annieb123's review against another edition
4.0
Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.
Garlic, Mint, & Sweet Basil is a collection of short sensual epicurean essays about food, culture, and experience by Jean-Claude Izzo. Originally published in 2003, this reformat and re-release by Europa Compass is due out in late July 2020. It's a quick read at 128 pages and is available in ebook format (earlier editions available in other formats).
This was a sweet and nostalgic collection of short writings about the author's love affair with the Mediterranean area and more specifically the Riviera. The author was something of a renaissance man, poet, playwright, and novelist, but these essays are more personal and felt more open and conversational. Despite being listed in the cooking, food, & wine categories, there are no recipes contained herein. This is a nice boutique collection of short musings.
This would be the perfect gift for oneself or others, especially given that travel is seriously restricted and/or simply impossible during the current pandemic situation and likely to remain so for some time. I got such a summery holiday feeling reading this short book.
Four stars. Lovely work.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes
Garlic, Mint, & Sweet Basil is a collection of short sensual epicurean essays about food, culture, and experience by Jean-Claude Izzo. Originally published in 2003, this reformat and re-release by Europa Compass is due out in late July 2020. It's a quick read at 128 pages and is available in ebook format (earlier editions available in other formats).
This was a sweet and nostalgic collection of short writings about the author's love affair with the Mediterranean area and more specifically the Riviera. The author was something of a renaissance man, poet, playwright, and novelist, but these essays are more personal and felt more open and conversational. Despite being listed in the cooking, food, & wine categories, there are no recipes contained herein. This is a nice boutique collection of short musings.
This would be the perfect gift for oneself or others, especially given that travel is seriously restricted and/or simply impossible during the current pandemic situation and likely to remain so for some time. I got such a summery holiday feeling reading this short book.
Four stars. Lovely work.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes
tommooney's review against another edition
4.0
GARLIC, MINT AND SWEET BASIL by the great Jean-Claude Izzo. This is a delightful collection of essays by the godfather of Mediterranean noir. Izzo, one of my favourite writers, muses here on his beloved homeland of Marseilles, his lust for good food and his thoughts on noir and other writing. It is very romantic and nostalgic but also contains some timely thoughts on what it is to be French, European and a citizen of the world. I loved this beautiful little book but then I would enjoy anything this guy wrote - perhaps it's one only for his fans.
agotakristof's review against another edition
3.0
If you haven't read Izzo before, this will serve as an intro to his style of writing and also his more famous noir series. There is a small story at the end where we get a glimpse of the hero of his trilogy - it even has a list of that character's favorite food, music and books. These are mostly light, sometimes super light essays.
anna1882's review
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
3.75
She is beautiful only because of her humanity. The rest is just chauvinism.
uncommonlybound's review
3.0
A collection of essays by the late Jean-Claude Izzo, this little book is essentially a love letter to is home city of Marseilles, France. Izzo, however, does not think of himself or his city as French, but rather Mediterranean. Izzo celebrates the diversity and chaos of a city whose people come from elsewhere. He describes walking down the street and encountering an array of smells, cuisine, and music all representing different places and cultures.
One of my favorite quotes from the book is, "Marseilles always exaggerates. That is her essence."
Izzo is best known foe his triology of noir novels that take place in Marseilles. This book also spends some time talking about the trilogy and their protagonist, Fabio Mantale.
One of my favorite quotes from the book is, "Marseilles always exaggerates. That is her essence."
Izzo is best known foe his triology of noir novels that take place in Marseilles. This book also spends some time talking about the trilogy and their protagonist, Fabio Mantale.
bookmarksnbreadsticks's review against another edition
reflective
fast-paced
3.0
A short novella focusing on the Mediterranean. It is beautifully written but it does not spur me to pick up more of this work