littlesprite21's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
3.25
mellyfish's review against another edition
3.0
Short stories entwining food and crime. Reminds me of going through a cigar box full of jewelry at a yard sale, lots of junk, but a few real pieces of gold. My favorite story was Creampuff, about a bouncer at a busy NY patisserie. If you enjoyed Amazing Stories or 80's era episodes of the Twilight Zone, this will be a good fit for you.
annarella's review against another edition
4.0
This collection of short stories was a lot of fun to read.
I liked the style of writing and I like how the stories were developed.
They are engaging and entertaining, once you start reading you cannot put the book down.
I look forward to reading other books by this author.
Recommended!
Many thanks to Polis Books and Netgalley for this ARC
I liked the style of writing and I like how the stories were developed.
They are engaging and entertaining, once you start reading you cannot put the book down.
I look forward to reading other books by this author.
Recommended!
Many thanks to Polis Books and Netgalley for this ARC
explenture's review against another edition
5.0
Cooks tour
Take a tour of contemporary New York where nefarious folks abound. Mayhem and food get a look from one of the best New York authors.
Take a tour of contemporary New York where nefarious folks abound. Mayhem and food get a look from one of the best New York authors.
bookwormdaydreamer's review against another edition
3.0
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Take-Out has plenty of short stories most of which involve food in one form or another. These stories also involve crime of different kinds. There's theft, murder, mob shakedowns, attempted prison escapes, crime families, etc. I found most of them to be interesting and I did enjoy the crime aspect. The stories can be a bit of a hit or miss however and mileage can vary.
Personally, my favorite was Creampuff which was about a patisserie bouncer who was rather strict and serious about his job but was found endearing by many. I thought that it was a touching story despite the ending and I liked how the owners treated this bouncer's steadfastness and loyalty.
Another story I enjoyed but was considerably shorter was Bhut Jolokia which was about a woman who was sick of getting her lunch stolen by the lunch bully and doesn't quite get the ending she expected.
A story which surprisingly made me laugh was Learning Experience. I could admire the chef's hustle and how he managed to con gullible customers into believing they're eating human meat when it's really jamon iberico.
Overall, there's quite a varied number of stories here and everyone's bound to find something they like. I personally enjoyed it for the most part and can recommend it to anyone who likes short stories and crime fiction.
Take-Out has plenty of short stories most of which involve food in one form or another. These stories also involve crime of different kinds. There's theft, murder, mob shakedowns, attempted prison escapes, crime families, etc. I found most of them to be interesting and I did enjoy the crime aspect. The stories can be a bit of a hit or miss however and mileage can vary.
Personally, my favorite was Creampuff which was about a patisserie bouncer who was rather strict and serious about his job but was found endearing by many. I thought that it was a touching story despite the ending and I liked how the owners treated this bouncer's steadfastness and loyalty.
Another story I enjoyed but was considerably shorter was Bhut Jolokia which was about a woman who was sick of getting her lunch stolen by the lunch bully and doesn't quite get the ending she expected.
A story which surprisingly made me laugh was Learning Experience. I could admire the chef's hustle and how he managed to con gullible customers into believing they're eating human meat when it's really jamon iberico.
Overall, there's quite a varied number of stories here and everyone's bound to find something they like. I personally enjoyed it for the most part and can recommend it to anyone who likes short stories and crime fiction.
kendrabetweenthelines's review against another edition
1.0
DNF @ 40%. I found the stories formulaic and predictable.
annarella's review
4.0
This collection of short stories was a lot of fun to read.
I liked the style of writing and I like how the stories were developed.
They are engaging and entertaining, once you start reading you cannot put the book down.
I look forward to reading other books by this author.
Recommended!
Many thanks to Polis Books and Netgalley for this ARC
I liked the style of writing and I like how the stories were developed.
They are engaging and entertaining, once you start reading you cannot put the book down.
I look forward to reading other books by this author.
Recommended!
Many thanks to Polis Books and Netgalley for this ARC
leda's review
3.0
3.5 stars
Food and crime is an interesting combination. Meals and recipes are used to advance the plot of a story and in a way, define, and humanise the characters. These characteristics make Rob Hart’s collection of sixteen stories a provocative journey straight into the depths of a pleasurable – and less pleasurable – darkness.
Most of the stories have been appeared previously in mystery and crime anthologies and periodicals. Three of them have never been published. New York appears to be the the city where these two passions – food and crime collide. Life and death are often intertwined, you never know “when you were having your last meal,” and it is this that “speaks better than anything else could, to the gravity of a good meal.” Food becomes an important experience, sometimes a macabre one.
Hart’s world take place at the back alleys and sound-proofed rooms, at bagel shops and at food trucks, at home kitchens and street market stalls. There is a variety of interesting characters some are vicious and grotesque, others are sensitive and simple, victims of the moment and the circumstances.
All sixteen stories are witty, complex, curious, sometimes surreal, but I particularly liked the Creampuff and Have You Eaten?.
Read the full review at link: Athena Reads
Food and crime is an interesting combination. Meals and recipes are used to advance the plot of a story and in a way, define, and humanise the characters. These characteristics make Rob Hart’s collection of sixteen stories a provocative journey straight into the depths of a pleasurable – and less pleasurable – darkness.
Most of the stories have been appeared previously in mystery and crime anthologies and periodicals. Three of them have never been published. New York appears to be the the city where these two passions – food and crime collide. Life and death are often intertwined, you never know “when you were having your last meal,” and it is this that “speaks better than anything else could, to the gravity of a good meal.” Food becomes an important experience, sometimes a macabre one.
Hart’s world take place at the back alleys and sound-proofed rooms, at bagel shops and at food trucks, at home kitchens and street market stalls. There is a variety of interesting characters some are vicious and grotesque, others are sensitive and simple, victims of the moment and the circumstances.
All sixteen stories are witty, complex, curious, sometimes surreal, but I particularly liked the Creampuff and Have You Eaten?.
Read the full review at link: Athena Reads
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