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139th out of 384 books
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The Raw and the Cooked: Adventures of a Roving Gourmand
by
Jim Harrison
Jim Harrison is one of this country's most beloved writers, a muscular, brilliantly economic stylist with a salty wisdom. For over twenty years, he has also been writing some of the best food criticism around. Now, for the first time, all of Harrison's food writing in available in one volume - from his columns for Smart and Esquire magazines, to recent work for Men's Journ...more
Paperback, 288 pages
Published
September 17th 2002
by Grove/Atlantic, Inc.
(first published 2001)
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Craig
rated it
Harrison has a voracious appetite for three things: the outdoors (ie. hunting), poetry, and cooking and eating obscene amounts of fatty, rich food (mostly of the wild game, organs, and head cheese variety). His writing is assertive and manly -- think Hemingway on the Food Network.
I've known people who can't stand Harrison's books and think he's a pompous arrogant lout. I, on the other hand, love this book and am fascinated by the way Harrison approaches life (and his food) with a...more
I've known people who can't stand Harrison's books and think he's a pompous arrogant lout. I, on the other hand, love this book and am fascinated by the way Harrison approaches life (and his food) with a...more
One of my favorite new writers, whose writing has no doubt influenced Anthony Bourdain, Hunter S. Thompson, Mario Batali, and Michael Pollan. He's a poet and novelist by trade, a hunter in spirit, and a gouty gourmand. His essays on cooking, drinking, and hunting are some of the finest and humorous that I've read. A self-proclaimed "cookbook addict," Jim's essays span a 10-15 year period, most of them meditative tales about roving the Montana, Michigan, and Arizona landscapes with his ...more
I had read an excerpt of this book for a class assignment and the macho food talk was oddly enjoyable. It reflected a certain gusto for just living life that resonated with me. I picked up The Raw and the Cooked so I might see what else Harrison’s writing had to offer, and I wasn’t disappointed. His food porn descriptions had my stomach rumbling like I’d been reading one of Brian Jacques’ Redwallian feast passages. His style isn’t flowery or ambling, Harrison talks frankly about food, sex, and h...more
A collection of several short pieces of food writing from the author, a novelist, poet, screenwriter, and hunter. The writing is more than just that genre label, however. Like Hunter Thompson, Harrison the take-no-prisoners and no-bullshit writer embarks on stream of consciousness reminisces and expounds on his own frontier spirit philosophy. Harrison loves dogs, wine, shooting, walking, and food; he sneers at vegetarians, New Agers, spandex-clad health nuts, and assumes as a given that what...more
I'm a Jim Harrison fan, more of his poetry than fiction, more of his fiction than his food writing. With that said, there are some absolute howlers in this collection of his magazine articles over a multi-year period. I can see him hunting wit Guy de la Valdene, cooking the birds, digging the potatoes, and enjoying it all with a magnum of fine wine. It truly urges me race to the kitchen and begin cooking...or go hunting. He is a very masculine writer, pithy sentences, strong words, and truly ...more
Having never read anything by Jim Harrison I didn't know what to expect going into this tome but have always enjoyed books in the essay style, especially about food. Do not expect this book to shower you with new recipes to try in the traditional sense of a cookbook, although the descriptions of the dishes and preparation should suffice for most folks capable in the kitchen of replicating the dish without too much trouble.
The book is divided up into sections linked by themes of the ...more
The book is divided up into sections linked by themes of the ...more
I've always loved cooking (and eating) and I've always loved Jim Harrison; that being said, this is a wonderful book. Jim Harrison is an unapologetic gourmand, a societal misfit who appreciates delicious food and scorns bland health foods that seems so prevalent.
I don’t think I learned much about cuisine or wine from reading this, but I did learn that Harrison is very concerned with metaphysical question of what it means to be a big man with big appetites.
