Customer Reviews

Eating: A memoir

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

 

 

This wonderful book is more than a memoir. In its subtle way, it is a history of the 20th Century through the prism of American food, taking us from Epstein's grandmother's 1930's kitchen in Maine, to Howard Johnson's in the 1940's, to Locke Obers and John Duck in the 50's and 60's, Lutece in the 1980's, to Chez Pannisse and Spago and Michael Pollan today. There are wonderful anecdotes about literary and non literary types along the way, from Buster Keaton to Jackie Onassis to Roy Cohn to Norman Mailer. And the recipes are witty.

A very funny and charming book.

I read a review of this book in Newsweek. In retrospect, what I read was more a promotional piece than a review. I loved the thought of a "conversational" cookbook with unstructured recipes. The story telling was good, the recipes, well time will tell. But, I do feel that it ended too quickly. I read it on a Kindle. Any book in which you get to 50% on the reading progress bar during a lunch break is suspect. In fact, I fear if someone had come to Jason with this book he would have said, "It's good but, you don't have enough here for a book, let's go have lunch, I know a little Korean place right outside the Village."

This is a fun read for foodies (particularly those who know old NYC restaurants), complete with good recipes.
I read it as a library book, and promptly went to Amazon and ordered as a Christmas present for my son - himself a fabulous cook.

I read Jason Epstein's Eating: A Memoir, in two seatings, with three interruptions to head to the kitchen to rustle up a tasty something or other to satisfy the appetite triggered by my reading. Epstein, a former Random House editor, loves to eat and cooks with a panache that comes across in his conversational recipes. His measurements will drive scientific cooks bonkers: a little of this, not too much of that. His point is that we learn to cook by cooking and tasting. His random walk through meals of his life introduces many famous characters with whom Epstein has dined. They add color to the narrative, just as table mates for any of us increase our appreciation of the food we enjoy together. Eating is quick to read, and for most readers will be followed by a good dose of some favorite food.

Rating: Three-star (Recommended)

I highly recommend Eating: A Memoir by Jason Epstein [ASIN:1400042968] for anyone who is interested in eating (aren't we all?) and the relationship of food, memory, and love of stories and storytelling in your life. Epstein brilliantly weaves these elements together in a memoir about his growing up, his grandmother's cooking, and becoming an editor and writer in a New York publishing house. Who knew? The author makes it clear in a lovely way that all of us are "gourmets" of memory, personal story, and enjoying the everyday food we grew up with. I want to give this book to all my friends for their birthdays (along with a memorable meal, of course). Susan

I really enjoyed this book. It's not just a cookbook but many neat short stories with recipes. If you enjoyed Julia Reed's Ham Biscuits, Hostess Gowns and Other Southern Specialties, you'll like this book.

So, if you are interested in EATING, and who isn't? Then get this book!!! Recipes are great and so are both the writing and stories.

Saw Mr. Epstein on Charlie Rose discussing his book - since he was such an important figure in the book industry, I expected more detail about his life, both personal and his many accomplishments in the publishing industry. I really would have liked to know him a little better. I was very disappointed in the content or lack thereof. Would not classify this as a Memoir. The recipes were interesting but not worth the purchase of the book.