"In this delightful, laugh-out-loud first novel,
Gabe Rose, the brash Jewish waiter with a play in his pocket, is looking for his big
chance. Where else to find it but at the gilded, overpriced tables of Boston's fanciest
restaurant, where crooked politicians, tight Old Money, preppies, parvenus and, of course,
the stars come to dine on yesterday's fish under tonight's hollandaise? Under-30 Gabe
contrives to meet over-40 Cynthia Kagan, a tough, sexy playwright-director, big in
feminist circles
Plot and character are pas de deux under Wood's
fast-stepping, always engaging choreography, but how to explain all the sharp and
colorful, emotionally honest, sometimes heart-grabbing ensemble work? Besides the fun, The
Kitchen Man is about love and loyalty outside conventional categories of age, gender
and body proportions, a gamey kind of You Can't Take It With You with extremely
recognizable people."
Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
"Fresh, vital . . . totally convincing . . . Mr.
Wood has a special gift for heartwarming comedy."
The New York Times Book Review
Ira Wood's latest novel is Storm Tide (Fawcett-Columbine) co-authored by Marge Piercy. He lives on Cape Cod.
This book is also available at fine book stores everywhere.
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