81 reviews for:

Be My Guest: Reflections on Food, Community and the Meaning of Generosity

Priya Basil

3.55 AVERAGE

sophiavass's review against another edition

3.0

informative reflective slow-paced

oblatecordon's review against another edition

4.0

informative inspiring reflective fast-paced

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 basil's notes on food, women, and the expectations of hosting and hospitality, and her experiences and reflections on germany left me with a lot to think about.  none of this felt preachy which was a bonus. i also enjoyed that she didn't have answers for everything and left much open, quite some fodder to ponder. the EU obsession? was a tad much for me.
my favourite lines from the book -

" recipes are the original open source" "the quest for authenticity is often a crusade for authority" "as if identity is encased in a wurst" "the heart may not follow orders but it remembers them" "there are many germanys" "how many times can you arrive in a country'" "for to receive also means to reciprocate" "there is enough space in the world for everyone's success" "fluent but flawed - isn't that our condition whatever language we speak"

allie_schick's review against another edition

3.25

informative reflective medium-paced

annetjeberg's review against another edition

4.0

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Great short book with reflections, both from the author's own childhood, or other observations, or just fun facts.

It was a great, short read, and quite entertaining.

pekey_reads's review against another edition

4.0

hopeful informative inspiring reflective relaxing slow-paced

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I don't think I would have picked this book up had I not received it as part of a book swap. I was pleasantly surprised. The reflection is one that feels European in a very cosmopolitan sense and is altogether quite melancholic in a post Brexit 2024. A nice read.

mafalda_serra's review against another edition

3.0

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Uma reflexão muito interessante sobre a relação entre hospitalidade e alimentação. A autora acabou por se focar mais nas suas experiências e raízes (desde Londres, ao Quénia, até Alemanha), pelo que infelizmente acabei por não me identificar. Ainda assim, e apesar de falar muito sobre a UE e os refugiados, vale a pena!

laurynreads's review against another edition

3.0

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An interesting read for sure. Kind of rode a roller coaster in terms of my interest in the ideas and writing style of the author, but I just sat and read the last 50 or so pages in one sitting and I’m ultimately glad I read it. My favorite parts where when she talked about her relationship to food and how she always wants more and wants to have the last bite and the arrangement she has with her husband where he’ll always let her have his food as well.

curatoriallyyours's review against another edition

2.0

reflective slow-paced

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This book is so short but it took me so long to read! It’s choppy and disjointed. The author  comes off as  privileged and out of touch with reality at times. 

the_moody_marshmallow's review against another edition

3.5

adventurous emotional funny hopeful informative lighthearted reflective medium-paced

indiahollym's review against another edition

5.0

emotional lighthearted reflective relaxing medium-paced