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3.41 AVERAGE
3.41 AVERAGE
3.5 stars rounded up to 4
This is the second book in which Lin-Liu embarks on an adventure and documents her journey to learn about something food-related. Her writing style is straightforward and easy to read. Food history is fascinating to me, particularly in China, and this book is chock full of it. I loved reading about the food culture in various parts of China, especially in the lesser-known Western regions. Central Asia is a part of the world that not many Westerners know about. Lin-Liu includes history lessons about the various regions she visits and their specific role on the Silk Road trading route.
I can see how Lin-Liu's tone may come off as entitled and patronizing. I was surprised at the lack of attempt that was made to remain unbiased, especially considering her journalistic background. But that did not detract from her storytelling, and I enjoyed reading about the sumptuous descriptions of food throughout the book. She commonly compares the food she encounters with ones she is familiar with and it can seem like she is disparaging these lesser-known cuisines. Nevertheless, she attempts to keep an open mind and objective stance when reporting on her experiences in her travels.
This is the second book in which Lin-Liu embarks on an adventure and documents her journey to learn about something food-related. Her writing style is straightforward and easy to read. Food history is fascinating to me, particularly in China, and this book is chock full of it. I loved reading about the food culture in various parts of China, especially in the lesser-known Western regions. Central Asia is a part of the world that not many Westerners know about. Lin-Liu includes history lessons about the various regions she visits and their specific role on the Silk Road trading route.
I can see how Lin-Liu's tone may come off as entitled and patronizing. I was surprised at the lack of attempt that was made to remain unbiased, especially considering her journalistic background. But that did not detract from her storytelling, and I enjoyed reading about the sumptuous descriptions of food throughout the book. She commonly compares the food she encounters with ones she is familiar with and it can seem like she is disparaging these lesser-known cuisines. Nevertheless, she attempts to keep an open mind and objective stance when reporting on her experiences in her travels.
informative
reflective
slow-paced
Less food focused than advertised. We gave up on finding the origin of noodles about 100 pages in
adventurous
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
Like an undercooked noodle, this book lacks substance. The author tried to write a book about food and cooking as well as a travelogue, and succeeded at neither. Had she met either goal well, we would have a very different reading experience. Unfortunately, my experience with this book is diluted by the failure of the author to achieve her goals.
Almost immediately, I knew I was in trouble when I read the third sentence in the book, "'That's like making me choose my favorite family member!' she balked." I had to wonder if there was an editor involved in this book. Not a good sign. The writing did not get better. On the same page as the above sentence, the author unexpectedly touts King Arthur's flour and her own website - I'm not sure why I found this so off-putting, maybe it shouldn’t have a place in a book like this. Perhaps I wasn't expecting her to so blatantly endorse products.
I heard about the book on NPR, and it sounded very interesting. As I opened the book, I had high hopes as I love pasta of every ilk whether it is Chinese dumplings or fettuccine in a garlic butter sauce, but I just couldn't find the love for this book.
Almost immediately, I knew I was in trouble when I read the third sentence in the book, "'That's like making me choose my favorite family member!' she balked." I had to wonder if there was an editor involved in this book. Not a good sign. The writing did not get better. On the same page as the above sentence, the author unexpectedly touts King Arthur's flour and her own website - I'm not sure why I found this so off-putting, maybe it shouldn’t have a place in a book like this. Perhaps I wasn't expecting her to so blatantly endorse products.
I heard about the book on NPR, and it sounded very interesting. As I opened the book, I had high hopes as I love pasta of every ilk whether it is Chinese dumplings or fettuccine in a garlic butter sauce, but I just couldn't find the love for this book.
I wanted to learn about the food and travel more than about the authors marriage reflections.
Very interesting and well-written book about the search for the origin of the noodle by a trip along the Silk Road. Ms. Lin-Liu has a knack for meeting a wide variety of people and describing their personalities and food equally well. After reading some other reviews that thought she spent too much time moaning and groaning about her status as a wife vs. independent person, I almost considered returning it to the library unread, but I'm glad I didn't as I didn't think her pondering those things took anything away from the book - and besides, I think she just wrote what most of us feel from time to time anyway.
The weakest part of the book for me was the section on Italy, but that may just be because I'm familiar with that cuisine as compared to the others. My favorite section was a surprise, and I think it's because of the mood I'm in with the beginning of 2016 - a small part in the Uzbekistan chapter where Lin-Liu describes an encounter with a fellow American traveler Jeffrey. His attitude of acknowledging the bad but ultimately finding the good really stood out for me. I especially liked how he likened the food in Central Asia (as described by the author) as how he ate as a child growing up in 1950's Michigan - "When we had spaghetti, my father would uncork a bottle of Chianti, the only wine we drank, and which we only drank with spaghetti," he added. "I grew up in Leave It to Beaver America, and we were delighted with our food." - As I really hate any kind of pretentiousness, this attitude of appreciation was very nice!
Recommended.
The weakest part of the book for me was the section on Italy, but that may just be because I'm familiar with that cuisine as compared to the others. My favorite section was a surprise, and I think it's because of the mood I'm in with the beginning of 2016 - a small part in the Uzbekistan chapter where Lin-Liu describes an encounter with a fellow American traveler Jeffrey. His attitude of acknowledging the bad but ultimately finding the good really stood out for me. I especially liked how he likened the food in Central Asia (as described by the author) as how he ate as a child growing up in 1950's Michigan - "When we had spaghetti, my father would uncork a bottle of Chianti, the only wine we drank, and which we only drank with spaghetti," he added. "I grew up in Leave It to Beaver America, and we were delighted with our food." - As I really hate any kind of pretentiousness, this attitude of appreciation was very nice!
Recommended.
An interesting journey, definitely, and worth a look if you love travel and food. However, the author is quite a pill and the major impression with which I came away from the book was that I would rather eat a bowl of sand than travel with this woman. Her obsessive overanalyzing, whining and solipsism were tiresome, but when she avoided those habits, it's not a bad read.
Travels with noodles and other foods
This is the second time I read this book, the second time was even better. I so completely enjoyed this book and Jen Lin-Liu is a treasure and inspiration. I re-read this book because I am traveling to the Stan countries and want to read Jen’s perspective. I have to say that now I am inspired to travel to China in part to this book and Fushia Dunlop’s amazing “Invitation to a Banquet ”. Both books are happy eating through the printed word. Be forewarned you will want to eat the described foods while reading these books.
This is the second time I read this book, the second time was even better. I so completely enjoyed this book and Jen Lin-Liu is a treasure and inspiration. I re-read this book because I am traveling to the Stan countries and want to read Jen’s perspective. I have to say that now I am inspired to travel to China in part to this book and Fushia Dunlop’s amazing “Invitation to a Banquet ”. Both books are happy eating through the printed word. Be forewarned you will want to eat the described foods while reading these books.
Don't read while hungry. Great story about food and adventure. Loved the insight into women's roles as they relate to food preparation and the author's own feelings about her relationship with her husband. I'd recommend for female foodies who love travel.
An enjoyable read, if sometimes slow and meandering. I appreciated learning about the author's experiences in Central Asia in particular!