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A review by caseynoller
The Lemon by S.E. Boyd
2.0
I wish this book made more sense.
My first dilemma: the main character, John Doe, a famed chef and world traveler with a No Reservations / Parts Unknown style TV show, is found hanging dead from autoerotic asphyxiation gone awry. This main character, dead for the entire book, is very clearly meant to be Anthony Bourdain. His mannerisms, his career, his legacy—it's all Bourdain. I wish the authors could've gotten a bit more creative, more original with it. That said, I understand it's a satire of exactly this world. The absurdity of the media landscape and high-end dining played into Bourdain's death and its aftermath, so that lines up. "On the nose" describes it perfectly.
Another dilemma: three authors. S.E. Boyd is not one, but three writers. Unfortunately, you can tell. The characters and the plot felt disconnected, chapter by chapter, because writing styles are obviously different. This made it even harder to connect with characters than it already was.
And it was hard. Charlie's character, and especially his motivations, is nonsensical. Paolo's character doesn't react to situations in a way a human would. There's no way Katie is living in a Four Seasons after getting paid for one television appearance. There's no way she'd get the John Doe gig in the end with the minimal blackmail she has, especially with her behavior. The outcomes for these characters are just not realistic in ANY way (except MAYBE Patrick, and that's a massive maybe).
Nothing is rational. Real questions go unanswered. Nearly nonexistent plot. Wouldn't read again.
Read more of my book reviews at contentconsumed.medium.com.
My first dilemma: the main character, John Doe, a famed chef and world traveler with a No Reservations / Parts Unknown style TV show, is found hanging dead from autoerotic asphyxiation gone awry. This main character, dead for the entire book, is very clearly meant to be Anthony Bourdain. His mannerisms, his career, his legacy—it's all Bourdain. I wish the authors could've gotten a bit more creative, more original with it. That said, I understand it's a satire of exactly this world. The absurdity of the media landscape and high-end dining played into Bourdain's death and its aftermath, so that lines up. "On the nose" describes it perfectly.
Another dilemma: three authors. S.E. Boyd is not one, but three writers. Unfortunately, you can tell. The characters and the plot felt disconnected, chapter by chapter, because writing styles are obviously different. This made it even harder to connect with characters than it already was.
And it was hard. Charlie's character, and especially his motivations, is nonsensical. Paolo's character doesn't react to situations in a way a human would. There's no way Katie is living in a Four Seasons after getting paid for one television appearance. There's no way she'd get the John Doe gig in the end with the minimal blackmail she has, especially with her behavior. The outcomes for these characters are just not realistic in ANY way (except MAYBE Patrick, and that's a massive maybe).
Nothing is rational. Real questions go unanswered. Nearly nonexistent plot. Wouldn't read again.
Read more of my book reviews at contentconsumed.medium.com.