Born in Pakistan Fatima Ali was a chef in
New York City. She received her education
from the Culinary Institute of America and
at 23 won an episode of Chopped on the
Food Network.
Savor by Fatima Ali is a triumphant memoir
of a young girl who savours every minute of
life as she battles with cancer. Fatima Ali is
an awe inspiring girl whose resilience and
determination in the wake of the brutal
disease that eats her alive is commendable.
Ali explores everything in the last few days
that she has. From food and adventure,
illness and mortality Ali savors everything,
‘an inspiring memoir and family story that
sweeps from Pakistani to Manhattan and
beyond.’
The book is divided into 3 parts. Part 1
deals primarily with Ali’s childhood. How
when her parents got divorced, she and her
brother Mohammad (Mo) fly with their
mother to Austin, Texas. There they become
a target of racism because they are brown.
Upon return to Karachi they get admission
in Karachi Grammar School, one of the
elitist schools of Karachi. Here they are in a
stronger position because they have lived in
the land of opportunities and are viewed
with awe and wonder.
Fatima falls prey to child abuse as the
family driver rapes her in the car. She is
disgusted and for the longest time feels
guilty thinking it to be her fault.
Does she confide in a family member?
What impact does it have on her
personality? Read the novel to find out.
The second part talks of her professional
life as a chef. Fatima is born gifted with
culinary skill. She wins 3 cooking shows,
emerging victorious at every stage. ‘She
was a dynamic, boundary breaking chef and
a bright new voice for change in the food
world.’
The third part is about her illness. How the
doctor prepares her to take her through
chemo. He tells her she can’t get pregnant
and that her sense of taste might go away.
Fatima is mortified. Sense of taste gone!
That was what she had lived for her entire
life. She was a chef! She had to have
tastebuds!
Fatima was detected with a rare type of
bone cancer. She did not have enough time
to fulfil her dreams and so she chose to
make the final days count as she narrated
her journey-how a ‘brown girl chef set out
to make a name for herself, her food and her
culture.’
Fatima Ali chose Tarajia Morrell as her
collaborator. A new-yorker who grew up at
the table Morrell created the food and travel
blog in 2011called The Lovage. Morell says
‘iv never written a book with a dying
woman,’ but Fatima’s enthusiasm and vigor
convinced Morrell to record her reflections
and write her story.
Ali sways between America and Pakistan.
America promises her freedom,
independence, fame and relief from the
pressure of marriage. Pakistan gives her
love and support in the form of relatives.
But she still loved Pakistan, and wanted to
change perceptions of her country. As she
writes: “No one knows about our food here
and people barely know about our culture
… except for the fact that Osama bin Laden
was discovered hiding out in our hillsides.
It’s time for some new information. I want
to use our food to disarm them.”
After Ali won “Chopped,” she explained to
the judges why the victory mattered: “I
really want to be that Pakistani girl that
other Pakistani girls can look at and say:
‘You know what? I can do it too.’” That
theme runs throughout “Savor.
To sum up, Savor is a fabulous story of a
young girl who aims for the stars. It runs
like a marathon where Ali prepares to
outlive life, by choosing to live life to the
fullest despite the fact that fate has
everything to offer her except more time
and more days to live.
