Reckless Appetites: A Culinary Romance

by Jacqueline Deval

Pomme is a contemporary young woman who is a passionate cook with a restless hunger. She looks to the lives of writers for inspiration in love, and in the culinary arts. Part fiction, part cookbook, Reckless Appetites explores literary romance, revenge, and love.

Genres: Fiction, Book Club, Womens, Food

206 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 1993

Reviews

[ANIOTUS Marcus Longmuir · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like food, travel and reading. This book consumes all three in a delightfully light package.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't know why I like this book so much. It doesn't merit 5 stars, but I've reread it several times and I keep it in my kitchen, which makes me like it more. It's equal parts exasperating and delightful (and pretentious): it has the barest whisper of a plot and characters, there only to support literary quotes and recipes and musings. I don't know the author's intention, so I don't know if she succeeded, but I like it very much.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

A strange book which took a while to solidify my interest. It's a little of this and a little of that: part cookbook, part love story, part history, part dark humor, and a large part of imagination. After I put aside my need to integrate the parts, I enjoyed the sarcasm and delightful humor along with delicious descriptions of food, drink, and the life of a kitchen. Chapter Four; Passion Gone Sour, in which protagonist Pomme Bouquin, having been jilted by her lover, schemes ways of gastronomically getting even. I haven't tried any of the recipes--yet. And, btw, I loved the protagonist's name.

[mia elaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

i will be keeping this in my kitchen!

[Hailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sumptuous!! A treat!!

[Elisabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it. Usually I'm not the one to read a book about a woman who delights in preparing recipes written by literary geniuses, since I am neither a foodie nor a literary. But I liked the Collette imagery - Collette has always been a mysterious and intriguing figure in my mind, like Dorothy Parker.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

At certain moments I loved this book, and others it seemed to lose my interest. I did adore all of the quotes by authors (Colette, Virginia Wolf, Flaubert, etc) about their connections to food. And there were several recipes, some very old, that seemed interesting...although I am not so sure about peppered champaign!!

[Mls3 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delicious!

[Olivia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Food, literature and romance....what could be better? Very "novel" idea, really enjoyed reading it.