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John Barlow
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Everything But The Squeal (new version with images) Kindle Edition

by John Barlow (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.4 out of 5 stars 97 ratings
Makes you want to get on the next flight to Santiago and eat cocido! - Rick Stein, TV chef

Like Bill Bryson, Barlow has canny comic timing. Both writers get by on cerebral charm that can verge on slapstick. New York Times

A mouthwatering adventure! LA Times

*

Everything but the Squeal is one man’s gastronomic love affair with that most unassuming of animals, the pig. It is also a fascinating exploration of a virtually unknown region of ‘green’ Spain.

John Barlow, self-confessed glutton, lives in Galicia, the misty-green northwest corner of Spain. It is one of the most meat-loving places on earth, and where the pig is always prominent on the menu.

This gets Barlow thinking about the nature of our relationship with food: what’s delicious, what’s not, and what sort of obligation we have to the animals we eat. Over the course of one glorious, bilious year, Barlow vows to eat everything the pig has to offer: everything but the squeal. And to make matters worse on a meat-quest like this, he’s married to a vegetarian.

In his travels, Barlow takes part in a thousand-year-old ant-throwing festival, stops off for pig’s trotters at a hippy commune, makes pig-bladder puddings for carnival, and eats a beautifully spiced pancreas... All washed down with plenty of the local wine.

In the tradition of Calvin Trillin and Anthony Bourdain, Everything but the Squeal is an adventure in extreme eating, a hilariously quirky travel book, and a perceptive look at how what we eat makes us who we are.

*

A fascinating journal of his Galician wanderings. What comes through is a deep affection not just for Galicia’s pigs…but also for Galicia’s people and culture. The Economist

A raucous, affectionate road trip, on which you don’t know where the next meal is coming from. Irish Times

With good humor and shameless enthusiasm, he has written a delicious meat mash note. Verdict: Read. Time Magazine

Perhaps even more satisfying than his madcap extreme eating and cooking experiences are Barlow's quotable observations about Galicians. New York Post

Fascinating and hilarious. Toronto Star

Barlow is a very fine writer, and exhibits genius in figuring out new ways to describe food. Edmonton Journal

One of the funniest and most moving stories of the so-called ‘new Spain’. La Nación (Argentina)

...a most compelling and delicious book. This is a fine and noteworthy addition to any serious Spanish food library, and a must-read for anyone contemplating a trip into this green corner of Spain. Hollywood Reporter

A sublime journey of the senses. Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Barlow is a writer first and foremost. He embraces his adopted culture with affectionate and knowing ribbing... A savory travelogue with insights that go beyond taste and texture. Kirkus

*

Everything but the Squeal was shortlisted for Best Book at the Cordon Bleu World Food Awards 2010.
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  1. Print length
    320 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Accessibility
    Learn more
  4. Publication date
    2 Jan. 2014
  5. File size
    2.0 MB
  6. Page Flip
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  7. Word Wise
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Product description

Review

Like Bill Bryson, Barlow has canny comic timing. Both writers get by on cerebral charm that can verge on slapstick. New York Times

A mouthwatering adventure! LA Times”

Review

`a fascinating journal of his Galician wanderings.'

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B007Y94T6Q
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Storm Books
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ 2 Jan. 2014
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2.0 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 320 pages
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Customer reviews:
    4.4 out of 5 stars 97 ratings

About the author

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John Barlow

John Barlow

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John Barlow's fiction and non-fiction has been published by HarperCollins/William Morrow, Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 4th Estate and various others in the UK, US, Australia, Russia, Italy, Germany, Spain and Poland.

His new crime series features English-Sicilian detective JOE ROMANO, and is set in the north of England. The first novel in the series is RIGHT TO KILL (2021) and the second is TO THE GRAVE (2022), both published by HQ/HarperCollins.

John was born in the village of Gomersal, West Yorkshire, England, in 1967. After leaving school he worked as a cabaret musician for several years, then read English Literature at Cambridge University, followed by a PhD in Language Acquisition at Hull University. He worked as a university teacher until 2004, then moved to Spain to write full-time. He currently lives in the Galician city of A Coruna.

Apart from writing fiction, he has works as a ghost writer, journalist and translator. He has written for the Washington Post, Slate.com, the Philadelphia Inquirer, Penthouse, Departures Magazine and The Big Issue, and was a feature writer for the award-winning food magazine Spain Gourmetour.

John's first published work, the novella ‘Eating Mammals’, won the Paris Review's Discovery (Plimpton) Prize in 2002. He went on to publish a collection of novellas, EATING MAMMALS, the historical novel INTOXICATED, and EVERYTHING BUT THE SQUEAL, a food-travelogue about northern Spain. He then published the off-beat noir novel WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO JERRY PICCO? and three books in the JOHN RAY/LS9 crime series.

