Still looking for a book that grabs me.

I have been decidedly "meh" about a lot of nonfiction books lately. Sorry about that. I know that these types of experiences make for rather "meh" book blogging as well.*

The latest entry in the Meh Files is Katharine Darling's Under the Table: Saucy Tales from Culinary School. Darling chronicles her stint at the French Culinary Institute in New York City, dishing on the experience as a whole, the chef professors, and her fellow students. She also includes a few personal memoirish details about her life and love affair (she gets engaged over the course of the story), and throws in a few recipes for good measure.

Now, there's nothing really wrong with the book, and I did read the whole thing, and the recipes do look good. But there was something about Darling's tone that didn't do a whole lot for me. Then again, I may just be biased by her author photo, which really bugged me, for some reason. If you can picture it, the tone of the book sounds a little bit like how she looks in that photo; ever so slightly a bit too over-confident for me. Consider:

"It was 8:00 a.m. sharp on our very first day of class, and as I walked into the large room that was dazzlingly bright with the glow of many overhead fluorescent lights bouncing off the stainless steel workstations, ovens, pots, pans, sinks, and even the tools of my classmates, I saw that Tucker [a classmate] had taken up a spot at the front of the room, closest to our chef-instructor's dark green marble-topped lecture station...And my parents thought I was too competitive. If I were competitive, I would have created a diversion and just snatched his spot when he was momentarily distracted. Okay, maybe I was a little bit competitive, but as it turned out, so was Tucker." (p. 18.)

The lady also doth protest too much--throughout she worries about her class standing and never, ever dreams that she deserved to be at the top of her class--and of course she graduates with the top honor. It reminded me a little bit of an old college roommate who used to throw herself on her bed in despair after tests, wailing that she had failed, but who would then tell me later she got something ridiculous like 110% (with extra credit).**

But, if you're a foodie, and you love all things cooking, you might still enjoy this one.

*No, I'm not trying to shunt the blame for lackluster blogging on lackluster authors. Well, maybe a little bit.

**I still love this roommate, she's a sweetie, but I just never believed in bewailing your performance on tests unless you really did fuck it up, with at least a C or lower.

Comments

[Rachael]

Wow, that author photo just screams, "Impress me. I dare you." Book doesn't sound too exciting either (I'm not much of a cooking memoir reader, though).

I forget, have you read "The Poisoner's Handbook: Murder and the Birth of Forensic Medicine in Jazz Age New York" yet? A very fast read, and a very satisfying blending of science, technology, and true crime.

[Laura]

I second The Poisoner's Handbook, which I just started - so far, I love it! I also really liked American Dream: 3 Women, 10 Children, and a Nation's Drive to End Welfare. Otherwise, I've hit a big meh streak too. Oh, wait, I also LOVED Courtroom 302: A Year Behind the Scenes at One of America's Busiest Courtrooms (I may have the subtitle slightly wrong). Fabulous!

[Citizen Reader]

Rachael,
Ha! That's a perfect way to describe the author photo. I just thought it was kind of an interesting choice. Actually, I'd almost like to see her cook--she doesn't quite look (to me) like someone who just dives into work.

Thanks for the "Poisoner's Handbook" suggestion--I had it home from the library but didn't get it read before it had to go back. I'll get it again!

Laura,
Ditto on the suggestion. Clearly I just have to get the book back and be more on the ball about reading it!

LOVED Courtroom 302. Have you also tried Edward Humes's "No Matter How Loud I Shout: A Year in the Life of Juvenile court"? Pretty interesting (if sad).

[Robin]

Looks like Ann Coulter in the NYC loft of your dreams.

[Citizen Reader]

Oh, Robin,
Way to bring me back from the edge. Thanks for the laugh. (And the shiver, at the thought of Ann Coulter, but mainly the laugh.)

[christa @ mental foodie]

I usually like reading food memoir, but think I'd pass this one... interesting choice of author pic!

I was going to suggest The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks or the Hunger Games, but it looks like you had read them already! I have The Poisoner's Handbook on my TBR list, maybe I should pick that up sometime... so many books, so little time!

[Citizen Reader]

Christa,
Yes, I like foodie memoirs too, but I admit I like them with a bit more profanity and humor, a la Anthony Bourdain.

I too am looking forward to "The Poisoner's Handbook"! And, great suggestions with "The Immortal Life..." and "Hunger Games." Both quality books, and I can't wait for the last book in the Hunger Games trilogy this fall!

[LINDA from EACH LITTLE WORLD]

Just checked out her author photo. Sorry, but it looks like someone should slap her ...

[Citizen Reader]

Linda,
Ha! Thanks for the laugh. That's rather what I thought but I weenied out of saying it above. Perfect.