Status
Available
Call number
Genres
Collections
Publication
BBC Audiobooks America (2009), Edition: Unabridged Audiobook, 8 CDs, 9 hrs 51 mins
Description
Vanessa is a whiz of a chef, so good she makes her grandstanding boss, Hawk--of Albuquerque's chic Nuevo American restaurant Hawk--look good. But Vanessa has a problem--she keeps falling for married men. Swearing off men altogether, she begins helping out at her parents' house until she meets Paul, her parents' neighbor. Just when Vanessa's guard goes down, the red flag goes up: Could Paul be yet another married man?
User reviews
LibraryThing member magid
A somewhat predictable storyline in a pleasant summer read. Not substantive, but entertaining. However, the preponderance of sentence fragments, presumably meant to be the protagonist's thoughts, became wearing after a while as a stylistic choice, and present tense is not always easy.
LibraryThing member rudeb7
This was a great book: not chic lit, but mature-woman, intelligent, reading material. It touches on the sensual pleasures of cooking and touching, the sensual pleasures of geography and nature; the conundrums of war for men and work for women, of love and independence for men and women together;
Show More
and the hope of breaking out of childhood habits and learned responses. Show Less
LibraryThing member nevusmom
An easy read, with likable characters. The descriptions of the food throughout the book certainly made me want to jump into the kitchen and try some experimenting on my own! Like other reviewers have stated, the story deals largely with learning to overcome prejudices. Part of the story deals with
Show More
one of the character's experiences as an airman fighting in Iraq. A caveat: If you were in favor of the war, your hackles may go up, and you probably will not enjoy this book. Show Less
LibraryThing member aprilcamp
Beware..... book with an agenda!!!! Regardless of your feelings on the war, Ms. Rodriguez rams hers down your throat in this book. Could have been a great little summer read. Instead its an anti-war book! Not what I was looking for.
LibraryThing member bearette24
I really liked this book at first. It was well-written, more so than her other novels. I was interested in Vanessa's career as a chef and the sensuous way she described food. Then she met Paul, a meathead from the military, who was initially not interesting at all. But it turns out there's more
Show More
than meets the eye with him. I also liked that he admitted he was inarticulate - too many books have characters who all spout magic prose. Show Less
LibraryThing member freckled
Like Valdes-Rodriguez's previous books, The Husband Habit is focused around a strong, searching female character in her early thirties. This book varies from previous slick locations like Los Angeles, and portrays an earthier group of characters in Valdes' hometown of Albuquerque New
Vanessa's connection with an Iraqi war veteran and her search for career independence are somewhat captivating, though the most interesting character in the novel is Vanessa's garden.
Stylistically, the prose is somewhat irritating, with groupings of staccato one word sentences used too liberally, almost on every page.
The happily ever after ending is predictable, as are most of the character developments along the way.
Show More
Mexico.Vanessa's connection with an Iraqi war veteran and her search for career independence are somewhat captivating, though the most interesting character in the novel is Vanessa's garden.
Stylistically, the prose is somewhat irritating, with groupings of staccato one word sentences used too liberally, almost on every page.
The happily ever after ending is predictable, as are most of the character developments along the way.
Show Less
LibraryThing member irmgard06
When I started reading this book, it started out slow but then I was hooked. The main character Vanessa struggles with dating and finding suitable men. She has her own complex problems dealing with cheating boyfriends, work issues, and family problems. Vanessa as a character sometimes is a little
The romance of the book is between Vanessa and Paul. I love the relationship they have. The author does a beautiful job of bringing real issues to their relationship and showing the love, and conflict that they have with each other. You will cry at the end of the book when you read the ending. If you like books that relate to real events in our lives you will love this book.
Show More
to dull, but there are moments of light-heartedness that make you laugh with her because you understand where she is coming from. The romance of the book is between Vanessa and Paul. I love the relationship they have. The author does a beautiful job of bringing real issues to their relationship and showing the love, and conflict that they have with each other. You will cry at the end of the book when you read the ending. If you like books that relate to real events in our lives you will love this book.
Show Less
LibraryThing member fleurdiabolique
(please be aware that this review contains spoilers)
I initially thought I was not going to like this book. On the outside, it has all the trappings of mindless chick lit, from the title to the cover to the (weirdly inaccurate -- did the blurb writer actually READ the book?) blurb on the back. Then
And then the whole thing went south. Honestly, it seemed to me as though the author got bored or pressured or rushed two-thirds through the book. The whole thing changed and became much less carefully structured. Major conflicts disappeared without a trace. (Whatever happened to the main character's major and well-founded problems with her parents? What happened with the jerky line chef working at "hawk" restaurant? What happened to the lead romantic interest's manipulative streak, which was honestly the most interesting part of his character? What happened to the PTSD symptoms it was implied he had in an early scene?) Details got confused. (Was the lead romantic interest an interrogator or a pilot?!) The plot became frankly unbelievable, with a truly ridiculous final twist and a resolution of equally ridiculous speed and ease. There had been INCREDIBLE eroticism in a scene where Paul was just feeding Vanessa peas in her garden, but by the time they actually have sex the author can't even give us the scene, instead giving us a list of cooking metaphors that I suppose was meant to be clever but really erases anything I might have found erotic. Having seen what this woman _can_ write when she inclined to write well, it was a huge letdown.
