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jrosenstein's review against another edition
4.0
I was expecting something more focused on cooking and recipes than what this book actually is, a poetic meditation on personal, family and collective history and trauma. Twitty's writing is gorgeous and he openly admits that his project is ultimately impossible. He's trying to uncover all the influences that led to who he is, the tangled history of slavery and forced migration from Africa and intermingling of European ancestors, likely through rape. You really sense his enormous need to try to excavate all these lost histories through genealogy and DNA analysis. Sometimes for me it felt like he was getting too lost in the details, recounting every percentage on different DNA reports, every ancestor he was able to name, every clue he tried to track down. But in doing so he invites the reader into this search, for a past that can not ever truly be found because it has been forcibly destroyed. And throughout it all is food as memory, as spiritual practice, as survival, as hope.
It felt like a long read but ultimately beautiful and aching with love for all the influences and ancestors who made African American food what it is.
It felt like a long read but ultimately beautiful and aching with love for all the influences and ancestors who made African American food what it is.
vishnu_'s review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
slow-paced
3.75
milo10000's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
3.5
This book alternatively feels beautifully flowing, well written, and moving, and too long and stale. Overall I greatly enjoyed it, and I'm planning on making some of the recipes that Twitty includes.
When this book was recommended to me it was as a culinary history book, and it is that, but it's also much more. Twitty's journey to find himself through his ancestors is universally touching, and the memoirist's lens he uses to do so makes it that much more personal. The parts I thought got a bit dry mostly involved his genetic testing, which is explored at great length with (it seemed to me) varying levels of zeal.
This book and journey is an accomplishment regardless.
When this book was recommended to me it was as a culinary history book, and it is that, but it's also much more. Twitty's journey to find himself through his ancestors is universally touching, and the memoirist's lens he uses to do so makes it that much more personal. The parts I thought got a bit dry mostly involved his genetic testing, which is explored at great length with (it seemed to me) varying levels of zeal.
This book and journey is an accomplishment regardless.
kevinsmokler's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
jmrprice's review against another edition
4.0
Fascinating. I grew up in SC and although I am not a black man, so much of what Twitty shares sounds like scenes from my own gatherings...
Last chapter seemed abrupt. Overall an entirely engrossing read.
Last chapter seemed abrupt. Overall an entirely engrossing read.