The Sharper Your Knife, the Less You Cry: Love, Laughter, and Tears in Paris at the World's Most Famous Cooking School | 
| Author: Kathleen Flinn
Publisher: Penguin (Non-Classics)
Category: Book
List Price: $15.00
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Avg. Customer Rating:  33 reviews
Sales Rank: 40912
Media: Paperback
Edition: Reprint
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 304
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.6
Dimensions (in): 8.4 x 5.4 x 0.7
ISBN: 0143114131
Dewey Decimal Number: 920
EAN: 9780143114130
ASIN: 0143114131
Publication Date: September 2, 2008
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Condition: CHARITY SALE!! New book, in mint condition. 100% of the proceeds benefit the literacy efforts of Books for America.
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| • | Hardcover - The Sharper Your Knife, the Less You Cry: Love, Laughter, and Tears at the World's Most Famous Cooking School | | • | Audio CD - The Sharper Your Knife, the Less You Cry: Love, Laughter, and Tears at the World's Most Famous Cooking School | | • | Hardcover - The Sharper Your Knife, the Less You Cry: Love, Laughter, and Tears at the World's Most Famous Cooking School | | • | Audio CD - The Sharper Your Knife, the Less You Cry: Love, Laughter, and Tears at the World's Most Famous Cooking School | | • | Kindle Edition - The Sharper Your Knife, the Less You Cry | | • | Audio Download - The Sharper Your Knife, the Less You Cry (Unabridged) |
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Product Description
This is the funny and inspiring account of Kathleen Flinns struggle in a stew of hot-tempered chefs, competitive classmates, her own wretchedly inadequate French, and the basics of French cuisine. Flinn was a thirty-six-year-old middle manager trapped on the corporate ladderuntil her boss eliminated her job. So she cashed in her savings and moved to Paris to pursue her lifelong dream of attending the venerable Le Cordon Bleu cooking school. Fans of Julie & Julia and the late Julia Child will be richly rewarded by this vibrant tale of self-discovery, transformation, and ultimately love.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 28 more reviews...
 Good Read November 30, 2008
If you dabble in cooking in the kitchen and wonder what it would be like to learn from masters this book is for you. Not only do you get a picture like watching cooking shows on PBS but you also get the recipes. The author has a spirited style in writing and and by the end of the book you really would like to meet her.
 The whole book needs salt November 8, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
What could have been an interesting book about an interesting experience in an interesting city ended up being boring because it lacked in depth and character development. Flinn reports on her experience in a fairly predictable way and in exceptionally short chapters - tell the story of a lesson, pepper it with an anecdote about a classmate, then relate it to a story about the boyfriend or the City. End with a complicated French recipe that no one is ever going to make. The book is a string of these predictable vignettes, none of which is particularly exciting because there is little lead up - if the triumph over puff pastry had a deeper psychological significance then it would be interesting. Instead, the triumph over puff pastry was because, predictably, she practiced at home. Woo hoo!
I ended up putting the book down 3/4 of the way through, realizing I was trudging through not caring about any of the characters and really wishing she explored one or two relationships in depth - her relationship with herself and a cooking teacher, for example. Flinn is frequently criticized for not using enough salt in her sauces, a simple device for bringing out the flavor in the ingredients. In my opinion, this whole book needs salt.
Funny, intellegent, story of life under heat in Paris November 4, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
Over the last few years, I've discovered that reading about cooking can be great fun. And along the way I've also found out how much I don't know about cooking, which just adds fuel to the fire to learn more. One way I've discovered to fill the gap is to find out about other people's experiences.
The Sharper Your Knife, The Less You Cry is one of those experiences, seen through the eyes of the author, Kathleen Flinn. It's also a travelogue, the tale of a growing love affair, a close-in look at the French and especially the city of Paris, and most of all, Le Cordon Bleu, one of the best cooking schools in the world.
The story begins as Kathleen has to decide on her future. She's in her mid-thirties, has just been let go from her job in London, and is at loose ends. Does she go back to the States, does she stay in London, or does she take an entirely new direction? That's the rather daunting choice that she's facing, but her boyfriend, Mike, suggests, why not follow your dream and go study at Le Cordon Bleu?
It's something that she's always dreamed about, and on impulse, she find the on-line application, sends it off, and is amazed when she receives a reply to start in a matter of weeks. Talk about finding new direction in a matter of minutes! With a smattering of French, no where to really live, her boyfriend in Seattle -- and deciding to come live with her -- Kathleen plunges into the world of haut cuisine.
It's an eye-opener of a book. Told in a series of small chapters, I laughed and cringed with Kathleen as she battled the language barrier, disdainful chefs, her fellow students, and her own preconceptions. Each chapter goes into learning about a particular food, or nuance of French behaviour, or the author's own struggle in coping. At the end of each one is a recipe, either the one that Kathleen was struggling with, or one inspired by the events in the story. There are references to other chefs, the history of just what is le Cordon Bleu (hint, it has nothing at all to do with chicken), various cooking terms, and at the end of the book, there is a suggested reading list for more exploration for the curious reader.
Several sections of the book really touched me. One was learning that in France, a butcher would display rabbits with their heads still attached, as so to assure the purchaser that what they are getting is indeed rabbit -- and not cat. Needless to say, that was a little traumatic to read about. Another was having to endure the harsh critiques by the chefs -- including the opening chapter where a chef tells the narrator that she is wasting her time -- my heart ached for Kathleen, and it was so encouraging to see her own self-confidence and skills mature.
But most of all was when Kathleen meets Julia Child, and the marvelous conversations that she had with her. That hit me right to the heart, and I had to go find my partner and read to him those sections as they were so well written.
At the end of the story, I smiled, thinking of my own culinary escapades, and immensely cheered. For all of the conflict, and near misses, this is a very happy book to read -- Kathleen Flinn is one of those people who I would never mind meeting and sharing a meal with. Her personality shines through in the stories here, and her own strong will in being able to persevere through the worst criticisms is one that we need to read more about.
Most of all, it's about never being afraid to try something new, or try for your own dreams to come true. It's something that I feel that is really needed in our own, rather uncertain, times, and this book fulfills that need admirably.
Hands down, a four star read, and happily recommended.
 Not very exciting October 30, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
I too was very excited to read this book. I love cooking and I am married to a French man so we go to Paris very often. The story is not bad and gives you insight into Le Cordon Bleu, which I was always curious about. However, you never get the feeling that the author really opens up to the reader so it left me wanting more. A lot more. I am not unhappy that I read the book but I dont think I would recommend it to my friends. I had a hard time finishing it even though it is a very simple book. I am however looking forward to trying some of the receipes included in the book.
Deliciously Excellent! September 6, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This book is interesting and funny.
It is one of those books that make you laugh out loud ... as proven for me at work when I was trying to look like I was working but was actually devouring this book.
BUSTED.
LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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