book data
219 ratings, 3.13 average rating, 32 reviews
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published
June 5th 2000
by Canongate Crime
binding
Paperback, 304 pages
isbn
0862418267
(isbn13: 9780862418267)
description
There is one thing in the world that Tony Pagano cares about passionately--learning to make great, food under the guidance of a great, if drug-addicte...more
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 378)
Read in August, 2007
I knew going into this book that Tony Bourdain was a pretty good writer, having already digested Kitchen Confidential and Nasty Bits.
The most amazing thing about this book was the level with which I found myself really caring about the characters. In particular, the chef Michael and his sous chef Tommy. Watching Michael wrestle with his heroin addiction and his desire to turn his life around was very moving. I am sure this was partly biographical, as Bourdain himself suffered from the same i...more
The most amazing thing about this book was the level with which I found myself really caring about the characters. In particular, the chef Michael and his sous chef Tommy. Watching Michael wrestle with his heroin addiction and his desire to turn his life around was very moving. I am sure this was partly biographical, as Bourdain himself suffered from the same i...more
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Read in October, 2008
Libris interruptus...I was traveling on my motorcycle to see a film at the Zurich Film Festival with this book in my jacket pocket, but when I arrived at the venue, the book was gone. I was about two-thirds of the way through the book at the time of its disappearance. I guess it is a testament to how little I was engaged with the story that I did not make a search for the book after it went missing.
The story was okay. The characters were okay. The writing was okay. Therefore my rating ...more
The story was okay. The characters were okay. The writing was okay. Therefore my rating ...more
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Read in September, 2000
Regular readers of this page might remember a few weeks ago, I reviewed Tony Bourdain's non-fiction book about working in restaurants. I started then looking for his two mysteries and finally found them when they were recently re-issued. This one is great. Tommy Pagana grew up on the fringe of the mob. He's an up and coming chef who's not interested in entering the family business. But, it's an uphill battle. The real gem in this book are the characters and the way the author makes them rise up ...more
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Read in October, 2008
It was OK. Had there been halves, I would have given it 2 and a half stars. I haven't read any Mob books before, so I liked experiencing a different genre. I found the ending to be fairly anticlimactic though. Which, I suppose, was a nice change from the formulaic, frantic, car-chasing, shoot-em-up, barely escaping ending that we have come to expect. Bourdain does a good job of butchering the dialog (ha ha, pun not intended) to make it believable thug-speak. But, in the end, it was a fairly forg...more
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Read in August, 2008
Blood, roaches, the mob, more blood, junkies, cement shoes, what's not to like? This dark novel looks at the ugly underworld of the restaurant business in Manhattan. It has its moments where Anthony Bourdain's dark, dry humor shines. It's not nearly as entertaining, however, as his true life portrayal, Kitchen Confidential. I'd give it a B-/C+.
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Read in February, 2008
recommends it for:
those who love crime comedies
If you like Anthony Bourdain's non-fiction, you'll like his fiction, too. Although some elements of Bone In The Throat read remarkably similar to Kitchen Confidential. It had to be partly autobiographical!
I'm not sure that so much detail about food preparation was necessary, though. Although I actually love food so I didn't really mind.
I'm not sure that so much detail about food preparation was necessary, though. Although I actually love food so I didn't really mind.
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Read in March, 2008
recommends it for:
Bourdain lovers
A fun little mob/crime story set primarily in a restaurants kitchen (well sort of). This book wasn't earthshattering, but it was an enjoyable read and my biggest criticism would be Tommy's ending. But I would still recommend the book to any fan of Bourdain, and to some others as a quick and dirty crime novel.
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Read in March, 2008
Tony Bourdain is friggin' cool. This book shows that he can write about things other than food, although there is quite a bit of that in here, too (as well as some pontificating on the restaurant business). The plot is nothing new, but the characters and dialogue are worth the read.
Read in January, 2008
Touted as a snarky mystery, this really is just fiction, almost more of a character study. This is one book I had to make myself finish. I had a hard time keeping track of the characters ("who is this guy again?") until late in the book because few were fleshed out enough to stick with me.
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Read in February, 2008
This is a book about the mafia, but I've been a big mob fan. However, it's set around the restaurant business which is very enjoyable. I've read all of Bourdain's non-fiction so this is my first try at his fiction and really enjoyed it. The guy just knows how to write.
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Read in March, 2008
Combining two of my favorite topics - the mob and cooking - Bourdain tells a masterful tale of intrigue, mob hits, heroin, and buerre blanc sauce. What fun! It was a great beach read. Page turner.
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Read in January, 2007
Fun Fun Fun. A quick and funky read, combining the underworld of the Mafia with the life of a cook. Bourdain is a great story teller and his very distinctive writing style comes through in this book.
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Absolutely enjoyed this text. Combining his innate knowledge of food with crime and the drug culture, Bourdain demonstrates a masterful knowledge of the way that the obtuse can often become involved.
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Read in June, 2006
this is the best of Bourdains novels that i've read so far. Again, if your a cook you'll definitely get a kick outta this suspense/thriller from Tony. Check it out.
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Read in May, 2008
Bourdain's style is gritty and forceful, but so much fun. The story itself is what it is, but I loved the food references and restaurant mentions.
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Read in March, 2007
This book annoyed me to no end! I realize the author is a chef but move the story along a little and quit describing so much of the food prep!
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Read in January, 2008
recommends it for:
Tony Bourdain fans.
Entertaining novel about a chef who gets caught up in the NY organized crime scene but it's all done with humor, more or less.
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Read in August, 2008
This one was pretty good, but I think I enjoyed Gone Bamboo a little more. Maybe I should have read this one first.
Read in December, 2007
recommends it for:
Yes
This guy is one of the coolest people over the age of 50. He is actually a really good storyteller for a professional chef.
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Read in August, 2007
Pulp fiction. About the mafia in the restaurant business in New York. If you know Bourdain, you know what to expect.
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