You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.89 AVERAGE
3.89 AVERAGE
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
Charming and full of lovely moments that reminded this Midwesterner abroad of home. I raced through it and enjoyed the character sketches, particularly Braque and Pat. The recipes are pretty gimmicky, but I won't deny I've copied Pat's bars recipe for future use.
I did come away feeling Eva was unknowable - that we never got to the nub of who she was, despite the fact that she was the heart of the book. Perhaps that was the point: that she is an enigma. But it also felt slightly that she could only be seen through the prism of others and was therefore denied a proper voice. This is definitely a woman as written by a man, a (not so) manic pixie dream girl. But that aside, I really enjoyed the book.
I did come away feeling Eva was unknowable - that we never got to the nub of who she was, despite the fact that she was the heart of the book. Perhaps that was the point: that she is an enigma. But it also felt slightly that she could only be seen through the prism of others and was therefore denied a proper voice. This is definitely a woman as written by a man, a (not so) manic pixie dream girl. But that aside, I really enjoyed the book.
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Food porn and family drama. What’s not to like?? This book includes recipes occasionally to spotlight some story facet, which was fun but difficult too use on audiobook format. LOL. The Book meanders through several relationships tangential to Eva Thorvald’s life. We start out with her parents, meet a high school boyfriend, his step mother an unwitting rival, and more. Eventually the story leans hard into finding one’s calling and relationships that matter. I appreciated the way Stradal tired things up at the end, while still leaving a few loose ends to our imagination.
I had no idea what I was getting into when I started this book, it is much more that meets the eye.
This book was soooooo self-consciously referential, and the whole time I was reading it, I felt like the author was trying to congratulate himself on knowing what the Midwest is because he was born in Minnesota. If you're gonna name drop stuff, at least get it right. Nobody calls it The Current 89.3 Nobody calls it "the" 169 (o hi, Californian). Megabus didn't exist in the US until years after Eva took it from Des Moines to Chicago.
That stuff wouldn't have been a big deal, but the author was so busy referencing stuff that he didn't get around to actually developing any of the characters. Everything was flat and one dimensional. Actually, Pat Prather sort of grew in the short time we spent with her, so there was that.
I pretty much never abandon a book, so I just powered through this one to finish it. It was a nice idea, at least.
That stuff wouldn't have been a big deal, but the author was so busy referencing stuff that he didn't get around to actually developing any of the characters. Everything was flat and one dimensional. Actually, Pat Prather sort of grew in the short time we spent with her, so there was that.
I pretty much never abandon a book, so I just powered through this one to finish it. It was a nice idea, at least.