Angela Hartnett's Cucina: Three Generations of Italian Family Cooking - Angela Hartnett

Advantages: Informative
Disadvantages: None

...People have the impression of Gordon as an arrogant, foul mouthed chef. However, this is the persona he adopts to achieve his goals successfully, and this read highlights how he has got there. A follow on from Humble Pie, the book goes in to more depth on the business side of his life, where risks were taken to get where he is today. Lessons that he has learnt along the way are both informative and amusing. His plight to go from a well known UK chef to international business machine is explored in many chapters detailing various hotel and restaurant openings. What we do learn about Gordon is his passion to develop the people who have been most loyal to him. Angela Hartnett is mentioned a few times throughout the book, as it goes from him owning his first restaurant right through to his MNC Gordon Ramsay Holdings. Loyalty is shown... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: Reminds you how lucky you are
Disadvantages: Reminds you how spoilt you are

...Angela's ashes is an autobiography of an Irishman born into poverty. The book tells in graphic detail the trials and tribulations of a family in which an alcoholic father spends any money he can lay his hands on Stout and whiskey. Whilst this is going on a mother tries to make a home for her family by any means possible. This sounds like a horrible plot for a book, but the story is told with a rare humour which makes it all worthwhile. About three months after I had read the book I saw the film, the film is dire and misses out all the humour ( do not watch ). This book will remind you how lucky you are and to count your blessings. A joy to read.... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: great book
Disadvantages: none

...I can only imagine what it must have been like to grow up in extreme poverty in Limerick, Ireland with an alcoholic father who couldn't hold down a job to save his life (or that of his children). When he did get a job, he drank the wages away and promptly lost his employment, leaving his family destitute and dirty. The death of three siblings of preventable diseases is just a glimpse of the misfortunes that befell the McCourt family. Yet, ANGELA'S ASHES is rich with humor and enlightening. It is must-read for everyone, regardless of preferred genre. McCourt is master of the voice, from that of a three year old child in New York to a young man of nineteen returning to New York after fourteen years of living in Ireland. "You'll die for Ireland, won't you boys?" "We will, Dad." A delightfully witty read, a page turner to the end... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average not helpful