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violentvixen's review
3.0
This book was a baffling disappointment to me. I was so excited for it but the topic is just all over the place, with essays put together in parts that I struggled to find consistency in. There's all sorts of impactful stories and interviews here and I was finding it interesting and assumed this was a buildup to the main topic of the book.
So I really lost patience when I started part 3, which beautifully dove into all aspects of the meal. Things like the substitution of the chicken bone for the lamb shank and what that represents. I was loving it! This was exactly what I thought this book would be and I was fascinated. And then I turned the page after the end of this first essay in part three and found that part three was done. It was 10 pages long. All the others seem to be at least 50 pages. I was so disappointed.
There are a lot of important stories, statements and ideas here, but it just doesn't come together for me. I found myself confused or having serious trouble following what was going on or feeling like I'm missing the impact of something for the majority of the book. It also seems like the vast majority of the essays weren't really related to food at all.
I have marked a few of the recipes to try but don't feel like I came out of this book with any increased understanding of most of them. They do have short introductory paragraphs that provide a bit of context and history which I appreciated.
So I really lost patience when I started part 3, which beautifully dove into all aspects of the meal. Things like the substitution of the chicken bone for the lamb shank and what that represents. I was loving it! This was exactly what I thought this book would be and I was fascinated. And then I turned the page after the end of this first essay in part three and found that part three was done. It was 10 pages long. All the others seem to be at least 50 pages. I was so disappointed.
There are a lot of important stories, statements and ideas here, but it just doesn't come together for me. I found myself confused or having serious trouble following what was going on or feeling like I'm missing the impact of something for the majority of the book. It also seems like the vast majority of the essays weren't really related to food at all.
I have marked a few of the recipes to try but don't feel like I came out of this book with any increased understanding of most of them. They do have short introductory paragraphs that provide a bit of context and history which I appreciated.
tisarod's review
5.0
Koshersoul is fascinating and beautiful. The author's voice leaps off the page, and provides incredible insight into the intricacies of his culture and lived experience.
lbird's review
informative
reflective
medium-paced
3.0
This is an incredibly thought-provoking blend of interviews, memoir, discussion, and recipes that explore marginalized facets of Jewish and American culture. Twitty presents the book and the concept of koshersoul as a constellation rather than a neatly delineated category of Jewish culture. The book jumps around a lot, telling the author's story; referencing the work of other Jews of Color; and hopping around the Jewish calendar and different political movements. This, and the "if you know you know" lists of cultural icons and prayers that aren’t contextualized, make it a little exhausting to read. Twitty has a wonderful outpouring of ideas that offer rabbit holes for additional research, but make some stories feel rambling. The conversational and deeply personal tone of the book works. Overall, this book has a lot of insight to offer from many different angles. It explores the sense of belonging, perseverance of an individual, and the evolution of Jewish customs historically and in modern day. There are beautiful stories about little moments that show how he wrestles with mainstream Judaism but continues to love the religion. Twitty skillfully guides you through the complex ideas he himself has wrestled with at the personal and systemic scales. It made me want to read an anthology created in collaboration with the people he references.
Koshersoul would have benefitted from better editing. The structure of many stories were similar, the organization of the book felt thematically all over the place, facts and reflections were repeated, and Breonna Taylor's name was misspelled.
Twitty describes himself in the book as a messy autodidact with a love for exploring ideas, and that is authentically represented in his writing style. It feels so genuine and heartfelt, like his honest reflections from academic and personal learning. This is an emotional read that triggers your heart and mind (and stomach!)
alciewms's review
4.75
This was a surprising book that came to me at the perfect time (I was gifted a pre-pub uncorrected proof after entering a Goodreads drawing). I have recently been struggling -- along with many others, I'm quite sure -- with feelings of alienation that have been brought to the surface by various forces. Not only has the pandemic disrupted our sense of community in many ways (gathering can be a complicated and sometimes dangerous thing), but the politicization of just about everything (how is wearing a mask as a sign that you want your fellow beings to be well and feel safe become a political act?) has created an environment where I've learned things about some friends and loved ones that I really didn't want to know (they perhaps deserve a heaping helping of cheeto pie). That sense of isolation has me looking for ways to reconnect with my true mishpocheh.
I approached the book already a fan of Michael Twitty's work, as a former small-time food writer (I was lucky enough to do recipe testing for one of Bryant Terry's cookbooks), as a current Southerner who was raised by socially progressive parents who come from a long line of low-born working class white folks (mom was raised in the Jim Crow South; dad in the small Rust Belt town where I grew up), and as someone born into into a Presby-Catholic family that grew into pantheism. I do faith, religion, and spirituality a la carte, tend to explore experientially, and obviously food is one of the best places to get started.
I expected to learn more about the cuisines of the Jewish and Black diasporas, and that was definitely conveyed, with so much richness, depth and historical context. But the great gift here for me was the open and honest discussion of the different communities Twitty occupies, how to find a place in those (and potentially other) communities, and how one can find a welcoming seat at the various tables where we might find ourselves. Twitty shows us how we might all allow ourselves the grace to feel welcome at unfamiliar tables, and to make sure that others feel welcome at our own table. This is not just about the food (although that is very important, because that is often the very thing over which we so often meet), but also about the rich history that brought us to the table in the first place. In a time when it feels like the loudest people have nothing to offer but divisiveness, Twitty quietly and profoundly delivers concurrence, harmony, and a delicious sense of satiety.
I approached the book already a fan of Michael Twitty's work, as a former small-time food writer (I was lucky enough to do recipe testing for one of Bryant Terry's cookbooks), as a current Southerner who was raised by socially progressive parents who come from a long line of low-born working class white folks (mom was raised in the Jim Crow South; dad in the small Rust Belt town where I grew up), and as someone born into into a Presby-Catholic family that grew into pantheism. I do faith, religion, and spirituality a la carte, tend to explore experientially, and obviously food is one of the best places to get started.
