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rebeccaasavage's review against another edition
4.0
“There are three kinds of oyster-eaters: those loose-minded sports who will eat anything, hot, cold, thick, thin, dead or alive, as long as it is oyster; those who will eat them raw and only raw; and those who with equal severity will eat them cooked and no way other. The first group may perhaps have the most fun, although there is a white fire about the other’s [hatred] that can never warm the broad-minded.”
theprinceofdenmark's review against another edition
2.0
Minus stars for outrageously racist statements interspersed throughout otherwise funny and interesting writing!
ninareadingbooks's review against another edition
5.0
5 stars! No, 6 Stars!
They sure don’t write ‘em like they used to. I loved this little book about oysters so much I read it over the course of an entire afternoon. At first, I thought it was the fall air and the small, farm picnic that made this book feel magical. I usually read on an e-reader, but as I borrowed this pearl from my brother-in-law, it felt particularly special to read it in print. Having read it, I can see why a little book about oysters has become a notable book in any list of MFK Fisher’s American classics.
This is the kind of writing you just don’t get anymore. The natural and effortless wit, thoughtfulness, and intentional word use is lost on modern writers. The content is an eloquent mix of oyster nature/ life, recipes, tales, and references to oysters in history and literature. There is so much packed delightfully into this book it is quite amazing that it is so small. The book had me laughing all afternoon and reading excerpts to the amusement of the present company. We are so inspired by Fisher’s oysters that we are excitedly awaiting the start of oyster season to throw an oyster dinner party which will surely include at least one recipe from the book.
After finishing the book, I immediately ran to my computer where I did a deep dive on MFK Fisher and looked for more of her works. I cannot wait to get my hands on more of her books.
They sure don’t write ‘em like they used to. I loved this little book about oysters so much I read it over the course of an entire afternoon. At first, I thought it was the fall air and the small, farm picnic that made this book feel magical. I usually read on an e-reader, but as I borrowed this pearl from my brother-in-law, it felt particularly special to read it in print. Having read it, I can see why a little book about oysters has become a notable book in any list of MFK Fisher’s American classics.
This is the kind of writing you just don’t get anymore. The natural and effortless wit, thoughtfulness, and intentional word use is lost on modern writers. The content is an eloquent mix of oyster nature/ life, recipes, tales, and references to oysters in history and literature. There is so much packed delightfully into this book it is quite amazing that it is so small. The book had me laughing all afternoon and reading excerpts to the amusement of the present company. We are so inspired by Fisher’s oysters that we are excitedly awaiting the start of oyster season to throw an oyster dinner party which will surely include at least one recipe from the book.
After finishing the book, I immediately ran to my computer where I did a deep dive on MFK Fisher and looked for more of her works. I cannot wait to get my hands on more of her books.
jill's review against another edition
3.0
I chose this book for my book club, based on my recollection of how much I had enjoyed "The Gastronomical Me" many years ago. I'm afraid I won't soon live this one down.
The good: MFK Fisher is such a fantastic writer. She puts together a sentence like no other- her imagery is perfection, her words the exact ones needed.
The less-good: enfin, this is a book about oysters. And much of it traipses from recipe to recipe, not exactly scintillating stuff for a book club.
I enjoyed this despite not being a fan of oysters; however, I wouldn't recommend it to anyone else's book club. ;)
The good: MFK Fisher is such a fantastic writer. She puts together a sentence like no other- her imagery is perfection, her words the exact ones needed.
The less-good: enfin, this is a book about oysters. And much of it traipses from recipe to recipe, not exactly scintillating stuff for a book club.
I enjoyed this despite not being a fan of oysters; however, I wouldn't recommend it to anyone else's book club. ;)
donutcome4me's review against another edition
5.0
Everyone talks about M.F.K Fischer in positive platitudes but all of them are true. This is a mouth watering read and I am off to find myself some oysters.
tyyne's review
funny
informative
lighthearted
fast-paced
3.75
Punchy but of a different time. Made me want to eat oysters.
cindywho's review against another edition
4.0
This small book of essays lives up to its name. It made me want to try oyster stew. (May 18, 2006)
jessferg's review against another edition
2.0
Unfortunately this does not hold up well. The language is dated (and a little pompous) and there are tons of time sensitive references that you will only get if you've deeply immersed yourself in 1940s/1950s pop and socialite cultures (and I haven't). The actual information one can glean about oysters is interesting and some of the recipes look like they'd be fun to try just for the sake of doing it. Her writing about eating and cooking - when she's not making it "relevant" to her day and age - are quite good and I think this is where most modern-day recommendations are coming from. I'd like to read Fisher's book How to Cook a Wolf but am a bit worried it will be more of the same.