Laura P. (hemmputnam) reviewed on + 1154 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Feel free to take into consideration that this is not a book I would have picked up on my own when reading this review. If you are a "foodie" you may truly enjoy this novel. I am not a gourmet, and high school French was a long time ago. I read it for a book group and would not have finished it if I hadn't known I'd be discussing it.
The writing was good, but I couldn't like any of the characters. The lead is a famous chef described as follows by the Emperor of Germany, "you do not care for country, or women, or God. For some that would make you a heathen. For me, that makes you the perfect man. You are untainted by affection or loyalty or love. I admire that. That sort of distance from the heart allows for greatness." There were small moments of humor, which I appreciated, but I like my stories and heroes and heroines with more heart and less greatness.
The writing was good, but I couldn't like any of the characters. The lead is a famous chef described as follows by the Emperor of Germany, "you do not care for country, or women, or God. For some that would make you a heathen. For me, that makes you the perfect man. You are untainted by affection or loyalty or love. I admire that. That sort of distance from the heart allows for greatness." There were small moments of humor, which I appreciated, but I like my stories and heroes and heroines with more heart and less greatness.
