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.