummy snack! Food is obviously sustenance, but talking about meals and new foods tried is like having a permitted sneak into someone’s personality diary. It’s a staple of our family conversations, usually revolving around a meal and then a post meal relax - even my family define some of their soft toys by what they imaginatively eat (a snowman only eating eggs/waffles/sushi/pancakes? A shark eating regrowable monkeys legs…?). My father in laws favourite story is about the chicken kiev that they had on their wedding night (cut it open, and the butter flows out… I may have retold this in homage as many times as he has now!). But food… glorious food… a socially acceptable pleasurable sensory description.
I must talk about food at least five times a day, and think about it probably 20. As I type this I’m already dreaming of lunch, a reheated curry and naan bread from last night - I know how soft the meat will be, how delicious the cheese and spinach combined are, and how the rice will be that extra bit crisp from reheat - two different experiences from one batch of food prep - fab. From the cold ginsters on a bus or train, to the shared meals out with so many different friends, to the lone eating rotisserie chicken on a Sunday afternoon, to the late night news night kebabs, to the made up concoctions of childhood (quite often with the tv show commentary), I love the stuff. I can respect it, and it’s always served me well.
The variety of the takes on the brief in this book are brilliant - so many directions, but all coming back to a taste from a memory in a moment. As the warning at the start comes - not all good memories can be happy ones, as life can be shitty from other people. I may not have been familiar with all of the story tellers, but still really enjoyed - a book that made me feel grateful for the simple shares
January 12, 2023
I never thought of myself as a short story person. I much prefer a book I can sink into, and lose myself for hours on end. Never thought I would pick up a book of essays. But today I had limited time, and knew I would be interrupted several times, so thought I would give this one a go. It was the perfect choice! Actress Zosia Mamet contacted a number of her contemporaries and asked each of them to contribute an essay about one of their favorite food related memories. Some are laugh out loud hysterical, some brutally sad, but all are clearly written from the heart. I looked for a hard copy of this book on Amazon because it purportedly contains the recipes discussed, but it wasn’t available. Instead I listed to the audio version, where several of the essays are read by their authors. Overall, I thought this was a pretty fun read (listen) and would make a great gift for a friend.
November 15, 2022
I was attracted to this book because I am a big foodie – I have always loved to cook and eat, and to feed others, and I am well aware of the emotional triggers surrounding food. I have had a difficult relationship with food on and off over the years and have some horrible memories as well as some lovely ones.
The book is anthology of food and feelings with contributions from a wide range of people, many of whom I am not familiar with, but that didn’t matter. I started reading and it was interesting to find out how the idea for the book had formed. The essays vary in length and some have recipes at the end, which is a lovely touch.
I loved reading ‘Ball Buster’ by Andrew Bevan, the tale of eating spaghetti and meatballs on an ill-fated Valentines day. The juxtaposition of experiencing a distressing situation whilst wanting to continue eating tasty food and not knowing quite how to respond was deliciously awkward. ‘Shallot Vinaigrette Insurance’ by Stephanie Danler was heartfelt and the sadness was palpable. I loved reading ‘The Frankophile’ by David Sedaris. Written with his usual dry wit it details his love of hotdogs and the extreme lengths he went to in order to keep eating them whilst taking control of his lock down weight gain. Anyone for jelly?
I really felt for Kavi Ahuja Molz who described the shame of having ‘different’ and especially, pungent sandwiches and unusual packed lunches that her schoolmates whispered about. Sarah Jones gave an insightful and honest account of her difficult relationship with food and how she has learned to love it and herself again. She finishes with a delicious sounding recipe for tofu scramble breakfast burrito, which I will definitely be trying.
My First Popsicle is a really lovely book. It’s easy to dip in and out of and contains a mixture of humour, introspection, reflection and affection. There are tales of love and loss, death, growing up, family rituals and tentative forays into cooking. It would make a great gift for anyone with an interest in food and personal stories.
The book is anthology of food and feelings with contributions from a wide range of people, many of whom I am not familiar with, but that didn’t matter. I started reading and it was interesting to find out how the idea for the book had formed. The essays vary in length and some have recipes at the end, which is a lovely touch.
