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Book Review: The Hundred-Foot Journey by Richard C. Morais & Giveaway

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The Hundred-Foot Journey by Richard C. Morais is as much a journey through food as it is through Hassan Haji’s life. It’s a beautifully written novel with such vivid descriptions of food and place that at times I felt I was right there in the story.

Hassan Haji is born into a very ambitious family of men and from a child has grown up with food as a central part of his life. His grandfather started a restaurant in India when Hassan was a boy and that’s where he gets his first taste at cooking. However, too soon tragedy strikes and Hassan loses his mother prompting the family to leave India stopping first in England and then moving on to France and a village called Lumiere.

In Lumiere, Hassan’s father decides to build a restaurant regardless of the fact that there is one across the street run by Madame Mallory who is not at all fond of a different culture invading her neighborhood. Despite Madame Mallory trying to sabotage Hassan’s family at every turn the restaurant finally opens and on the first night is fully booked. Included in the clientele is none other than Madame Mallory who has come to see what this new restaurant is all about. However she ends up being completely shocked after tasted Hassan’s food and realizing that he is one of those individuals with a natural talent for cooking and creating beautiful dishes.

Well this makes Madame Mallory even more determined to get rid of the Haji’s and at one point an argument ensues and Hassan ends up being seriously burned. This prompts Madame Mallory to take a much closer look at herself and she asks the Haji’s to stay in the neighborhood and not move back to England. Hassan’s father is having none of it; he’s moving his family out of there. Then Madame Mallory throws another hook into things asking for Hassan to come live and train under her to become French chef. Needless to say this throws Hassan’s father into a tizzy but eventually he agrees.

Hassan learns his craft well and finally years later ends up with his own restaurant and becomes extremely successful. This novel really gives us a look into different cultures and how they do things and how these differences relate to food as well. It also shows us how prejudice can do more harm than good and once people open their hearts and minds to these differences in people they find a whole new world open to them.

I enjoyed this book. I liked many of the characters but found Hassan’s father to be quite funny. He’s described as a big man and his temper gets the best of him most of the time and some of the things he came out with gave me a giggle. However he was a very determined man out to do the best for his family and that he did. Hassan is much the same, not in an outwardly explosive personality, but more in his determination to succeed as well. He had a gift to share with the world in the beauty and taste of his food and that’s what he ultimately succeeded at doing.

If I had one complaint about the novel it would be that more of the novel would have been like the beginning. I felt the beginning started out with really giving us a feel for Hassan’s family and his life but once they moved to France most of the story was focused solely on the restaurant side of things and I really still would have liked to know more about the personal side of both Hassan and his family. This is a minor complaint though and most definitely doesn’t take away from the beauty of the novel at all. I absolutely loved the descriptions of the markets, kitchens, and most of all the food.

You can buy a copy of The Hundred-Food Journey here in the US and here in Canada. Be sure to pop in and visit Richard C. Morais’ website!

My thanks…to Inkwell Management for my review copy of The Hundred-Foot Journey by Richard C. Morais

GIVEAWAY DETAILS

Courtesy of the publisher Simon & Schuster I have 3 copies of The Hundred-Food Journey by Richard C. Morais available to share with my readers. To enter:

  • For 1 entry leave me a comment with an email address at which I can contact you if you win. Please don’t forget your email address as I’m deleting entries without it now.
  • For 2 entries tell me what your favorite dish is.

This giveaway is open to US and Canadian residents only (no PO boxes) as the books will be shipped from the publisher. I will draw for the winners on Sunday, August 1/10. Good luck everyone!

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Comments

  1. I love he sound of this book and I had actually added it to my wish list last week please count me in. thanks

    bibliophilebythesea AT gmail DOT com

  4. The thought of the food is making me salivate! It is disappointing that the plot didn't hold up all the way through, but nevertheless, it still is covering some interesting ground. No need to enter me!

  5. Great review. Sometimes food can be a great way to create beginning dialog across cultures. Sounds like one book I would like to read.
    Glad you liked it.

    tekeygirl at gmail dot com

  6. This book sounds very interesting. Thanks for the giveaway. A favorite food for me is really good barbequed ribs.
    lcbrower40(at)gmail(dot)com

  7. This book sounds very interesting. Please count me in.
    My favourite dish is risotto.

    fmlj94[at]yahoo[dot]com

  8. This sounds right up my alley, so I'd love to be entered. milou2ster(at)gmail.com

  12. Dar, this sounds like an incredible book and like one that I would really like to read, so please do enter me in your giveaway, and thanks for hosting it!!

    zibilee(at)figearo(dot)net

  14. Right now I'm craving broccoli cheese quiche. =) Normally, my favorite would be some sort of dessert.
    tiredwkids at live dot com

  17. I so get what you mean about wanting it to focus on the family side instead of the restaurant. It's like they reel you in and then turn the tables on you!! Sounds like an excellent book!!!!

    stacijoreads@gmail.com

  19. Please enter my name in the giveaway for the book. Thanks!

    pboylecharley AT hotmail DOT com

  22. Sounds like my kind of book. Please enter me!

    Since I just came from a rib cook-off, I'd say my favorite food is BBQ ribs. Yum!

    jgbeads(at)gmail(dot)com

  23. I'd love to read this. I can see why you'd want more of the personal side and I bet I would feel the same.
    fourkidsrgreat(at)gmail.com

  27. This does sound like a book I'd like. Thank heavens for blogs–I would have totally passed it by on the bookshelves–the cover just looks too juvenile.

  28. No need to enter me.
    Excellent review and sounds like a lovely book. Something a bit different than the usual fare, plus I always wanted to try Indian food 🙂

  32. This book sounds beautiful and delicious! I just love the cover!

    Thank you for another wonderful giveaway, Dar!

    ~ Amy
    Aimala127 AT gmail DOT com

  33. My favorite dish is probably Beef Wellington but I also love lasagna!

    Aimala127 AT gmail DOT com

  34. This sounds like a great book. Please enter me.

    My favorite dish is anything that combines pasta and seafood. lol.

    ~Briana
    thebookpixie[at]yahoo[dot]com

  36. This sounds like such a unique read! Please enter me! 😀

    My favoite dish would be lasagna.

    Marie
    utah91960[at]yahoo[dot]com

  39. I, myself, love Italian food. Give me pasta anything. I'd love to own this book. Thanks.

    bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com

  40. The book sounds great! My favorite dish is sweet potatoe casserole!

    dancealert at dol dot com