Fed, White, and Blue

Finding America with My Fork

By: Simon Majumdar

Narrated by: Tim Andres Pabon

Simon Majumdar is probably not your typical idea of an immigrant. As he says, "I'm well rested, not particularly poor, and the only time I ever encounter 'huddled masses' is in line at Costco." But immigrate he did, and thanks to a Homeland Security agent who asked if he planned to make it official, the journey chronicled in Fed, White, and Blue was born. In it, Simon sets off on a trek across the United States to find out what it really means to become an American, using what he knows best: food.

Simon stops in Plymouth, Massachusetts, to learn about what the pilgrims ate (and that playing Wampanoag football with large men is to be avoided); a Shabbat dinner in Kansas; Wisconsin to make cheese (and get sprayed with hot whey); and LA to cook at a Filipino restaurant in the hope of making his in-laws proud. Simon attacks with gusto the food cultures that make up America - brewing beer, farming, working at a food bank, and even finding himself at a tailgate.

Full of heart, humor, history, and of course food, Fed, White, and Blue is a warm, funny, and inspiring portrait of becoming American.

©2015 Simon Majumdar (P)2015 Gildan Media LLC

Amateurish all-around

What disappointed you about Fed, White, and Blue?

Only made 3 chapters -- amazed by lack of real content, and wasted words.

How could the performance have been better?

There's supposed to be tension about an outsider learning about America but the narrator has a flat mid-Western American accent, so all the possible tension is lost. I thought this was a book about an Indian learning about the U.S. I bought this as a Daily Special; otherwise I'd return it.

Just not for me

I could not get into this book. It did not hold my interest regarding story development, character development nor interest in travel. I tried several times. It was very calming to fall asleep to.

Meh

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

Nothing. It's pretty much irredeemable

Has Fed, White, and Blue turned you off from other books in this genre?

I like books about food and have listened to lots of them. This is just thoroughly mediocre.

What didn’t you like about Tim Andres Pabon’s performance?

Why would you have an American narrate a book about a Brit's search for the essence of America? It certainly doesn't ring true as he mentions his accent and over and over again, the fact that he is British when the reader is clearly American

What character would you cut from Fed, White, and Blue?

The main character - the author

Any additional comments?

the author is smug, self-important and an uninspired writer, over and over saying how pleased his hosts were when he liked their food, how privileged he felt upon receiving so many invitations, and the prodigious quantities of alcohol he drank. I did learn some things about food but looking back I would listen to something else. But I was working in the garden so I guess it occupied my attention

Wrong narrator for this book!

What did you like best about Fed, White, and Blue? What did you like least?

Interesting, if slightly disjointed. I'd have liked a more in depth discussion of the people and their foods.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

I'd like to read more about the individual subjects and why they were involved with what they did.

What did you like about the performance? What did you dislike?

The narrator was actually quite good, just the wrong person to read this. I found it jarring how often the author mentions his upbringing in the UK, and his British accent, and this is said in a VERY American accent.

Did Fed, White, and Blue inspire you to do anything?

I'm going to look for more books about American foodways.

Any additional comments?

I'd like to see more continuity from chapter to chapter. It reads a bit like a series of blog posts.

Slice of Americana

Probably should have been longer. Overall though it's a nice series of vignettes from off the beaten culinary path. Worth a credit if you like unconventional travel stories, or are just a fan of food and all that goes into it.