In the Kitchen (novel)
{{Short description|2009 novel by Monica Ali}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{use British English|date=June 2017}}
{{Infobox book|
| name = In the Kitchen: A Novel
| title_orig =
| translator =
| image = Cover of In the Kitchen, book by Monica Ali.jpg
| caption = The front cover of the first edition (hardcover)
| author = Monica Ali
| illustrator =
| cover_artist =
| country = United Kingdom
| language = English
| series =
| genre = {{plainlist|
- Thriller{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/bookreviews/5290584/In-the-Kichen-by-Monica-Ali-review.html|title=In the Kichen by Monica Ali: review|work=The Telegraph|date=10 May 2009|first=Melissa|last=Katsoulis}}
- Mystery fiction
}}
| publisher = {{plainlist|
}}
| media_type = Print (hardback and paperback), e-book, audiobook{{cite web|url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/978-1-4165-7168-1|title=Fiction Book Review: In the Kitchen by Monica Ali|work=Publishers Weekly|date=27 April 2009|accessdate=25 June 2017}}
| pages = 432
| isbn = 9780385614573
| isbn_note =
| dewey =
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| preceded_by =
| followed_by =
}}
In the Kitchen is a novel by Monica Ali, first published in 2009. The novel follows Gabriel Lightfoot, an executive chef in a hotel restaurant in contemporary London.{{cite web|url=http://www.simonandschuster.com/books/In-the-Kitchen/Monica-Ali/9781416571698#|title=In the Kitchen (official publisher's page)|publisher=Simon & Schuster|accessdate=25 June 2017}}
Synopsis
Gabriel Lightfoot, an ambitious man from an old northern English mill town, is an executive chef at the Imperial Hotel in London, where he must manage an unruly but talented group of immigrant cooks while aiming to please the hotel's new owners. One day, a hotel worker turns up dead in the kitchen’s basement, disturbing the delicate balance of Gabriel's life. Gabriel then meets Lena, a young immigrant with mysterious ties to the dead man, and makes a decision that changes his life.
Reception
The novel received mixed reviews. Culture Critic gave it an aggregated critic score of 61% based on British press reviews.{{Cite web |title=Monica Ali – In the Kitchen|url=http://www.culturecritic.co.uk/books/monica-ali-in-the-kitchen/|access-date=12 July 2024|website=Culture Critic|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090623002109/http://www.culturecritic.co.uk:80/books/monica-ali-in-the-kitchen/|archive-date=23 Jun 2009}}{{Cite web |title=Monica Ali – In the Kitchen|url=http://www.culturecritic.co.uk/books/?p_offset=10&n_offset=390&search=next|access-date=12 July 2024|website=Culture Critic|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120812164343/http://www.culturecritic.co.uk/books/?p_offset=10&n_offset=390&search=next|archive-date=12 Aug 2012}} In September/October 2009 issue of Bookmarks, the book received a {{rating|2.5|5}} (2.5 out of 5) with a summary saying, "In the Kitchen, Ali's third novel, received mixed reviews from critics who couldn't help but compare it to the brilliant Brick Lane".{{Cite web |title=In the Kitchen By Monica Ali|url=http://bookmarksmagazine.com/book-review/kitchen/monica-ali|access-date=14 January 2023 |website=Bookmarks|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160802075310/http://bookmarksmagazine.com/book-review/kitchen/monica-ali|archive-date=2 Aug 2016}}
The Washington Post{{'}}s Marie Arana commented that while the first half of the book "creeps along like your grandmother's knitting", once the reader reaches the midpoint: "And here, finally, begins your reward. For the next 200 pages until you reach the last sentence, you won't be able to put the book down, turn off the light. Ali hits her stride."{{cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/11/AR2009061104520.html|title=Book Review: 'In the Kitchen' by Monica Ali|work=The Washington Post|date=14 June 2009|first=Marie|last=Arana|authorlink=Marie Arana}}
The New York Times{{'}} William Grimes praised the novel's commentary on the issues of race, culture and progress, noting that the "brilliant debates animate an otherwise meandering, overstuffed narrative that, for long stretches, goes nowhere in particular."{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/09/books/review/Grimes-t.html|title=Londonstan|work=The New York Times|date=6 August 2009|first=William|last=Grimes|authorlink=William Grimes (journalist)}} The Guardian{{'}}s Stephanie Merritt also commented positively on the novel's theme of national identity, but concluded that "Though Ali's prose is often beautiful and there are flashes of Brick Lane{{'}}s buoyant comedy, Gabe's disintegration never quite engages the reader, who is left feeling better informed but oddly unaffected."{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2009/may/02/monica-ali-in-the-kitchen|title=Check into the Imperial Hotel at your peril|work=The Guardian|date=3 May 2009|first=Stephanie|last=Merritt|authorlink=Stephanie Merritt}}
The Telegraph{{'}}s Sukhdev Sandhu criticised the dialogue, saying: "dollops of didactic and clunky exposition are combined with lines half-inched from episodes of The Bill and passages of insipid mushiness".{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/bookreviews/5250974/Monica-Ali.html|title=Monica Ali: Sukhdev Sandhu finds nothing cooking in Monica Ali's In the Kitchen|work=The Telegraph|date=30 April 2009|first=Sukhdev|last=Sandhu}}
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
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Category:Simon & Schuster books