A review by ineffablebob
Cooking with Fernet Branca by James Hamilton-Paterson

funny lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Cooking With Fernet Branca is a slice of life story featuring the Englishman Gerald and Eastern European Marta living as neighbors in Italy. Conflict between the two is immediate, but done in the civilized manner of disguising your dislike until it moderates into toleration, and possibly even friendship. There's lots of snark, some laugh-out-loud moments, and even some touching sympathy in places. The writing meanders around all sorts of territory, from the recipes of the title to European politics to family dynamics to social commentary, but the lack of focus isn't really a problem since there's not really much of a plot to follow (at least, until some excitement near the end). If you find the characters enjoyable to follow and like the mostly-understated dry humor, as I did, then you'll likely have fun with this one.