LibGuides: Islington Branch Book Club: "The Hundred-Foot Journey" by Richard C. Morais

About the Author: Richard C. Morais

Richard C. Morais is a journalist and author known for his works of fiction and non-fiction, often focusing on cultural exploration, gastronomy, and the human experience. Here's a brief biography of Richard C. Morais:

Early Life and Education: Richard C. Morais was born in Lisbon, Portugal, and grew up in Switzerland, where he attended the International School of Geneva. He later moved to the United States to attend Boston University, where he studied journalism.

Career: Morais began his career as a journalist, working for publications such as Forbes magazine, where he served as a senior editor and foreign correspondent for over two decades. His journalistic work often focused on business, finance, and international affairs.

In addition to his work in journalism, Morais is also an accomplished author. He is best known for his debut novel, "The Hundred-Foot Journey," published in 2008. The novel tells the story of Hassan Haji, a talented young chef from Mumbai, India, who moves to a small village in France and opens an Indian restaurant across the street from a Michelin-starred French restaurant. "The Hundred-Foot Journey" received critical acclaim for its vivid characters, evocative descriptions of food, and exploration of cultural identity and culinary passion.

Following the success of "The Hundred-Foot Journey," Morais went on to write several other works of fiction and non-fiction. His subsequent novels include "Buddhaland Brooklyn" (2012), which follows the journey of a Japanese Buddhist monk who moves to Brooklyn, New York, and "The Man with No Borders" (2019), a novel about a billionaire who embarks on a journey of self-discovery.

Morais has also written non-fiction books, including "The Westies: Inside New York's Irish Mob" (1990), a true-crime account of the Irish-American gang known as the Westies.

Personal Life: Richard C. Morais currently resides in New York City. He continues to write and is active in the literary community. Morais's background as an international journalist and his passion for exploring diverse cultures and culinary traditions inform his writing, which often delves into themes of cultural identity, ambition, and the human experience.

Richard C. Morais's distinctive voice and storytelling style have earned him a loyal readership and critical acclaim. Through his novels and non-fiction works, he explores the complexities of human relationships, the pursuit of excellence, and the power of food to connect people across cultural divides.

Synopsis

Born above his grandfather's modest restaurant in Mumbai, Hassan Haji first experienced life through intoxicating whiffs of spicy fish curry, trips to the local markets, and gourmet outings with his mother. But when tragedy pushes the family out of India, they console themselves by eating their way around the world, eventually settling in Lumière, a small village in the French Alps. The boisterous Haji family takes Lumière by storm. They open an inexpensive Indian restaurant opposite an esteemed French relais--that of the famous chef Madame Mallory--and infuse the sleepy town with the spices of India, transforming the lives of its eccentric villagers and infuriating their celebrated neighbor. Only after Madame Mallory wages culinary war with the immigrant family, does she finally agree to mentor young Hassan, leading him to Paris, the launch of his own restaurant, and a slew of new adventures. The Hundred-Foot Journey is about how the hundred-foot distance between a new Indian kitchen and a traditional French one can represent the gulf between different cultures and desires. A testament to the inevitability of destiny, this is a fable for the ages--charming, endearing, and compulsively readable.

Discussion Questions

Cultural Identity and Assimilation:
- How do the Haji family's Indian roots clash with the French culture they encounter upon settling in the small village of Lumière? Discuss the challenges of assimilation faced by the family members.
- Explore the significance of food as a cultural marker. How does the cuisine of India contrast with traditional French cooking, and how do these culinary differences reflect broader cultural divides?
Ambition and Pursuit of Excellence:
- Analyze the motivations of Hassan Haji, the novel's protagonist, as he strives to become a world-renowned chef. What drives Hassan's ambition, and how does it evolve throughout the story?
- Discuss the parallels between Hassan's culinary journey and his personal growth. How does his pursuit of excellence in the kitchen reflect his quest for self-discovery and fulfillment?
Family Dynamics and Relationships:
- Explore the dynamics within the Haji family, particularly the relationship between Hassan and his father, Papa. How do their differing aspirations and personalities create tension and conflict?
- Discuss the role of family traditions and expectations in shaping Hassan's choices and sense of identity. How do familial bonds influence his journey as a chef and as an individual?
Cross-Cultural Connections and Friendship:
- Examine the friendships that develop between the Haji family and the residents of Lumière, particularly Madame Mallory, the owner of a Michelin-starred restaurant. How do these cross-cultural connections bridge divides and foster understanding?
- Discuss the transformative power of friendship and mentorship in Hassan's life. How do his relationships with Madame Mallory and other characters influence his culinary skills and worldview?
The Power of Food and Cooking:
- Explore the role of food as a central theme in the novel. How does Richard C. Morais use descriptions of food and cooking to evoke sensory experiences and emotions?
- Discuss the symbolism of cooking as a form of communication and connection. How do characters use food to express themselves, build relationships, and bridge cultural differences?
Themes of Prejudice and Acceptance:
- Examine the theme of prejudice in the novel, particularly the discrimination faced by the Haji family as immigrants in France. How do cultural stereotypes and misconceptions affect their integration into the community?
- Discuss the moments of acceptance and understanding that occur between characters from different cultural backgrounds. How do these moments challenge prejudice and promote empathy?
The Ending and Resolution:
- Reflect on the ending of the novel and Hassan's culinary achievements. How does Hassan reconcile his Indian heritage with his success in the French culinary world? What does the resolution of his journey suggest about cultural identity and belonging?
Adaptation and Film:
- If applicable, discuss the film adaptation of "The Hundred-Foot Journey" directed by Lasse Hallström. How does the film interpret the themes and characters of the novel, and how does it compare to the original text?

