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Sweetbitter: A Novel
Unavailable
Sweetbitter: A Novel
Unavailable
Sweetbitter: A Novel
Audiobook12 hours

Sweetbitter: A Novel

Written by Stephanie Danler

Narrated by Alex McKenna

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

3/5

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Currently unavailable

Currently unavailable

About this audiobook

INSTANT NATIONAL BESTSELLER  *  A thrilling novel of the senses and a coming-of-age tale, following a small-town girl into the electrifying world of New York City and the education of a lifetime at one of the most exclusive restaurants in Manhattan.  Perfect for readers of Kitchen Confidential and Blood, Bones and Butter.

Twenty-two, and knowing no one, Tess leaves home to begin her adult life in New York City. Thus begins a year that is both enchanting and punishing, in a low-level job at "the best restaurant in New York City." Grueling hours and a steep culinary learning curve awaken her to the beauty of oysters, the finest Champagnes, the appellations of Burgundy. At the same time, she opens herself to friendships-and love-set against the backdrop of dive bars and late nights.  As her appetites sharpen-for food and wine, but also for knowledge, experience, and belonging-Tess is drawn into a darkly alluring love triangle that will prove to be her most exhilarating and painful lesson of all.

Stephanie Danler deftly conjures the nonstop and purely adrenalized world of the restaurant-conversations interrupted, phrases overheard, and suggestions below the surface. Evoking the infinite possibility of being young in New York with heart-stopping accuracy, Sweetbitter is ultimately about the power of what remains after disillusionment, and the wisdom that comes from experience, sweet and bitter.

Editor's Note

Sweet, salty, sour, bitter…

“Sweetbitter” is more than just a love letter to the famed Union Square Cafe, made legendary by the publishing and society elite who frequented it in the ’80s and ’90s. It’s a sultry, addictive coming-of-age story that perfectly captures the heat, intensity, and magic of summer in New York.

LanguageEnglish
Release dateMay 24, 2016
ISBN9780399566295
Unavailable
Sweetbitter: A Novel

