Jon Reiner

As a self-professed “foodie” struggling with managing what, and how much, goes into my mouth the title alone made this book irresistible. Not being able to eat is a concept that I find incomprehensible. Mr. Reiner’s narrative made me understand, with gritty clarity, what it must be like not to be allowed to eat.

We meet Mr. Reiner as he is writhing on the floor of his NYC apartment suffering from a serious complication to his Crohn’s disease. Delirious with pain he slips in and out of consciousness. While he is blissfully passed out his mind takes the reader along on a trip down his personal “food memory lane”. As for many of us food was not just a substance to keep us nourished and alive but also a memory of both good and bad times, celebrations and family traditions. Let’s face it, is there one monumental event in life that is not celebrated, in some way, with food? Hours later, when he awakens in the hospital we take another journey with him … the journey of being NPO (allowed nothing by mouth).

Mr. Reiner spares the reader the necessity of having an accompanying medical dictionary, giving only enough details to make his condition understandable. However, the same sparing of details does not apply to his description of what it is like to receive all nutrition intravenously for the better part of a year. Food, or lack thereof, impacts every area of his life from his marriage, his children, his friends and neighbors all the way through to his own self worth. Mr. Reiner writes as if he is talking to you alone and that makes his memoir seem more personal and more harrowing at the same time. Not the kind of book I would usually pick up but very glad I did.
… (mehr)

The Man Who Couldn't Eat is the story of Jon Reiner, a man living with Chron's Disease. Complications from this disease lead to several months of Mr. Reiner not being able to eat or drink, and to the necessity that all nutrients be pumped directly into his blood stream. As you might imagine, he became a bit unhinged and his wife, children and career suffered.

The author is certainly gifted and he made even the most technical explanations easily understandable and mostly interesting. The story is an engrossing one (emphasis on the gross), and it certainly held my attention.

I'm not sure how broad the appeal for this book is. Would I recommend it to a friend? I guess that depends on the friend, mostly because it's just a super depressing book. The worst part for me was when Mr. Reiner was finally able to eat again, only to discover that his taste buds had died and he couldn't taste anything.

Overall, I would say that if the premise of this book sounds interesting to you, then you'll enjoy the book, but, while the writing is excellent, it isn't quite such a compelling story that it would interest someone despite their initial misgivings.

P.S. The FTC would like me to let you know that I received this book at no cost through an Early Reviewers program.… (mehr)