I loved reading ‘Ball Buster’ by Andrew Bevan, the tale of eating spaghetti and meatballs on an ill-fated Valentines day. The juxtaposition of experiencing a distressing situation whilst wanting to continue eating tasty food and not knowing quite how to respond was deliciously awkward. ‘Shallot Vinaigrette Insurance’ by Stephanie Danler was heartfelt and the sadness was palpable. I loved reading ‘The Frankophile’ by David Sedaris. Written with his usual dry wit it details his love of hotdogs and the extreme lengths he went to in order to keep eating them whilst taking control of his lock down weight gain. Anyone for jelly?
I really felt for Kavi Ahuja Molz who described the shame of having ‘different’ and especially, pungent sandwiches and unusual packed lunches that her schoolmates whispered about. Sarah Jones gave an insightful and honest account of her difficult relationship with food and how she has learned to love it and herself again. She finishes with a delicious sounding recipe for tofu scramble breakfast burrito, which I will definitely be trying.
My First Popsicle is a really lovely book. It’s easy to dip in and out of and contains a mixture of humour, introspection, reflection and affection. There are tales of love and loss, death, growing up, family rituals and tentative forays into cooking. It would make a great gift for anyone with an interest in food and personal stories.
August 8, 2023
A cute premise that fell short on execution — some of the short essays/stories were really moving but others just felt like a HW assignment. Overall, loved how people’s memories of food are so unique, and span good times and bad, and all the little recipes sprinkled throughout — will definitely be trying out some of the latter!
I’d put this closer to a 4 than a 3, but I can’t justify giving it a 4 lowkey…
I’d put this closer to a 4 than a 3, but I can’t justify giving it a 4 lowkey…
February 13, 2023
This was really good. Especially if you are wanting to read short essays. I will say I read this on kindle but I think I would have preferred a hard copy for this. Maybe like one for your nightstand when you just want to read a small amount each day. Many of these stories brought back memories for me spaghettios, jello cake etc.
May 8, 2023
An essay collection for foodies. But the essays aren't all delicious feel-good explorations of cheese covered comfort foods. These are tough topics blended with edible memories. Some were not for me at all and others were perfection. The two standouts were by Busy Phillips and Kaley Cuoco. In fact, I've written down the recipe for Kaley's offering. The audio is the way to go because most of the essays are read by the author. A very eclectic collection of voices. 🌟🌟🌟💫 overall.
February 15, 2026
3.5 ⭐️
An essay collection from a wide variety of contributors - enjoyed the ones where I knew of the contributor. I liked the ones with how food memories reminded the author of family, but there several that involve eating disorders and trauma as a warning.
An essay collection from a wide variety of contributors - enjoyed the ones where I knew of the contributor. I liked the ones with how food memories reminded the author of family, but there several that involve eating disorders and trauma as a warning.
November 17, 2022
Y’ALL. This book!!!!! I cannot rave enough about this book!!!! Fantastic is a huge understatement. I don’t think there is a word for how good this is!
It’s so many things: heartfelt, hilarious, heartbreaking, wonderful. Each story is unique and each carries its own message. And this book is also a comedy gold mine. So many of these stories had me cackling!!!
I did audio for this one and I highly recommend it! Many of the stories are read by their authors. This was also a wonderful companion for a few long commutes. I laughed and cried and this kept me company when I needed it.
So. Love this. While I think the whole collection is tremendous, there were a few standouts for me. My favorites were those by: Andrew Bevan, Hamish Linklater, Beanie Feldstein, Rosie Perez, Kaley Cuoco, Busy Philipps, Gabourey Sidibe, Jia Tolentino, Tony Hale & David Sedaris.
I will definitely be listening to this again in the future and I will be picking up a copy for my shelves as well (because recipes). This is just…. amazing!! I’m so glad Mamet put this together!! What a wonderful idea and an amazing collection!!!
Also this made me SO HUNGRY while reading. Make sure you have lots of snacks when you devour this book! (Also it made me think I’m a better cook than I am. It’s fine.)
Thank you so much to Libro.fm Penguin Random House Audio & Viking for allowing me to listen to this in exchange for an honest review!
It’s so many things: heartfelt, hilarious, heartbreaking, wonderful. Each story is unique and each carries its own message. And this book is also a comedy gold mine. So many of these stories had me cackling!!!
