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5 Minutes for Books — Trail of Crumbs

January 21, 2008 by Jennifer Donovan

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

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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, buttrail-of-crumbs.JPG 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.

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5 Minutes Around The Blogosphere – Week 18
The Lies He Tells…

About Jennifer Donovan

Jennifer Donovan has been a part of the 5 Minutes for Mom team since 2007. She writes product reviews, covers events, and manages the 5 Minutes for Books weekly column and website. She lives in Houston and blogs at Snapshot about life with her family.

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106 Comments

  1. Charlene Kuser says

    January 28, 2008 at 1:10 am

    Would love to win this one,I love books relating
    to different cultures

    Reply
  2. Heather C says

    January 27, 2008 at 11:14 pm

    Sounds like an interesting read.

    Reply
  3. AnneMarie DeRemer says

    January 27, 2008 at 9:12 pm

    Love to read this!!

    Reply
  4. Jeffrey G says

    January 27, 2008 at 5:21 am

    Thank you for having such a great giveaway!

    Reply
  5. Sylvia Porter says

    January 27, 2008 at 4:39 am

    sounds like a great read!

    Reply
  6. Samantha Pruitt says

    January 27, 2008 at 3:19 am

    great giveaway!

    Reply
  7. Nina says

    January 26, 2008 at 11:46 pm

    I’d love to win this… thanks!

    Reply
  8. Laura says

    January 26, 2008 at 11:36 pm

    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

    Reply
  9. philip halter says

    January 26, 2008 at 8:08 pm

    enter me please

    Reply
  10. Fruitbearer says

    January 26, 2008 at 6:09 pm

    Please count me in. Thanks!

    Reply
  11. Pamela White says

    January 26, 2008 at 2:52 am

    Sounds great

    Reply
  12. Colleen Palat says

    January 24, 2008 at 9:46 pm

    This book sounds wonderful. Please count me in! 🙂

    Reply
  13. AmandaA says

    January 24, 2008 at 9:41 pm

    please enter me thanks

    Reply
  14. Shannon B. says

    January 24, 2008 at 9:24 am

    I am relatively new to memoirs but I have read a couple. This one sounds good too!

    Reply
  15. rachel says

    January 24, 2008 at 9:21 am

    I’ve fallen in love with some wonderful memoirs lately myself. and food memoirs are the best! I’d love to read it!

    Reply
  16. Becca says

    January 24, 2008 at 2:07 am

    My Mom would love this!

    Reply
  17. Beth says

    January 24, 2008 at 12:45 am

    I’m relatively new to memoir. I just read “Left to Tell” by Immaculee Ilibagiza. Well worth the time!

    Reply
  18. Karen Matlock says

    January 23, 2008 at 10:25 am

    please enter me!

    Reply
  19. Edward Durbin says

    January 23, 2008 at 12:12 am

    As I battle the Flu for the 2nd time this year…I hope all of you stay well and have a great New Year…

    Reply
  20. Lisa Oguin says

    January 22, 2008 at 11:23 pm

    This sounds like a great book.

    Reply
  21. Paula McClement says

    January 22, 2008 at 9:19 pm

    I’d love to win!!!!!!!

    Reply
  22. Nikki Evans says

    January 22, 2008 at 8:32 pm

    Thanks for offering and considering me for this prize!!!

    Reply
  23. Kristina says

    January 22, 2008 at 7:37 pm

    Sounds like a great read! One I wouldn’t want to put down! I would love to win and read this book!

    Reply
  24. Shelly says

    January 22, 2008 at 7:18 pm

    This sounds interesting. I am pretty new to memoir – other than Angela’s Ashes.

    Reply
  25. John MacDonald says

    January 22, 2008 at 7:00 pm

    Sounds very interesting. Sign me up!

    Reply
  26. Vicki Wurgler says

    January 22, 2008 at 6:11 pm

    sounds like a very interesting story

    Reply
  27. Kathy Conley says

    January 22, 2008 at 3:01 pm

    I am new to memoir but I am intrigued now

    Reply
  28. Susan Chester says

    January 22, 2008 at 12:26 pm

    Oh this sounds wonderful. I love food books.

