This book was first published in 1986.
2012-12-06 2012-12-06File Name: B00AZ4RNEW
Review
23 of 24 people found the following review helpful. Clever concept; but execution could be betterBy ARI wish offered the option of half stars as I would have given this a 3 1/2 star rating. I absolutely loved the concept of the book; the selection of stories; the fun tips/facts; and the excerpts; but admit I was a bit disappointed by the actual execution of the photos.For starters; I was definitely expecting this to be a full-size book for displaying on a coffee table or the like. Its actually small--about the size of a paperback novel. I could forgive that; but honestly; the photos also feel a bit dull--they lack the vibrancy and style I typically expect from modern day food photography.Im a food blogger and writer; so I spend much of my days reading blogs and cookbooks; I felt like most of these photos didnt really measure up to the quality of work that is available out there. The styling and colors were a bit retro and simple; which worked for some pictures; but not others (especially the ones that were meant to show abundance or wealth). There was no excitement in the photos--fine for the bowl of gruel in Oliver Twist; but certainly not what Id expect from some of the other books.Most bothersome was the way that the photos didnt always match the descriptions. The bright yellow American cheese in Holden Caulfields Swiss cheese sandwich was an obvious discrepancy. I have no idea what the dish in the American Psycho picture was meant to be.It reminds me a little bit of that disappointment you get when a movie based on a book doesnt quite live up to the original words.4 of 4 people found the following review helpful. DissatisfiedBy A.I was so excited by the promise the book held. But it left me wanting; wanting someone else to have written it someone more in love with the words that describe food and with food itself; someone who could do more than arrange many different plates in a similar fashion; one who understands the bland whiteness of Holden Caulfields Swiss cheese sandwich; and who would understand that yellow cheese is just not right. Someone who knows a day be is not just a beef stew and that the elaborate intricate beauty of a full English tea is not a bunch of cakes crammed in a plate. Also The little footnotes were useless; a recipe wouldve been fantastic.Reading this was like ordering a dish that promises delight but leaves you feeling a bit queasy and still hungry.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. DisappointedBy BuyerI had been wanting this book forever so when I saw it was available on Kindle I was ecstatic. What disappointed me is the writer who wants the reader to believe she put so much detail into setting up these meals actually overlooked many details. For instance the meal for The Catcher In The Rye was supposed to be circa 1951 but it shows a container of blue packets of Equal and pink packets of Sweetn Low neither of which were available in 1951.