Review: Anthony Bourdain's _Gone Bamboo:_ Pulp fiction at its best

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Every now and then I have to take a break from the serious stuff. When those times hit, I usually will get something in a romantic or mysterious flavor and settle in for a couple of hours of escapism. On a whim, I started to read both the fiction and non-fiction escapades of chef Anthony Bourdain, and have found them to be terrific reads. In this, his second novel, we get a rather twisted tale of murder, gangs, a chef, and one of the most vibrant female characters around. Set mostly on some balmy island in the Caribbean, we get the sordid tale of an ex-assassin who has one of his jobs come back to life and make things a little hectic. Henry and his wife, the beauteous (and smart) Frances are living the "la vida loca" in early retirement. Life is a bucolic existence of booze, food, sex and pot. Both of them are seeking to live their days with as few complications as possible, but when an old assignment turns up alive and reasonably healthy, things get a bit hot and sticky for Henry and Frances. There's the old man, Donnie -- who's under Federal protection, along with the sweet kids, Mickey and Rachel. Add in the herd of fresh-faced young guards, and the cross-dressing mob boss from New York who's still kinda angry at Henry for the last job, and you get plenty of action, mouth-watering meals, and enough double-crosses to give you whiplash. Another good touch is that the story has a definite beginning, middle and end, with everyone pretty much getting what they deserve by the end to make you smile. In this time of mystery and detective novels that range on for several volumes on end, it's rather nice to find something that is self-contained. What I really like about this one is that Bourdain makes his characters street-smart, but not so wide that they are cardboard. They talk fast, act fast, and are given enough to round out each of them. There's also enough description that you can almost feel that sand between your toes, the cool sea breezes and that cold beer. I like that in a novel. The two leads, in particular, are rather interesting to come and know, especially Frances, who is given enough detail to make this reader want to know her. In pulp fiction, which is really what this novel is, the women are usually given such standard roles that it was really refreshing to see someone be just as smart and handy as the hero. While this might not be a great novel, it's certainly a good one, and is just about right for reading on a hot summer day while sucking back a beer or two. Some might be put off by the sex, nudity, violence and profanity in this one, but for those who like their adventure rough and hard-boiled, this is one not to miss. Four stars overall, very much recommended. Gone Bamboo Anthony Bourdain 2002; Bloomsbury USA ISBN 978-1582341033 (This was previously posted in 2003 on a now defunct website. Copyright 2018 by Rebecca Huston. Do not steal my work.)