The language of baklava is an ode to the authors multicultural heritage, family, and above all, the power of food as the framework of hospitality, healing, and the glue that holds things together. Curled up with a good bookan interview with diana abujaber. Diana abujabers vibrant, humorous memoir weaves together delicious food. Here are stories of being raised by a foodobsessed jordanian father and tales of lake ontario shish kabob cookouts and goat stew feasts under. Heartwarming and witty, abujaber infuses her memoir with the joy of family and the love of food, meals shared with many because you never know whos just come over from the old country.
I would face the challenge of having to fullheartedly enter a genre that was new to me, but the idea was attractive enough to pursue. I looked at the way food functions like a language, and then began looking at how the inclusion of recipes in food writing memoirs had a grammar of sorts, adding layers of meaning to the. Rent the language of baklava a memoir 1st edition 9781400077762 and save up to 80% on textbook rentals and 90% on used textbooks. Cook the books the language of baklava by diana abujabar i am very happy to have stumbled into the cook the books club and discovered diana abujabar.
She tells tales of individuals and collective family legends. Paper reaction of the book the language of baklawa. Both uproariously funny and startlingly thoughtprovoking, the language of baklava is one womans interpretation of the immigrant experience shared with flavor, love and gusto. Arabian jazz 1993 oregon book award 1994 crescent 2003 pen center usa award for literary fiction 1994, twenty noteworthy novels of 2003 by the christian science monitor. Abujaber is the daughter of a jordanian father and an american mother though theres also a german grandmother thrown into the mix, who adds rigorous counterpoint to the wayward intuitiveness of abujabers father. This book is a compilation of some of those family stories as it traces the ways we grew. The language of baklava, her first memoir, won the northwest booksellers award, and has been translated into many languages. The language of baklava gives us the chance not only to grow up alongside diana, but also to share meals with her every step of the way unforgettable feasts that teach her, and us, as much about identity, love, and family as they do about food. Each chapter of abujabers book is a sumptuous course of experiences served with marvelous recipes. The language of baklava ebook written by diana abujaber. The language of baklava has become a family favorite at our bicultural house. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.
Diana abujabers vibrant, humorous memoir weaves together delicious food memories that illuminate the two cultures of her childhoodamerican and jordanian. Check these samples of paper reaction of the book the language of baklawa. About the language of baklava diana abujabers vibrant, humorous memoir weaves together delicious food memories that illuminate the two cultures of her childhoodamerican and jordanian. Diana abujabers the language of baklava april 12, 2005 diana abujabers new book is a memoir told through food. Her first novel, arabian jazz won the oregon book award for literary fiction and was a finalist for the pen hemingway award. The language of baklava and millions of other books are available for amazon. Mar 18, 2008 todd moe talks with author diana abujaber about her book, the language of baklava. A memoir mobi the language of baklava irresistibly invites us to sit down at the table with dianas family sharing unforgettable meals that turn out to be as much about grace difference faith.
Whether your usual fare is novel or nonfiction, youll enjoy this remarkable and important book. Origin 2007 birds of paradise 2011 nonfiction memoir. Peopled with lively characters who move in vivid vignettes of life in america and jordan, the authors journey from resistance to her larger than. She has written three wellreceived novels one a mystery, origin and a lovely memoir called the language of baklava. Diana abujaber weaves the story of her life in upstate new york and in jordan around vividly remembered meals. Here are stories of being raised by a foodobsessed jordanian father and tales of lake ontario shish kabob cookouts and goat stew feasts under bedouin tents in the desert. Stories of family and food that spread out like pancake batter on a griddle are about grace, difference, faith, and love, writes abujaber crescent, 2003, etc. Jun 15, 2006 buy language of baklava first edition by abujaber, diana isbn. While abujabers emphasis is on arabic food, her memoir touches on universal topics. The language of baklava by diana abujaber, 9781400077762, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Abujaber writes about her childhood intermittently visiting her fathers home country of jordan and growing up around both american classics and exotic and flavorful arabic cuisine. Its a wonderfully written memoir filled with memories and food recipes, much of which hailing from abujabers jordanian heritage from her fathers side, but some others that are pulled from other places. Memoir is autobiographical writing, but not all autobiographical writing follows the criteria.
She writes so descriptively that i can almost feel and smell the foods and sights of which she writes. Grab the best paper we use cookies to create the best experience for you. My childhood was made up of storiesthe memories and recollections of my fathers history and the storybook myths and legends that my mother brought me to read. The language of baklava is the second book pick for the new foodie book club, cook the books, that a couple of blogger friends and i have organized. I thought it would be interesting to choose from a few food memoirs and see what we came up with. Book award and was named one of the twenty best novels of 2003 by the. The language of baklava irresistibly invites us to sit down at the table with. From the acclaimed author of crescent, called radiant, wise, and passionate by the chicago tribune, here is a vibrant, humorous memoir of growing up with a gregarious jordanian father who loved to cook. Jsa diana abujabels culinary memoir speaks the undeniable truth that food evokes memories. A memoir that is both pungent and sweet, the language of baklava, is as rich and fullbodied as the recipes peppered throughout the book, a spicy peek into. And with the language of baklava, a lot of the media attention has also washed over him as well. The language of baklava by diana abujaber overdrive. The language of baklava is the second book pick for the.
