Reversible Errors

Amazon.com

Arthur Raven, more versed in corporate law than criminal defense, is not eager to accept the court-appointed task of handling death-row inmate "Squirrel" Gandolph's last-minute appeal of his murder conviction. Fast approaching middle age, Arthur has come to terms with the burdens and disappointments of his life, among which are a schizophrenic sister for whom he is responsible and the realization that he will probably never make an enduring connection with a woman. But when evidence surfaces that might exonerate his client, he rises to the occasion with a quiet determination to see justice done. Facing a formidable prosecuting attorney and her former lover, the policeman whose testimony convinced Judge Gillian Sullivan to find Squirrel guilty, Arthur's persistence not only wins his client a temporary reprieve from execution but also endears him to Sullivan, who has fallen on hard times since Squirrel's trial--fresh out of prison herself for taking bribes, she is a most unlikely candidate for Arthur's affections. Scott Turow's masterful characterization of complex and multidimensional people catalyzed by events into searching reexamination of their own motives and ambitions is matched by the intricacies of his plot, which itself is well served by his insider's knowledge of the criminal justice system and his extraordinary understanding of the vagaries of the human heart. The prose is luminescent, the narrative compelling, and the moral implications of Arthur's personal and professional choices beautifully articulated. This is a tour de force for a novelist writing at the top of his game. --Jane Adams

Book Description

Arthur Raven, more versed in corporate law than criminal defense, is noteager to accept the court-appointed task of handling death-row inmate "Squirrel"Gandolph's last-minute appeal of his murder conviction. Fast approaching middleage, Arthur has come to terms with the burdens and disappointments of his life,among which are a schizophrenic sister for whom he is responsible and therealization that he will probably never make an enduring connection with awoman. But when evidence surfaces that might exonerate his client, he rises tothe occasion with a quiet determination to see justice done. Facing a formidableprosecuting attorney and her former lover, the policeman whose testimonyconvinced Judge Gillian Sullivan to find Squirrel guilty, Arthur's persistencenot only wins his client a temporary reprieve from execution but also endearshim to Sullivan, who has fallen on hard times since Squirrel's trial--fresh outof prison herself for taking bribes, she is a most unlikely candidate forArthur's affections. Scott Turow's masterful characterization of complex andmultidimensional people catalyzed by events into searching reexamination oftheir own motives and ambitions is matched by the intricacies of his plot, whichitself is well served by his insider's knowledge of the criminal justice systemand his extraordinary understanding of the vagaries of the human heart. Theprose is luminescent, the narrative compelling, and the moral implications ofArthur's personal and professional choices beautifully articulated. This is atour de force for a novelist writing at the top of his game. --Jane Adams

Download Description

A true-to-life picture of how the law and life interact, woven around the plight of Rommy Gandolph, an inmate on death row for a 1991 triple murder. In his efforts to exonerate his client, Gandolph's lawyer Arthur Raven seeks the truth in a tightly woven maze of police and small-time crooks, airline executives and sophisticated scammers--and lawyers of all stripes. Turow's latest work shows a profound understanding of what is at stake--personally, professionally, and morally--when the state holds the power to end a man's life.

Customer Reviews:

Entertaining.......2007-06-05

I'm going to swim against the negative tide on this one and say I found the plot interesting and the character development quite good. It reminded me of much of John Grisham's work. The book provides some pointed insights about how the criminal justice system works.

Surprisingly Bad.......2007-03-12

I had to force my self to finish this book. i kept hoping it would pick up, it would add some suspense. I kept hoping it would go somewhere I had not expected. It didnt do any of those things. The ending was predictable, the twists were predictable.
The only reaosn i am giving it 3 stars, is because he does have a nice style of prose and does a good job with character development. But it drags, and drags, and drags. Its a slow story. I would never recommend this to anybody.

