My most recent audiobook experience–32 Yolks: From My Mother’s Table to Working the Line–was actually on my list already when I found it available to borrow immediately from the library (I’m a sucker for any nonfiction involving food). I knew there was a possibility of language, but Eric Ripert’s account of his growing up years reassured me; he covered a great deal of pain and upheaval with only two instances of profanity, and neither one felt extraneous. (The pain and upheaval possibly dragged on a bit for me, but I would have felt differently if I’d approached the book knowing anything about Ripert. A memoir has every right to tell the stories that have shaped the person; it’s not the author’s fault that I was only there for the food!)
There was more language during his culinary and line chef years, but almost all of it was quoted from his bosses or coworkers, making it seem (again) a storytelling tool. If I’d seen a list of the words used and the number of times each appeared I might have been scared away, but it never felt frequent or plentiful enough to bail. (That may say something about me that I should consider, but I’ll have to have that conversation with myself another day.) The laugh-out-loud moments also occurred during those years–several of them involving duck–and I found myself sharing a few of them with more than one friend, which tells you something.
Ultimately, this is a book for people who a) want to read about Eric Ripert, or b)enjoy reading about chefs and food, and c)find meaning in reading about someone’s life experiences and how they define the person he or she becomes. There is some language sprinkled throughout–mostly of the more serious variety–but the language is not a defining characteristic of the man. If it sounds like something you want to read, you’ll likely not be disappointed. If not–it’s probably not for you.
By the by, since my son’s birthday is the 3rd of July and we’ll be with family for the Fourth, I’m acknowledging now that I’m not going to have the chance to post this week. I’ll see you on the 9th or so!
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