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Product Description
From Amazon
From Publishers Weekly
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Most helpful customer reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Not his best work, but still enjoyable,
By
This review is from: The Bobby Gold Stories (Hardcover)
The Bobby Gold Stories follows in the mafia-esque footsteps of Bourdain's previous efforts at fiction, and comes up somewhat short. There's not a whole lot of character development here, and what serves as a plot is rather choppy and incoherent throughout most of the book. It was almost like Tony couldn't decide if he wanted to write a novel or a bunch of short stories. Sadly, references to the food service industry were sorely lacking in this one. I think he should keep that, as it really sets him apart and makes his work that much more unique. Regardless, it was still fun to read, and I look forward to more of his work.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
2.0 out of 5 stars
Uninteresting novel now in "pamphlet size!",
This review is from: The Bobby Gold Stories (Hardcover)
I recently picked up "The Bobby Gold Stories" at my local, Mesa, AZ, library. Needless to say, it was the greatest book that I have ever read, if you consider the Escorts section of the Qwest Dex Yellow Pages and the heart-breaking tale of Larry "Bud" Melman's career beginnings as a fan dancer "great."Bobby Gold is like a very tall, thin, face-busting, arm-breaking, Jewish Johnny Cash, except he can't play the guitar, or sing, or be memorable or have an impact on anything. You can read the plot synopsis for yourself to see what this book is about. I read the bulk of the book in a few hours. This book is about as long as "Goodnight, Moon," and the plot includes less twists. Memorable exchanges between Bobby and his hot, Asian-eyed romance pot of love, Nikki, include "You're a dangerous woman. You're going to get us both killed," and the ever-popular "Do you like the kind of music I like? 'Cuz if so, I'll climb on you!"-type comments like "I need to look at your record collection. I see any Billy f****** Joel in here and this ain't gonna happen." Nothing builds up a strong, sexy relationship like NOT enjoying the tunes of Billy Joel. I myself have spent many nights with my man, commenting on how much we hate "The Stranger" while sipping vodka and enjoying each other's company. Maybe if I was a big New Yorker, I would be saying things like this. Maybe if I beat people up and stole things for a living, or was otherwise "cool," I would understand this novel. Maybe if I got all hopped up on the goofenthal, I would adore it if I wrote like this. But I'm from Arizona, and even though it's to the left of middle America, I'm living across the street from a man with wooden signs tied to his bushes saying "Get U.S. Out of U.N." and "Waiting for the Rapture!" This story is not fleshed out enough and I was embarrassed that I had read it. Does Mr. Bourdain have some sort of connection with the publishing industry that the rest of us don't? If you can come out of many years of drug use and still produce poo like this that can get published and make money, I better get out my spoon. This book was hooey.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
So close to perfect.,
By P. Whitney "jwpepper" (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Bobby Gold Stories (Hardcover)
After devouring the much-heralded "Kitchen Confidential" and "Bone in the Throat" as well as the underrated "Gone Bamboo," Tony Bourdain quickly became my favorite author. Tony's style is so readable, his fiction's underworld heroes strangely loveable, and plotlines so addictive. I freaked out with excitement when I saw that Tony had written a new piece of fiction. While the same underlying infectious style is there, "The Bobby Gold Stories" is (refreshingly) written differently from "Bone" and "Bamboo," with a terse subtlety that I think is mistaken as simplicity by some other reviewers. It is true that the ending is oddly abrupt and leaves you wishing for more. Still, this reaction is probably rooted in the reality of being a Tony Bourdain fiction addict; and while this dose is not as potent as those past, it's still a great fix.
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