Anthony Bourdain's A Cook's Tour

[jmc_bks]

While I like the idea of behind the scenes cooking stories and the idea behind his odyssey, I'm less enchanted with Bourdain's over-testosteroned voice and style. I suppose the camo shirt he's wearing on the cover should've warned me, shouldn't it? [Talk about the stereotyping and conclusion jumping I just did. Whew! I should be ashamed of myself.] Plus, travelogues are hit or miss for me. I like the idea of them much more than the execution...at least for the few I've read, like A Year in Provence and Under the Tuscan Sun.

Anyone wondering about that Third Space book in my Currently Reading field on the side bar? Yes, I'm stuck. It's nonfiction about arts-in-education written by a name in the local education and AIE scene. I'm supposed to be reading it in preparation for my next full board meeting. Somehow, I keep finding more fun stuff to read. You know I'll be up all night before the meeting finishing it. Ah, procrastination.

Comments

Bourdain

[binoguegate.livejournal.com]

I too read him, gosh I found my attention wandering a lot.He is so very exhaustive.It all seemes a little too self satisifed for my tastes.Most books by "famous "people in fields other than literature, seem to fall into their own pit of self glorification They just cannot help themselves.One exception possibly being Bob Dylan in his Chronicles 1. a wonderful montage by any standard written ni same poetic manner as his song lyrics.

Re: Bourdain

[jmc-bks.livejournal.com]

Self-satisfied, that's a good description!

Re: Bourdain

[binoguegate.livejournal.com]

You are welcome....

I love your blogs it has to be said.!! Really varied.

Re: Bourdain

[jmc-bks.livejournal.com]

Thank you :)

Travelogues

[(Anonymous)]

Ciao America by Beppe Severgnini is really good, IMO. Quite funny. Italian journalist moves to DC. All about personalized license plates, air conditioning & other American oddities.

I enjoy Bourdain on his show, but he's smug there too.. He's too..what? Hard edged maybe? A smart ass know it all? Ok for tv, but a book would be too much. Think I'll skip this one.

Amanda

Re: Travelogues

[jmc-bks.livejournal.com]

Amanda,

Thanks for the book rec!

Hard edged and smart ass sound right to me. I enjoyed the food observations, but could've done without the chest thumping macho stuff. I didn't care about cage fighting and vodka shots in St. Petersburg, but I enjoyed reading about the borscht. But the thing that eventually put me off entirely was his dismissive attitude toward Food TV, its chefs and its fans....who were funding his little expedition. Why bite the hand that feeds?

[(Anonymous)]

I haven't read the book but I loved his TV show. I loved how earthy he could be and yeah, I thought he was sexy. Wouldn't get near him because I'm sure his ego would be stroke inducing but I enjoyed him from afar ;)

CindyS

[jmc-bks.livejournal.com]

He puts a lot of his personality and history into the book. I imagine on TV, in smaller doses, it is more entertaining and less gratingly macho.