Mediocre at Best.......2006-08-26

Sometimes you read an author because you haven't read him (or her) in a long while and you liked their previous work. Such was the case with this book. I really liked Personal Injuries; the writing was strong and the characters multidimensional and intersteng. But I should have known that I was in trouble with this one because right on the cover it said they'd made it into a CBS Movie-of-the-Week. And that's exactly how it reads, pulpy and soap opera-y. In the first part of the book Turrow goes back and forth in time from present to 10 years ago, contrasting the same characters over that time period, after a brutal murder and confession have put the guilty on death row. Unfortunately, that device is dropped and we're left with a staid court procedural where not much is riding on the outcome. Oh sure, lives are in the balance, loves are at risk, careers could tank, but you just never feel all that involved in any of it. Turrow's a terrific writer, but I'd pass on this one.

Worst Book I've Ever Read.......2006-04-18

I love Scott Turow ... have loved everything he has written. What happened on this one? I'm a veracious reader; read everything in this genre. This is, perhaps, the worst book I've ever read. I threw it out after I finished to be sure nobody else picked it up and wasted their time!

good but not great.......2006-03-30

This is the third Turow novel I have read, with the other two being Presumed Innocent and The Burden of Proof. Overall I'd stay it was a step down from the other two, it just did not grab me at any point during the story.

In the first section of the book, the story flip-flops between present and past. For the second and third sections, everything takes place in the present. Since you are constantly looking at things from a different character's viewpoint, sometimes it was hard for me to remember what one character knew and another did not.

The main problem I had with the book, that others have already mentioned, is that I just did not care about the main characters. They were developed well enough, but I was never really rooting for anybody. There was really nobody to get behind so in the end, you're just stuck with a decent story from a bunch of different viewpoints.

I give it three stars because I think some people will really like the story and the writing style of this book, but it just wasn't for me.

Average customer rating:

I would give it zero stars... but Amazon doesn't allow that.,
Another winner by Tanenbaum
Under Every Stone, Lurks a Politician
A great series with fascinating characters

Reversible Error
Robert K. Tanenbaum
Manufacturer: Signet
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Legal | Thrillers | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

Spy Stories & Tales of Intrigue | Thrillers | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

Suspense | Thrillers | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0451175190

Customer Reviews:

I would give it zero stars... but Amazon doesn't allow that., .......2005-07-24

I read tripe before. I've read some of the worst published drivel you can offer for a literary Razzie, but this is not only scraping the bottom of the barrell, it's actually lower than the spongiform that grows on the bottom of said barrell. How does this guy have a book deal? This was my first and surely last Tanenbaum book I read. Amazing that such a hack with a Germanic surname of "Christmas tree" and a keyboard can produce such a joyless novel. Tis the season to throw this book in the trash.

Another winner by Tanenbaum.......2005-02-22

This is the second Tanenbaum novel I've read in recent months and is definitely another winner in my book. I love a good legal thriller and this has all the req. elements: good plot, well developed characters and it all wraps up neatly at the end.

I will definitely be back for more.

Under Every Stone, Lurks a Politician.......2002-08-01

Robert Tannenbaum captures the hard grit and the reality of civil service (whether it be city, state or federal) like no other. The offices are drab, your superior may be a smart politico but absolutely inept in the office h/she holds, the paperwork takes precedence over the doing the job, and you always and forever Cover Your Backside. Theoretically, the police department "serves" the District Attorney's Office. In reality, the Chief of Detectives superintending five divisions of detectives is a far, far, bigger honcho than an Assistant Attorney General Bureau Chief who has a total staff of ten.

The life expectancy of New York's drug lords has been unexpectedly shortened in the past few months. Five kingpins have been murdered. At one level, this is not a cause for consternation; after all these creeps are not pillars of the community, right? What is disturbing is the slickness of the crimes, and there is a suspicion that a rogue cop might be at work cleaning up the city on his own time and in his own way. As the highly secret investigation proceeds, corruption is uncovered at higher and higher levels. But where to go with the information?

Butch Karp, Assistant DA Bureau Chief and Marlene Ciampi, a lawyer on his staff and his fiancée are a marvelously realized pair. He is moody, filled with angst, cynical but still loaded with integrity. She is a firecracker, witty, fast tempered with an off-the-wall sense of humor. Some of their exchanges are priceless. Marlene (rightly) regularly gets fed up with the Great Man's moody silences and frequently galvanizes him with explosions of mirth, temperament, fury---whatever it takes. This is one of the most strongly written duos of the mystery genre.

