I recently went on a very long car ride (6 hours) which I rarely do – I always prefer to fly and let someone else be in charge – but in this case it made the most sense given less than ideal flight schedules and other considerations. I did not come to that decision easily; in fact I agonized over it because of how much I HATE driving and being in the car for long periods of time – especially by myself! I do enjoy podcasts but since I finished Family Secrets, I don’t have one that I am loving right now(and if you are a Family Secrets listener, you will understand that I was looking for something a little less heavy). I also like to catch up on phone calls but this was a Sunday so limited options there.
I could not think of how I was going to get through this amount of time in the car without going insane – until that is, I remembered that I had not read Ina Garten’s recent memoir, Be Ready When the Luck Happens that was published back in October of last year.
When I tell you, those six hours flew by – I honestly could have driven two more to listen to her stories. It is the BEST book to listen to in a car ride, on a walk or on a plane. If you are an Ina fan, you know how soothing her voice is so having her narrate her own stories, experiences and advice makes it even better.
The audiobook is 8 hours and 47 minutes long and I didn’t want it to end. She covers her childhood, her marriage to Jeffrey (if you don’t know who Jeffrey is this book is not for you -lol) at a young age, her time in Washington, all their real estate purchases and decisions (I found this so inspiring and affirming), the move to East Hampton, her experiences with Barefoot Contessa, how she got into television, and finally – Paris! That section of the book is by far my favorite – not only does she provide all the details and stories about how they came to buy an apartment in Paris which is very interesting, but she also talks about her favorite places to go and things to do. You will want to hop on a place immediately after listening.
I found this book to be such a fun escape – I did end up having to make calls on my way home from the trip (a Tuesday – work calls, not nearly as much fun as listening to Ina), but I looked forward to long walks when I got home to finish the remaining hours.
She really does make it all look so easy, but what you learn is not only is she brilliant but she also has an incredible work ethic and passion. She sets a goal and makes it happen. She takes her time and lets the creative process unfold. She focuses on the things she loves and allows her career to develop around those interests. She talks about managing people and business philosophies and how to negotiate effectively — all while staying focused on the essence of Ina which is cooking, home, elegance, and fun.
I highly recommend it and truly think the audio version is the way to go since you get to hear her tell the stories.
I made that car trip in honor of a very special person’s birthday and we spent our three days shopping, eating, relaxing and talking (a lot). I picked up these fun glasses from Anthropologie on my trip that will be great for summer entertaining along with a few of my favorite Ina recipes.
“By now, we understand that Ina Garten is both a born hustler and an all-around luck magnet who can conjure loans and waterproof tents seemingly at will.”
-I love this quote from The New York Times Book Review
Ina’s Paris Favorites
Pǒilane Bakery
Marché Raspail
Café de Flore
Barthélemy
Jardin de Luxembourg
La Grande Epicerie
Adriane M. Fleurist
Café Varenne
Jeffrey Cagnes patisserie
Maison Verot charcuterie