I expected to learn more about the cuisines of the Jewish and Black diasporas, and that was definitely conveyed, with so much richness, depth and historical context. But the great gift here for me was the open and honest discussion of the different communities Twitty occupies, how to find a place in those (and potentially other) communities, and how one can find a welcoming seat at the various tables where we might find ourselves. Twitty shows us how we might all allow ourselves the grace to feel welcome at unfamiliar tables, and to make sure that others feel welcome at our own table. This is not just about the food (although that is very important, because that is often the very thing over which we so often meet), but also about the rich history that brought us to the table in the first place. In a time when it feels like the loudest people have nothing to offer but divisiveness, Twitty quietly and profoundly delivers concurrence, harmony, and a delicious sense of satiety.
stephaniereads9b0f8's review
4.0
It’s not hugely often that I’m in time to spot Jewish books on NetGalley (I’m deeply realistic about what I have time for, so I tend to not browse the NetGalley shelves too often!), but I was thrilled when I happened to be clicking through and stumbled upon Koshersoul: The Faith and Food Journey of an African American Jew by Michael W. Twitty (Amistad Press, 2022). I have Mr. Twitty’s first book, The Cooking Gene, on my TBR, but haven’t gotten to it yet, mostly due to the pandemic (it’s available at a nearby library, but I’ve been staying out of other libraries for the most part, in the attempts to keep their foot traffic lower). I was so excited when I received notice that my request had been approved. Into the world of Black Jewish cooking I dove!
Michael Twitty is a chef and a writer, living at the intersection of Black and Jewish in a country (and a world) that doesn’t have an excess amount of kindness for either group. That said, despite people’s confusion, despite people not understanding and deliberately not bothering to learn, being Black and Jewish co-exists beautifully together and is expressed lovingly in many ways, chiefly in the food that Mr. Twitty cooks. From the traditional dishes of various African countries, to the meals cooked up in the slave cabins of his ancestors, to the Ashkenazi and Sephardic traditions that are now his traditions, Michael Twitty finds deep meaning in the art and flavors of cooking and how his many beautiful identities affect his culinary creations.
Part-memoir, part academic history, part exploration of the culture of food and how our identity contributes to what we cook (and how Black identity in particular brings not just baggage, but joy and beauty), Koshersoul defies genre – maybe making the point that those of us with multiple intersecting identities defy traditional classification as well.
Michael Twitty is a talented, eloquent writer. His writing is scholarly enough to challenge my exhausted, pandemic-addled brain, but friendly and comfortable enough that reading this is joyful. He writes of his life, his ancestors, with a deep reverence, and the same reverence is afforded to the food he creates and serves. To him, cooking is an art and deserves the same respect afforded to works of art, and his veneration of tradition has made me consider cooking in a different way: less of a chore, more of an act of worship, a respect for those who came before us, a celebration of who we are and our survival over the centuries. They tried to kill us; they failed; let’s eat.
Koshersoul wanders from subject to subject; it doesn’t follow any linear structure, but that’s part of what keeps it so interesting. His interviews with other Black Jews and chefs (many of whom I already follow on Twitter, so it was great seeing their words in long form!) intrigued me, but I also deeply appreciated reading Mr. Twitty’s experiences, difficult as some of them must have been to recount (racism is, unfortunately, alive and well in the Jewish community). The book is also heavy on Judaism and his life within it, so that absolutely called to me and made my soul happy.
Koshersoul is available from retailers on August 9th (and it contains recipes!).
Michael Twitty is a chef and a writer, living at the intersection of Black and Jewish in a country (and a world) that doesn’t have an excess amount of kindness for either group. That said, despite people’s confusion, despite people not understanding and deliberately not bothering to learn, being Black and Jewish co-exists beautifully together and is expressed lovingly in many ways, chiefly in the food that Mr. Twitty cooks. From the traditional dishes of various African countries, to the meals cooked up in the slave cabins of his ancestors, to the Ashkenazi and Sephardic traditions that are now his traditions, Michael Twitty finds deep meaning in the art and flavors of cooking and how his many beautiful identities affect his culinary creations.
Part-memoir, part academic history, part exploration of the culture of food and how our identity contributes to what we cook (and how Black identity in particular brings not just baggage, but joy and beauty), Koshersoul defies genre – maybe making the point that those of us with multiple intersecting identities defy traditional classification as well.
Michael Twitty is a talented, eloquent writer. His writing is scholarly enough to challenge my exhausted, pandemic-addled brain, but friendly and comfortable enough that reading this is joyful. He writes of his life, his ancestors, with a deep reverence, and the same reverence is afforded to the food he creates and serves. To him, cooking is an art and deserves the same respect afforded to works of art, and his veneration of tradition has made me consider cooking in a different way: less of a chore, more of an act of worship, a respect for those who came before us, a celebration of who we are and our survival over the centuries. They tried to kill us; they failed; let’s eat.
Koshersoul wanders from subject to subject; it doesn’t follow any linear structure, but that’s part of what keeps it so interesting. His interviews with other Black Jews and chefs (many of whom I already follow on Twitter, so it was great seeing their words in long form!) intrigued me, but I also deeply appreciated reading Mr. Twitty’s experiences, difficult as some of them must have been to recount (racism is, unfortunately, alive and well in the Jewish community). The book is also heavy on Judaism and his life within it, so that absolutely called to me and made my soul happy.
Koshersoul is available from retailers on August 9th (and it contains recipes!).