Kitchens of the Great
Midwest is a series of short stories set in the Midwest all loosely
connected to one main character and to food. I don’t normally care for this
kind of narrative, but at least Kitchens
of the Great Midwest moves forward chronologically instead of jumping
around in time.
I found it slow starting but really enjoyed it once I got
into it. Chapters are set in Minnesota, Illinois, Iowa, and South Dakota. Sad
things happen, and touching things, but there is joy as well. We see inside the
heads of a variety of Midwesterners, all of whom have a deep connection to
food. Some recipes are included, and the plot is very up to date with the
latest foodie trends.
I was left wondering what happened to some of the characters
we met in various chapters and heard little or nothing more about, but that’s a sign of a
well written short story. I do wish the book had a character chart, because I’m
sure I missed some of the connections in the final chapter (which brings many
of the characters together).
The book serves as a sort of recipe itself – a recipe for
the life of one child born in the Midwest to Midwesterners whose life is
focused on food.
I recommend Kitchens
of the Great Midwest most for foodies from the Midwest, but other lovers of
quirky literary fiction should also give it a try.
I read an advance reader copy of Kitchens of the Great Midwest. It is available at the Galesburg
Public Library in print and electronic format.
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