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3.6 AVERAGE
3.6 AVERAGE
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
I think I expected humor more in line with the TV show - where Eddie Huang's book is much darker and angrier. Probably valid given how America treats immigrants and people of color. But was just not what I expected. There were some brilliant and hilarious lines though (my personal favorite: Taipei is for food nerds what Amsterdam is for hooker connoisseurs).
So apart from just not aligning with my tonal expectations, I had 2 issues.
The 1st is really more about me as a reader than the book, but I don't really know much about hip hop or basketball. And that meant big swaths of story and sometimes crucial metaphors or references just didn't land.
The 2nd was stories and anecdotes that were introduced like an aside but never connected back to the main narrative. So the original was just left hanging out unfinished. I have no doubt this was intentional, an artistic or stylistic choice, but it drove me fucking bananas.
So apart from just not aligning with my tonal expectations, I had 2 issues.
The 1st is really more about me as a reader than the book, but I don't really know much about hip hop or basketball. And that meant big swaths of story and sometimes crucial metaphors or references just didn't land.
The 2nd was stories and anecdotes that were introduced like an aside but never connected back to the main narrative. So the original was just left hanging out unfinished. I have no doubt this was intentional, an artistic or stylistic choice, but it drove me fucking bananas.
funny
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
funny
reflective
fast-paced
adventurous
funny
informative
lighthearted
medium-paced
Great insight about growing up an outsider, and then owning it as an adult. Loved Eddie's thoughts about culture, personal connections, flair, and authenticity being the whole point of food, and food joints.
What an asshole. Eddie Huang tells the story of growing up second-generation Chinese-American in New York and Orlando, how he fell into/created a persona of street-thug life, then sorta redeemed himself with a law degree, a streetware company, and a highly popular Lower East Side restaurant. All the while being vulgar, occasionally violent, often brazenly law-breaking, and frequently short-sighted. This guy is the last person anyone should look up to, despite his success. But he writes very well and has some real insights about urban life and being a child of immigrants. So highly recommended anyway.
This is perhaps the worst memoir I've ever read. Synopsis: The son of Taiwanese immigrants lives a privileged life with every opportunity but considers himself part of hip hop culture and tells his whole story in hip hop street slang while accusing white folks who cook Chinese food of appropriating Chinese culture. To say his voice is annoying is an understatement. I just wanted to scream "Grow the f*ck up!" through most of the book. Ugh. The only redeeming element of this book is his obvious passion for food and flavor.
I liked this book. Huang writes eloquently about his experience as an Asian-American trying to navigate the U.S. I listened to Huang himself read the book which really brought the book alive. He uses a lot of slang, some of which went right over my head. There is a lot of foodie talk, which is not really an interest of mine. He quotes a lot of awesome authors which the English Teacher in me loves - especially Audre Lorde!