layawaydragon
Written on Apr 19, 2017
Give it 50 pages though, give Thaniya 50 pages to introduce threads of her life and start weaving them together. 50 pages for a unique perspective and intersection that’s overlooked and missing from pop culture.
I was hooked by 35.
Spoonful Chronicles doesn’t follow a linear path. Different chapters start, revolve, or end on a dish or ingredient. Along with her rules of cooking there’s insight, humor, and quotables. It’s not a traditional narrative, Thaniya speaks to the reader and is aware she’s writing it all down.
~~There are some threads that feel unresolved, like her friend that ends up having a mental breakdown.
~~That and Thaniya’s “measuring mental illness” could’ve been handled better.
~~Love the sections about her college friend, their drama, and their falling out.
~~There’s a McDreamy. I LOVE how Thaniya described him. “Nose read for directions” is one of my favorite phrase that I won’t be forgetting anytime soon.
~~The revelations about her husband and their courtship towards the end made things just *click* for me.
~~Love the bringing the sleeping kids in from the car scene.
~~Thaniya with her kids and talking about her kids is adorable.
~~Totally understand the reflection and wondering how one ended up they way they did.
~~The Mango chapter about immigrating, especially the first passage was mesmerizing and informative.
~~It felt a tad long towards the end, but it’s worth it.
~~Love the ending, quite a powerful punch.
MEMORABLE QUOTES:
I entered the world of cooking the same way I entered my sex life. Tragically unprepared, but feverishly curious.
I outran a nightmare, losing all facility for dreaming along the way.
Cry me a river and I shall pollute it!
“Give the poor Iraqi man a break!” I say. “He has enough intolerable burdens to deal with as is, why should happy?”
Only your mother is willing to cook for you badly.