Helpful Score: 4
I really liked this book. It is not a very challenging read, but captivating none-the-less. If you have been bitten by the travel bug, this book will worsen your symptoms (in a good way). I definitely recommend reading this book.
H M. (anchovy) reviewed Dishwasher: One Man's Quest to Wash Dishes in All Fifty States (P.S.) on + 296 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
The story of Dishwasher Pete, slacker on a mission. Part adventure, part parody, and part miraculous journey of self-discovery. Pete washed the nation's dishes from 1989 to 2001, from a bagel joint in New Mexico to a Mexican joint in Brooklyn, from a dinner train in Rhode Island to the Lawrence Welk Resort in Branson, Missouri, from an upper-crust ladies' club to a crusty hippie commune. I enjoyed the easy, fun read and was actually rather (pleasantly) surprised by the ending.
Nancy A. (Chocoholic) reviewed Dishwasher: One Man's Quest to Wash Dishes in All Fifty States (P.S.) on + 291 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
A man with little career aspirations decides he wants to be a dishwasher. Somewhere between job #1 and job 5 he decides he wants to wash dishes in all 50 states, on a train, in dinner theaters, and cafeterias. Aside from the protagonist, the characters are pretty flat and one-dimensional. The reader encounters various unlikable characters, one of whom becomes the protagonist's wife. The book ends abruptly with no resolution. I got this book on a whim, thinking it would be a fun read. Instead it's monotonous and repetitive. Did not like; would not recommend.
Victoria (YSB) -
This was a pretty amusing memoir... though, I must admit, I was pretty disappointed that he didn't make it to all 50 states. Not that what he did do - and for as long as he did it - wasn't amazing in its own way. This seemed pretty reminiscent of Sedaris' writing in some ways and it was certainly a fast read.
A fair warning, it has some DEFINITELY DISGUSTING parts - and if you think about it too much when reading it, I wouldn't recommend eating out, ever again... It was certainly a different topic and I would read his book about bicycling in Amsterdam when it comes out.
A fair warning, it has some DEFINITELY DISGUSTING parts - and if you think about it too much when reading it, I wouldn't recommend eating out, ever again... It was certainly a different topic and I would read his book about bicycling in Amsterdam when it comes out.
Stephanie M. reviewed Dishwasher: One Man's Quest to Wash Dishes in All Fifty States (P.S.) on + 8 more book reviews
Pete remembers his father coming home miserable from work every day. He grew up poor, and instead of this being a motivator to work hard, it has the opposite effect, he vows to work as little as possible. Only towards the end does he conclude that he's wasted years of his life instead of working towards a career. In between these two life realizations are the intriguing stories of Pete working menial jobs everywhere. Most of us want to work hard, and it was fascinating to read about such a dedicated slacker!