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Reviews for Sweetbitter

Rating: 3.23100302006079 out of 5 stars
3/5

329 ratings27 reviews

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  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    The tasting and restaurant work descriptions were a lot of fun, and the narrator's voice fit the character of a naive young woman throwing herself into NYC restaurant life. What little other plot there was, centered on a bad boyfriend and other bad choices that didn't always make much sense.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    I enjoyed this book. As a lover of non fiction cooking books, this was so well written I thought it was non fiction... but its not. Her obsession with Jake and Simone drove me insane! And what she did to Howard towards the end? um ew... I hated the ending... I don't think the ending was well done. Just my opinion. All in all a good read.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    A year in the life of Tess, who came to NYC at 22 and landed a valuable job at a top restaurant because she is a 51 percenter. “fifty-one percenter,” whose optimistic warmth, intelligence, work ethic, empathy, and self-awareness and integrity made her uniquely qualified to work at the restaurant." Howard, the manager of this Union Square starred establishment has the ability to recognize this. She becomes enveloped into the world of after shift parties, casual sex, lines of coke and secrets being revealed. She also becomes educated in the finer things, NYT "And Ms. Danler isn’t another Anthony Bourdain manqué, delivering a caustic exposé. She takes the reader by the hand as Tess learns dozens of lessons, from distinguishing among varieties of oysters, types of winter lettuce and appellations of Burgundy to opening wine properly to appreciating a pig’s head terrine." These are the parts of the book I found most enjoyable.Tess falls for an older bartender, a mysterious, gruff, man who needs to be saved, whose tattoos leave clues to the strange relationship that he has with her mentor, Simone. The lives of this threesome become the spiraling narrative that is both fascinating and inevitable. Some good lines:TASTE, Chef said, is all about balance. The sour, the salty, the sweet, the bitter. Now your tongue is coded. A certain connoisseurship of taste, a mark of how you deal with the world, is the ability to relish the bitter, to crave it even, the way you do the sweet.Umami: uni, or sea urchin, anchovies, Parmesan, dry-aged beef with a casing of mold. It’s gluten . Nothing is a mystery anymore. They make MSG to mimic it. It’s the taste of ripeness that’s about to ferment. Initially, it serves as a warning. But after a familiarity develops, after you learn its name, that precipice of rot becomes the only flavor worth pursuing, the only line worth testing.That was the morning I committed the first sin of love, which was to confuse beauty and a good sound track with knowledge.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    This was a very hyped book that is now a tv show on Starz. I gave this 3 stars because Danler's prose was terrific but it was used for a story that I had a hard time dealing with. The book moved at a good pace and I enjoyed it as a read but it was like eating desert instead of a main course. Tess the main character comes to NYC as a 22 year old with no connections or friends and somehow talks herself into a backwaiter(busboy)job at a top Manhattan restaurant. I like food and wine but the book tried to elevate it to the highest level. The book revolved totally around the restaurant and the characters in it. If you enjoy food, like New York and are young then this coming of age book might work for you. For me I would like to see what subject matter Danler tackles in her next novel. I would hope it would be on a subject more complex than this was. It is interesting to see many young authors getting big book deals for their initial novels. Danler has talent for writing good prose but I hope it will be applied to a more elevated theme in the future.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Good reading, especially if you like dining out.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Danler, Stephanie. Sweetbitter. 10 CDs. unabridged. 12.5 hrs. Books on Tape. ISBN 9780399566301. Debut novelist, Stephanie Danler, minces no words in this lushly described coming of age novel. Set in a New York restaurant, Tess finds out first hand what it means to come alive; be it with food, wine, cocaine, or the stunningly attractive bartender. Determined to fully immerse herself in New York culture, Tess dives in and soaks up her new job and surroundings. She desires to belong and to learn everything, nothing is off limits, even if it means she is in an awkward love triangle with her mentor and the bad boy bartender. Vividly described, this novel brings all the senses to life, listeners will feel as if they are actually eating in a posh NYC restaurant or sipping expensive wine. Alex McKenna's young throaty narration really brings the Tess' young naive character to life and articulates the hustle and bustle of busy kitchen action to a T. A must read for gastronomes, New York City lovers, and fans of coming of age novels. A stunning debut. - Erin Cataldi, Johnson Co. Public Library, Franklin, IN
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I found this book fascinating for several reasons. First, I was a server for several years in my early 20's so I related on the young and callow aspect. Secondly, I am fascinated by how elitist those who call NYC home think of themselves. I devour all books that encompass the Big Apple, it's one of my dirty guilty pleasures. This isn't a book about being a foodie or a wine snob. This is a book about serving and coming of age.Frankly, the characters were recognizable during my tenure of being one of the 51% These characters, unfortunately, are recognizable in any industry,. I particularly like the part about being underestimated. Not only by your guests but by your coworkers and bosses. Life is easier to navigate knowing you're smarter than most people and not letting them know. People resent that and will f*** you up. As happened to our little heroine. Life is hard, serving is even harder.
  • Rating: 1 out of 5 stars
    1/5
    Once again, I've been seduced by rave literary reviews only to be dismayed. I fail to comprehend why this novel has garnered such acclaim. The main character is a self-destructive, undisciplined young woman who becomes obsessed with her equally unlikeable coworkers. Can I get my money back?
