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But I didn't enjoy it. Though I can understand why people might like it, I won't be recommending it to anyone.

Overall I think I just found Sam and Sadie unlikeable as characters. I feel like they were pretty jerky to everyone around them, and each other, and themselves, for pretty much of the time.

I also didn't like how some elements of the story were "ret-con'd" in several chapters later: "oh hey, I never mentioned he's had a dog this whole time, well he has, and now I'll detail those past events, even though we're five chapters beyond that point." And on a similar point, there are several plotlines and characters that get introduced that seemingly go nowhere, or just outright get left undeveloped after they serve their singular purpose of introducing "blank". Like, for example, the dog.

Finally, I found the ending completely unsatisfying. I know this is a subjective point, but the last page kind of just happened and then I realised that the next bit of text was acknowledgements and not another chapter.

There's something about this I can't quite put my finger on that's stopping me from really getting into this. Which is weird, because its subject matter is right up my alley.

Maybe it's the ambling timelines; the constant past, present, future being narrated concurrently?

I'm going to persist, because I might also be struggling for other not-book-related reasons... Life, that's it!

I borrowed this from the library because I really wanted to buy it, but I wasn't sure if it would bring anything extra that my other two pasta books didn't already have. Having now looked through it (albeit relatively briefly) I'm not sure it does bring anything extra for me, but that's more a testament of my other books rather than an indictment on this one, and I still really really enjoyed it and would thoroughly recommend it to anyone who's thinking of getting a good pasta book.

I particularly enjoyed these attributes about it:

1. It's Australian. So at no point did I feel like the author was instructing me with things that were difficult to obtain outside of the US/Italy.

2. At no point did this book feel pretentious at all. I have one pasta book that does and it pisses me off to no end. However this book makes no pretenses that the people who might be reading it are busy people who aren't professional chefs and just want to make a nice dish with what they have at home. For example, the author makes no secret that he regularly uses pre-made/dried pasta at home, because it's quick and convenient, and even has recipes built around dried pasta. Thank you!

3. While there are a good number of more detailed/high-end recipes, there is a whole chapter of "home classics" that are simpler, easier, and a lot less daunting. And could elevate your at-home pasta game pretty easily and without too much extra effort. Additionally, there are then two more chapters that are other "not pasta" and dessert recipes, to really make sure you're getting your worth from this book.

Overall I think this is a fantastic pasta book. If you don't have a pasta book but want one, this is the one you should get.

This is great. It's easy to read, and the descriptions of games give a good overview but aren't too long. I'm taking notes and making lists of possible future purchases.

Interesting short read. Interesting premise and social commentary.