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bucher_freund's review
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.0
New Orleans Chef Rickey has gotten himself mired in a heap of fresh problems. Hiring recently exonerated convict Milford Goodman to work with him and his co-chef and life partner G-man sees their popular restaurant Liquor the recipient of anonymous threats. Rickey is soon given the opportunity to maneuver Milford, a talented chef in his own right, into a head chef position at a proposed riverboat casino, but only if he (Rickey) agrees to lend his reputation as a consultant. Already spreading himself thin, Rickey also finds himself addicted to Vicodin after a kitchen related back injury, which exacerbates the strain on his relationship with G-man.
This fourth and final book in the Rickey and G-man series is another entertaining look at the restaurant business, with a satisfying dose of New Orleans flavor. It's also looks a little closer at race and class relations in the city, and the underlying prejudices against an openly gay couple in the early aughts in the normally macho environment of a restaurant kitchen. Brite (now William Joseph Martin) has a talent for writing fully realized characters and finding a balance between lighthearted and reflective in the story's tone. I thoroughly enjoyed these books and I'm sorry there aren't more of them. If The Bear wasn't already so popular, I'd say it would make an excellent basis for a new series.
This fourth and final book in the Rickey and G-man series is another entertaining look at the restaurant business, with a satisfying dose of New Orleans flavor. It's also looks a little closer at race and class relations in the city, and the underlying prejudices against an openly gay couple in the early aughts in the normally macho environment of a restaurant kitchen. Brite (now William Joseph Martin) has a talent for writing fully realized characters and finding a balance between lighthearted and reflective in the story's tone. I thoroughly enjoyed these books and I'm sorry there aren't more of them. If The Bear wasn't already so popular, I'd say it would make an excellent basis for a new series.
isaiahh's review
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
sandygx260's review
4.0
Man, I devoured this book... pun intended. More like a snack than a full meal, "Soul Kitchen" is a fast read, but by no means a "casual" read. Brite throws plenty of problems at partners-in-every-way-possible Rickey and G-man, owners and head chefs of trendy restaurant Liquor.
Much like in the first two books, the dark undercurrent of danger saves the book from seeming a little too precious about the New Orleans restaurant scene. I'm not even sure what I mean by that statement, but I understand what I'm getting at, which is helpful. When an element in a series becomes more of a crutch than an effective plot device, the reader smells the failure. Brite never falls into this pit; yes, occasionally two wheels flirt with the pit's edge, but the book survives.
This time Brite ramps up Rickey's tradmark "assholishness" to the point where you almost hope something bad happens to him. But he redeems himself in the end. G-man has a surprising crisis of romantic faith, brought on by, yes, Rickey's assholishness. A ten year-old murder, nasty blue-blood scum, and a wronged chef who never catches a break round out the culinary drama.
That's the reason I knocked this book down to a four; Brite wrapped up matters a little too quickly. It's lovely to be concise, but there needed to be a little more fleshing out of the "Soul Kitchen" crisis. The "toss and stab" finish to the drama seemed a bit much.
But the chapter near the end detailing the hilarious tasting menu at The Polonius Room is priceless. I never knew Brite could write such fantastic comedy. And the happy epilogue, well, Rickey and G-man deserve it.
I put off reading this book because after the novella "Duck", which I'll read sooner than later, that's it for Rickey and G-man, which makes me sad.
Much like in the first two books, the dark undercurrent of danger saves the book from seeming a little too precious about the New Orleans restaurant scene. I'm not even sure what I mean by that statement, but I understand what I'm getting at, which is helpful. When an element in a series becomes more of a crutch than an effective plot device, the reader smells the failure. Brite never falls into this pit; yes, occasionally two wheels flirt with the pit's edge, but the book survives.
This time Brite ramps up Rickey's tradmark "assholishness" to the point where you almost hope something bad happens to him. But he redeems himself in the end. G-man has a surprising crisis of romantic faith, brought on by, yes, Rickey's assholishness. A ten year-old murder, nasty blue-blood scum, and a wronged chef who never catches a break round out the culinary drama.
That's the reason I knocked this book down to a four; Brite wrapped up matters a little too quickly. It's lovely to be concise, but there needed to be a little more fleshing out of the "Soul Kitchen" crisis. The "toss and stab" finish to the drama seemed a bit much.
But the chapter near the end detailing the hilarious tasting menu at The Polonius Room is priceless. I never knew Brite could write such fantastic comedy. And the happy epilogue, well, Rickey and G-man deserve it.
I put off reading this book because after the novella "Duck", which I'll read sooner than later, that's it for Rickey and G-man, which makes me sad.
lisawhelpley's review
5.0
I don't know why, but I'd never thought to look and see if there were more books in the Rickey & G-Man series until a couple weeks ago. This was fantastic, and brought back loveable characters in a pre-Katrina New Orleans.
dianelaw's review
dark
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
frannystein's review
dark
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
essjay's review against another edition
3.0
This was probably my least favourite of the series. It felt like so much wheel-spinning, with not a whole lot happening or being resolved. Still love Rickey and G-Man, tho
mavenbooks's review
3.0
Decent and quick read. The writing style is ok, though the plot seemed to pick up speed suddenly towards the end.
writerlibrarian's review
4.0
Excellent. Fun, interesting, not mushy. We connect back with Rickey and G-Man and their lives running a successful restaurant, Liquor, while trying to have a life, enjoy it and be good to each other and others. The plot is mostly about Rickey helping out an old work friend to get back on his feet and getting the short end of the stick for doing something good. It's as good as the first two in the series with us getting to know the characters better (I especially liked how Lenny has grown since the last book or something looking like having matured a bit) I like the food stuff, the recipes, the behind the scenes kitchen drama.