Simon Majumdar

This could have been a really fun and interesting look at American culture and American food culture from an outsider's perspective, but all Majumdar gives us are trite stories about people welcoming him to their tables and their celebrations. He doesn't even write about food all that well - just piles on adjectives to such a degree that they become meaningless and tired. I didn't get anything out of this book except a determination to not read anything else by him. Also, here's a pet peeve - Majumdar is Anglo-Indian and throughout the book he makes mention of that, or of his accent, or of customs he's more familiar with. But the audio is read by an American, so it strikes the listener as distinctly odd. Why would they not have gotten a British reader for this?!? Or at least someone who could fake the accent? Anyway, I was going to give this 3 stars because I'm still filled with the holiday spirit, but writing this has reminded me of how annoying I found the whole thing, so no.… (altro)

When Simon turns forty he is working at a job that he doesn't love any more. While cooking his favorite comfort food Bengali dahl, he finds a notebook with a list of life goals inside. One of the goals Go everywhere, eat everything got him to thinking. Another list with places to go and food to eat was made. Eat my globe was born. Connecting with friends in the blogosphere, he maps out a plan that takes him to 28 countries in 15 months. Simon has very strong opinions about food and he is not afraid to share them. I am not sure that I would like to be his friend but I did enjoy reading this book.

December 2012… (altro)