This cookbook in the form of a novel follows the narrator on a spiritual journey and an adventure of the senses. He meditates on such matters as Camembert and the French Revolution, sheppmeat and Islam, the erotics of dislike, and the history of the peach.
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This cookbook in the form of a novel follows the narrator on a spiritual journey and an adventure of the senses. He meditates on such matters as Camembert and the French Revolution, sheppmeat and Islam, the erotics of dislike, and the history of the peach.
Read Less
John Lanchester is one of the smartest, funniest writers working today. I am reading all of his books and enjoying each one as I go.
Gyllie
Apr 26, 2009
Wicked pleasure
This novel is a as satisfying and decadent as the recipes it contains. Lanchester weaves rich, vivid descriptions of the best parts of England and France with his narcissitc narrator's twisted tale. Read hungry.
Polymath
Jan 10, 2008
Finish this book!
I have to admit, I read this book because a friend of mine loved it and couldn't find anyone who would read it. I figured I can read almost anything, so borrowed her copy and started reading.
It was odd, sometimes strangely amusing, and ... I ... was ... not... getting...through... it.
BUT THEN - something weird happened in the book, and I thought, "huh?" and finished the book (don't peek!), said "oh WOW"... and then turned to the front and read the whole book through again.
Yeah. It's that kind of book. I can't tell you what happens, or it will ruin the ending. But what you will find is an extremely self-centered narrator taking you on a sort of food tour. I have two favorite lines in the book. The first one is "I myself have always disliked being called a 'genius.' It is fascinating to notice how quick people have been to intuit and avoid this term." The second quote is the last line of the book (don't peek!).
If you are a fan of unreliable narrators, I highly recommend this book.
