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3.6 AVERAGE
3.6 AVERAGE
Two and a half stars. I liked learning about the food and I appreciated Huang's perspective as an outsider but found his personality really grating. He writes a lot about how much he hates people who believe themselves to be superior while also clearly believing himself to be superior to everyone else. His faux "I didn't ask for this, I'm just the best" humility got old really fast. Still, it had it's funny moments and the descriptions of food, especially the night market in Taiwan, kept me reading.
informative
fast-paced
I picked up this memoir because I loved the TV show and it was so much better than I expected it to be! Eddie Huang is hilarious, smart, genuine, and interesting. His life story is unique and universal at the same time. His perspective on what it means to be American is one that needs to be heard. Huang ends his memoir with this excellent advice, “I didn’t allow America to sell me in a box with presets and neither should you. Take the things from America that speak to you, that excite you, that inspire you, and be the Americans we all want to know...”
reflective
Really enjoyed the last few chapters when he went to Taiwan studying the language and culture and did the competition on the food network all the way till the end. I learned more about him and who he is through those chapters. It also make me want to cook! I am an immigrant from Taiwan and both my kids were born and raise in the states now living in Europe so I experienced this finding one’s identity and see it in my kids. I kept seeing my kids through his feelings and thoughts. I am sure his parents are proud of how he turned out, I sure am.
Huang’s not for everyone but he speaks knowledgeably. Don’t read this if you want to maintain the innocent idea that the show portrays, as his upbringing is not quite as squeaky clean as it would have you believe. Stick around for the discussion of race as it relates to food and culture.
The author wrote the book in a Very candid way, which is not easy. I appreciate his clear narration and description about his grown-up seeking for his identity. Moreover, I admire his adamant writing style and his transition from admitting that he does not know what he wants in his earlier life to absolute confidence of knowing what he wants later. It is not easy and I feel the connection.
funny
reflective
fast-paced
Eddie Huang lays out a lot of raw emotion in this book. Definitely an interesting read and insight.
If you didn't already guess, this is nothing like the Tab show with the same name. The TV show is inspired by this book but very little is related beyond that.
If you didn't already guess, this is nothing like the Tab show with the same name. The TV show is inspired by this book but very little is related beyond that.