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A review by wingreads
Slow Noodles: A Cambodian Memoir of Love, Loss, and Family Recipes by Chantha Nguon
5.0
"The memory of hunger is a curse that never leaves you"
Chartha Nguon weaves in familiar memories of being with her Mae (Mother) in the kitchen - the core of her childhood memories, with the dark history of Cambodia history with Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge. This is storytelling on her own terms, where the cooking, feeding and sharing ignites the memories of the past.
"My puppy sensed told me that them equated love, and love equated deliciousness". Ngoun started the first part of the book with beautiful family recipes, the gender and cultural constraints placed upon her and her loved ones; under the watchful eye of a fearsome matriarchal Grandmother.
As i dived into the second part of the book, I learnt more about the history of Cambodia and how it became embroiled in the neighbouring Vietnamese civil war. I was horrified to learn about Lon Nol and how this paved the way for Pol Pot. Adolescent Ngoun and some of her siblings sought refuge in Saigon, whilst waiting for news of her Mother and Brother who remained behind. The book was very educational about the end of the American war and how Vietnam began its slow transition as a union.
"Be strong, fight the enemy, build the country"
I really treasured the precious memories of Nguons' journey into womanhood and the demure ferocity she showed in desperate situations, and how she endured mistrust by her fellow Vietnamese peers. Using recipes to showcase her anger, contempt and frustrations, Nguon will change her vocabulary in the recipes in different languages to reinforce her location, experience and her reflections along the way. This was the first time I have come across such an effective use of recipes to transform the tone of the story.
"Exhaustion, hunger, resignation"
In the third part of the book, I am grateful to never experience the loss Nguon has described. Noone is spared. Time and time again, Nguon referred back to her birth year of the Buffalo and hour of the tiger to replenish her reserves for a more hopefully future. The journey of the Morning Glory to American shores made me smile.
"Rice is what you eat when you have everything and when you have nothing"
I highly recommend this remarkable book to anyone who may be interested in this period of history, and also to try out some of the recipes. This book deserves to become a classic.
Chartha Nguon weaves in familiar memories of being with her Mae (Mother) in the kitchen - the core of her childhood memories, with the dark history of Cambodia history with Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge. This is storytelling on her own terms, where the cooking, feeding and sharing ignites the memories of the past.
"My puppy sensed told me that them equated love, and love equated deliciousness". Ngoun started the first part of the book with beautiful family recipes, the gender and cultural constraints placed upon her and her loved ones; under the watchful eye of a fearsome matriarchal Grandmother.
As i dived into the second part of the book, I learnt more about the history of Cambodia and how it became embroiled in the neighbouring Vietnamese civil war. I was horrified to learn about Lon Nol and how this paved the way for Pol Pot. Adolescent Ngoun and some of her siblings sought refuge in Saigon, whilst waiting for news of her Mother and Brother who remained behind. The book was very educational about the end of the American war and how Vietnam began its slow transition as a union.
"Be strong, fight the enemy, build the country"
I really treasured the precious memories of Nguons' journey into womanhood and the demure ferocity she showed in desperate situations, and how she endured mistrust by her fellow Vietnamese peers. Using recipes to showcase her anger, contempt and frustrations, Nguon will change her vocabulary in the recipes in different languages to reinforce her location, experience and her reflections along the way. This was the first time I have come across such an effective use of recipes to transform the tone of the story.
"Exhaustion, hunger, resignation"
In the third part of the book, I am grateful to never experience the loss Nguon has described. Noone is spared. Time and time again, Nguon referred back to her birth year of the Buffalo and hour of the tiger to replenish her reserves for a more hopefully future. The journey of the Morning Glory to American shores made me smile.
"Rice is what you eat when you have everything and when you have nothing"
I highly recommend this remarkable book to anyone who may be interested in this period of history, and also to try out some of the recipes. This book deserves to become a classic.