Between Meals: An Appetite for Paris

This is one of those books that, as you very reluctantly finish and shelve it you think to yourself ”Damn! Where has THIS author been all my life?” Needless to say perhaps (but then we always go on to say it!) my next order is already in and awaited. Brilliant, witty, readable prose from a professional who earnt his keep as a columnist on the great magazine – as it once was – The New Yorker. Born to a well-off family he was allowed in the summer 1926, to sail to Europe to study French medieval literature at the Sorbonne in Paris. Supposedly.

Having blackmailed his father into funding a year in Europe – and having spent his first year’s allowance before he even left! – Liebling actually spent his second adequate monthly show more released funding studying ”feeding”.

Despite a reputation based on his New Yorker columns on life, boxing and mankind’s foibles it is his writing on food and ‘feeding’ for which he is mostly acclaimed. His editor decried his claims to be a gourmet, and (as was explained by my own ‘feeding’ French mentor many years after his adventures) he was assured that he was actually a gourmand. Our matching shapes at the same stages of maturity confirm this more apt definition!

Wonderfully witty but actually very astute writing on restaurants, food and wine demonstrate this author’s ability to ensnare the reader in his works. Almost weeping for my ‘long lost’ Paris at the end – sated and stuffed – I put aside this greedy ‘foodies’ pornography with reluctant glee.

Great reading! show less

Well-written and evocative, though the Liebling tendency towards snark can be a bit off-putting.

If you have never had the experience of reading the prose of one of those old, amazing newspapermen, Liebling is your fellow. And where does he take you? Why, Paris, of course. You just can’t turn down this ride.

While this book is probably a 3-and-a-half-star book on its own merit, it is my affection for Paris that gives it the extra edge.

THE OH-SO-EASY PROSE STYLIST REMINECES ABOUT HIS MEALS IN FRANCE. AS ALWAYS AN INCREDIBLE READ

Liebling's essay Passable, the last in this too-small volume, is one of the best five I have ever read: a gem!

Fan-freaking tastic.