Staff Book Reviews

A quick read that is part memoir and part travelogue. I really enjoyed this book. Lori Tharps has an easy going writing style. She describes growing up in Milwaukee and eventually living in Spain. When she was in junior high, she began studying Spanish. In a way she became obsessed with Spanish and all things Spain. Eventually Lori became an exchange student first with AFS (American Field Service) in Morocco and then her junior year in Salamanca, Spain. Anyone who wants to be an exchange student or was an exchange student, will love Kinky Gazpacho!

This was one of the best books I have read in a long time. I was immediately drawn into the characters and the emotions they were experiencing. I loved the fact that the Major went with his feelings even though everyone was against him. He didn't succumb to peer pressure or society expectations. The book is character driven and some people in my book group didn't like it because they felt it was too slow. But I thought it was just perfect! I do hope this is made into a movie.

It was good. It didn't affect me as deeply as it did to others, but I did like it. The characters were interesting and the story was sad.

Wow. Just wow.

This book is incredible. The movie's great, too.

Although it was a bit slow at times, I found this to be a very engaging story that made me feel like I was experiencing the plot with the characters.