A review by whatannikareads
The Language of Baklava: A Memoir by Diana Abu-Jaber

adventurous emotional funny informative lighthearted medium-paced

4.5

I really enjoyed this! I love the structure of this book. The recipes woven throughout come at appropriate times; it isn't a predictable boring structure. And I love the inclusion of even the simplest of recipes because of the intimate memory it represented in the author's life. Everything sounds soooo delicious, it makes me want to buy the physical copy to try out the recipes.

I think I learned a lot about Jordanian culture—one that guiltily has slipped under my radar. But also, anyone who is an immigrant or first gen can probably find something to relate to: the huge families, the overbearing father figure, the pull between your home countries. Even though Diana was butting heads with her dad, Bud, throughout the entirety of the book and her life, he was a lovable character and I loved seeing their relationship evolve over the years. Bud is a standout character just by himself.

I also really loved the side stories of all of the relatives and friends who visited Jordan/America and the dishes they brought to the table. I read a review that complained that Diana never did any of the cooking, which I thought wasn't really valid since she didn't say she was a cook herself. The Arabic food is her way of sharing her life story and the people attached to it.

I highly recommend this to anyone who likes good food and good stories!