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This book is all character driven. It's much like a reality show on paper. I found it fascinating! The author also can really write. The pages clipped along quickly, and I was captivated. There were certainly parts of the book that were frustrating, like the constant drinking and drug use. In spite of that, I still found myself liking and pulling for the narrator, Tess.I'm not sure how accurately this book depicts the back story of a popular NYC restaurant, but it seems to me that the author at least writes as if she knows what she's talking about. I would classify "Sweetbitter" as a guilty pleasure. It isn't for everyone, but it will really strike a chord in some readers.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Tess is a young adult, who escaped her unhappy adolescent situation to embark on a life in New York City. Without knowing anyone, she finds work at a famous, upscale restaurant, where she is hired to be a backwaiter. Immediately tagged as the "new girl" Tess quickly becomes a member of the staff, involved in their all inclusive world of drama, gossip, and drugs/alcohol. Working almost every day and late into the night, all of Tess' free time is generally spent partying with her coworkers and trying to learn as much as she can about wine and the ingredients of fine food. In the process,Tess is taken under the wing of Simone, an older and very successful waiter, who begins to teach Tess about the world of "serving." At the same time, Tess develops a crush on and eventually falls into a relationship with Jake, Simone's ex and/or current boyfriend. As Tess cycles deeper into a drug lifestyle, she doesn't know how to reconcile her relationship with Jake, who may still be involved with Simone and her desire to keep her job. As her life begins to spiral out of control, Tess has to decide how far she will go to keep what is most important to her.I really enjoyed this restaurant-based novel, which seemed extremely realistic and was very descriptive. It was easy to see how Tess became completely immersed in the restaurant, such that her entire life seemed to revolve around it. Having worked as a waitress at about that age, I can see how she came to make the decisions she did. This book was recommended to me and it came with strong reviews. With strong writing and an eye for detail, I can understand why it has been so highly touted.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Outstanding literary debut.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Am I missing something here? This first novel is receiving raves and I see it as the diary of a self indulgent preening princess who falls in love with an older ogre in the wilds of the restaurant world in NYC. I think the insider foodie info must be the source of the praise. The restaurant is one of those super high end ones, like Eleven Madison (based on the location), and all the denizens seem pitifully unhappy drunkbags. So: I don't get it. The writing seems realistic enough, but the plot and characters are all ones we've seen before. And before. And before. Same terroir.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Beautiful writing about tawdry times. One to read before you make that move on the bad boy bartender you've been eyeing.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    I hate to say it, but I was disappointed in this book. To me, it was about a girl who didn't get enough attention at home, so as soon as she is old enough she leaves for New York and begins to work at a prominent restaurant. She gets along fairly well with her co-workers, who party every night after the restaurant closes. So, along with them, she drinks to excess, she takes any drug anyone offers her, and she sleeps with almost all of them. Then she starts to date the main bartender, who has a weird relationship with the woman manager (mother figure?), and the girl tries to come between them but can't. She talks a lot about the ins and outs of the restaurant business, food, and wine, which was kind of interesting, and I think I know what the author was trying to get across, but it felt like she was trying too hard. I can't tell you for sure how it even ended. My opinion may have too much to do with the fact that I am the polar opposite of this girl. I just didn't like her behavior and choices. Also, it might be my age, as I am quite a bit older than the main character, and I can look back and see that "this isn't going to end well." But all-in-all I can't say that I recommend this book :/
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    I thought I was going to listen to an story about a wait staff person in a restaurant -- and it certainly started off that way but then descended into the afterlife of the restaurant---the drugs, the drinking, the sex and just on and on and on. I kept listening---wishing I could click my way through the disks to just keep track of where the story was possibly going. Yes, I finished it but it certainly does NOT make my list of anything I would recommend reading or listening to. Part of what kept me going was the reader---Alex McKenna---great voice for the part she played.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    I would have enjoyed this a lot more if the main character had not been so self absorbed.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    I waited a while before I bought this, a lot of anticipation of it for the year 2016 in books. I wanted to love it but it just got too wordy and not enough content, especially gastronomic content, as was promised.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    less interesting than it sounded. Girl comes to NYC finds job in fancy restaurant. Drugs, boyfriends, etc.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This was a hard one to rate. I went back and forth between the 3 and the 4, but decided to give this the edge. I really enjoyed this story of a smart girl discovering her sensuality, her drive, and ultimately her personal power and her womanhood. I too was a 21 year old running from boredom, a fearless sensation junkie who travelled and ate and drank and smoked and tangled with bad boys. Every day my goal was to learn more, feel more, do more. And during that time, at the tail end, and I moved to and fell in love with New York, just like Tess. Those years of excess, 20 to 26, were the best years of my life. They were not healthy years, and there were some spectacularly low moments, but I felt it all and I got to make decisions about what parts I wanted to keep. Danler did a wonderful job of capturing that shining moment of pure possibility. But. The writing. Nearly every page had a senseless metaphor, an odd and incorrect statement, a bizarre pronouncement about how a wine represents solidity or a cheese symbolizes truth. It was jarring. I love good writing about food and sex, and there is some here, but there is also some very bad writing about very good food and even better sex. A lot of this is student work. If she comes back to this and rewrites it in her head 5 or 10 years down the road I suspect she will do a lot of wincing. Danler is an honest and interesting writer. She needs work on the technical part, but that can be learned -- the heart of a writer is there or it is not, and Danler has that.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    An enjoyable novel about a young, just-out-of-college, small town girl who comes to New York City and lands a job as a back-waiter in an upscale restaurant. Well-written and engaging, the author explores the relationships among the employees and patrons as the narrator Tess struggles to find her purpose and to define herself among her colleagues. I'd recommend this to fellow foodies - who will likely love the vivid descriptions of gourmet specialty dishes - but this novel may not have much appeal beyond that.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Great book until the end where it fell apart. Not good and ruined the whole book. It is terrible when the main person just acts completely out of character.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I enjoyed this book because it was a unique, honest coming-of-age story. As a twenty-something myself, I enjoy reading about others trying navigate life and do the best they can without losing their dreams or their senses of self. Tess is a young, small town girl that moves to NYC without much of a plan, other than to find her way. I was captivated by the world that Tess enters into. It's vibrant, toxic, and sensual. It's an exciting life, but it's also destructive. Tess doesn't make good decisions and constantly walks the line of reckless behavior that could lead to terrible consequences. It was an enjoyable read, maybe not for everyone, but worth a shot!
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    For all of my reviews, visit ouroborosfreelance.com

