Allegra Goodman – The Cookbook Collector
Intelligent contemporary women’s fiction! You are my thing. And here you are, all wrapped up in this ever-so-slightly misleading cover. I wanted to devour you, which is appropriate considering you are named The Cookbook Collector and there are many ever-so-slightly-naughty descriptions of figs and peaches and cheese in this book.
All the advertising for The Cookbook Collector says that it’s about two opposite sisters, which I find a bit tired. Sisters can like different things and pursue different careers and not have to be set up as rivals. In fact, isn’t it more likely that sisters would be rivals if they pursued the same men and jobs and interests?
Anyway, here are the two sisters, Jess, Miss Tree-Hugger, and Emily, Miss Computer-Brains. Emily has a suitable-on-the-surface boyfriend who is really an arrogant idiot; and Jess has an unsuitable hippy boyfriend and an employer slavering all over her while simultaneously belittling her. There isn’t really a story so much as a ‘here’s how their lives unfold’. But we do not necessarily need a compelling and original plot, because we are talking computers in the late 90′s and so we know that Emily’s apparently unshakeable company is going to end up being the house that was built on sand. Meanwhile, Jess is pursuing the mysterious cookbook collector and working out why he keeps faintly creepy drawings of a naked lady in between the pages of priceless recipes. At heart, it’s about choices and doing the right thing – or not – and there are multiple narrators a go-go to keep things interesting.
I really enjoyed The Cookbook Collector - despite the fact that there were a few too many surplus characters, and a coincidence which was both so implausible and so unnecessary that the whole ending was nearly spoiled.
It is ironic, is it not, that we learned nothing from the dot com bubble and went on to make a new bubble out of housing? I wonder what the next one will be.
Posted on April 27, 2011, in Uncategorized and tagged allegra goodman, book reviews, books, contemporary fiction, literary fiction, literature, reading, the cookbook collector. Bookmark the permalink. 8 Comments.
This sounds like a fun book, if not flawless. I think it’s one I’ll want to read. Thanks for the review.
What next? Inflated Earth maybe? Having used earth’s resources to its capacity, we’ll see the results in bad weather, global warming, etc. Don’t know, maybe a petrol bubble?
I’ll maybe put this on my list as a ‘meh-be’ if I’m running low on books
Hmmm. Do I even need to say it any more? *wanders resignedly away to her wishlist*
I can start reading and reviewing terrible books if you like? But it wouldn’t be fun for either of us!
Surplus characters — oh, how they torture me! Glad to hear you enjoyed this one despite too many people cluttering it up. The Cookbook Collector has been on my wishlist for a while — since I saw Allegra Goodman speak at the National Book Festival in D.C., actually. She was very interesting to listen to!
I definitely think this is one you would like! She was a new author to me, but I understand has written several other books which I’m looking forward to.
I read this a couple months ago & enjoyed it despite the many issues I had with the plot – superfluous characters being a big one, and some unrealistic naivete in Emily another. Oh, and don’t get me started on Jonathan. I loved her writing, though, and will probably pick something else up by her in the future, although probably no time soon.
“At heart, it’s about choices and doing the right thing – or not – and there are multiple narrators a go-go to keep things interesting.” is a great summation!
I have to say I love intelligent women’s fiction. And I do love stories about sisters. I have a sister and we are incredibly different but also incredibly close. Best friends, actually. But it isn’t always perfect. We fight and disagree all the time. Anyway, I’m adding this one to my wish list. Thanks for the recommendation.