panWasn‘t a fan of this. My least favorite part of watching/reading Bourdain‘s works are his opinions about America‘s food culture. In his graphic novel, a corporate chef and a locavore chef battle for control of the upscale dining market. But Jiro, an edo-style sushi chef, and other upholders of food traditions battle back for control of America‘s stomachs. I also never appreciate his fat shaming. That really kills me about him. #hoopla
pickBourdain‘s graphic novel collaborator, Joel Rose, finished this two years after Tony‘s death. The artwork in this exploration of Japanese food-related horror tales was excellent, but the copy felt unfinished. I plan to try his other graphic novels on #hoopla that were finished before his death. This one is available there, too, but I took advantage of my library‘s hard copy. Between a pick and a so-so.
pickOh how I love dark academia! This tale of an older white male professor obsessed with a younger female Pakistani colleague hit on all cylinders. When a racial crisis hits campus, it reveals they both have darker pasts than first meets the eye. The ending stunned me. On #hoopla!
pickWhy did I read a cookbook cover-to-cover that I can‘t eat 90% of the recipes in? I‘m still not sure, but it‘s Tony. 🤷🏻♀️🤷🏻♀️ Is this going to be your go-to cookbook? No, unless you live in a city with access to a lot wider variety and better quality ingredients than I have in my large town, and you have more speed and fluency in the kitchen than I do. He scores point on not using complicated equipment though. #borrownotbuy on #hoopla!
pickIf you‘re into sweeping historical family sagas, this one‘s for you! I don‘t always love them, but Alice‘s greed and conniving totally drew me in. Great character!
After striking it rich in the Klondike gold rush, Alice‘s sister takes her up to care for her. While there, Alice looks to enrich herself while cutting off a local indigenous family. In the present day, Alice‘s descendant looks to right this wrong. A good look at white guilt. #tob24
#LitsyToB24 upcoming titles. I just started Mobility on audio. I have The Rachel Incident checked out but may listen to Vintage Contemporaries on #hoopla first because it‘s an #NYC setting and we are headed there on Tuesday! I‘m trying Awad again and hopeful even though Bunny wasn‘t for me. #ShareYourStack
pickThis book defies categories! Lydia manages to weave politics and business into a compelling coming of age novel.
Bunny is a diplomat brat who spends a formative summer in Baku, Azerbaijan, where information about the oil industry seeps into her. Years later recovering from a breakup she takes a temp job in Houston, which leads to in a career at a mid-size oil company, where she tries to reconcile her beliefs and how they don‘t align with her job.
so-soI neither liked nor disliked this Bildungsroman about a young kid who drops out of college and gets his heart broken by some interesting (weird) women as he drifts around the northern US in his 20s. I felt the sexual humor was sophomoric and prurient, and there wasn‘t much meat (I guess) to the story to attach me to the MC. The stoner philosophizing just isn‘t my thing. Glad I borrowed from #hoopla. I did enjoy the audio narration. 🤷🏻♀️ #tob24