He also worked with the conceptual artists Goldin+Senneby on the HEADLESS project, which took him to Nassau, Bergamo, Oslo, Paris and London, and into the company of Bahamian off-shore bankers, defamation layers, artists, and Martina Navratilova. His writing for the project has been published variously in English, Italian, Spanish, Swedish and Portuguese, and has featured in numerous art shows and galleries around the world. The novel HEADLESS, based on the project, was released in 2016 (Triple Canopy/Sternberg), and features John Barlow as the main character.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
97 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this book to be a good, lighthearted read that provides interesting insights into the Galicia region of Spain, particularly its cuisine. They appreciate the author's passion for the subject matter.

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16 customers mention ‘Readability’16 positive0 negative

Customers find the book readable and entertaining, describing it as a good, lighthearted, and informative read.

"...about this book, too much for here, as it is full of people, places, events, sights, sounds and tastes that you will want to experience for..." Read more

"...version has a few typos, but putting that aside this makes an interesting read for anybody remotely interested in Spain and it's culture, not..." Read more

"...He takes us on an interesting, amusing and affection tour of an area of Spain I knew little about. It was a great trip...." Read more

"fairly interesting book, funny at times, with quite a lot of interesting information about the region, not just the pigs...." Read more

5 customers mention ‘Information quality’5 positive0 negative

Customers find the book provides interesting insights into the Galicia region of Spain, with one customer describing it as an affectionate tour of the area.

"...He takes us on an interesting, amusing and affection tour of an area of Spain I knew little about. It was a great trip...." Read more

"...interesting book, funny at times, with quite a lot of interesting information about the region, not just the pigs...." Read more

"This is really two books in one: 1. An excellent guide to the life and surroundings in Galicia and for this reason, I would rate it as excellent..." Read more

"Splendid read. Insightful entry to a lesser known, but fascinating part of Spain...." Read more

4 customers mention ‘Author's passion’4 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the author's passion for his subject, with one customer noting that the book is easy to read in bite-sized portions.

"This is quality travel writing even if some may find it a little wordy (I didn't). The author is passionate about his subject and it shows...." Read more

"...Easy to read in bite size portions the author obviously enjoys the culture, food and people of Galicia and in treating the subjects with great..." Read more

"...in places of 'A Year In Provence', but Barlow is a more sympathetic, passionate and (perhaps) informed commentator than Peter Mayle, and it shows." Read more

"...enjoyed this book for the humour, the setting and the enthusiasm of the author for his subject...." Read more

3 customers mention ‘Taste’3 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the cuisine of Galicia.

"...for here, as it is full of people, places, events, sights, sounds and tastes that you will want to experience for yourself..." Read more

"...The book provides an excellent practical guide to the culture and cuisine of Galicia along with some very interesting and educational social history..." Read more

"...I have met some, a very friendly and traditional people. The Galician food and countryside sounds excellent...." Read more

Top reviews from United Kingdom

  • Eengland
    5.0 out of 5 stars Yes everything!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 15 January 2013
    Verified Purchase
    This is quality travel writing even if some may find it a little wordy (I didn't). The author is passionate about his subject and it shows. The book is informative, interesting and amusing. There is much to enjoy.

    The idea is a simple one, to eat every part of the pig and to do it in an area where the nose to tail eating of this animal is a part of life. The area chosen is Galicia. All I knew about this part of Spain was that it was in the North and it rained a lot. It wasn't a land of sun, sand, sangria and paella so there was no major need to go there. At the end of this book it was on the bucket list!

    This book reveals a love of not just of Galacia's pigs and food but also for the area, the people, their history and their customs - 'Dirty Day' in Laza is a revelation of the Spanish lust for life.

    There is so much to say about this book, too much for here, as it is full of people, places, events, sights, sounds and tastes that you will want to experience for yourself

    If you love food, life or Spain this book is for you
    One person found this helpful
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  • Trotter
    4.0 out of 5 stars A good lighthearted read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 18 August 2015
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    The electronic version has a few typos, but putting that aside this makes an interesting read for anybody remotely interested in Spain and it's culture, not forgetting the food angle. Funny in places.
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  • ZOrg
    5.0 out of 5 stars Very funny
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 8 October 2012
    Verified Purchase
    This book is mighty funny and very affectionate to the Galician people and their special ways.
    A funny read indeed.
    I took this book with me to NOrthern SPain. I felt it just had to be read whilst there.
    Sat on the sun-soaked beach, reading about the eating antics of this English glutton in the rainy green of Galicia was great fun.
    He takes us on an interesting, amusing and affection tour of an area of Spain I knew little about.
    It was a great trip. As I feel as if I experienced it, in some way.
    I am not much of a meat eater but will try any food and any part of an animal. That does sound odd! I decided to stop at sheep's testicles after a bad incident.
    Reading this book, however, made me realise that I am not as adventurous as a certain Mr Barlow.
    With the exception of the long bit that goes with the above mentioned round things, he actually did eat 'everything but the squeal'

