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cev's review against another edition
4.0
This book exists somewhere between memoir, essay collection, cookbook, and poetry. Evocative and lyrical.
kayrawan's review
5.0
I love love love this book! In these short chapters, Ntozake makes you fall in love with African and African-American cooking through her memories, experiences, and her ultimate passion for food. One of my favorite things that she has written in this book is, "I was raised to experience with taste and sound, thus my interest in music, language, and food, but more importantly to never turn my nose or chin up to any kinda food that anybody ate. First of all, who was I to do such a thing."
The recipes featured throughout were unusual yet familiar. For instance, the Louisiana gumbo (because I'm from New Orleans) brought me back to Thanksgiving or dinners with my family during those colder months. Also, the "unusual" recipes that she mentioned were just as familiar. I could almost taste them as I was reading them even though I've never seen nor heard of them before in my life.
With that, this culinary memoir has easily become one of my favorites.
The recipes featured throughout were unusual yet familiar. For instance, the Louisiana gumbo (because I'm from New Orleans) brought me back to Thanksgiving or dinners with my family during those colder months. Also, the "unusual" recipes that she mentioned were just as familiar. I could almost taste them as I was reading them even though I've never seen nor heard of them before in my life.
With that, this culinary memoir has easily become one of my favorites.
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