Reviews tagging 'Suicide'

Confesiones de Un Chef - Aventuras En Transfondo by Anthony Bourdain

32 reviews

erinkotz's review against another edition

3.5
dark funny informative reflective medium-paced
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savvy999's review against another edition

5.0
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Fiercely written, explosively detailed and honest. Bourdain’s crass, brusque, occasionally offensive tone, is the perfect method of delivery for the crass, violent, often offensive industry. Written with sensitivity and passion for the subjects within, it is vivid and engaging. There is a level of cognitive dissonance and difficulty in reading this, you do have to step out of what you are personally comfortable with, knowing that if you are not in the culinary world, this is an entirely alien world. But that’s why this is such an enticing read, it’s worth it expand your view beyond what you know. RIP man, I think he really got it— his signature and unique voice make is exploration of this world all the more remarkable. 
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mpernambuco's review against another edition

5.0
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i miss him a lot and i didn’t know him
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alibrarymouse's review against another edition

5.0
dark hopeful informative slow-paced
It’s a little hard to rate and review someone’s memoir. 

Anthony Bourdain’s book was interesting, fun, and surprisingly helpful even for parts of life that aren’t necessarily related to cooking. The way he wrote was down-to-earth and he didn’t paint himself as better than he was, but as someone who had grown from what he had been. I really liked learning about how he became who he was, to the point it was actually sad to finish the book and see the hope he had for the future knowing he had passed. 

However, this is an excellent one to read if you’re interested in the culinary experience no matter how involved you are. It was a great behind-the-scenes look told in a way that never got too uppity. It was beautiful in a rough way, and I’m definitely interested in reading his other books. 
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arodericks's review against another edition

3.5
Audiobook narrated by the author.  He did a good job. Very entertaining, although I did not want to know many of the things I learned about restaurants.    Bourdain seemed like he was self-aware of his bravado, which made it a little easier to stomach.  I found it uncanny and a little disturbing how often he referenced suicide throughout the book.  It was always in a joking way, but it left me wondering if it was some kind of coping mechanism.  He didn't give any sense of a struggle with mental illness, besides the drug addition, (which could have been enough, I suppose).  I would be interested in reading more memoirs from his later years to see if the tone changed.  RIP Tony Bourdain. 
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maddie_jeffery's review against another edition

5.0
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connerstumm's review against another edition

4.5
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There were several points where I thought this was my favorite book that I’ve ever read. It has some amazing moments where you can feel his love for food. Has a Michelin star (1 at best) knowledge, but a true blue collar way of viewing it. His story reflected mine and many others shared experiences in restaurants. But there’s some moments that I wish he wouldn’t have perpetuated and normalized the horrors of kitchen, and offered some real critiques for those abusive environments. Especially the way he spoke and his kitchen reacted to a s**cide, really did not age well. I wish he could’ve changed some of those mindsets because I feel like I love the guy and miss him, and Im only now starting to know him. Going to watch his show and maybe pick up another one of his books. 
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tetred_'s review against another edition

5.0
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I believe audiobook is a masterpiece. Anthony Bourdain's claim to fame is both funny and harrowing. The memories of the various restaurants he's worked at are both unbelievable and incredibly insightful. He manages to portray himself as both endearing and an awful person. While several parts of this book have aged poorly and will hopefully continue to do so it's easy to see how this book managed to take the food world by storm. 
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mommyshoots's review against another edition

4.0
adventurous dark funny lighthearted fast-paced
Bourdain writes just like he talks - his voice is in every word. The stories are fast-paced, insane, and not for the faint of heart. There is endless drug/alcohol abuse, sexual content/ harassment, and a very interesting look at race as it relates specifically to the restaurant industry. Bourdain has a way of acknowledging his own privilege and unlikability that still makes him come away as charming and relatable.
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cavallonee's review against another edition

4.5
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