    I recommend this one!
    In fact I have just ordered it again for a friend.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • VK
    4.0 out of 5 stars pigs and galicia
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 27 August 2021
    Verified Purchase
    fairly interesting book, funny at times, with quite a lot of interesting information about the region, not just the pigs. Actually clarified a few things I've seen in Anthony Burdain's episode where he ate cocido and witnessed killing of the pig (though I think it was about north of Portugal, guess traditions are similar)- John does a very good job of providing wealth of information on various topics.
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  • Felipe Havana
    5.0 out of 5 stars Next stop Galicia!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 26 March 2011
    Verified Purchase
    A wonderful, well written, entertaining and informative book brimming with humour and social comment. Living in Spain I am always keeping an eye open for books that enhance the enjoyment I get from exploring my adopted country which this certainly does. Easy to read in bite size portions the author obviously enjoys the culture, food and people of Galicia and in treating the subjects with great empathy encourages one to share his obvious enjoyment. The book provides an excellent practical guide to the culture and cuisine of Galicia along with some very interesting and educational social history of the region and while the book is about "pig" and is true to that subject, it is a pity that there was not room to include more about the wonderful seafood available in Galicia.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Mr. WA Bowman
    3.0 out of 5 stars Have a vomit bowl handy
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 24 March 2011
    Verified Purchase
    This is really two books in one:
    1. An excellent guide to the life and surroundings in Galicia and for this reason, I would rate it as excellent. Unlike one reviewer, I have found that finding where the places are is not difficult, if you really want to find them. On this basis I would rate it 2½ stars out of 2½.
    2. AS a gastronomic tour of the ways one can make a pig of oneself, I found it mildly revolting especially when the author enthuses about all the sloppy greasy fat and skin that, if you had any respect for your pet, you wouldn't even give to your dog. So I give it only ½ a star out of 2½ so only 3 out of 5 in total.

    Yes you can find these places but you need a good map such as the Michelin Zoom map No 141 which has a scale of 1cm = 1.5 km {Costa De Galicia (Michelin Zoom Maps) [Folded Map] [Paperback] ISBN-13: (978-2067140608)}
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  • anthony smith
    5.0 out of 5 stars Valued
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 14 January 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Great book, great price!
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  • Trevtherev
    4.0 out of 5 stars I ENJOYED THIS BOOK
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 29 December 2014
    Verified Purchase
    This gives quite a good insight into the soul of Galicians. I have met some, a very friendly and traditional people. The Galician food and countryside sounds excellent. I read this book while using a Spanish map as a location guide, it made the book even more interesting. I will have to go to Galicia now. Well done John.
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Pilar C.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Divertidísimo
    Reviewed in Spain on 5 June 2017
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    Ya tenía la versión en castellano y esta la compré para regalársela a un inglés que se ha casado con una amiga mía. Para que vea dónde se ha metido ja ja...
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  • Paco Calderón
    5.0 out of 5 stars SQUEALERSHIP ON GALICIA
    Reviewed in the United States on 3 July 2010
    Verified Purchase
    I read the review in The Economist; being a glutton, I ordered the book right away.

    Its anecdote is quite simple: This British lad tastes some pork delicacy on a visit to her girlfriend's town in Galicia. Becomes so entranced with the flavor, he decides to eat every single part of the pig, and write about it and the Galician locality where he ate it. Soon he finds one town that celebrates a barbaric lupercalian carnival, complete with mudfights spiced with live angry ants, where mobs fight to bite the boiled head of a pig. Another features Toñito, a pampered pig hailed as the town guest for the entire year. Toñito can enter your home, sleep in your bed or defecate in the Mayor's Office. But come the day of San Antonio (hence the nickname), Toñito is butchered in the town square to the delight of all. There's a description on how an entire family takes part in a hog slaughter, a visit to Fidel Castro's aunt, a gang of whipping clowns known as Peliqueiros, and an interview with Galicia's top politician, Manuel Fraga Iribarne, the key player who eased the transition between Franco's dictatorship and modern Spain's democracy. Not a dull moment.

    A fun homage to Galicia and gallegos everywhere, and a nice appetizer before dinning on tapas, iberico ham and Albariño wine. ¡Salud!
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  • Susan,Susan
    4.0 out of 5 stars A fun Travel story
    Reviewed in the United States on 17 May 2013
    Verified Purchase
    This book is a fun travel story with an interesting premise--to eat all the parts of a pig in a year. The author take the reader around the little known area of Spain Gallacia over his year long quest. Well written and intriguing.
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  • RGAM
    4.0 out of 5 stars A unique book about Galicia
    Reviewed in Spain on 18 January 2014
    Verified Purchase
    This book is very interesting for anyone who's visited Galicia and would like to know more about the country. You might not get a clear picture if you've never been here before as it is a rather specific on certain matters. Having said that, it might whet your appetite for a visit to Galicia, indeed! It easy to read and you can a laugh too.
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  • Cu Quin
    4.0 out of 5 stars Todo ok
    Reviewed in Spain on 6 November 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Todo ok
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