Worse than these sudden changes in almost every element of the novel, I gradually grew to realize that the main character, who seems to be a strong, independent woman, really isn't. Even when she asserts her independence from her controlling sister, really she just transfers the control to other people in her life. We never see her take an action on her own. She is always reacting to, or acting because of, someone else. This leads to one of my greatest frustrations, which is that we never actually get to see her tell off her jerk of a boss. This is anticipated for a large portion of the book... and then, woah, well, we don't need to actually _see_ that, do we? Um, YES WE DO. This is pernicious in its subtlety. It actually is borderline offensive to me.
But what really just wrecked the book for me is that Paul eventually becomes incomprehensible. The big scene where he takes the main character up in his plane and she realizes something amazing and incredible about him that changes her whole perspective? I'd love to know precisely what it is she realizes. I think we're supposed to know that. But whatever it is, I missed it both times I read the book. That's a key point in the novel, and if the reader doesn't follow it, all is pretty much lost. And indeed, from that scene onward I was increasingly unable to remain engaged with the book.
The amazing writing style and the overall fluffiness of this book saved it enough for me to actually give it two and a half stars. I am largely so disappointed because the novel began with such promise. If only this book had sustained the initial tone and careful attention to characters, conflicts, and detail with which it had begun, rather than starting out seeming like something more serious/interesting and then abruptly devolving into mindless chick lit, it would have gotten four or five stars from me. I'd like to see the ending to the book that Valdes-Rodriguez started out writing, because I think I would enjoy it greatly. And I would like to know what really happened to make her forget or ignore so many things from earlier in the book by the time she got to the end.
I initially thought I was not going to like this book. On the outside, it has all the trappings of mindless chick lit, from the title to the cover to the (weirdly inaccurate -- did the blurb writer actually READ the book?) blurb on the back. Then
Show More
I opened the book and within moments was swept away. An epigraph from Dickens? And a less-known Dickens book at that? I was intrigued. And when I started reading... oh my god this woman's style is incredible. She has a poet's ear for language, both its sly double meanings and the ways words can sound beautiful if put in the right sequence. Combine that with a sly sense of humor and I was hooked. I was even more drawn in when it seemed that these characters were real people, with serious problems to work through.And then the whole thing went south. Honestly, it seemed to me as though the author got bored or pressured or rushed two-thirds through the book. The whole thing changed and became much less carefully structured. Major conflicts disappeared without a trace. (Whatever happened to the main character's major and well-founded problems with her parents? What happened with the jerky line chef working at "hawk" restaurant? What happened to the lead romantic interest's manipulative streak, which was honestly the most interesting part of his character? What happened to the PTSD symptoms it was implied he had in an early scene?) Details got confused. (Was the lead romantic interest an interrogator or a pilot?!) The plot became frankly unbelievable, with a truly ridiculous final twist and a resolution of equally ridiculous speed and ease. There had been INCREDIBLE eroticism in a scene where Paul was just feeding Vanessa peas in her garden, but by the time they actually have sex the author can't even give us the scene, instead giving us a list of cooking metaphors that I suppose was meant to be clever but really erases anything I might have found erotic. Having seen what this woman _can_ write when she inclined to write well, it was a huge letdown.
Worse than these sudden changes in almost every element of the novel, I gradually grew to realize that the main character, who seems to be a strong, independent woman, really isn't. Even when she asserts her independence from her controlling sister, really she just transfers the control to other people in her life. We never see her take an action on her own. She is always reacting to, or acting because of, someone else. This leads to one of my greatest frustrations, which is that we never actually get to see her tell off her jerk of a boss. This is anticipated for a large portion of the book... and then, woah, well, we don't need to actually _see_ that, do we? Um, YES WE DO. This is pernicious in its subtlety. It actually is borderline offensive to me.
But what really just wrecked the book for me is that Paul eventually becomes incomprehensible. The big scene where he takes the main character up in his plane and she realizes something amazing and incredible about him that changes her whole perspective? I'd love to know precisely what it is she realizes. I think we're supposed to know that. But whatever it is, I missed it both times I read the book. That's a key point in the novel, and if the reader doesn't follow it, all is pretty much lost. And indeed, from that scene onward I was increasingly unable to remain engaged with the book.
