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A review by bookishblond
The Cooked Seed by Anchee Min
3.0
I was first introduced to Anchee Min in the summer of 2010, when I read [b:Empress Orchid|139254|Empress Orchid (Empress Orchid, #1)|Anchee Min|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1442864153s/139254.jpg|936155] and [b:The Last Empress|47305|The Last Empress (Empress Orchid, #2)|Anchee Min|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1433552246s/47305.jpg|3011152]; I remember reading late into the night, unable to put the books down. I rediscovered Min in early 2012 when I was living in New Orleans. I devoured five more of her books. Again, I remember hungrily reading her novels and breathtaking memoir in a matter of days.
Six years later, I came across Min's second memoir. I was ecstatic at this find and looked forward to reading the book more than I have anticipated reading a book in a long time.
The first half of The Cooked Seed contains Min's heartbreaking account of her unlikely immigration the United States and her struggle to learn English in a very short amount of time to claim her place at the Art of Institute of Chicago. I flew through the first half of this memoir with the absorption I recall from my first taste of her books, and I was not disappointed. However, my attitude quickly changed when I reached the second half of the book, Min's narrative of raising her daughter and meeting her second husband. Although Min does attempt to explain her parenting philosophy, with a nod to her Chinese heritage and her immigrant mindset, I was horrified at how she raised her daughter. Min's rambling tale of how she met her husband and the lengthy illustration of his personality was incredibly boring. These chapters were in desperate need of an editor.
My favorite part of this book was the inside of the hardcover backing, which featured a collage of pictures from this period in Min's life. After finishing the book last night, I am hesitant to recommend the book, but overall, I do believe that readers of Min's earlier work should read her memoir for a complete portrait of this remarkable woman.
Six years later, I came across Min's second memoir. I was ecstatic at this find and looked forward to reading the book more than I have anticipated reading a book in a long time.
The first half of The Cooked Seed contains Min's heartbreaking account of her unlikely immigration the United States and her struggle to learn English in a very short amount of time to claim her place at the Art of Institute of Chicago. I flew through the first half of this memoir with the absorption I recall from my first taste of her books, and I was not disappointed. However, my attitude quickly changed when I reached the second half of the book, Min's narrative of raising her daughter and meeting her second husband. Although Min does attempt to explain her parenting philosophy, with a nod to her Chinese heritage and her immigrant mindset, I was horrified at how she raised her daughter. Min's rambling tale of how she met her husband and the lengthy illustration of his personality was incredibly boring. These chapters were in desperate need of an editor.
My favorite part of this book was the inside of the hardcover backing, which featured a collage of pictures from this period in Min's life. After finishing the book last night, I am hesitant to recommend the book, but overall, I do believe that readers of Min's earlier work should read her memoir for a complete portrait of this remarkable woman.