Reviews

The Waiter by Matias Faldbakken

cathd80's review against another edition

The Waiter is a novel about the inner workings of a restaurant is the kind of thing that lands right in my sweet spot, but this was too dry for me to get through. It is a series of very long paragraphs crammed with descriptors and explanations of a famous restaurant in Oslo, Norway. The author is Norwegian and this is my second failed attempt to read translated Scandinavian fiction so it may be that I don’t get the style or humor, but there was no movement. I was hoping for something ala Sweetbitter, Hundred Foot Journey, or even Kitchen Confidential, but there was nothing to keep me reading. Check, please!

madhatter360's review against another edition

2.0

One the one hand, this book did its job. I was looking for a short audiobook for a trip to visit a friend 2 hours away, that wasn't too plot heavy so that if I missed things focusing on the road, no major harm would be done.
Having said that, when I arrived home, with an hour left in the audiobook, I didn't find myself strongly motivated to finish. I ultimately did, because I wanted something to listen to while I did dishes but I would have been fine leaving the story forever unfinished.

brianna_4pawsandabook's review against another edition

2.0

This story had a really "Grand Budapest Hotel" vibe. The concept of this was really intriguing. However, I just didn't connect with the characters at all. I never really empathized with the narrator. Character driven stories can be really good, if they're done right, but if you don't connect with the characters, you can't follow the story and you really don't care what happens. That is what happened with this story. There was no plot, it was just the daily happenings of this little restaurant. The writing was lyrical, and it was well written, but I found myself just wanting to get to the end of the book.

I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review from netgalley.

bestja01's review against another edition

reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

It felt like the book equivalent of a Wes Anderson film- I could appreciate the craft, but I didn’t find the aesthetic or plot very attention-holding. 

sirisolh's review against another edition

3.0

We follow a waiter at a high-end restaurant in Oslo for a few days, and we see the world through his eyes and thoughts. We meet the guests and the colleagues, and I find it interesting to see how my impression of the various characters, including the main one, changes as more information is given - or as days go by. And day by day, the routines change due to new guests, their impulses, and the creation of new relations within the restaurant. It's "chaos" for the staff.

I enjoyed the book. It's easy to read, and it's a bit fun to follow someone else's thoughts and actions in a time of change.

tsola's review against another edition

funny lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

catkeo11's review against another edition

mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.75

bkish's review against another edition

3.0

This is a very strange book to read and I do understand why many people disliked it gave it almost no *s. This is a translation from Norwegian by a writer who is an artist. I dont know anything about him and I would bet his art is Surreal. This book is Surreal. It really makes no sense. It is a tale about a few days at an upscale restaurant in Oslo told by a waiter. It appears to be a story about these regular diners known to this waiter. It is also about an interruption made by a woman who joins various groups dining at The Hills. And it is about this waiter whose name I forget who takes care of a child of a friend (Anna and Edgar) who has been left by her father and he the Waiter is responsible for her that day and night. This shows his kindness...

Judy

drix's review against another edition

4.0

Quirky, funny, weird and different.. not always perfect, and at parts even a little irritating, but still an exhilarating read and in a league of it's own! I'll be sure to read more of him in the months to come.

jojo99's review against another edition

lighthearted reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0