The amazing writing style and the overall fluffiness of this book saved it enough for me to actually give it two and a half stars. I am largely so disappointed because the novel began with such promise. If only this book had sustained the initial tone and careful attention to characters, conflicts, and detail with which it had begun, rather than starting out seeming like something more serious/interesting and then abruptly devolving into mindless chick lit, it would have gotten four or five stars from me. I'd like to see the ending to the book that Valdes-Rodriguez started out writing, because I think I would enjoy it greatly. And I would like to know what really happened to make her forget or ignore so many things from earlier in the book by the time she got to the end.
Show Less
LibraryThing member gypsywether
I received an advance uncorrected proof version of this book, So it is possible that the things I did not like are because of that. I found it very hard to get into this book as I started reading it. Just the way she worded her sentences felt wrong to me somehow. I admit I am not quite able to
After I forced my way through until she met and started to get ot know Paul it became easier. Either I got used to it or it got better, I'm not sure.
This is a story worth reading, I thought it was a good story and not like anything I had read before that had similar descriptions. It is possible that ome people would be upset by the very strong anti-war sentiment, but I personally read it as being what some people Do believe, so why shouldn't we have a book with characters that believe this way as well?
My overall opinion is that this is a good book. I am glad that I did manage to get myself through the first few chapters to where the story seems to really be worth it. If you like characters that are complicated, and have to learn that there is more than meets the eye and that life isn't simple, you would probably like this book.
Show More
accurately say what it is that felt wrong, just that reading it was hard at first. i was constantly looking at sentences I had just read and thinking it seemed wrong somehow.After I forced my way through until she met and started to get ot know Paul it became easier. Either I got used to it or it got better, I'm not sure.
This is a story worth reading, I thought it was a good story and not like anything I had read before that had similar descriptions. It is possible that ome people would be upset by the very strong anti-war sentiment, but I personally read it as being what some people Do believe, so why shouldn't we have a book with characters that believe this way as well?
My overall opinion is that this is a good book. I am glad that I did manage to get myself through the first few chapters to where the story seems to really be worth it. If you like characters that are complicated, and have to learn that there is more than meets the eye and that life isn't simple, you would probably like this book.
Show Less
LibraryThing member mustreet
I found this to be a quick, only OK, read. I've read a few of Valdes-Rodriquez's other books and this seemed like a much different kind of book for her. Not sure that I would really recommend this book to others, unless they were looking for a beach read.
LibraryThing member andsoitgoes
This book is so much more than being about food and gardening. Like the way Paul kept surprising Vanessa, I judged this book by its cover and found, to my surprise, a very important message about war and forgiveness. I think this book is badly titled and marketed. I really enjoyed learning about a
Show More
returning Iraq war soldier and how dangerous it is to rely on stereotypes. Show Less
LibraryThing member 2wonderY
The ocassional romance that I pick up isn't required to deliver a lot. But when the promise of more is made and not delivered on, I can get cranky.
Although the set-up seemed trashy and unbelievable, I was caught by several features: 1. The prose is unusually structured, third person distant. 2. The
The character of Paul was well caught, and very attractive, and complex. BUT the author went way over the top and he became too good to be true. Sorry, the Air Force doesn't take fighter pilots and use them as translators and interogators. One or the other, not both. And then, he ends up being too rich, with properties in at least two states.
Vanessa, as lead chef, has way too much time on her hands. Sorry, this profession doesn't give time off. Especially when opening her own restaurant. This part of her story is given no more than a nod after she acquires backers, and devolves into just another romance.
Boo. Hiss.
Although the set-up seemed trashy and unbelievable, I was caught by several features: 1. The prose is unusually structured, third person distant. 2. The
Show More
protagonist seemed comfortable in her own skin without the typical necessities of American females - heels, make-up and dress clothes. 3. The food and gardening material appeared to have some real substance and knowledge behind it, and played a big part in the first half of the book. This lent veracity and interest.The character of Paul was well caught, and very attractive, and complex. BUT the author went way over the top and he became too good to be true. Sorry, the Air Force doesn't take fighter pilots and use them as translators and interogators. One or the other, not both. And then, he ends up being too rich, with properties in at least two states.
Vanessa, as lead chef, has way too much time on her hands. Sorry, this profession doesn't give time off. Especially when opening her own restaurant. This part of her story is given no more than a nod after she acquires backers, and devolves into just another romance.
Boo. Hiss.
Show Less
LibraryThing member AngelaLam
I am almost finished with THE HUSBAND HABIT and wanted everyone to know it is a fabulous story told in a different voice and style than THE DIRTY GIRLS SOCIAL CLUB. Like a good stew, THE HUSBAND HABIT simmers wonderfully from the first sentence and cooks up a great story full of food references and
My only complaint is the jarring use of fragments. That's why I am giving the book 4 instead of 5 stars.
Show More
delightful word play, sensuous and intelligent, with rich characterizations throughout and a storyline anyone can relate to. My only complaint is the jarring use of fragments. That's why I am giving the book 4 instead of 5 stars.
Show Less
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2009-07-07
ISBN
0792763882 / 9780792763888