Reviews

Monkey Dish was something I certainly have never read if I did not win it in a giveaway. It follows the journey of Vietnam War veteran Hank as he finds his purpose as a restaurant waiter. Moving through the 70s and 80s, the novel gives insight into the restaurant business through short vignettes and anecdotes of Hank's life, weaving together to form a full narrative. It was an interesting premise that held my interest, but was not overly engaging.

geraldinerowe's review

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funny informative lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

This wouldn't normally be the sort of thing I'd choose to read, so I'm very grateful that The StoryGraph giveaway gave me the chance to try it. It tells the story of a man who, having left the military after the Vietnam war, finds himself taking a job as a waiter which leads to a long career as he moves from one restaurant to another. My one problem with the book was the way it spoke about women. I'm not sure if this came from the author himself, or if he was trying to reflect the attitudes of the time (the start of the book is set in the early 70s). Either way, it made for some pretty uncomfortable reading. Otherwise, the book is an interesting insight into the world of restaurants and waiting tables.

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