A skillfully narrated foodie, feminist feast for the mind. A recommended purchase in all formats for most collections.

This is a book to savor!

I definitely picked this book because I love food writing and women's stories. This title happened to encompass both! After reading it , I've come to understand it's so much more.

The world of diner parties is not one I have experienced in the way the author explores in Salty. It felt like a sensory treat for sure - languid descriptions of cuisine and culture; but also so much more than mere descriptive.
I liked the fact that many of the women were not directly related to food. I assumed the book would profile chefs, food writers and the like, but this was giving in such a higher level!

Not being from America, I didn't know most of these women before and I certainly enjoyed learning more about them. . I was fascinated by the recipes the author chose to include and I appreciated the stories of her own attempts at cooking. It felt more personal than if she were to just throw in a recipe at the end of each chapter.

It's a cosy book - best enjoyed with something warm to eat.

Probably not the best book for the audio format, due to it including recipes. However, I was charmed by this collection of women and the review of their contributions to the world and their relationships to food.

ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley but the opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Salty was extremely interesting and powerful. I loved the idea and the way this book was carried out! Books surrounding food are always so interesting, and I loved the author's idea here. Highly recommend to any foodie!

Lovely, educational primer on revolutionary women and food. I was expecting the collection of women to be more connected by good - your Julia Childs, Ruth Reichls, etc, but they were actually a group of women that the author has selected as her dream dinner party guests - a group of forward thinking, social justice orienteed women with a flair for food. The only expected name I found was Laurie Colwin. That said, I enjoyed learning more about these other women - some who were new to me and some who were just new in the context of food.

The narration is wonderful and charming. It is a perfect book to accompany you in the kitchen or in your domesticity if you are so inclined.

I wanted to love this book. However, I did like it well enough to recommend it. Maybe I wasn't the target audience. Although I've read similar works in the past.

This book was a delightful surprise! I thought I would enjoy it but I really loved it and have already looked up more books to read about some of the women the book focuses on!

The premise is based on the time old question about who you would choose to share a meal with if you could pick anybody that has ever lived. All of the women featured are fascinating and certainly belong in this book. There are many recipes I now feel the need to look up and try….. A new appreciation for food and drink as seen through the eyes and experiences of these women.

I listened to the audiobook version of this book and it was wonderful. The narrators voice was perfect for this book. I highly recommend it.

I'm not sure if this book was meant to be read in the winter, but I would recommend doing so. For me, it was like a warm hug on a cold day.

The author takes a look at several prominent women from history who she'd like to invite to a dinner party, focusing in on their connection to food and the ways that it uplifts us and brings us together. Sometimes the connection is obvious (chefs and food writers), but other times it's more subtle (civil rights organizers and scifi writers) but for each chapter had me wanting to pour out a glass of wine and get to cooking.

(As it happens, I did make cookies while listening to the audiobook...but alas, no wine.)

I hadn't heard about all of the women mentioned, but it was fascinating to learn about them. Despite some of them not being complete angels, each one left a mark in her own way. Here, they're portrayed compassionately and with some very good writing. Additionally, if you decide you want to learn more about them, each chapter comes with a list of extra reading ( I've never before felt the need to read a cookbook, but now I have about 5 on my TBR)

Listening to this book in audiobook format was enjoyable for me as I found the narrator's voice to be soothing. In fact, it was the voice that helped form my final "warm hug" impression. Still, if you do decide to listen to the book, it may also be advisable to pick up a print copy as well. There are plenty of recipes included that are definitely worth trying, but might be easier to follow when written out.

A wonderful glimpse, through Alissa Wilkinson’s eyes, on revolutionary women in the kitchen and in their lives. Some of these are women I had not heard of before but feel like I’ve gotten to know them on a more personal level, as Wilkinson showcases the good, and sometimes the bad, on them and their entertaining. I was fascinated by all the meals that were created and the recipes that she has included, adapted for us to use today. I particularly liked the added stories of her own cooking experiments. This was an interesting read that will have me thinking of these dishes for a long time to come.

Audio was well done, no issues.

Laurie Colwin has kept me company through the best days of my life and the worst. Drop her name and I’ll click your link, buy your book, try your lentil soup. It was the inclusion of Colwin that led me here, and while it is clear that Wilkinson cares for each of her subjects, I found the book to be both overstuffed and starving. Nine women profiled in such a slender volume left me only wanting more of each one—I was both gorged and unsatisfied. Wilkinson quotes generously from her subjects’ works, and while her talent and passion are evident across the book, I wondered why I was reading summary and analysis when I could instead turn to the originals.

The audiobook narration is accomplished and soothing, and this title may appeal to armchair travelers or book clubs looking for lighter summer fare.