    I am torn, conflicted.

    Sweetbitter is beautifully written, a book I felt inclined to mark and quote and share.

    But, I hated every single character. It felt like real work to get through the novel. I felt stuck. Perhaps that is what the author intended, for the reader to feel as though they are 22 again and moving through that world of flurry and uncertainty, with everything transitory and unimportant.

    “Pain is what we know. It’s our barometer of reality. We never trust pleasure.”

    The main character, Tess, is a conundrum. She moves to New York by herself and lands a job at a busy, exclusive restaurant. Brave, right? Strong, yes. Yet, she cannot stick up for herself, neither protecting her soul nor her body. She is beautiful, yet has no self-confidence. Full of determination, but cares for nothing. She is solitary, but yearns for love.

    “The posture of a woman who had stood in a casual spotlight in every room she’d ever been in, not for gloss or perfection, for self-possession. Everything she touched she added apostrophes to.”

    Sweetbitter is an uncomfortable read about a girl so unsure of herself it is painful. But, whenever I felt inclined to stop reading there would be a sweet still moment of solitude or a small moment of victory, and I would read on, mining for those nuggets of truth hidden within the text about a girl in a tough industry, tough world.

    “Get out of your head. If you don’t, you’ll always be disappointed.”

    You, see! I cannot decide if I hate or love this book. Have you read it? What did you think?
  • Rating: 1 out of 5 stars
    1/5
    I am obviously not the target audience for this "young female in New York" classic. Having said that, I cannot imagine why anyone would want to read this book. More importantly why would this book be so consistently on "Bestseller" lists? In answer to your question why I read the book till the end - once I've started a book I persist.; yes, I'm a sucker for punishment.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Like thousands of young people before her, 22-year-old Tess arrives in New York City with a dream, not much money, and a plan that is sketchy at best (to knock on restaurant doors until someone hires her). But unlike other young people, for whom a restaurant job is a stepping stone to a dazzling future (usually one involving fame and fortune), Tess’s dream is simply to work in a restaurant and learn about food. Much more quickly than she imagines possible, she talks herself into a job, as back waiter (ie, busboy) at a high-end Manhattan restaurant. And over the next 12 months, she learns many lessons, not all of them about food and wine. For Tess, low person on the restaurant staff totem pole, the work is grueling and the hours long, but she understood what she signed up for going in and absorbs each success and failure as a stage in a necessary process. In Stephanie Danler’s undeniably claustrophobic debut novel, Tess’s social life also revolves around the restaurant. In fact, the restaurant swallows Tess’s life whole, more or less—every relationship, every conversation, every piece of gossip, begins and ends with the restaurant. After close, she regularly meets with other staffers for drinks at a late-night bar, often rolling into her shared Williamsburg flat as the sun is coming up. Eventually, after much teasing, halting conversations, and fumbling in the cloakroom, she embarks on a stormy relationship with Jake, the taciturn bad-boy bartender whose mysterious bond with Simone, the ultra-competent senior server, nonetheless persists. Learning by doing, constantly pushing to be better, Tess finds herself a favourite of management, in line for a promotion (if only there were an opening). But Tess, though smart and self-reliant, is also impressionable. Her longing to be a part of something larger than herself renders her more emotionally vulnerable than she might care to admit. Finally, buckling under the pressures of work, play and love, she allows herself to be sucked into a vortex where bad behaviour is the norm and there is nothing to prevent her indulging a burgeoning appetite for drugs and booze. Sweetbitter is an unsentimental coming-of-age story that strips the polite veneer off restaurant life. Nothing is glossed over. Here are the petty rivalries, the in-fighting, the cruelty, the sexual exploitation that goes on behind the scenes. No one is immune. Tess is reckless and fearless: a glutton for punishment; we feel her pain but cringe when she debases herself. Danler’s jittery narrative creates a gripping push and pull: we’re often repelled, but can’t take our eyes away from the train wreck about to happen. The book is also stunningly written—crammed with startling metaphors, apt observations on modern life and shimmering descriptions of the New York skyline—a saving grace since Tess so often tests the reader’s patience. In the end, Sweetbitter is a book that we finish despite itself, steered through the rubble of Tess’s restaurant career by the author’s firm hand.

    1 person found this helpful

  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This is an intriguing look at what really goes on behind closed doors in some high-end restaurants in New York City. Tess comes to New York City to find herself, and she does more than that as she takes on a job as a backwaiter in one of the city’s finest restaurants. She meets all sorts of people, engages in a number of activities, some legal, some not, but along the way discovers much about herself. I was fascinated by her journey and look forward to other books from this author.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    A coming of age story set in a very high end Manhattan restaurant. We follow the new girl through her training and her days and nights working as a back waiter at this establishment, the friendships and alliances that form among the staff, her mentoring by a senior staff member, and her first real love with an enigmatic bartender. Along the way there are drunken and druggy nights, lots of sex, and eccentric customers. This began as a fun read and got a little heavy at times, but was well done. If you like New York, and stories of restaurants behind the scenes, you’ll enjoy this.