Richard Read's expansive article on McDonald's french fries was in depth and informative, but felt as if lacking a concrete structure. His transitions from one topic to another often felt sporadic and rushed; this left me feeling confused about what his main focus was to begin with. Following the story was often a challenge because Read would introduce characters suddenly into his narrative without properly introducing them. It is clear that Read thoroughly researched his fries and their creation process, I simply would have enjoyed a more cohesive structure to his work.
The parallels Read draws between Oregon and Asian countries are fascinating, understanding the dependency both places have on each other was highlighted through focusing on the french fries. This is what I found most fascinating. The constant communication between the Northwest and Asia occurring through the fry market was something I previously had never thought about.
I was also kind of thrown by the narrative structure of this piece, and thought it could have been cut down a lot. However, I think the author's intent was to show readers how many different characters from all over the globe are involved in the process of making and consuming fries. Although I got lost within the article itself at times, I liked how it started in Oregon, with the planting of potatoes that would be used to make fries, and ended up in Asia, with the consumption of them. It really is fascinating and almost frightening to think about. Not only is there a dependency between two different geographic locations, but two totally different cultures. Were you familiar with Hutterites before reading the article? My grandpa wrote articles about the Amish and Hutterite communities, and I was shocked how much more of a role the Hutterites play in globalization because of the one difference they have with the Amish: they embrace technology.
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