While the situations ring true, the action is somewhat predictable. You know who will still be standing at the end, unlike Jeffery Deavers who does away with your favorite character when you least expect it. "Reversible Error" (somewhat oddly titled in honor of a subplot) always keeps your interest but doesn't give you that irresistible urge to peek at the last page.

A great series with fascinating characters.......1998-12-04

My idea of a great mystery series is one that has compelling characters and a believable environment. Well, this series definitely has it. It's as interesting in its own way as the Nero Wolfe books - you can't read just one.

Average customer rating:

Reversible Errors

Manufacturer: Farrar Straus Giroux
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 0965446441

Average customer rating:

Reversible Error
Robert K. Tanenbaum
Manufacturer: Signet
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000NSKH2K

4 Titles By Robert K. Tanenbaum Butch Karp and Marlene Ciampi Series : No Lesser Plea - Reversible Error - Material Witness - Corruption of Blood

Average customer rating:

4 Titles By Robert K. Tanenbaum Butch Karp and Marlene Ciampi Series : No Lesser Plea - Reversible Error - Material Witness - Corruption of Blood
Robert K. Tanenbaum
Manufacturer: Signet
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000WU7QBO

Product Description

multiple books ship as one item. save on shipping/handling charges.

Average customer rating:

Errores Reversibles/Reversible Errors
Scott Turow
Manufacturer: El Aleph
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Thrillers | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

Spanish | Foreign Language Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Average customer rating:

Reversible Error
Tanenbaum Robert K.
Manufacturer: Dutton
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000UD0EZ8

Average customer rating:

Reversible Error
Robert K. Tanenbaum
Manufacturer: Books on Tape
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio Cassette
ASIN: 0736636862

Product Description

A killer is at work on the New York streets, and no one seems to want to catch him. A serial rapist is savaging one woman after another, and beating every rap. It's going to take hard work from A.D.A. Butch Karp, his ultra-liberated lover, Marlene Ciampi, and three maverick cops who fight crime in their own way. They'll have to bend all the rules in a game that leads into dark streets and crooked courthouse corridors. It takes a will of steel to rip the blindfold off justice and put some teeth back into the law. And Karp and Ciampi are just the team to do it.

Average customer rating:

Reversible Errors
Scott Turow
Manufacturer: Farrar Straus & Giroux
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000NY8EH4

Average customer rating:

Reversible Errors

Manufacturer: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Literature & Fiction | Large Print | Formats | Books
ASIN: 0739430351

Product Description

This book is about a court appointed attorney trying to prove his client innocent as he sits on death row. This book is action packed! Can Arthur prove his client innocent? Turow keeps you guessing to the very last page!

Book Description

Robert Masters presents the wisdom of ancient Egypt through the perspective of contemporary research in psychology and religious studies in his profound study of The Goddess Sekhmet: Psycho-Spiritual Exercises of the Fifth Way. The fifth way refers to the Egyptian theory that humans consist of five bodies: the (most subtle) Spiritual Body (Egyptian: Sahu); and, after that, the increasingly less subtle: Magical Body (Khu); Shadow (Haidit); Double (Ka); and Physical Body (Aufu).

Book Description

Rena Sutcliffe's not on your average Goddess-guided journey!

There's no prophecy from Machu Pichu. No mutant message. No one surfing the Himalays. Just four Goddesses living in Rena's head overseeing her path of self-discovery.

Wander through the keyhole of Rena's mind and lurk in the shadows while the Goddesses fan the flames of fear, insitigate rebellion, preach logic, and extol the virtues of enlightenment. Journey with Erishkigal, Kali, Inanna and Kuan Yin as they steer Rena around and sometimes into: Recreational drugs; Anonymous sex; Corporate Politics; Past Lives and Mountains of junk food.

All without Rena knowing she's not in charge of her own life.

Customer Reviews:

THE FIFTH GODDESS - for all the voices in your head.......2000-05-15

I usually don't read stories written after 1930. I find the writing dull and the story line predictable. But a mutual friend introduced me, via email, to Staci Bacauskas. He thought that the voices in my head would find Staci to be a kindred soul. And he was right!

