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3.89 AVERAGE
3.89 AVERAGE
Stradal creates a transcendent novel depicting the life of one person through multiple people she interacts with during her young adulthood into a master chef. There is a diversity to who he also chooses at certain times in Eva's development that interested me very much. An amazing mid-winter read for those cold days when you need to warm up.
I'm really conflicted over this novel.
On one hand, I really enjoyed the concept and the inclusion of a multitude of Midwestern states (which is where I have lived the majority of my life, so I felt a lot of connections to places/attitudes of characters, etc.).
On the other hand, there were just some things which I really could not get over.
1) Eva barely contributes to her own story as a main character. This would be fine, but I become interested in the characters the tell the story and there are a lot of things that start and never finished (what happened when Pat got over? How did Braque end up keeping her baby? What was the point of Octavia's woe-is-me section?)
2) How is this billed as an "unexpected mother-daughter story" when the mother has 0 interest in her child and can't even work up the courage to tell the truth, even when her daughter already knows?
3) Why does Eva's entire family agree to lie to her about her father's death? Her aunt and uncle obviously loved her and raised her (plus she finds out on her own), so why the lies?
4) Why were the chapters so disjointed? It was actually a little difficult to follow the story when the chapters have seemingly no connection. In this vain - obviously at the end, Eva invites people she knows to be important to her life thus far and makes dishes to celebrate each contribution to her life - why does she not speak to them? It seems like it would have been a nice wrap up to the story.
On one hand, I really enjoyed the concept and the inclusion of a multitude of Midwestern states (which is where I have lived the majority of my life, so I felt a lot of connections to places/attitudes of characters, etc.).
On the other hand, there were just some things which I really could not get over.
1) Eva barely contributes to her own story as a main character. This would be fine, but I become interested in the characters the tell the story and there are a lot of things that start and never finished (what happened when Pat got over? How did Braque end up keeping her baby? What was the point of Octavia's woe-is-me section?)
2) How is this billed as an "unexpected mother-daughter story" when the mother has 0 interest in her child and can't even work up the courage to tell the truth, even when her daughter already knows?
3) Why does Eva's entire family agree to lie to her about her father's death? Her aunt and uncle obviously loved her and raised her (plus she finds out on her own), so why the lies?
4) Why were the chapters so disjointed? It was actually a little difficult to follow the story when the chapters have seemingly no connection. In this vain - obviously at the end, Eva invites people she knows to be important to her life thus far and makes dishes to celebrate each contribution to her life - why does she not speak to them? It seems like it would have been a nice wrap up to the story.
I loved this! At least four (4.5?) stars. Going to see how it settles.
I can't say that I liked this one very much. It was good that there were some recipes but a little too much about angst teenage girls for me. Maybe when I was 16 or 18 this might appeal to me.
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Didn’t love the writing style, or the cliché characters/story lines. Got an extra star for the nostalgia; not sure if anyone not from the cities would appreciate the excess name dropping of street names, local towns, and local products. (And as a cook, I have never met any chef/cook that refers to tomatoes, sweet corn, etc by their heirloom name in such an aggressively pretentious way? I thought this book would be more so food industry relevant, or accurate.)
Very enjoyable. The way it's structured could be frustrating occasionally. You really want to know more about the ostensible main character, but the way Stradal spoons out details about her is just enough to whet your appetite. Still, it was a fun, engaging read.
KITCHENS OF THE GREAT MIDWEST by Ryan Stradal is unlike any other book I’ve read before; both its structure and characters are unique. Eva Thornvald is a culinary prodigy from early childhood when she’s growing some of the hottest peppers possible in her closet in Michigan under sun lamps and other special supplies due to the too-cold weather for outdoor pepper-growing. And, she sells her chocolate habaneros to a local Mexican restaurant where customers report barely being able to eat the dishes in which these peppers are featured.
This book is told from the perspective of eight different characters who all have a unique role to play in Eva’s life. The first section of the book is told from her father’s perspective, Lars, who is a chef at a local restaurant and loves Eva dearly, but his life is sadly cut short and Eva ends up with her aunt and uncle who choose not to tell her that Lars was her father. However, is culinary genius still manages to shine through Eva.
The other sections of the book are told through characters who have a varying degree of connection to Eva: one is a cousin, another a boy she dates in high school, but others just meet her in passing. Many of the characters are difficult to read and like; some are extremely arrogant and others are floundering in life. According to others who are more familiar with the Midwest though, these characters are an accurate portrayal of Midwestern people. Despite the cringe-worthy characters, the ending is extremely satisfying, in my opinion.
This book is told from the perspective of eight different characters who all have a unique role to play in Eva’s life. The first section of the book is told from her father’s perspective, Lars, who is a chef at a local restaurant and loves Eva dearly, but his life is sadly cut short and Eva ends up with her aunt and uncle who choose not to tell her that Lars was her father. However, is culinary genius still manages to shine through Eva.
The other sections of the book are told through characters who have a varying degree of connection to Eva: one is a cousin, another a boy she dates in high school, but others just meet her in passing. Many of the characters are difficult to read and like; some are extremely arrogant and others are floundering in life. According to others who are more familiar with the Midwest though, these characters are an accurate portrayal of Midwestern people. Despite the cringe-worthy characters, the ending is extremely satisfying, in my opinion.
tl;dr So charming!
This book was constantly delightful, florid in its food descriptions and quirky dialogue. I adored the dedicated food sections and how they came together, so whole and decided like a full-course meal (pun intended). The characters were tastefully crafted, as idiosyncratic as their food equivalents. Oh, how I wish the book came with all the food it described—I really want to know how Pat Prager's bars melt and what the big deal is about swet peper jely.
Inherently feel-good, offensively funny All The Time with just a tad bit of that tugging-on-your-heartstrings shiz, this is a solid 4 for me (5 because it made me cry :))
Eva Thorvald, you absolute gem, let me kiss your brain?!
This book was constantly delightful, florid in its food descriptions and quirky dialogue. I adored the dedicated food sections and how they came together, so whole and decided like a full-course meal (pun intended). The characters were tastefully crafted, as idiosyncratic as their food equivalents. Oh, how I wish the book came with all the food it described—I really want to know how Pat Prager's bars melt and what the big deal is about swet peper jely.
Inherently feel-good, offensively funny All The Time with just a tad bit of that tugging-on-your-heartstrings shiz, this is a solid 4 for me (5 because it made me cry :))
Eva Thorvald, you absolute gem, let me kiss your brain?!
I love how we writes with the same reverence for heirloom tomatoes and he does for peanut butter chocolate bars with graham cracker crust. I read the final few pages over a Smart Ones Angel Hair Pasta with Vegetables frozen entrée and am pretty sure [a:J. Ryan Stradal|9761936|J. Ryan Stradal|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1421533268p2/9761936.jpg] wouldn't judge. Highly recommend