There is a certain superiority in all food writing I guess, but I have never seen it presented with so much, um, testosterone. Food writing is often food bragging, which I don't mind. I like hearing war stories about crazy meals eaten, but Harrison takes this to a new metaphysical level wh...more
There is a certain superiority in all food writing I guess, but I have never seen it presented with so much, um, testosterone. Food writing is often food bragging, which I don't mind. I like hearing war stories about crazy meals eaten, but Harrison takes this to a new metaphysical level wh...more
brilliant! if john thorne is the best living writer of american everyday cookbooks, then jim harrison is the best living writer of american everyday eating. except it's not everyday eating. cannot recommend it highly enough
Some real moments of joy splattered in among too much hunting and gluttony. All of a sudden woodcocks are everywhere. Quite a bit of name dropping as well, names of authors and older hollywood types that I really like as well.
can't wait to start, jim harrison talking about food, sounds excellent
Finished and it was absolutely amazing, if you have a love of food, and a zest for life, then this is your book. A history of a life of decadence, and good times. Harrison describes meals as some people would describe a religious experience or a family holiday. Good food means something to him and it should mean something to everyone since we only get this one go around. He delves into some life lessons but mai...more
Finished and it was absolutely amazing, if you have a love of food, and a zest for life, then this is your book. A history of a life of decadence, and good times. Harrison describes meals as some people would describe a religious experience or a family holiday. Good food means something to him and it should mean something to everyone since we only get this one go around. He delves into some life lessons but mai...more
One of my favs from one of my favorite writers
Amazing vocabulary, funny and articulate.
A great curmudgeon who loves and adores good food. He tickled me with his words.
This book was what got me simultaneously interested in food writing and the writings of Jim Harrison. All of Jim Harrison's writing manages to perfectly evoke the spirit of places such as Northern Michigan and the desert Southwest, along with his sometimes over-the-top descriptions of earthly pleasures of all kinds. This book of course focuses on his food writing, and it's a tasty treat. I definitely recommend this for people who are trying to get into Harrison's writing, it's much more accessib...more
I don't have it in front of me, so this isn't an exact quote, but my favorite bit of this book is where Harrison says that if you don't have an hour to cook yourself a good dinner every night, you need to quit your job. The collected essays in the book can be repetitive, but you feel like you are hanging out with Hemingway as you read this discussion of the pleasures of the table and where they intersect with the pleasures of nature.
A very fine summer read. Watch out, it will make you hungry... and thirsty.
I liked it, but toward the end I found it to be a little repetitive.
Jim Harrison is the more romantique and gluttonous Anthony Bourdain...minus the cynicism. He makes gout seem humorous, and being a marrow sucking ogre seem classy. I could go for a couple of bottles of Valpolicella just thinking of him. Sorry, it's all for me. Get your own drink.
This is not only a book about food, but a book about eating. In fact, more the latter than the former. Harrison explores his passion for preparing and consuming enormous meals in a book that is rollicking and deceptively provocative.
Toujours le même plaisir, cette écriture truculente et colorée, ce verbe généreux. Et drôle! Pour passer un vrai bon moment et se marrer tout seul dans le métro, avec les autres autour qui font la gueule.
I'm planning to start this book again once I finish it so that I can note all the places he mentions, especially in Michigan, Nebraska, California and Texas. Harrison's writing is personal and poetic.
Funny short articles about ridiculous meals eaten by screenplay writer who lives in Michigan. Excellent for a quick chapter when you are between books.
Didn't finish. Didn't love it. Well written, but slow going for me.
An old favorite. Whenever I'm feeling a bit deflated by inanition I return to the essay "Principles" for a pick-me-up.
Nice collection of essays. I don't think his food writing is as strong as his fiction, but enjoyable none the less.
Great - but only if you are interested in food and all the things associated with it.
Great food essays from a muscular writer who knows his bourdeaux from bathwater.
wine and meat. a lotta wine and meat. and great prose. what's fer supper?
J'ai pas réussi à aller jusqu'au bout...
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Jim Harrison was born in Grayling, Michigan, to Winfield Sprague Harrison, a county agricultural agent, and Norma Olivia (Wahlgren) Harrison, both avid readers. He married Linda King in 1959 with whom he has two daughters.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
His awards include Nation...more
More about Jim Harrison...
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
His awards include Nation...more
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