Read Meh
Length 310
Quick Review Through the eyes and flavors of many, the story of a great midwestern chef, Eva Thorvald, is told from her childhood to success. I enjoyed it because I’m a Midwestern girl.
I snagged Kitchens of the Great Midwest by J. Ryan Stradal because I am a born and raised Iowa girl. I lived in the Midwest for 25 years. It was on the title alone. It was an enjoyable read. Many of the cities mentioned I have spent time in. The recipes, culture, and flavor were all familiar.
Eva Thorvald has good food in her blood. She moves throughout the Midwest collecting flavors along with experiences that contribute to her culinary success. Only the second chapter is told from Eva’s point of view. The other chapters are told from people who encounter or are close to her. The plot begins before Eva’s birth with each chapter jumping years into the future. I did enjoy how each chapter was left on a cliffhanger leaving you wondering. Though, the cliffhangers were on the predictable side.
There were a lot of interesting aspects to the novel. I’m not sure if I liked it or not. I thought the ending was nothing special and largely guessable. It was interesting the Midwestern foods Stradal chose to highlight. Throughout the novel there are classic recipes most of us middle-americans are familiar with.
Though Eva is the main protagonist, she plays a minor role in most of the stories comprising the novel. The other characters range from likeable to abhorrent. Each character plays a role in Eva’s journey whether she is aware of it or not. Overall, the book is a lesson in someone being a sum of all of their parts, as well as, it’s a small world. I think it’s a state of mind most Midwesterners share.
I suggest reading it. Although, I wish there were a few Midwestern recipes he left out.
Memorable Quotes
“Iowans knew how to appreciate the two most precious things in life – family and warm weather.”
Title: Kitchens of the Great Midwest
Author: J. Ryan Stradal
Publisher: Penguin Books
Copyright: 2015
ISBN: 9780143109419
