Of all the books mentioned (well, the novels anyway) I only read The Sympathizer, which I really enjoyed - though 'enjoy' may not be the most appropriate word; it's grim, astoundingly so in places, but also fascinating and, often enough, simply glorious.
That's true, and I like it that the humour is not presented as a saving grace. It doesn't solve things or help to bring 'closure'.
I don't smoke but I guess the humour works the way a smoker feels when they light a cigarette they've been looking forward to for quite a while. Temporary relief.
Sawadee ka🙏. Hope your Thailand trip continues to be amazing! Great post. I so much appreciate you writing while traveling-you are so generous. ❤️ Have you read Long Noodles? The Cambodian memoir-cookbook? There are many Vietnamese food references and history. And it’s a heartbreaking and beautiful, inspiring read. (I apologize if you have mentioned it already. I am in catch up mode).
Such a great idea to connect fiction and real cookbooks! I've read stories (I love cozy mysteries when my brain needs a rest) and enjoy the recipes as part of the story, but to have fiction and then paired with a cookbook just inspired me! Thank you for this Substack and the great pictures of the cookbook club. I need more friends who like to cook!!
I am fascinated by the culinary interconnections between these novels and cookbooks. I’m excited to have new stories to read, and I am definitely going to make the popsicle recipe in EGV now that I know the back story relationship to The Mountains Sing, one of my favorite novels set in tumultuous 20th century Vietnam.
Fascinating read and thank you for sharing! Exciting way to make these connections and will add your suggestions to my list.
I wonder if you have read Bento Box in the Heartland by Linda Furiya? It’s a memoir on a Japanese-American woman and her immigrant family’s experience in Indiana, and each chapter ends with a recipe from her family to highlight the role of food in her life during her assimilation.
I absolutely LOVE this post! Thank you for all of the reading suggestions. Family Style is already on my radar. I’ve just finished reading Slow Noodles. Recently read and appreciated/enjoyed food memoirs are: Tastes Like War, Crying in H Mart, Sharks Fin & Sichuan Pepper… There is a customer at work who always asks what I’m reading (he’s an author himself) and he usually laughs and says “More food?!” Never enough! Haruki Murakami always has vivid cooking passages in his novels. Sometimes I find myself thinking of them and I see them in my mind as “scenes,” not just words on the page. Thank you for the vacay glimpse!
Oh I wanted to tell you that your creamy nuoc Cham recipe was a smash hit again with a salad I served yesterday at a small birthday celebration for a friend. 🙏thank you thank you thank you for it!!!
Of all the books mentioned (well, the novels anyway) I only read The Sympathizer, which I really enjoyed - though 'enjoy' may not be the most appropriate word; it's grim, astoundingly so in places, but also fascinating and, often enough, simply glorious.
It’s definitely grim and a hard read, but funny at times, too.
That's true, and I like it that the humour is not presented as a saving grace. It doesn't solve things or help to bring 'closure'.
I don't smoke but I guess the humour works the way a smoker feels when they light a cigarette they've been looking forward to for quite a while. Temporary relief.
Sawadee ka🙏. Hope your Thailand trip continues to be amazing! Great post. I so much appreciate you writing while traveling-you are so generous. ❤️ Have you read Long Noodles? The Cambodian memoir-cookbook? There are many Vietnamese food references and history. And it’s a heartbreaking and beautiful, inspiring read. (I apologize if you have mentioned it already. I am in catch up mode).
I have the book but have not had time to read it. Thank you for the nudge!
I’ve just finished Slow Noodles. Wow.
It both broke my heart and taught me so much about so much-not just Cambodian food
Such a great idea to connect fiction and real cookbooks! I've read stories (I love cozy mysteries when my brain needs a rest) and enjoy the recipes as part of the story, but to have fiction and then paired with a cookbook just inspired me! Thank you for this Substack and the great pictures of the cookbook club. I need more friends who like to cook!!
Maybe your book club people will surprise you! You never know.
I am fascinated by the culinary interconnections between these novels and cookbooks. I’m excited to have new stories to read, and I am definitely going to make the popsicle recipe in EGV now that I know the back story relationship to The Mountains Sing, one of my favorite novels set in tumultuous 20th century Vietnam.
NPQM’s book is incredible. To get that level of detail down on the pages was a triumph.
Agreed. I feel the same about Dust Child, her most recent novel.
Fascinating read and thank you for sharing! Exciting way to make these connections and will add your suggestions to my list.
I wonder if you have read Bento Box in the Heartland by Linda Furiya? It’s a memoir on a Japanese-American woman and her immigrant family’s experience in Indiana, and each chapter ends with a recipe from her family to highlight the role of food in her life during her assimilation.
Thanks again for a lovely post.
I have not read Linda Furiya’s book and will add it to my list! Sounds incredible with the Midwest setting. Thanks for the recommendation.
I am happy you enjoyed this post!
I absolutely LOVE this post! Thank you for all of the reading suggestions. Family Style is already on my radar. I’ve just finished reading Slow Noodles. Recently read and appreciated/enjoyed food memoirs are: Tastes Like War, Crying in H Mart, Sharks Fin & Sichuan Pepper… There is a customer at work who always asks what I’m reading (he’s an author himself) and he usually laughs and says “More food?!” Never enough! Haruki Murakami always has vivid cooking passages in his novels. Sometimes I find myself thinking of them and I see them in my mind as “scenes,” not just words on the page. Thank you for the vacay glimpse!
Yes to more food reading to stimulate our appetites for cooking!
So many great books to read!
Oh I wanted to tell you that your creamy nuoc Cham recipe was a smash hit again with a salad I served yesterday at a small birthday celebration for a friend. 🙏thank you thank you thank you for it!!!
That is such a winner! Good for summer days ahead.
I loved this post! So many great books to read!
Ain’t that the truth!
Interesting connections between Fiction & Cookbooks. Thank you for sharing your recommendations.
You’re very welcome. I’m happy you enjoyed it.