Mango and Peppercorns by Tung Nguyen, Katherine Manning, and is a story of the immigrant roots of our nation, the welcoming shore, the contribution of immigrants - first generation and beyond - to this nation. This is also a story of food. Ultimately, this is a book about the American dream, and the challenges and hurdles that face who try to achieve it. Given the political climate in this nation at this point, this is a timely story.

Read my complete review at http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2021/09/mangoes-and-peppercorns.html

Reviewed for NetGalley. ( )

nonfiction/cooking memoir with recipes- told from points of view of single mom refugee from Vietnam, the American woman who sponsored her and became her parenting and restaurant business partner, and also of the daughter growing up in Miami.

These recipes sound delicious (even without the benefit of photo illustrations) and easily accomplished by the amateur home chef, with the purchase of a few key seasonings (I must go to the store and pick up some fish sauce, and possibly some hidden valley ranch dressing packets). But the backstory of escaping the fall of Vietnam and building a business in the US while trying to maintain contact with family left behind in Vietnam was also very interesting and worth a read. ( )

Read 3.2024