Reviews tagging 'Blood'

Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly by Anthony Bourdain

23 reviews

alyssajhuntley's review against another edition

adventurous funny informative tense fast-paced

4.0

I listened to this audiobook which I think is where most of the 4 stars comes from. Hearing this in Anthony Bourdain’s voice was impactful, even as someone who didn’t follow his career closely. It’s certainly not a book for anyone with a weak stomach or timid disposition. At times it’s unbelievable, but it’s always entertaining. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Blood, Sexual content, Cursing, and Racism

miayukino's review against another edition

funny informative inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

3.75

RIP

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Fire/Fire injury, and Blood

Moderate: Racism and Sexism

aferdinand's review against another edition

dark informative slow-paced

2.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Blood, and Alcoholism

anna_luvs_cheez's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional reflective fast-paced

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Alcoholism, Vomit, Blood, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexual harassment, Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, and Addiction

Great book, audio book is great, can get a little graphic at times with kitchen injuries

samchase112's review against another edition

funny informative reflective fast-paced

5.0

I’ll be right here. Until they drag me off the line, I’m not going anywhere. I hope.

Hell yeah, this book was freaking fantastic. Narrated by Anthony Bourdain himself, it's an utterly engrossing (and gross) recount of his restaurant and kitchen experiences, complete with more blood, sex, drugs, and alcohol than you could ever imagine. A truly fascinating glimpse into a world I've never been interested in — food is… let's say, not my thing — and isn't that truly Bourdain's gift? One reviewer said reading this memoir was like meeting a ghost, and I wholeheartedly agree. I'll be recommending this (now decades old) book to anyone who will listen.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Drug abuse, Blood, Cursing, and Drug use

Moderate: Sexual content and Alcoholism

Minor: Transphobia, Violence, Cultural appropriation, Suicide, and Sexual harassment

taracloudclark's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

5.0

I noticed a friend of mine posting about Bourdain often. I knew almost nothing about him, so I decided to take in a book by him. First, Bourdain is sexy as hell. How did I never know this?! He also gives great voice to his own words. Makes me want to be in the NY restaurant culture. Second, this is such a fun read. A bit vulgar for milder tastes, but such a great insight into the biz. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Body horror, Bullying, Suicide, Toxic friendship, Vomit, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Blood, Body shaming, Drug use, Fatphobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Cursing, Drug abuse, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, Self harm, Sexism, and Toxic relationship

cibani's review against another edition

adventurous informative medium-paced

3.5

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Content Warnings

Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Deportation, Sexual harassment, Suicide, Alcohol, Addiction, Fire/Fire injury, Vomit, Blood, Bullying, Cursing, and Drug use

torturedreadersdept's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark funny informative reflective medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Misogyny, Sexual content, Cursing, Alcohol, Addiction, Drug abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Alcoholism, Bullying, Mental illness, and Sexual harassment

youngluteplayer's review against another edition

dark funny reflective medium-paced

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse and Cursing

Moderate: Drug use, Addiction, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, and Drug abuse

kimveach's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny informative reflective tense medium-paced

2.5

My son, a bartender, wanted me to read this.  I was not an Anthony Bourdain fan, having never read any of his books, nor watched his shows.  This book didn't make me a fan, either.  

I think I would have liked it if I'd read it in the early 2000s when it was first published.  As a forty-something person, I would have enjoyed this book's rough, vulgar, stream-of-consciousness.  But reading it in 2023 was a different experience.  I found the repeated descriptions of substance abuse, criminal activity, and swearing tiring and boring.  

The book's best parts were the detailed descriptions of what it takes to manage and run a restaurant and the incredible skill and timing of the people working on the line.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Self harm, Violence, Drug use, Sexism, Drug abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, Bullying, Cursing, Excrement, Medical content, Medical trauma, Sexual content, Addiction, Alcohol, Blood, Sexual harassment, Suicide, and Vomit