5 Minutes for Books — Trail of Crumbs
Memoir is a fairly new genre for me. If you’ve never read it, but you enjoy character-driven novels, you might enjoy reading “creative nonfiction” as it’s called. This week I’m reviewing (and giving away five copies) of a memoir called Trail of Crumbs.
A place and its people are often linked to its food. What I miss most about my Texas roots is the Tex-Mex and the barbecue.I long for the spicy Thai food so abundant in the Pacific Northwest that I enjoyed when we lived there. In my New England home, pizza has transcended the frozen disk or a chain delivery standard to which I had become accustomed.
In Trail of Crumbs: Hunger, Love and the Search for Home (January 2008, Grand Central Publishing) food writer Kim Sunee’s self-discovery simmers as she embraces different cultures and cuisine. Her story begins as an abandoned child in an orphanage in Korea, takes her to her adoptive family’s home in New Orleans.
As a child living in New Orleans, she struggled to fit in with her white classmates, but
found comfort in the kitchen at her grandfather’s side as he stirred up red beans and rice, jambalaya and other Cajun specialties. As a student, she lived in Paris and Sweden and quickly picked up the language and cuisine of those countries as well, using the food as a means of finding her way in the culture.
Falling in love with the founder of L’Occitane, Olivier Baussan, brings her to his home in Provence, where she should be happy, yet slips deeper into self-doubt. She is unsure of her ability to live up to the role of step-mother, hostess and lady of the house. Although the story is compelling and her experiences are interesting, I began to feel that as an author, she felt detached from her own life story. Then it hit me that, whether intentional or not, this is an incredible literary device and does serve to advance the plot of her “search for home.”
“I want to know everything about you. No secrets between us, okay?”
I nod, knowing this is impossible. How can he know everything about me, when I don’t even know myself?
Food is a supporting character throughout this novel, so as I read I found myself wanting to nosh–not on popcorn and Oreos, but to graze on soft cheeses and fresh seasonal fruit. Since none of those things are in my American cabinet, I was safe. However, each chapter ends with a few recipes that you can try on your own if you wish.
Because these types of stories are of a person’s real-life journey, there is no simple wrapped-up ending. One of the marks of a good memoir is that it leaves me wanting more. If I passed Kim Sunee on the street, I’d want to look her in the eye and see that she’s okay–that she’s happy and whole. I have a feeling that she might be.
To enter to win one of five giveaway copies, please leave a comment. If you’d like, tell me if you are new to memoir or the title of one that you’ve enjoyed.
The winners of Laura Zigman’s Piece of Work are
#64 Christi
#56 Shelly
#132 Samantha PruittPlease look for an email from me requesting your address.
104 Comments
Enter me please. Thanks!
I would be new to reading memoirs.
I have not read a memoir before, but this definitely sounds interesting. Please enter me in the drawing!
I would enjoy reading this book. One book that I’ve enjoyed recently (that is not quite a memoir, but kinda…) is “Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life”.
This sounds like a great book!!
this book sounds really good.
Please enter me in the giveaway!
I’m a newbie and would love to read this book!!
My favorite memoir is “Girl Meets God” by Lauren Winner. I can’t say enough good about that book. I also enjoyed “The Glass Castle” but it is very, very sad.
I go through long stretches where I LOVE memoirs. I just finished “LOOK ME IN THE EYE” – Augusten Bourroughs brothers’ memoir.
I am a newbie, but just working on the time for it all!! Thanks!!
This sounds like something I would really like! I think that the best memoir I’ve read lately was Paper Daughter.
I recently read Barack Obama’s memoir, which was very moving. I’m interested in this one because my son came to us through international adoption
I don’t think I’ve ever read a memoir before.
A good read. Please enter me.
new to memoir thanks
I would love to win this:)
Please enter me in your giveaway. Love to read! Thank you!
Would love to win this wonderful book am new to memior!
I would LOVE to win this!! always love a good read!!
I would love to win a copy!
I’ll add you to the links
http://www.prizeatron.com
Sounds great!
make me want to put the kids in the car and go to the library and stop by central market to pick up some fresh bread and some fun exotic cheese, drop the kids off at a sitter and sit by the fire and read! I’d love a copy…but more than anything I look forward to reading this book
I am new to this genre and to this website. The book sounds very interesting and I would love to read it.
I’m new to memoir, and I’d love to win.
I’d love to win this book.
I’d love to win!
Oh this sounds wonderful. I love food books.
I am new to memoir but I am intrigued now
sounds like a very interesting story
Sounds very interesting. Sign me up!
This sounds interesting. I am pretty new to memoir – other than Angela’s Ashes.
Sounds like a great read! One I wouldn’t want to put down! I would love to win and read this book!
Thanks for offering and considering me for this prize!!!
I’d love to win!!!!!!!
This sounds like a great book.
As I battle the Flu for the 2nd time this year…I hope all of you stay well and have a great New Year…
please enter me!
I’m relatively new to memoir. I just read “Left to Tell” by Immaculee Ilibagiza. Well worth the time!
My Mom would love this!
I’ve fallen in love with some wonderful memoirs lately myself. and food memoirs are the best! I’d love to read it!
I am relatively new to memoirs but I have read a couple. This one sounds good too!
please enter me thanks
This book sounds wonderful. Please count me in!
Sounds great
Please count me in. Thanks!
enter me please
Count me in please. Sounds interesting!
I blogged your contest on this post:
http://laurawilliamsmusings.blogspot.com/2008/01/sunday-120-edition-of-contest-galore.html
I’d love to win this… thanks!
great giveaway!
sounds like a great read!
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