(no subject)

[kcobweb]

The Last Chinese Chef, by Nicole Mones - I actually read this to see if my mother would like it - she's obsessed with China (after traveling there 5 years ago), and is also a bit of a foodie. Basically, the 2 main characters are a food writer and a chef, and all the characters in the book spend most of their time eating, cooking or talking about food. Silly plot, but interesting digressions (almost lectures) about Chinese culture and the role that food plays therein. Early in the book, the Chinese chef says that Chinese-American restaurants are almost a completely different cuisine from Real Chinese food (because Americans have expectations of what they'll find, and we aren't adventurous, etc.). This basically said to me: "you cannot even imagine the food we're talking about here, so don't even try." Since half the rest of the book is food descriptions, that was a little off-putting, since I'd already been told I couldn't relate..... My question - I accept that your typical Chinese-American restaurant is slanted toward an American palate, but what about some of the restaurants I've been to in Chinatowns in big American cities (San Francisco, New York, etc.) - are they more similar to Chinese-American cuisine or what you might actually find in China? Does anyone know enough about this to answer that question? Anyway - fun book, good food, all that - I told my mom to read it, and I think she'll like it.

The Small Rain, by Madeleine L'Engle - rivka recently mentioned that after L'Engle's death she decided to re-read all her books, in publication order. I thought that sounded like fun, so I'm following her lead. I'd read this before, but it's been a long time. This is okay - the coming-of-age of a sensitive-artist pianist, who is surrounded by lots of arty types, goes off to boarding school, etc. I don't think L'Engle really hit her stride (or, found her voice?) till Meet the Austins (IIRC) - her books after that all seem imbued with this *inner spark*. Here, she just hasn't found that yet.

Mirror Dance, by Lois McMaster Bujold - Ah, Bujold, you are my hero. This book ROCKED, though there were some incredibly dark sections. Can't wait for the next one (the library is sending it.... must be patient).

Stoner, by John Williams - This was stunning. A farm boy goes to college for the ag program but falls in love with literature, and ends up staying at the university for 40 years (through grad school and his teaching career). Much of his life ends up disappointing him, except for his books - and by extension, teaching, which is his way of transmitting that love. I especially think the teachers on my flist should read this - but also read it if you fell in love with books and words and ideas. Bleak and spare and melancholy, but in a lovely way.

Comments

[itgreyhound1.livejournal.com]

I didn't know Nicole Moines had another book out. Her novel Lost In Translation is one of my favorites of all time. For those of us who lived abroad in asia I thought it captured the mixed feelings we had very well--you love it, you hate it, being female is completely different over there.

I recently read my first Bujold, her novel The Sharing Knife. LOVED IT. Just charming.

[kcobweb.livejournal.com]

Bujold is AMAZING. Words fail me.

[squirrelhaven.livejournal.com]

I seem to remember reading a glowing review of Stoner when it got reprinted this year. I'm thinking it's a thing I have to read.

[spyscribe.livejournal.com]

Oh, you are going to LOVE Memory. I just re-listened to it and I'm still jealous that you have it to look forward to. :)

[journeywoman.livejournal.com]

Memory is my favorite Miles book, too. LOVE it.

[spyscribe.livejournal.com]

Indeed, although I think Shards of Honor might be my favorite by sentiment. :)

[journeywoman.livejournal.com]

Heh, I think of that as a Cordelia book. She's my favorite character in the series.

[journeywoman.livejournal.com]

I read The Last Chinese Chef this summer. Having traveled in China, I see what she means about most Chinese-American restaurants not being real Chinese cuisine. A good Chinese restaurant in North America is sort of like Chinese cuisine's greatest hits--but you'll find very few dedicated to imperial cuisine, or Shanghainese, etc.

I really should write up what I thought of the book. I loved the first half, but then it got so predictable and cardboard in the second half that I got irritated. I hadn't realized that there was an actual philosophy behind Chinese food; I'd always assumed that the stuff I heard growing up was just my mother's weird superstitions.

[kcobweb.livejournal.com]

I remember when a friend of mine was teaching ESL in Japan, and talked about going to an Italian restaurant there and how different it was than what she was used to. It was the first time it had really occurred to me that ethnic restaurants are susceptible to cultural expectations/ideas/tastes in the country where they are located. Seems obvious now, but..... I had just never thought about it much, and (still) haven't traveled much abroad.

I can think of a few meals I've had in Chinatown restaurants where my table was the only white group in the place, and the menu seemed very foreign and unfamiliar compared to the standard stuff I'm used to seeing. So I'm wondering if that was a more authentic Chinese experience..... It's hard to tell. I guess I'll just have to go to China some time myself.

[journeywoman.livejournal.com]

That's the mark of a good Chinese restaurant--one that's dominated by Chinese customers. :)

I think the author was mostly disparaging those restaurants that are all egg foo yung and crap like that, because certainly there are some excellent and authentic Chinese restaurants in this country.

[kcobweb.livejournal.com]

I think my favorite book about Chinese food would have to be Swallowing Clouds, which I wrote about here (http://kcobweb.livejournal.com/2006/05/22/). I remember it being such a fun read and totally a blast.