MLN Materials

book
large print book
spoken CD

Gourmet Rhapsody by Muriel Barbery; Alison Anderson (Translator)
Call Number: FICTION Barbery
A great food critic who can make or destroy the reputation of a chef with a stroke of his pen, Pierre Arthens faces his imminent death by trying to recall the one perfect flavor he sampled in his youth, a flavor that he believes forms the ultimate truth of his life.
Sweetbitter by Stephanie Danler
Call Number: FICTION Danler
Twenty-two, and knowing no one, Tess leaves home to begin her adult life in New York City. Thus begins a year that is both enchanting and punishing, in a low-level job at "the best restaurant in New York City." Grueling hours and a steep culinary learning curve awaken her to the beauty of oysters, the finest Champagnes, the appellations of Burgundy. At the same time, she opens herself to friendships--and love--set against the backdrop of dive bars and late nights. As her appetites sharpen--for food and wine, but also for knowledge, experience, and belonging--Tess is drawn into a darkly alluring love triangle that will prove to be her most exhilarating and painful lesson of all. Stephanie Danler deftly conjures the nonstop and purely adrenalized world of the restaurant--conversations interrupted, phrases overheard, and suggestions below the surface. Evoking the infinite possibility of being young in New York with heart-stopping accuracy, Sweetbitter is ultimately about the power of what remains after disillusionment, and the wisdom that comes from experience, sweet and bitter.
White Truffles in Winter by N. M. Kelby
Call Number: FICTION Kelby
White Truffles in Winter imagines the world of the remarkable French chef Auguste Escoffier (1846-1935), who changed how we eat through his legendary restaurants at the Savoy and the Ritz. A man of contradictions--kind yet imperious, food-obsessed yet rarely hungry--Escoffier was also torn between two women: the famous, beautiful, and reckless actress Sarah Bernhardt and his wife, the independent and sublime poet Delphine Daffis, who refused ever to leave Monte Carlo. In the last year of Escoffier's life, in the middle of writing his memoirs, he has returned to Delphine, who requests a dish in her name as he has honored Bernhardt, Queen Victoria, and many others. How does one define the complexity of love on a single plate? N. M. Kelby brings us the sensuality of food and love amid a world on the verge of war in this work that shimmers with beauty and longing.
The Debt to Pleasure by John Lanchester
Call Number: FICTION Lanchester
Traveling from Portsmouth to the south of France, Tarquin Winot, the book's snobbish narrator, instructs us in his philosophy on everything from the erotics of dislike to the psychology of the menu. Under the guise of completing a cookbook, Winot is in fact on a much more sinister mission that only gradually comes to light.
Kitchens of the Great Midwest by J. Ryan Stradal
Call Number: FICTION Stradal
When Lars Thorvald's wife, Cynthia, falls in love with wine--and a dashing sommelier--he's left to raise their baby, Eva, on his own. He's determined to pass on his love of food to his daughter--starting with puréed pork shoulder. As Eva grows, she finds her solace and salvation in the flavors of her native Minnesota. From Scandinavian lutefisk to hydroponic chocolate habaneros, each ingredient represents one part of Eva's journey as she becomes the star chef behind a legendary and secretive pop-up supper club, culminating in an opulent and emotional feast that's a testament to her spirit and resilience. Each chapter in J. Ryan Stradal's startlingly original debut tells the story of a single dish and character, at once capturing the zeitgeist of the Midwest, the rise of foodie culture, and delving into the ways food creates community and a sense of identity. By turns quirky, hilarious, and vividly sensory, Kitchens of the Great Midwest is an unexpected mother-daughter story about the bittersweet nature of life--its missed opportunities and its joyful surprises. It marks the entry of a brilliant new talent.