Customer Reviews

Delicious

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This odd exhilarating book is as well-paced and plotted as a P.G. Wodehouse novel but it is studded with incidents and bizarre moments that are as disgusting as a book by William Burroughs.

And it's all set in Hawaii of all places so you get bizarre insights into that culture. If you liked Moist, you will like Delicious. The author is a screenwriter who was hired to make a postmodernist version of Hawaii 5-0 but although that season was cancelled this book gives an indication of the author's viewpoint and why such a bizarre series could never have made it to television except on the furthest out cable channel.

Hit men, prostitutes, sleazebags, opportunistic Hawaiians, Spam, sushi, cooking. I read it in one sitting and felt like I had taken two hits of Ecstacy. Wonderful, dangerous book.

This book was really fine. Which real person was the inspiration for the character Joseph? I want to eat at the restaurant where he is now working. I couldn't put this book down.

This goes down as the fastest I have ever read a novel. I began reading this book 4 days ago and I just finished. I think I read 180 pages in the first sitting. Smith really knows how to write an engaging novel. I am not surprised by this after reading his first novel, "Moist", in a rather short period of time as well.

Just like "Moist" the characters in the novel really drive the entire thing. They are twisted people with problems. Drug problems, sex problems, girl problems, every problem you can think of, cranked up to 11, hilarious problems. The characters all end up coming together in hilarious, unthinkable ways and it is fascinating to read how Smith is able to bring together all of these very colorful people.

There were several laugh out loud moments throughout. Each chapter is divided up into scenes that are quite short, like a camera that continually changes angle or switches across town to check in on the action of the other characters. Right from the beginning we are taken on a non stop action ride and there is very little space for the reader to take a break. Once you start you don't want to stop reading, you can't, what is going to happen next? There were a few times that I guessed the actions that would occur and nothing was ruined by the fact that I was right, it was made even better by the snide commentary, wicked humor and beautifully descriptive way that the scene's were brought to life.

To sum it up in as few words as possible I was say this book is engaging, hilarious, twisted, sordid, sexy and entertaining as hell.

My husband and I both loved this book. Couldn't put it down. His other book, Moist is a good read too. Mark Haskell Smith is an excellent story teller with quite a wild imagination. Fun stuff!

I have read a couple of Mark Haskell's books. They've all been zany, dark and funny at the same time. But DELICIOUS, I have found, is the best of the bunch. I mean, what other book starts off with the protagonist cooking his enemies remains in a luau pit? And as macabre as that is, it's hysterical. The characters are wonderfully odd and drive the story, the writing crisp and clean and the plot, while simple, keeps the reader glued to the page to the very end. I'm surprised this book wasn't on the on the NYT Bestseller list. It should be.

Stephen Dublanica

Author of Waiter Rant and Keep the Change.

This is the first Mark Hanskell Smith novel I've come across and after finishing it I'll definitely check out his other three books Moist, Salty and Baked as well as anything else he brings out in the future, as this is just pure fun reading. If you enjoyed this and want other authors like mark Haskell Smith, also check out Bill Fitzhugh, Carl Hiaasen, Christopher Moore and Ben Rehder. These authors are all masters at creating surreal characters and ensuring characters that need to, get their comeuppance by the end of the novel.

That was the only aspect of Delicious that I think could have been improved upon, one of the main self centred characters who I was looking forward to getting his comeuppance never did, I won't mention which one as I don't want to spoil the plot for anyone but it left me thinking, well why couldn't something have happened to them. All the other characters that need to though in Delicious do have karma justice coming down on them and it's great reading and following it happen. I also don't know why we had the ending (although it's not quite) as the first chapter as it ruins some of the surprise and fun as you know what is going to happen to some of the characters. I guess publishers needed to have a hook to get readers who pick up books and start reading the first chapter before purchasing but it would have been better if that chapter had been put when it occurs time wise in the story.

Delicious is a great book though, set in Hawaii in the world of the movie/TV catering industry. A catering business has had the monopoly on feeding the crew and everyone else that is on set to make a movie in Hawaii for years. However a Vegas based group who have been very successful in their small markets (they stay clear of Hollywood and the main ones due to saturation of competition) have worked out Hawaii is set to be the next big money making venue. Sid who owns half of the existing Hawaiian company with his nephew Joseph doesn't want to share and is prepared to threaten, have his nephew sleep with, sabotage and bully his way to maintain his monopoly. Joseph welcomes the competition as he just wants to cook and there's more than room for both, plus he's thinking of moving to New York anyway. On the Vegas side though we've also got a part owner who wants the monopoly. Jack owns the company with his son Stanley who unfortunately for Jack has final say on financial matters since Jack had a stroke. Jack doesn't like Stanley's morals and outlook on life and is happy to go to war with the locals if they bring it on. Throw in a hitman having a reflecting on life crisis, plus two wannabe hitmen, a drug and bedroom addicted movie producer with a Japanese descended American new assistant, who never felt America accepted her until she landed in Hawaii, dimwitted locals and tourists and you've got a great read that once you start, you won't be able to put down!

It only took one day to digest this slice of gourmet goodness, concocted with writerly mastery, fun plotting and interesting characters--and some laugh-out-loud moments. I hate to make comparisons, but it reminded me a bit of Carl Hiaasen (with Hawaii substituting for Florida, of course). The madcap characters, crazy plot-twists, matter-of-fact debauchery and jaw-dropping madness equals FUN. Also, without pedantics, the writer manages to sneak in a bit of info about how the tourist trade has affected authentic Hawaiian culture.

I first heard Mark Haskell Smith mentioned on NPR's book recommendations segment. His other books (Moist and Salty) are definitely going on my "to-read" list.

Mark Haskell Smith is like Elmore Leonard on speed, only funnier. Both "Moist" and "Delicious" are immensively creative, hysterical (in the comic sense) romps. I can't wait for his next one.

I ,very much enjoyed "Baked" it was very funny and the characters were great. This book was to tough for me ,I draw the line, at people eating other people especially if there already overweight.