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snoakes7001's review
5.0
I admit it - I only bought this book because the front cover featured some cover puff from Nick Cave. I've never bought a book before solely because someone I admire has a quote on the cover, so I instantly expected to regret it. Not a bit of it. Once you get used to the stream-of-consciousness style (and that is a little wearing at first I grant you) I warmed to Zac the narrator as he tries to drag himself out of the gutter via cook school.
The best recommendation I can give it is that the second I finished it I put Wayne Macauley's other novels on my to read list. Bloody fantastic.
The best recommendation I can give it is that the second I finished it I put Wayne Macauley's other novels on my to read list. Bloody fantastic.
tasmanian_bibliophile's review
4.0
‘So here I am and no going back.’
The novel opens with sixteen kids at Cook School, an hour and a half out of Melbourne. They are being given opportunities, these boys who are mostly sixteen and seventeen, opportunities to learn and to make something of themselves. Or so it seems.
Zac is our narrator, and he tells the story in his idiosyncratic stream of consciousness way, with occasional punctuation. Zac learns to cook, to slaughter and prepare animals for whatever gastronomic treat seems to fit the occasion. And after travelling with Zac, I think I am ready to become vegetarian.
Gradually, I was drawn into a world of excess, where ‘celebrities’ have others jumping to satisfy their every whim. But not everything goes according to plan for Cook School and while Zac thinks he’s fallen on his feet as cook for a rich family, he soon learns that adaptation is the name of the game.
I have very pedestrian taste in food, and found the world described in ‘The Cook’ darkly amusing. As I read, I could envisage some of the various ‘celebrity’ cooking shows I have occasionally seen, dicing niceties and mincing feelings while savouring the moment. All of which, naturally, sounds so much more impressive in French. While I enjoyed the satire, even the dark twist at the end, I don’t think I will never look at meat the same way again.
Delicious. And now I am off to read another novel by Mr Macauley.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
The novel opens with sixteen kids at Cook School, an hour and a half out of Melbourne. They are being given opportunities, these boys who are mostly sixteen and seventeen, opportunities to learn and to make something of themselves. Or so it seems.
Zac is our narrator, and he tells the story in his idiosyncratic stream of consciousness way, with occasional punctuation. Zac learns to cook, to slaughter and prepare animals for whatever gastronomic treat seems to fit the occasion. And after travelling with Zac, I think I am ready to become vegetarian.
Gradually, I was drawn into a world of excess, where ‘celebrities’ have others jumping to satisfy their every whim. But not everything goes according to plan for Cook School and while Zac thinks he’s fallen on his feet as cook for a rich family, he soon learns that adaptation is the name of the game.
I have very pedestrian taste in food, and found the world described in ‘The Cook’ darkly amusing. As I read, I could envisage some of the various ‘celebrity’ cooking shows I have occasionally seen, dicing niceties and mincing feelings while savouring the moment. All of which, naturally, sounds so much more impressive in French. While I enjoyed the satire, even the dark twist at the end, I don’t think I will never look at meat the same way again.
Delicious. And now I am off to read another novel by Mr Macauley.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
snicksnacks's review
5.0
While the structure of the book (which omits punctuation) will annoy many, you soon get into the swing of things. This narration style is absolutely critical to conceptualise the narrator's frenetic thoughts, too. I imagine the descent into madness or obsession would be a bit like Gollum narrating in one's head. This is captured perfectly here.
A timely book that captures our modern obsession with celebrity chefs and cooking shows and competitions that seek the pursuit of novelty and superlative-laden perfection.
And it's dark. Wonderful stuff.
A timely book that captures our modern obsession with celebrity chefs and cooking shows and competitions that seek the pursuit of novelty and superlative-laden perfection.
And it's dark. Wonderful stuff.
ekapic's review
4.0
I was sallivating many times reading this book. The culinary references are very detailed. Surprising twist at the end of the book.
margreads's review
4.0
The Cook by Wayne Macauley was released here in Australia last year by Text Publishing. I had certainly heard of it, and I had meant to read it before now but I just hadn't quite managed to do so yet. I borrowed it from the library a few weeks ago. When it was named as the most under-rated book of 2012 I knew I had to make an effort to actually read it. The award "aims to shine a light on some of the fantastic titles that are released by independent publishers and members of the Small Press Network (SPUNC) that, for whatever reason, did not receive their fair dues." (source)
The book tells the story of Zac, a young boy from the rough end of town who has been given one last chance to straighten himself out by being sent to Cook School. This is no ordinary cooking school though. A group of boys, all with troubled backgrounds of some type or another, are sent to a farm in the country. Here they will not only learn about cooking but also where food comes from. The school is ostensibly run by a celebrity TV chef but he is only occasionally present, and all is not necessarily well in the school itself.
To read more of my thoughts on this book head to
http://www.theintrepidreader.com/2012/12/weekend-cooking-cook-by-wayne-macauley.html
What an ending!
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