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devnall's review against another edition
2.0
The topic was interesting. The recipes were quite good. The parts that were actually about food and cooking were fairly enjoyable. But the author comes off as such a spoiled, condescending, pretentious douchebag that I was constantly rolling my eyes at his angst-ridden bullshit. This guy could teach 16 year old goths how to mope and whine.
leeleeski's review against another edition
2.0
The writer can be funny at times but he is mostly a privileged whiny perfectionist who criticizes those with less knowledge about food then he and complains when other people don't think that he's the greatest.
lastminute's review against another edition
2.0
I did enjoy this book at first, but it had a little more emphasis on the author's love life than I was interested in (in part because I was all, get over it, move on). So I ended up skimming the middle section and jumping to the end.
ssejig's review against another edition
3.0
After eight years working on a Beatles biography and then going through a divorce, Bob Spitz is finding joy in cooking Friday night dinners for his friends. Especially one drown in particular, a woman who may or may not return his affections. He, as he says "like so many others", decides to take a trip around Europe to shake up his life a little bit. And maybe some time spent with Carolyn will help decipher their relationship. Also, it will allow him to learn from some of the masters.
This isn't an "Everyman" kind of book. The author obviously has the means and connections to enjoys three months traveling around Europe and learning from master chefs, some of whom only take him on sufferance.
That being said, it is a really well-written book that I thoroughly enjoyed. The author's wry humor and ability to look at his situations with a eye in the past but glasses that are 20/20 present a fun and engaging story. Glad I finally read this book.
This isn't an "Everyman" kind of book. The author obviously has the means and connections to enjoys three months traveling around Europe and learning from master chefs, some of whom only take him on sufferance.
That being said, it is a really well-written book that I thoroughly enjoyed. The author's wry humor and ability to look at his situations with a eye in the past but glasses that are 20/20 present a fun and engaging story. Glad I finally read this book.
readerrachelle's review against another edition
4.0
WARNING: Have snacks around when you read this because it will make you so hungry!
This is one of the first memoirs I've read so I don't have a lot of experience to compare it to but I'll give it my best shot.
This book made me want to run into the kitchen, cook up a storm and devour the results! I was fascinated by the author's experiences, learning about various cooking techniques and the reputations of certain chefs and their cooking school. While I enjoyed the descriptiveness of the authors writing, I became a little frustrated with the authors choice of pacing; he rushed through places I wanted to linger and dallied in places I wanted to speed past.
The personal side of this memoir was engaging, relatable and I became much more invested in the story knowing that all these people exist somewhere in the world. I found the authors relationship with his daughter extremely touching and I loved how the author chose to end the book.
This is one of the first memoirs I've read so I don't have a lot of experience to compare it to but I'll give it my best shot.
This book made me want to run into the kitchen, cook up a storm and devour the results! I was fascinated by the author's experiences, learning about various cooking techniques and the reputations of certain chefs and their cooking school. While I enjoyed the descriptiveness of the authors writing, I became a little frustrated with the authors choice of pacing; he rushed through places I wanted to linger and dallied in places I wanted to speed past.
The personal side of this memoir was engaging, relatable and I became much more invested in the story knowing that all these people exist somewhere in the world. I found the authors relationship with his daughter extremely touching and I loved how the author chose to end the book.
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