A "whacky, oddly endearing memoir" [full review]
"... a painfully humane and hilariously candid journey of self-discovery and self-acceptance...the various strands weave together into a satisfying whole that becomes a quirky, unique memoir." [full review]
"Readers with hankerings for the zany and life-affirming (not to mention Japanese food) will salivate over this hilarious but instructive casserole." [full review]
"What to Read on Vacation" pick for summer 2009 [article]
"An incredibly entertainting read... portions of this memoir read very much like a Murakami novel--the quiet yet inexplicable obsessions of neurotic protagonists, interwoven with the mythicized stories of unknown figures and minor characters that stop just short of the surreal." [full review]
"What an unexpected treat The Ramen King and I is: a heartwarming paean to love, good grub, and finding inspiration in the least likely of places." [full review]
"[This] laugh-out-loud memoir yields surprising insights... [An] engaging portrait of a journey of self-discovery, leading to the liberating knowledge that joy and freedom often come from accepting limitations."
"Andy Raskin has crafted something much more than a clever and entertaining story. While bringing to life several curiously vivid Japanese subcultures, he sets out on a quest for something deep within himself, and finds it. Great comedies offer us honest-to-goodness meaning, and THE RAMEN KING AND I, with emotional depth beneath its quirky humor, ranks as one of them."
"To say THE RAMEN KING AND I is a memoir about sex and fidelity and instant noodles only hints at the humor and humanity of this wonderful, beautifully crafted book. I couldn't stop laughing, even though it was also sad, in that being-human-is-sometimes-a-sad-proposition kind of way. Andy Raskin has an insider's perspective on male desire and Japanese culture, and a keen eye for the delicate, heartbreaking absurdities of both."
"Raskin's memoir is oddly entertaining. Perhaps it is the way he peculiarly juxtaposes love with food, history with pop culture, and his life in San Francisco with his travels through Asia. Perhaps it is his voice, confident yet humble, self-effacing and unassuming." [full review]
"Mixing humor and raw honesty, Raskin's introspective journey is inspiring and entertaining."
"Like instant ramen itself: quick and satisfying." [full review]
"Andy Raskin connects sex, desire, Japanese culture, and instant noodles in an often funny, sometimes poignant, and ultimately redemptive narrative that memoir-enthusiasts (and Japanese food fans) will enjoy. Recommended." [full review]
"...a tender, insightful, Sedaris-like memoir about the quest to find romantic intimacy...To this, add hilarious musings on Japanese culture, relationships, and father issues, plus quality time spent with a cranky sushi chef..." [full review]
"I loved this book. It won me over from the start, and when it wasn't making me hungry it made me think. Apparently I, too, battle against [what the inventor of instant ramen called] the Fundamental Misunderstanding of Humanity."
"It's wild--it takes almost no effort to sell this book!!! I just run my mouth off about why I love it and why it works for so many demographics, and it's like taking candy from a baby! It makes me absolutely giddy when people just have to know what I'm talking about."
"THE RAMEN KING AND I made me laugh, snort, giggle, and squeak. It made me hungry, especially for ramen and sushi. (I may have to hunt down the restaurants mentioned.) It reminded me of Haruki Murakami--a head-on collision between the mundane and the weirdness of real life."
"This utterly charming, guileless story of Momofuku Ando's effect on Andy's love life is the perfect combination of good food, male-female relationships, chuckles, and 'Oh-yeah-I-can-relate-to-that' moments. I will hand-sell the hell out of this book."
"Raskin's book is funny, frank, and unlike any memoir you've ever read. Inspiration can come from the most unexpected sources--even a steaming bowl of ramen noodles."
