Customer Reviews

Cooking for Harry: A Novel

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book is clever, witty, and breezy, and I enjoyed it completely. The description of poor Harry and how he ends up on his low-carb diet, and all the changes it causes in his life is very funny, and the book moves along very quickly, so you pretty much laugh for a couple of hours, and then you are done. However, this book will make you hungry, and it is most unfair of the author to refer to PeanutBetter ButterBurst cookies and a terrific cauliflower salad and not provide recipes!

I bought this book when I saw it at a store and thought it looked interesting as I was on a similar diet at the time.

"Cooking for Harry" was not terrible but for the most part the book was just plain meaningless and offered nothing of any interest or real importance.

If you have a lot of time to read you might not mind it. If reading time is harder to come by for you look for something more substancial elsewhere.

Francie delights in her cozy marriage. She and her husband, Harry, are content as they approach their 25th wedding anniversary. They are big-time foodies: Harry is a master gourmet cook and Francie is his adoring fan. The two of them host neighborhood dinner parties, family get-togethers and other calorie-driven fests. When Harry wants to show his love for Francie, he cooks her luscious tidbits.

Their life is shaken when Harry wins a digital scale in a raffle --- and actually weighs himself. He and Francie are aghast to discover that he is one hundred pounds overweight. At his doctor's they hear terrifying news about his cholesterol, triglycerides and his chances of developing diabetes and heart disease. When the doctor discusses diet, all Harry can say is, "Is there any diet where I could still have butter?"

Harry cheats on his low-fat, low-calorie diet. Francie, horrified that her beloved husband will eat himself into an early grave, offers to do all the cooking. She also talks him into joining a university hospital diet study.

Luckily for Harry, the diet study program lets him have butter --- and steaks, cheese, sour cream and so on. It's a low-carbohydrate program, and Harry thrives on it. Fat begins melting off of him faster than grease from frying bacon.

Francie is so happy. Or is she? Sure, her husband is getting slimmer, but he's also gone all the time. He's constantly off at work or at the gym or getting together with his diet group. At home he's distracted. Francie doesn't want to believe it of her adorable husband, but now that he's looking so tasty, is his love life sizzling elsewhere?

I adored witty, down-to-earth Francie. I initially loved Harry, but as I read further I felt that I didn't know him very well (no doubt mirroring his wife's feelings). The author draws us in to the family dynamics in a realistic, humorous way. However, while two of the couple's children were truly people to me, the brief appearance of two other less-realized children served no discernible purpose. I also had some quibbles with the relationships toward the end of the book. Two cardboardish characters, Krys and Tommy, appear to be devices invented for the plot's convenience. I had a similar reaction to a rather contrived cruise scene and felt the ending to be just a bit too pat. These problems after the midway point of the story weakened a wonderfully original premise and a great voice.

However, despite my disappointments with the last half of the book, COOKING FOR HARRY is a quick, fun story. I recommend it to anyone looking for the reading equivalent of a light, fluffy no-carb snack.

--- Reviewed by Terry Miller Shannon

I wish there was a sequel to "Cooking for Harry" or that I knew who the author is.

I enjoyed the book. As I had lost weight previously using the low-carb diet, I felt this was an accurate account of how the main character was able to change his lifestyle to accommodate his losing weight. Overall, was a fun book to read.

I'm on low carbs so that could be why I enjoyed this little book.
A fun read, didn't learn anything, but a cute story.

I have been doing some pretty heavy reading for my classes, and was looking for something to unwind with.. this is the perfect read..!! Its funny, light, extremely readable, and if you are a fast reader - engaging enough for you to finish in one go...!

Harry loves to cook. Big gourmet meals - high calorie, high cholesterol, high sugar and highly tasty meals. Harry also loves to eat the meals he cooks. Which is fine until he receives a digital scale which talks. The scale not only talks but gets downright insulting when it thinks you weigh more than you should. And Harry's doctor confirms the scales opinion. Harry has to lose weight.

So his wife Francine takes over the cooking. And Harry loses weight. Then Harry joins a health club and before long a new improved Harry never seems to be home. Is he having an affair? Francine just doesn't know what to do with this new Harry.

This is a really funny book - especially one section when 2 of the characters (I won't tell you which 2) take a cruise. It's even laughing out loud funny so if you're reading this in a public place, be prepared for some strange looks.

I loved it and I loved Harry. You will too.

I picked up this book after finishing a thriller, merely looking to read something easy and soothing after a never-ending story. Next time I will be more careful.
The repeated mentions of various food and drinks made me hungry. That was fine as they also presented ideas for scrumptious dinners. The whole story, though, was banal.
I missed it completely that it was titled a "low-carbohydrate" novel. Popular diets especially that stress on low-carb meaning plenty of protein are not my preference. In fact, not one diet regime can be categorized as my favorite.
Consuming food moderately is the best policy but apparently Harry, the troubled main character had a problem doing just that. A lot of people might share his dilemma. A few families might be experiencing the same quandary dealing with obesity. Some individuals might empathize with the family's difficulty. Many spouses might identify with the marriage mess.
Not me; not yet maybe.

I started and finished this book in one sitting. It is a gourmet novel that indulges the sensual palette while exploring the success of an innovative diet. The plot is brilliant. The suspense and unanticipated resolution keep the book captivating until the very end. This is one I will definetly re-read!!!!!!!