I did audio for this one and I highly recommend it! Many of the stories are read by their authors. This was also a wonderful companion for a few long commutes. I laughed and cried and this kept me company when I needed it.
So. Love this. While I think the whole collection is tremendous, there were a few standouts for me. My favorites were those by: Andrew Bevan, Hamish Linklater, Beanie Feldstein, Rosie Perez, Kaley Cuoco, Busy Philipps, Gabourey Sidibe, Jia Tolentino, Tony Hale & David Sedaris.
I will definitely be listening to this again in the future and I will be picking up a copy for my shelves as well (because recipes). This is just…. amazing!! I’m so glad Mamet put this together!! What a wonderful idea and an amazing collection!!!
Also this made me SO HUNGRY while reading. Make sure you have lots of snacks when you devour this book! (Also it made me think I’m a better cook than I am. It’s fine.)
Thank you so much to Libro.fm Penguin Random House Audio & Viking for allowing me to listen to this in exchange for an honest review!
December 5, 2022
Bite-sized essays from relatively famous people about an experience in their life related to food and emotion. Very much my jam. Nothing super revelatory here, though I suppose that’s because it was so personal. I enjoyed myself immensely because most everyone treated the topic with deep sincerity.
(Note: I was sent a copy of this from Penguin. Thanks!)
(Note: I was sent a copy of this from Penguin. Thanks!)
February 9, 2023
Only okay - I love food, but this essay collection wasn't super engaging.
June 2, 2023
So incredibly good. I love essays about food and these essays varied in length and topic. Some were sad, some were happy, but all were celebration of food, and the roll it plays in our lives
December 2, 2023
"My First Popsicle" was truly a feast for the eyes and ears. I really fell in love with this series of stories from so many diverse, notable voices.
While I resonated more with some stories over others, overall, the book epitomizes what it means to have heart. There were essays that made me laugh, some that made me cry, and some that did both. Even though I wasn’t familiar with all the authors, it was fascinating to see the celebrities I recognized in a more humanized and vulnerable light.
More than anything, "My First Popsicle" stands as a testament to the profound impact of food, not just as fuel for our bodies, but as foundational contributions to our psyches. A simple dish can transform a moment into a lifelong memory. Food can bring us together. Food can tear us apart. Food can change the course of our lives. Food can even take us back in time.
I highly recommend the audiobook version of "My First Popsicle". Hearing the stories from the authors themselves was incredibly powerful, adding immense heart and soul to the book. Even when stories weren’t read by their original authors, the narrators delivered spectacularly (looking at you, Busy Phillips).
Reading "My First Popsicle" was such a delightful experience; it definitely had me coming back for seconds, thirds, and fourths.
While I resonated more with some stories over others, overall, the book epitomizes what it means to have heart. There were essays that made me laugh, some that made me cry, and some that did both. Even though I wasn’t familiar with all the authors, it was fascinating to see the celebrities I recognized in a more humanized and vulnerable light.
More than anything, "My First Popsicle" stands as a testament to the profound impact of food, not just as fuel for our bodies, but as foundational contributions to our psyches. A simple dish can transform a moment into a lifelong memory. Food can bring us together. Food can tear us apart. Food can change the course of our lives. Food can even take us back in time.
I highly recommend the audiobook version of "My First Popsicle". Hearing the stories from the authors themselves was incredibly powerful, adding immense heart and soul to the book. Even when stories weren’t read by their original authors, the narrators delivered spectacularly (looking at you, Busy Phillips).
Reading "My First Popsicle" was such a delightful experience; it definitely had me coming back for seconds, thirds, and fourths.
August 6, 2023
This book of essays featuring stories about various artists' food memories and stories was okay but I wouldn't read it again. Well-known stars like Ted Danson and chef Ruth Reichl share two of my favourite stories but there were also essays from unfamiliar people that were just okay. I wish I'd read the "about the contributors" section at the back, first - way funnier than many of the essays about food and would have perhaps helped me to better enjoy the essays. The book shares several recipes that I plan to try though like Reichl's, "Magic Cookies."
May 4, 2024
It's a brilliant concept with inconsistent execution. Some parts feel like filler, and the pacing drags midway through. It's hard to finish, mirroring the author's struggles while curating it. The book reflects her fluctuating mood – some stories are compelling, others fall flat. A different curation might have been better.
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