Eventually I found myself asking to read her writing and then her book. THE FIFTH GODDESS arrived by mail a few days before my vacation. I flung it into my overnight bag and promised myself I would find time to read it. We arrived at the beach on Thursday. On Friday morning I pulled the book out of my bag and began to read. My husband and the kids went to the beach for a morning walk, I read. They went out to lunch, I read. Then dinner came and went and I was still engrossed in this book. Finally my husband pulled the book from my hands and forced me join the rest of the family for a late night walk on the beach.

I was angry at him for this intrusion.

I found myself drawn into Staci writings. THE FIFTH GODDESS it is a book about the evolution of self-discovery, but it is not a preachy. In fact it is very much the opposite ...it is easy to read.. to enjoy.

Ms. Backauskas tells a story about the fictions character Rena Radcliff, yet you feel like she is talking about some one you know. It makes you feel like you're voyeur in a friend's life.

I personally found myself wanting to yell at Rena, tell her to stop compromising... I found myself shaking my head in agreement.. or laughing at shared secrets...

When the book was done I wanted more. I liked this character, but I liked how the book made me think and feel afterwards...

"beauty and comfort within one's own skin does not come from a gym, a perfect hair day or mimicking models from fashion magazines..."

It comes from inside and it is a constantly changing vision.

And isn't that what your mom has said right along. That's my review.

oceania

Wonderful journey!.......2000-04-25

Anyone looking for a real insight into spiritual advancement will find this book enlightening and insightful. Staci deals with real life, and the struggles that you find in your world, and she shows you that there is a way out of the self-destruction you've gotten yourself caught into. I found this an empowering book, because some of Rena's life mirrored my own - and she walks the path that I have in the past. The fact that she doesn't suddenly find ALL the answers at the end of the book only reinforces my belief that spiritual growth is a lifelong journey - and I'm not the odd one out :-)

Listening to Inner Voices.......2000-03-16

Engaging and well-paced, Staci BackauskasÕs The Fifth Goddess details a womanÕs journey toward self-acceptance, examining what happens when we refuse to confront the pain in our lives. With an authentic voice, BackauskasÕs protagonist demonstrates that only by listening closely to her inner voices can she begin to find herself, and so, unconditional acceptance and love. And give it in return.

Rena Sutcliffe lives in the big city at a frenetic pace. Claiming the cityÕs hustle and vibrancy energize her, she goes through the motions, all the while exhausted from outrunning her pain. She longs for love, but she must first learn to love herself. Disconnected from herself and from others, she watches, as with her face against a window, outside. Her interactions with others are superficial, and disguise her solitude even from herself. The city noise drowns out her inner voices.

RenaÕs inner voices are four goddesses from countervailing cultures, each jockeying for control of RenaÕs life. It is an unholy alliance, with the goddesses bickering and backbiting. Each takes a turn directing RenaÕs responses and actions based on her underlying philosophy. ItÕs a novel device, and Backauskas skillfully interweaves the story action with scenes of the four advocating RenaÕs next steps. Designed to challenge the reader,The Fifth Goddess raises as many questions as it answers--as it should. RenaÕs search for her answers, directed by her goddesses, inspire the readerÕs personal questions and responses on the readerÕs own path.

"The Fifth Goddess" by Staci Backauskas.......2000-02-22

Sometimes balance is found through pulling between extremes; from the first page of "The Fifth Goddess", it's clear this is not a story that only skims the surface. This is the story of Rena, a woman with issues and passions, and we get to know her as she struggles withher search for self-actualization. This is an exciting story of transformation through extremes - how, by accepting the darker aspects of the self, one can come into balance. How can you see light without shadow?

The different sides of Rena's personality are voices that come in loud and clear, and we listen to her inner dialogue in her search for personal truth and happiness. Compassionately written, with intriguing, intelligent characters. I anxiously look forward to the sequel (... or the movie?)

Fifth Goddess review.......2000-02-16

"The Fifth Goddess" validates the empowerment that comes from self actualization. It is full of courage, truth and hope. "The Fifth Goddess", and it's protagonist Rena,proves that the ultimate message in life is taking responsibility for one's own future. It was refreshing to not see a "happily ever after" quick fix to a story that like life, has no definitive end.