She is a writerinresidence in the english department at portland state university in oregon. I finished diana abujabers memoir the language of baklava, which i checked out from the library, and i may have to get a copy of this book. Heartwarming and witty, abujaber infuses her memoir with the joy of family and the love of food, meals shared with many because you never know whos just come over from. Its perfect for reading aloud, alone, or with a book club. Diana abujabers vibrant, humorous memoir weaves together stories of being raised. She divides her time between portland, oregon, and miami, florida. Using a sharp knife, carefully cut through the baklava in long, straight lines to form diamonds or squares about 2 inches long. My childhood was made up of stories the memories and recollections of my fathers history and the storybook myths and legends that my mother brought me to read.
It transports us back in time to places and people who are a rich part of our own personal history as well as the history of our ancestors. Diana abujaber a humorous memoir of growing up with a jordanian father who loved to cook. The language of baklava a memoir by diana abujaber. Diana abujabers the language of baklava diana abujabers new book is a memoir told through food. The language of baklava by diana abujaber book cover, description. Early on, simpson describes the book she didnt write. Diana abujaber books list of books by author diana abujaber. Diana abujaber as she does in her fiction, diana draws us in with her insight and compassion, and with her talent for describing food and the myriad pleasures and adventures associated with cooking and eating. The language of baklava 2005 life without a recipe 2016 essays. Diana abujaber is the author of four novels, including crescent, which was awarded the 2004 pen center usa award for literary fiction and the before columbus foundations american book award and was named one of the twenty best novels of 2003 by the christian science monitor. Pdf the language of baklava download read online free. Reviews in a culinary memoir thats as delectable for its stories as for its accompanying recipes, diana abujaber concocts a feast of words and images from her arabamerican experience. Diana abujabers vibrant, humorous memoir weaves together stories of being raised by a foodobsessed jordanian father with tales of lake ontario shish kabob cookouts and goat stew feasts under bedouin tents in the desert. A memoir, by diana abujaber, anchor books, 352 pages.
From the acclaimed author of crescent, called radiant, wi. Diana abujabers vibrant, humorous memoir weaves together stories of being raised by a foodobsessed jordanian father with tales of lake ontario shish kabob. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read the language of baklava. A memoir mobi the language of baklava irresistibly invites us to sit down at the table with dianas family sharing unforgettable meals that turn out to be as much about grace difference faith love as they are about food. The language of baklava gives us the chance not only to grow up alongside diana, but also to share meals with her every step of the wayunforgettable feasts that teach her, and us, as much about identity, love, and family as they do about food. Diana abujaber is the author of crescent, arabian jazz, and the language of baklava. Here are stories of being raised by a foodobsessed jordanian father and tales of lake ontario shish kabob cookouts and goat stew feasts under bedouin. The language of baklava by diana abujaber books on.
It explores the lessons food can bring about cultural identity, faith and love. Dec 18, 2007 diana abujabers vibrant, humorous memoir weaves together delicious food memories that illuminate the two cultures of her childhoodamerican and jordanian. A memoir by abujaber, diana and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. This book is a gateway to understanding the arabamerican experience and the immigrant experience one generation removed. Apr 12, 2005 diana abujabers the language of baklava diana abujabers new book is a memoir told through food. Curled up with a good bookan interview with diana abu. She includes classics like baklava and shish kebab, but its the homier concoctions like bread salad, or the exotically named magical muhammara a delectablesounding spread that really impress. The language of baklava by diana abu jaber abebooks. Whatever you do, dont miss the chance to savor this read.
These sensuously evoked repasts, complete with recipes, in turn illuminate. The language of baklava by diana abujaber fantastic fiction. Novelist diana abujabers hybrid memoir and cookbook, the language of baklava, explores her upbringing by a foodloving jordanian father and an american mother. The authors memoir, the language of baklava, is as rich and fullbodied as the pungent recipes that are peppered throughout the book, both sweet and spicy, a peek into bicultural life that is amusing and heartwarming. Real simple magazine sent a photographer to shoot me and dad together and one of the florida newspapers, the sunsentinel, did a story where dad and i cooked and talked together and we ended up serving up a huge lunch feast. Diana abujabers new book is a memoir told through food. Nov 19, 2011 the language of baklava by diana abujaber anchor books, 2006 330 pages publishers summary. The language of baklava irresistibly invites us to sit down at the table with dianas. A memoir that is both pungent and sweet, the language of baklava, is as rich and fullbodied as the recipes peppered throughout the book, a spicy peek into bicultural life. The language of baklava by diana abujaber, paperback. The official website of diana abujaber, author of life without a recipe, crescent, the language of baklava, and more. Today jrw welcomes writer diana abujaber, one of the speakers i heard at the key west literary seminar on food writing in january.