Kitchens of the Great Midwest: A Novel

I loved aspects of this book but it keeps jumping years and characters and I found it unsatisfying. Just when you start to like a character they either disappear or get ten years older. Bitter sweet ending almost saves it.

The author used an interesting device to bring all of the strands of the story together in the end. As a midwesterner I was expecting more send ups of the region, but the tone remained pretty respectful. I particularly enjoyed the chapter on Bars.

This is a cleverly constructed narrative that takes you through the stages of food enthusiast Eva Thornvald as she grows up to become a world renowned chef. Each chapter introduces another food, character, and moment in Eva’s life. The first chapter titled Lutefisk sets the stage of how food itself becomes the binding glue that pulls together the relationships, however light or intimate, with Eva. Lutefisk starts from the perspective of Lars Thorvald, Eva’s father. It relates the history of the jellied whitefish made in Scandinavian culture as well as permeates both literally and figuratively into the characteristics that make up the personality of Lars who repealed girls as a teenager because of his fishy smell. This inherently gave him a shyness and a passionate patience for the woman (Eva’s mother) who he eventually falls in love with.

The multiple character voices in each chapter are oddly familiar, where the reality of life is mixed with the compassion of community and the unsolicited prejudices and judgments that are part of our inner lives. Frank along with gentle and delicate descriptions are crafted by Stradal. He has a masterful way of developing multiple voices within the book where some characters you love or feel sorry for. Stardal’s literary style and lyricism adds to the quick pacing in reading the book, as one flies through before realizing the book is almost done. Even as Eva may not be the main character within each storyline, she is always present and you can’t help but be captivated by the journey she takes and the people who come into her life.

I loved the characters. Needed more recipes to be that kind of book. None of the included recipes seemed like anything I would want. The story was intricate and intriguing. I wanted more. I devoured it.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I am from the Midwest, and could relate to the story through past experience. I loved how each of the characters told their part of the story in their voice, and how it weaved everything together in the end. I especially loved the Lutheran ladies and the bars. I can't tell you how many bars I ate growing up!

This book was a pleasant surprise. It was smart, funny, endearing and held my interest. I read it in just a weekend! I appreciated the intelligent way the author crafted the story and held Eva as the common thread. The writing was easy to read. Although it took a couple of chapters to understand the world the author created it was worth the wait. I became invested in each chapter and couldn't wait to read the next to discover the connection to Eva. I would read this book again and recommend it to all my friends. Can't believe this is Mr. Stradal's first novel. Excited to read what he creates next!

There is so much "food for thought" in this uniquely told story! It is a story of love, loss, and resilience . Highly recommended for foodies of all ages . You will fall in love with Eva and her journey to success as an iconic chef. The other supportive characters in the story are quirky, humorous, and flawed yet they all come together in this well woven tale.

The format of this book is more like vignettes of Eva's life, rather than a complete story. While it was interesting, I found myself annoyed at not knowing what happened next. And I can understand that might have been the point-we come in and out of other people's lives and never know the rest of the story - but I spent a lot of the book wishing I could go back and spend more time with a different character instead. Maybe at some point I will go back and trace all the characters better, but didn't really want to work that hard. I liked it -but didn't love it. However, there is a lot of potential for a sequel focusing on other characters. Hint hint...

Originally when I finished it I thought hm, that was different in a good way. It stuck with me though and one week later I read it over again; once you know where it's going you get a different perspective. Loved it.

This book was an enjoyable read . It is especially fun to read for those of us who were raised in the Midwest and twin cities area. Stradal weaves the story of Eva throughout the book and we see her connection to other characters as their lives unfold .

Being from the midwest I enjoyed the many references to places I was familiar with. This storyline was a very great concept. I liked the way the main characters story flowed through the minor characters lives.

Being from the midwest I enjoyed the many references to places I was familiar with. This storyline was a very great concept. I liked the way the main characters story flowed through the minor characters lives.

This was my favorite read of the summer -- a charming book about an unforgettable character in an unexpected setting. You'd imagine a book about a talented cook to focus on the predictable big city -- Paris, New York, San Francisco. Obviously the title says it all: this one is set in the midwest with a focus on nearly mundane, familiar dishes and ingredients. While the main character, Eva, is the focal point, the other friends, relatives, and acquaintances weave their ways in and out of each other's lives in unexpected ways. It's touching, bittersweet, tasty, and full of surprises.

the store began this request for a review with the question: How did Kitchens of the Great Midwest meet your expectations? My answer: It didn't; it far exceeded them! I save my five-star reviews for novels that meet the following criteria: engaging characters, unusual but believable plot, fast pace, and a literary style that left me gobsmacked. It has been a long time since I read a "page-turner," but I couldn't put this book down. Tried to avoid the food puns that everyone else is using to describe this book, but the temptation is too great. Kitchens of the Great Midwest is a book both to savor and devour. (PS The narrators on the audio-book are terrific!)

This book is touching and laugh out loud funny, offers a unique narrative structure, and was all around fun to read.

This is the coming of age story of a young food prodigy and a disparate group of Midwestern characters, all tangentially related to her, told in eight chapters. It is a mix of personal and family drama, but told in a witty, slightly askew way. The common theme of each chapter is food and the role food plays in our families, friendships and lives. Through the story of its heroine, this novel shows that memories of food stay with us and shape our lives.

The chapters are a journey through foods of the Midwest from venison, walleye, and succotash to carrot cake and peanut butter bars -all told in a way that you wanted to not only eat them but help prepare them.

Funny, but true, observations about the evolution of our food and dining culture - our obsession with Whole Foods and vegan, gluten-free, non GMO, locally sourced foods and reverse-osmosis water. A modern world where people would pay $5,000 a plate for dinner, with waiting lists of 295 years.

While reading this book, I experienced a variety of emotions. There were some parts that I strongly disliked. I stopped reading during one chapter to see if this was actually a young adult book. The language in some parts was crude and the plot seemed juvenile. I liked the premise of introducing the reader to the people that were a part of Eva's life along the way. By the end of the book I decided that I liked the book and was happy that I read it. However, I most likely will not recommend this book to my friends.

Great read! Growing up and living in the midwest, I could identify with nearly everything about this book. The characters pretty much covered every type of midwesterner! I loved how the whole book seemed to tell different stories about different people, but in the end-- they were all linked somehow. Beautiful book.