The Goddess Sekhmet: The Way of the Five Bodies (Fifth Way Book)

Average customer rating:

The Goddess Sekhmet: The Way of the Five Bodies (Fifth Way Book)
Robert E. L. Masters
Manufacturer: Amity House
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 091634939X

Average customer rating:

Know what you're eating.

a good starting point

Additives Galore

Consumer's Dictionary of Food Additives Ruth Winter

Too narrow, not enough health information

A Consumer's Dictionary of Food Additives: Descriptions in Plain English of More Than 12,000 Ingredients Both Harmful and Desirable Found in Foods (Consumer's Dictionary of Food Additives)
Ruth Winter
Manufacturer: Three Rivers Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Food Counters | Diets & Weight Loss | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
General | Nutrition | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
Food Additives | Nutrition | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
Reference | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
General | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
English (All) | Dictionaries & Thesauruses | Reference | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

A Consumer's Dictionary of Cosmetic Ingredients: Complete Information About the Harmful and Desirable Ingredients Found in Cosmetics and Cosmeceuticals

Food Additives: A Shopper's Guide To What's Safe & What's Not

Excitotoxins: The Taste That Kills

The Crazy Makers: How the Food Industry Is Destroying Our Brains and Harming Our Children

Health and Nutrition Secrets

Accessories:

Tanita BC533 Glass Innerscan Body Composition Monitor

ASIN: 1400052327
Release Date: 2004-10-26

Book Description

The essential guide for making sure your food is safe

A Consumer’s Dictionary of Food Additives is back again, in an updated sixth edition. This valuable reference gives you all the facts about the relative safety and side effects of more than 12,000 ingredients that end up in your food as a result of processing and curing, such as preservatives, food-tainting pesticides, and animal drugs. For example, drugs used to tranquilize pigs may sedate diners!

There are hundreds of new entries to this edition, and topics covered include information about recently discovered resistant strains of bacteria credited to the antibiotics added to animal feed, as well as startling statistics on the amount of money spent on certain additives each year—$1.4 billion—on just flavorings and flavor enhancers.

A Consumer’s Dictionary of Food Additives is a precise tool that will tell you exactly what to leave on supermarket shelves as a reminder to manufacturers that you know what the labels mean and which products are safe to bring home to your family.

Customer Reviews:

Know what you're eating........2007-07-14

This is a very nice resource to learn of the ingredients in the foods we consume today. Every house should have a copy of this book.

a good starting point.......2007-05-04

if you need a quick overview and have no real knowledge about ingredients, this is helpful. but if you are looking for thorough definitions and origins of certain ingerdients, like i was, it's not the book to get. i thought the book would read more like a dictionary, with definitions and sources of ingredients found in many products; specifically i was looking to see from where ingredients were obtained, whether or not ingredients were animal based or animal by-products. unfortunately, this is not the case. the descriptions do not follow a pattern as far as including the same types of information for each entry. some will simply list other products which include the entry ingredient, other times you will find a random sentence fragment that goes no where. some definitions seem like the information was gathered from a number of reference materials and then thrown together in a gibberish mish-mash of words. there are apparently a lot of assumptions that the author made with regard to how much her readers already know about some of the entries. i think a better editting job would improve the book a bit, but this is the sixth edition, so it's not like they haven't had a chance to review the material. i really think referring to this book as a dictionary is inappropriate, it's more of a reference book.

Additives Galore.......2007-04-09

This is a great book for anyone who is concerned about food additives. This is my second book. I use this book more than any other book that I have regarding additives. It is my food bible. It is the most informative book about additives that I have come across so far for the price.

Consumer's Dictionary of Food Additives Ruth Winter.......2007-02-08

This is a comprehensive list of good and not so good stuff that goes into your food. With this in hand everyone can make the best decisions of what to eat in order to stay healthy. See also her other books including her Dictionary of Cosmetic Ingredients.

Too narrow, not enough health information.......2007-02-06

I was very disappointed when I received this book. I was hoping for something that would arm me with knowledge and enable me to make truly smart choices when reviewing the ingredients on packages. However, what I got was a very narrow, "FDA approved" listing of the uses and possible side effects of many ingredients. I have always been a label reader and I have done research on many chemicals and additives and know that there are 1000s of KNOWN carcinogens, mood destabilizers, & biological disrupters that are in our food and household products. But, when I looked them up in this book it would say something like : "used mostly as an artificial sweetener." Duh. Thanks. Now could you please tell me what it does to the human body?
I promptly returned the book. You can find less "censored" info with some research on the internet.

