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jess_mango's review against another edition
4.0
Be My Guest is an often philosophical meditation on hospitality, food, and relationships. This is a long-form essay, clocking in at a little over 100 pages, so easily read in a couple of hours. In this book, Priya Basil shares some personal anecdotes of growing up as part of an Indian family in Kenya. She speaks of her mother's cooking and how her favorite dishes bring up feelings of comfort and satisfaction. She covers what hospitality means at the family level and the community level. Basil also discusses her time living in Germany and what "hospitality" means in regards to the large influx of Syrian refugees. This is a deeply thought out wandering exploration of hospitality that runs the gamut from personal to global. This is an good read for anyone interested in food, community, and social issues.
What to Listen to While Reading (or during reading breaks)
Everybody Eats When they Come to My House by Cab Calloway
Be Our Guest by Jamie Cullum
Mango Tree by Zac Brown Band
Eat at Home by Paul McCartney
Kabhi Neem Neem by Madhushree & A.R. Rahman
I received a review copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
What to Listen to While Reading (or during reading breaks)
Everybody Eats When they Come to My House by Cab Calloway
Be Our Guest by Jamie Cullum
Mango Tree by Zac Brown Band
Eat at Home by Paul McCartney
Kabhi Neem Neem by Madhushree & A.R. Rahman
I received a review copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
doodles_the_teacher's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
An inspiring reflection on global and personal hospitality, specifically in regards to immigration.
oblatecordon's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
4.0
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"
my favourite lines from the book -
annetjeberg's review against another edition
4.0
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.
It was a great, short read, and quite entertaining.
pekey_reads's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
4.0
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
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
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
reflective
slow-paced
2.0
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.