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3.58 AVERAGE
3.58 AVERAGE
If I had seen the words "a coming of age story" on the back before I picked this book up, I wouldn't have bothered. While not terrible, it is everything average and expected.
Growing up in Lawrence KS, I knew actor Ric Averill quite well. This is his brother. Excellent book. Good story encompasses food. I am fascinated. Originally read November 2001.
June 2011 I'm re-reading this.
June 2011 I'm re-reading this.
A culinary novel with a twist. Wes is the son of "dueling" chefs. His father has the Tsil Cafe - specializing in Authentic (with a capital A) New Mexican cuisine. His mother runs a traditional Italian catering company from the family's apartment kitchen (above the Cafe). Wes has to find a way to honor his parents while forging his own path. I was hungry for more.
emotional
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This is a good book for the bus. It reminds me of the sort of book we had to read in school, i.e., I could tell it was supposed to have messages embedded about learning to become your own person and that sort of thing. The story is about food so recipes are sprinkled throughout. I tended to skip them.
The tale is full of recipes, some on the very edge of bizarre but all bursting with flavor and history. Definitions of New World foods, from maple syrup to pawpaws, are included, and Averill has managed to integrate both recipes and definitions into his richly unfolding storyÑno small feat. In the spirit of Like Water for Chocolate but far, far spicier. This book was a ton of fun and I even bought a jicama to try one of the recipes. HIGHLY recommend for everyone, especially lovers of Latin American culture.
Overall this was an enjoyable and well written book. I just really didn't care for the prominent characters. The story is told through Wes' point of view. He is the child of two chefs/cooks that run a restaurant and a catering business, and really are very selfish people. Many of the family secrets come out over the course of the book which is from Wes' childhood to after his parents retire. Even though I didn't care for the characters the book was an enjoyable read. That is just the difference of I like it to I really like it.
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Bullying, Infidelity
Moderate: Animal death, Death, Sexual content
This was a pleasant surprise! I expected this to be more a place-as-character book. The Tsil Cafe was a character, but a minor, background one. Written almost as a memoir, it was an enjoyable read.
My quibbles were that it was a little predictable and a little dramatic. But it is a book about food and family, and I think that's an ambitious undertaking!
My quibbles were that it was a little predictable and a little dramatic. But it is a book about food and family, and I think that's an ambitious undertaking!