Average customer rating:

Good Omnibus of Profile, Pictures, and Recipes

Joel Robuchon

Good, but not enough from the master himself

"This book suplies the basis for modern French cuisine"

As a Chef, one of the best cookbooks out there.

L'Atelier of Joel Robuchon : The Artistry of a Master Chef and His Proteges
Joel Robuchon
Manufacturer: Van Nostrand Reinhold
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Baking | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
French | European | Regional & International | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
Gourmet | Special Occasions | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
General | Travel | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

L'Atelier of Alain Ducasse : The Artistry of a Master Chef and His Proteges

Simply French

Ducasse Flavors of France

Grand Livre De Cuisine

Le Bernardin Cookbook: Four-Star Simplicity

ASIN: 0442026528

Book Description

Joël Robuchon gives his very best, offering his peers and ambitious gourmets the opportunity to profit from his teaching and successfully recreate-with,the first time ever, all the "inside" information-the classic dishes that have elevated him to a place of international culinary respect and fame. The Atelier-we watch from the wings, able to observe the genesis of creation in Robuchon's own kitchens. Words and images reveal the mysteries of his gastronomic workshop. A privileged view of the gestures and glances of this contemplative world is offered, as we observe one of today's most inspired culinary teachers pass on his techniques and secrets. We are invited to participate in the excitement of a master at work with five of his most inspired pupils: Dominque Bouchet, Cristophe Cussac, Philippe Groult, Benoît Guichard, and Maurice Guillouet. The Products-we are offered an understanding of eight keystone ingredients from the palette sensibilities of the master himself. Joël Robuchon explains why potatoes, caviar, scallops, cèpe mushrooms, sweetbreads, truffles, chestnuts, and almonds are his favorite products. He talks about his research and introduces us to his suppliers, whose attention to quality is second only to Robuchon's own quest for raw perfection. The Recipes-we participate in the unique synthesis of flavors, colors, and textures conceived by the master and his five protégés. Their compositions tease exploration of the eight chosen products and lead us every time toward harmonious composition.

Customer Reviews:

Good Omnibus of Profile, Pictures, and Recipes.......2004-06-01

Joel Robuchon is arguably the greatest living, working chef in the world. Patricia Wells is arguably one of the leading culinary journalists writing in English. And, Wells has already done a work on the cuisine of Joel Robuchon in the volume `Simply French' that won a James Beard award for best international cookbook in 1992. All this suggests this should be a great book. I also found things in this book that were not in `Simply French' which made this book more interesting to the reader; however, I did not find this a great, inspiring book for the cook. For the little concerns that lessened the overall impact of the volume, I give it only four stars rather than five.

I rate culinary works according to several different criteria, depending on the intended audience. The major accomplishments I value are lots of good, attainable, interesting recipes as in `James Beard's American Cookery'; masterful description of culinary technique as in Thomas Keller's `The French Laundry Cookbook', thoughtful reflections and revealing comments on culinary terroir, history, or culture as in Patience Gray's `Honey from a Weed'; accurate portrait of a regional cuisine as in David Downie's `Cooking the Roman Way', or exceptional presentation of a particular ingredient or branch of cooking as in Sherry Yard's masterful `The Secrets of Baking'. Memoirs such as Ruth Reichl's `Tender at the Bone' and straight journalism as in Tony Bourdain's `Kitchen Confidential' have their own special criteria, most of which is simply based on successfully telling an interesting story.

After all these reflections, I have to rate this volume somewhat below the very highest rank. The book addresses three subjects related to the career and art of Joel Robuchon.

