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4.3 AVERAGE
4.3 AVERAGE
I've been a fan of Atlas and Gastro Obscura for years, and have read many of the entries online for both topics. I was worried that many of the entries in Gastro Obscura would be repeats of what's online, and was pleasantly surprised that 85% of the entries were new to me! This book isn't just about looking at gross or weird foods- it's about examining the way that food intersects with culture, how food is affected by capitalism and political upheaval, and the ways people have innovated to have tasty foods in hard times. I read every entry in this book and learned a lot! My only qualms is I wish there was more.
Thanks, NetGalley for providing me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks, NetGalley for providing me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
This is basically a collection of Atlas Obscura/Gastro Obscura blog posts. It was fine! A little forgettable (I don't remember very many of the entries I read, though if I encountered the food I'd probably be reminded) but a good enough time
I think it's the epitome of a coffee table book. Fun, easily digestible in bite-sized chunks, diverting but not absorbing. I read this mostly on the couch while my brother played video games and it was a perfectly enjoyable way to spend my rapidly dwindling life hours
I think it's the epitome of a coffee table book. Fun, easily digestible in bite-sized chunks, diverting but not absorbing. I read this mostly on the couch while my brother played video games and it was a perfectly enjoyable way to spend my rapidly dwindling life hours
adventurous
informative
lighthearted
fast-paced
informative
slow-paced
I never thought I'd read an atlas, but an atlas that covers unique foods from around the world? Yes! It was fascinating and well researched.
informative
slow-paced
Lots of small articles about all the food things you ever wanted to know (and a few I could live without). If you like Gastro Obsurcra online, this is like a ton of mini-bites from the site. The pictures are generally good and while I don't want to eat everything in the book, there are definitely a few things I added to the list and I'll be referencing the book when/if I start traveling again.
*This book was received as an advanced reader's copy from NetGalley.
This might just be one of my favorite 'food' books I've read in awhile. I'm always looking for innovative or 'new to me' foods or cuisines, and this book touched on so many that my poor Amazon wish-list is now chock full of goodies I'd like to try. But moreso than being just a grocery list helper, this book is a great way to view different customs, foods, and other edible innovations around the world, and helps introduce the reader to things they might never have known existed otherwise.
Broken into world regions like Europe, Canada, Africa, etc. (and then further broken into sub-regions within that), each section highlights food festivals, events, items, specialized produce, and much more. To tag along with each item, there is usually a picture or two and also a note on where to obtain the item if possible. Along the way, certain food history or further depth into customs surrounding a particular item or foodstuff around the world are inter-weaved. Most are done in summaries, with few items being more than a page long.
The writing is engaging, fun, and interesting; I can truthfully say there was no skimming and I read every word because I was so intrigued by it. And where some reference books can be dry and boring, this one did not have that tone at all. It was a delight to read through a section at a time, and while I can't say this is a 'sit down and read all at once' type of book, I did return to it night after night to continue the food journey. Among some of my favorite parts were the 'rolling in the grits' (not an Adele song as you might expect), Spicebush (I have two planted in my yard!), Spit-roasted cake, and well, there's too many and my bucket list has really increased as a result.
Really a wonderful book and I'd highly recommend it to anyone who likes travel, food, or learning about other cultures. I definitely plan on buying a physical copy of this one as a permanent addition to the home library.
Review by M. Reynard 2020
This might just be one of my favorite 'food' books I've read in awhile. I'm always looking for innovative or 'new to me' foods or cuisines, and this book touched on so many that my poor Amazon wish-list is now chock full of goodies I'd like to try. But moreso than being just a grocery list helper, this book is a great way to view different customs, foods, and other edible innovations around the world, and helps introduce the reader to things they might never have known existed otherwise.
Broken into world regions like Europe, Canada, Africa, etc. (and then further broken into sub-regions within that), each section highlights food festivals, events, items, specialized produce, and much more. To tag along with each item, there is usually a picture or two and also a note on where to obtain the item if possible. Along the way, certain food history or further depth into customs surrounding a particular item or foodstuff around the world are inter-weaved. Most are done in summaries, with few items being more than a page long.
The writing is engaging, fun, and interesting; I can truthfully say there was no skimming and I read every word because I was so intrigued by it. And where some reference books can be dry and boring, this one did not have that tone at all. It was a delight to read through a section at a time, and while I can't say this is a 'sit down and read all at once' type of book, I did return to it night after night to continue the food journey. Among some of my favorite parts were the 'rolling in the grits' (not an Adele song as you might expect), Spicebush (I have two planted in my yard!), Spit-roasted cake, and well, there's too many and my bucket list has really increased as a result.
Really a wonderful book and I'd highly recommend it to anyone who likes travel, food, or learning about other cultures. I definitely plan on buying a physical copy of this one as a permanent addition to the home library.
Review by M. Reynard 2020
This has become one of my favourite books. I loved how it showed different kind of foods that may be weird in some countries but totally normal in others. I liked the history behind some types of food. I definitely recommend this book to whoever is interested in food, traveling and a bit of history of food.
adventurous
informative
lighthearted
relaxing