Customer Reviews:
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 No, no, and no. February 17, 2008
I read someone's review of this book that was positive. I wish I remembered who so I could write them a nasty letter. It may actually deserve only one star. Paper thin characters, no substance, gratuitous violence, and, oh yeah, no real story. I hope the author cooks better than he writes. Save your money o serious readers; there must be something better out there.
 He needs to stick with non-fiction June 26, 2007
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
His non-fiction and essays are great, but this book, which is fiction, just comes off as flat. It was like he got offered a deal to write whatever he wanted based on his non-fic success and just decided to blow it on cramming in every fantasy plot idea he had into a very thin book.
 Awesome November 11, 2006
This is one of the best novels I've read in a long time! I love Anthony Bourdain's television shows and his books, but I had never read any of his novels. It was even better than I hoped. The story flowed...there was never a dull spot. I even learned some new slang! A great read!
Could have been great September 26, 2005
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
I was really excited when I started reading this book. The characters were fairly deep and well-developed, and the circumstances were at once amusing and understandable. And then I was halfway through the book and nothing had happened yet. Lo and behold, I finished the book, and still, nothing really happened. There is a rushed bit about robbing a restaurant and running from gangsters, but it all happens so fast that there is no time to really care. The writing is good, the characters are interesting, but this book should have been at least twice as long as it is. In its present form, it reads like a story from a talented writer who realized on Monday night that he had a dealine on Tuesday morning.
Uninteresting novel now in "pamphlet size!" May 12, 2004
5 out of 8 found this review helpful
I recently picked up "The Bobby Gold Stories" at my local, Mesa, AZ, library. Needless to say, it was the greatest book that I have ever read, if you consider the Escorts section of the Qwest Dex Yellow Pages and the heart-breaking tale of Larry "Bud" Melman's career beginnings as a fan dancer "great."Bobby Gold is like a very tall, thin, face-busting, arm-breaking, Jewish Johnny Cash, except he can't play the guitar, or sing, or be memorable or have an impact on anything. You can read the plot synopsis for yourself to see what this book is about. I read the bulk of the book in a few hours. This book is about as long as "Goodnight, Moon," and the plot includes less twists. Memorable exchanges between Bobby and his hot, Asian-eyed romance pot of love, Nikki, include "You're a dangerous woman. You're going to get us both killed," and the ever-popular "Do you like the kind of music I like? 'Cuz if so, I'll climb on you!"-type comments like "I need to look at your record collection. I see any Billy f****** Joel in here and this ain't gonna happen." Nothing builds up a strong, sexy relationship like NOT enjoying the tunes of Billy Joel. I myself have spent many nights with my man, commenting on how much we hate "The Stranger" while sipping vodka and enjoying each other's company. Maybe if I was a big New Yorker, I would be saying things like this. Maybe if I beat people up and stole things for a living, or was otherwise "cool," I would understand this novel. Maybe if I got all hopped up on the goofenthal, I would adore it if I wrote like this. But I'm from Arizona, and even though it's to the left of middle America, I'm living across the street from a man with wooden signs tied to his bushes saying "Get U.S. Out of U.N." and "Waiting for the Rapture!" This story is not fleshed out enough and I was embarrassed that I had read it. Does Mr. Bourdain have some sort of connection with the publishing industry that the rest of us don't? If you can come out of many years of drug use and still produce poo like this that can get published and make money, I better get out my spoon. This book was hooey.
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