The first subject is a brief chronicle of Robuchon's career, plus some comments on the careers of six of Robuchon's most prominent students. This section is a bit thin, but it does contain some interesting connections. It explains, for example, Robuchon's connection with and appearances on the Japanese produced show `Iron Chef' which appears regularly in translation on the Food Network. It turns out that Robuchon became enamored of Japanese cuisine early his career and he has a restaurant in Tokyo. He was also a very successful competitor in French culinary competitions early in his career. This section also reminds one of the practice of Thomas Keller. Wells describes Robuchon's kitchen as being quiet as a monastery, almost exactly the same description given by Michael Ruhlman of the kitchen at the French Laundry.

The second subject is a catalogue of Robuchon's favorite ingredients and their suppliers. Here is another parallel with Keller's French Laundry book, as Keller insisted that the book include profiles his of most important suppliers. Robuchon's hallmark ingredients are potatoes, caviar, scallops, cepes, sweetbreads, truffles, chestnuts, and almonds.

The third and largest section is a presentation of five or six recipes for each of the eight ingredients. Each recipe is the creation of Robuchon and one of his six disciples. Every recipe is spelled out in exquisite detail rarely seen in the methods of merely mortal chefs. Cooking times are given from exact milestones such as the time at which a pot of blanching water returns to a boil after adding vegetables. I confess some times and instructions are quite surprising to my totally amateur experience. I almost feel I need an explanation for why they poach asparagus for a full twenty minutes. I find asparagus totally limp and unappealing if it spends much more than five minutes in boiling water. Another major surprise is when a recipe puree's cooked scallops to be formed into quenelles on a mushroom puree. This brings back the comment of French cooking as being designed to suit people with bad teeth. In spite of the exquisitely detailed recipes, I did find a missing step here and there, where, for example, the recipe asks that cheese and potato slices be overlapped in a gratin without having given any instructions on how to slice the cheese.

A truly expert photograph of each finished dish accompanies every recipe by Herve Amiard, Robuchon's personal photographer. All are done with the food plated on a white plate, photographed from directly above the dish, with lighting always coming from the upper left (at about 2 o'clock). Dishes requiring special techniques as with grilled wild mushrooms with eggplant caviar are accompanied with detailed photographic montages and instructions to be certain that the reader can understand and follow the technique. This technique alone uses sixteen well-executed photographs.

This book includes two supplementary tables that enhance its value as a collection of recipes. The first is a tabulation of cooking times for each recipe, by ingredient. Don't get any impression that this book is a resource for quick cooking. The average prep and cook time is 90 minutes and some are as long as 10 hours. The second is a detailed table of contents. It is a little odd that these two tables duplicate a lot of information and their objectives could have been accomplished on two rather than on four folio-sized pages.

I am truly impressed by the modesty of the principle subject of the book and his collaborators. I just reviewed a book by a lesser French chef which might have been subtitled `An Advertisement for Myself'. In all, I found less new knowledge in this book than I found confirmation of statements by other great chefs. Robuchon, for example, confirms an observation made by Daniel Boulud that a cornerstone of culinary technique is repetition. You prepare a dish many, many times over until you know your ingredients and your techniques intimately.

Unlike Boulud's `Letters to a Young Chef', I don't think this book is required reading for foodies or professional chefs, but I think it is good stuff. It does several good things, but nothing great.

Joel Robuchon.......2000-07-09

Lancelotpad 8 3813EW Amersfoort Holland

Good, but not enough from the master himself.......1999-11-03

Very interesting to analyse the signature recipes of the master, but the bulk of the book contains recipes of Robuchon proteges -- of the 48 recipes in total, only 8 are by Robuchon, which was rather disappointing.

"This book suplies the basis for modern French cuisine".......1999-02-05

Yes it is true, one of the best chefs in the world writes a great book that covers the styles of modern and traditional French cooking. YOU should definetely buy this book, it is a classic.

As a Chef, one of the best cookbooks out there........1999-01-04

This cookbook/textbook is beautifully written and photographed. I recommened it to anyone who is a chef or aspires to be one. The recipes are a bit intense, so a lot of knowledge would help in the creation of the dishes. Caviar, truffles, potatoes, mushrooms? These are some of the finest things that the culinary world has to offer. Reading about one of the greatest chefs in the world will humble any cook. I admire him for his life long devotion to cooking. Robuchon is not a Chef who's idea of "making it" is resting on his laurels.

Books:

Books Index

Books Home

Recommended Books