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jennrs929's review against another edition
4.0
Sex and good food. Does it get any better than that? I don't think so.
katgirgenti8309's review against another edition
I am lately interested in books that melt the rich culture of cooking, food, etc., into the souls of their stories. I did a random search and La Cucina showed up on a list. I read the summary, downloaded the book and...WOW! What I mean is that I did not expect what I got...HOWEVER, it was a breath of fresh air. I felt like I was reading some seedy version of Strega Nona (one of my kids' favorite books, by Tomie dePaola)! It has an old world fairy tale feel to it, but is hilariously detailed and very adult, if you know what I mean...wink, wink. The experience is very unique and heart lifting; I found myself surprised into shocked gasps and laughing out loud at many points throughout. The narration was perfect and the ending sweet.
As for my interest, after making my disappointed way through other books who claimed to incorporate the culinary arts, this one really had what I was looking for. Rosa Fiore's calling as a cook is very much part of who she is. It is interesting that, despite this, Prior has her earn her living as a librarian the majority of the story. This seemed to me to drive the point that cooking was part of Rosa, like her arm or part of her heart, her brain. It wasn't a job. La Cucina is a character itself. Most of the monumental events in the story, and indeed in Rosa's life happen in La Cucina. It is her birth place, the place her family mourns their deaths, a place of contemplation and of refuge. It is the beginning and the end of the story. This novel is altogether obscene and yet completely wholesome. I loved every delectable word!
As for my interest, after making my disappointed way through other books who claimed to incorporate the culinary arts, this one really had what I was looking for. Rosa Fiore's calling as a cook is very much part of who she is. It is interesting that, despite this, Prior has her earn her living as a librarian the majority of the story. This seemed to me to drive the point that cooking was part of Rosa, like her arm or part of her heart, her brain. It wasn't a job. La Cucina is a character itself. Most of the monumental events in the story, and indeed in Rosa's life happen in La Cucina. It is her birth place, the place her family mourns their deaths, a place of contemplation and of refuge. It is the beginning and the end of the story. This novel is altogether obscene and yet completely wholesome. I loved every delectable word!
daphne_430's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Rape, and Sexual content
Moderate: Body shaming, Death, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Fatphobia, Death of parent, Infidelity, Sexism, and Fire/Fire injury
suzze's review against another edition
4.0
Interesting book. At first I was worried it was going to be a rip-off of Like Water For Chocolate ( a fabulous book)but as the story developed it was quite different. Rosa's life has always revolved around food, and the food intertwines itself in her relationships. A quick read that I would recommend to anyone who doesn't mind some sex, and likes a well-written novel.
kaleighbasso's review against another edition
3.0
I don’t know how to feel about this book. It was a quick read so it wasn’t awful? But i didn’t feel necessarily connected to the story, the characters, the food, anything. It felt flat, just kinda…there.
ketutar's review against another edition
3.0
I like it, but… I am not too fond of her writing. Interesting little book.
mavenbooks's review against another edition
2.0
The majority of this story was fairly well-written, though some of the sex scenes got a bit silly. Towards the end though, around page 207 or so out of 263), everything sped up way too much. A million things happened, and all so close together, and it was rather disappointing after the book had gotten off to such a good start.
tanyapaquet's review against another edition
4.0
L’histoire
La Cucina se passe au début du 20e siècle. C’est l’histoire de Rosa, une jeune italienne qui adore faire la cuisine. Elle soulage ses inquiétudes, ses joies, ses colères etc. en faisant à manger pour sa famille et elle-même. Lorsque son amoureux est assassiné, elle quitte sa campagne natale pour aller vivre sa vie en ville. Elle y passera près de 25 ans de sa vie comme bibliothécaire. À l’aube de ses 25 ans de service, elle rencontre un étranger avec lequel s’ensuivra une relation mystérieuse et torride. Bien sûr, une histoire d’Italie ne serait pas complète sans la présence de la mafia…
Mes impressions
Honnêtement, j’ai trouvé ce petit livre incroyable. L’histoire est belle et très captivante. L’auteure fait des liens constants entre la vie de Rosa et la cuisine italienne. De plus, le vocabulaire employé permet au lecteur de concevoir la relation entre Rosa et l’étranger, c’est-à-dire la passion entre les deux amoureux.
Lily Prior fait sentir au lecteur qu’il est partie intégrante de l’histoire. Les descriptions des scènes d’amour sont très imagées, passionnées et délicieuses.Je vous conseille de lire ce petit bijou en anglais afin de savourer le vocabulaire employé pour nous faire vivre les émotions des personnages et rendre l’histoire ce qu’elle est.
La Cucina se passe au début du 20e siècle. C’est l’histoire de Rosa, une jeune italienne qui adore faire la cuisine. Elle soulage ses inquiétudes, ses joies, ses colères etc. en faisant à manger pour sa famille et elle-même. Lorsque son amoureux est assassiné, elle quitte sa campagne natale pour aller vivre sa vie en ville. Elle y passera près de 25 ans de sa vie comme bibliothécaire. À l’aube de ses 25 ans de service, elle rencontre un étranger avec lequel s’ensuivra une relation mystérieuse et torride. Bien sûr, une histoire d’Italie ne serait pas complète sans la présence de la mafia…
Mes impressions
Honnêtement, j’ai trouvé ce petit livre incroyable. L’histoire est belle et très captivante. L’auteure fait des liens constants entre la vie de Rosa et la cuisine italienne. De plus, le vocabulaire employé permet au lecteur de concevoir la relation entre Rosa et l’étranger, c’est-à-dire la passion entre les deux amoureux.
Lily Prior fait sentir au lecteur qu’il est partie intégrante de l’histoire. Les descriptions des scènes d’amour sont très imagées, passionnées et délicieuses.Je vous conseille de lire ce petit bijou en anglais afin de savourer le vocabulaire employé pour nous faire vivre les émotions des personnages et rendre l’histoire ce qu’elle est.
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