Who Would Like This Book:
If you love fascinating deep-dives into history with quirky, unexpected topics, "The Big Oyster" is a winner. Mark Kurlansky brings New York City’s gritty past to life, all through the lens of the humble oyster - from bustling oyster bars and local folklore to ecology and forgotten recipes. There’s a strong environmental message woven in, and the book is packed with fun tidbits, maps, and oddball facts. If you’re a fan of food writing, NYC lore, or are just into learning how a tastier past shaped a megacity, you’ll devour this book. Even non-oyster fans may find themselves hungry to learn more.
Who May Not Like This Book:
Some readers found the book a bit too focused on New York, making some references and street names feel obscure if you’re less familiar with the city. If you’re looking for a global history of oysters or want more variety of bivalve trivia, this may feel narrow. There are also a handful of factual errors and occasional jumps in narrative that might irk sticklers for detail or readers who like their history in a straight line.
About:
"The Big Oyster: History on the Half Shell" by Mark Kurlansky explores the intertwined history of oysters and New York City. Through detailed research and engaging storytelling, Kurlansky delves into the significance of oysters as a staple food, their impact on the economy, and the environmental implications of their overconsumption. Readers are taken on a journey through the evolution of New York City, from its early settlement by the Dutch to its bustling oyster trade in the 19th century and the subsequent decline of oyster populations due to pollution. Kurlansky's writing style is described as informative, well-researched, and enjoyable, offering a unique perspective on New York's history through the lens of the humble oyster.
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From The Publisher:
"Part treatise, part miscellany, unfailingly entertaining."
-The New York Times
"A small pearl of a book . . . a great tale of the growth of a modern city as seen through the rise and fall of the lowly oyster."
-Rocky Mountain News
Award-winning author Mark Kurlansky tells the remarkable story of New York by following the trajectory of one of its most fascinating inhabitants-the oyster.
For centuries New York was famous for this particular shellfish, which until the early 1900s played such a dominant a role in the city's life that the abundant bivalves were Gotham's most celebrated export, a staple food for all classes, and a natural filtration system for the city's congested waterways.
Filled with cultural, historical, and culinary insight-along with historic recipes, maps, drawings, and photos-this dynamic narrative sweeps readers from the seventeenth-century founding of New York to the death of its oyster beds and the rise of America's environmentalist movement, from the oyster cellars of the rough-and-tumble Five Points slums to Manhattan's Gilded Age dining chambers. With The Big Oyster, Mark Kurlansky serves up history at its most engrossing, entertaining, and delicious.
"Suffused with [Kurlansky's] pleasure in exploring the city across ground that hasn't already been covered with other writers' footprints."
-Los Angeles Times Book Review
"Fascinating stuff . . . [Kurlansky] has a keen eye for odd facts and natural detail."
-The Wall Street Journal
"Kurlansky packs his breezy book with terrific anecdotes."
-Entertainment Weekly
"Magnificent . . . a towering accomplishment."
-Associated Press
Reader Stats (8):
Want To Read (3) | |
Did Not Finish (1) | |
Not Interested (4) |
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The Big Oyster: History on the Half Shell?
About the Author:
Mark Kurlansky is the New York Times bestselling and James A. Beard Award-winning author of Cod: A Biography of the Fish That Changed the World, Salt: A World History, 1968: The Year That Rocked the World, and The Basque History of the World, as well as Boogaloo on 2nd Avenue (his debut novel), and several other books. He lives in New York City.
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