The Hundred-Foot Journey

Locations
Call Number: Fiction / Morais, Richard, Adult Book / Fiction / General / Morais, Richard C.
On Shelf At: Downtown Library, Westgate Branch

Location & Checkout Length	Call Number	Checkout Length	Item Status
Downtown 2nd Floor 4-week checkout	Fiction / Morais, Richard	4-week checkout	On Shelf
Westgate Adult Books 4-week checkout	Adult Book / Fiction / General / Morais, Richard C.	4-week checkout	On Shelf

"An earlier edition of this work was originally published in India in 2008 by HarperCollins Publishers India"--T.p. verso.
Mumbai -- London -- Lumiè̀re -- Paris.
"That skinny Indian teenager has that mysterious something that comes along once a generation. He is one of those rare chefs who is simply born. He is an artist." And so begins the rise of Hassan Haji, the unlikely gourmand who recounts his life's journey in this novel. Lively and brimming with the colors, flavors, and scents of the kitchen, it is a succulent treat about family, nationality, and the mysteries of good taste. Born above his grandfather's modest restaurant in Mumbai, Hassan first experienced life through intoxicating whiffs of spicy fish curry, trips to the local markets, and gourmet outings with his mother. But when tragedy pushes the family out of India, they console themselves by eating their way around the world, eventually settling in Lumière, a small village in the French Alps. The boisterous Haji family takes Lumière by storm. They open an inexpensive Indian restaurant opposite an esteemed French relais, that of the famous chef Madame Mallory, and infuse the sleepy town with the spices of India, transforming the lives of its eccentric villagers and infuriating their celebrated neighbor. Only after Madame Mallory wages culinary war with the immigrant family, does she finally agree to mentor young Hassan, leading him to Paris, the launch of his own restaurant, and a slew of new adventures. This story is about how the hundred-foot distance between a new Indian kitchen and a traditional French one can represent the gulf between different cultures and desires. It is a fable that is a testament to the inevitability of destiny.

REVIEWS & SUMMARIES

Booklist Review
Publishers Weekly Review
Summary / Annotation
Fiction Profile
Author Notes

COMMUNITY REVIEWS

Nope. It Got Weird. submitted by Sara W on August 25, 2011, 4:54pm While the food descriptions were wonderful and the passion for food evident, this wasn't a great book. The story faltered significantly after the family leaves India. The author is inconsistent in treating the main character like a child and like an adult - which makes for some awkward romantic scenes.

Overall, I found it disjointed and disappointing.

Elaborate detail submitted by kkjammers on September 20, 2021, 2:34pm Morais' book is clearly a feast for foodies, but those who appreciate good writing should be satisfied as well. Having seen the movie before reading the book, I noticed how the two media differed and felt partial to the movie. One noteworthy technique the author employs is description of feelings or appearance that is food-based, clever and a bit unusual, but fitting. I recoiled at the descriptions of what someone's vomit looked like or that a cow's feces was crawling with worms. I didn't need to know some of these graphic details, but life certainly isn't all sunshine and happiness.