    Reply
  29. Erin says

    January 22, 2008 at 11:34 am

    I’d love to win!

    Reply
  30. Patricia Simpkin says

    January 22, 2008 at 11:28 am

    I’d love to win this book.

    Reply
  31. Vida says

    January 22, 2008 at 10:01 am

    I’m new to memoir, and I’d love to win.

    Reply
  32. Ann Knowles says

    January 22, 2008 at 9:36 am

    I am new to this genre and to this website. The book sounds very interesting and I would love to read it.

    Reply
  33. Corrine says

    January 22, 2008 at 8:35 am

    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

    Reply
  34. ES says

    January 22, 2008 at 5:05 am

    Sounds great!

    Reply
  35. Angela says

    January 22, 2008 at 2:55 am

    I would love to win a copy!

    I’ll add you to the links
    http://www.prizeatron.com

    Reply
  36. mymommymy says

    January 22, 2008 at 1:27 am

    I would LOVE to win this!! always love a good read!!

    Reply
  37. Marlene Rugg says

    January 21, 2008 at 11:38 pm

    Would love to win this wonderful book am new to memior!

    Reply
  38. Karin says

    January 21, 2008 at 11:31 pm

    Please enter me in your giveaway. Love to read! Thank you!

    Reply
  39. Wendy says

    January 21, 2008 at 11:20 pm

    I would love to win this:)

    Reply
  40. Patricia S says

    January 21, 2008 at 10:23 pm

    new to memoir thanks

    Reply
  41. Anita Yancey says

    January 21, 2008 at 10:17 pm

    A good read. Please enter me.

    Reply
  42. Taryn says

    January 21, 2008 at 10:11 pm

    I don’t think I’ve ever read a memoir before.

    Reply
  43. artsweet says

    January 21, 2008 at 10:03 pm

    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

    Reply
  44. Christi says

    January 21, 2008 at 9:26 pm

    This sounds like something I would really like! I think that the best memoir I’ve read lately was Paper Daughter.

    Reply
  45. Susanne says

    January 21, 2008 at 9:10 pm

    I am a newbie, but just working on the time for it all!! Thanks!!

    Reply
  46. Brooke says

    January 21, 2008 at 9:01 pm

    I go through long stretches where I LOVE memoirs. I just finished “LOOK ME IN THE EYE” – Augusten Bourroughs brothers’ memoir.

    Reply
  47. Jill says

    January 21, 2008 at 8:49 pm

    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.

    Reply
  48. Theresa N. says

    January 21, 2008 at 8:18 pm

    I’m a newbie and would love to read this book!!

    Reply
  49. Corina Smith says

    January 21, 2008 at 8:10 pm

    this book sounds really good. 🙂 Please enter me in the giveaway!

    Reply
  50. Shaun Wallner says

    January 21, 2008 at 8:03 pm

    This sounds like a great book!!

    Reply
  51. Katie M says

    January 21, 2008 at 7:59 pm

    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”.

    Reply
  52. Tiffany says

    January 21, 2008 at 7:38 pm

    I have not read a memoir before, but this definitely sounds interesting. Please enter me in the drawing!

    Reply
  53. Tonya says

    January 21, 2008 at 6:35 pm

    I would be new to reading memoirs.

    Reply
  54. Bhavana says

    January 21, 2008 at 6:13 pm

    Enter me please. Thanks!

    Reply
  55. laura says

    January 21, 2008 at 6:02 pm

    sounds wonderful…fingers crossed…

    Reply
  56. Shari says

    January 21, 2008 at 5:57 pm

    This sounds like a very interesting book! I just finished “The White Masaii” (a memoir) and I’m hooked to this style of writing. Thanks for entering me!

    Reply
  57. Dodo O says

    January 21, 2008 at 5:37 pm

    Sounds great. Never read a memoir before, but I would love to start 🙂

    Reply
  58. Rachel says

    January 21, 2008 at 5:35 pm

    Memoirs are actually my favorite genre to read. The first one that comew to mind when I think of which have been my favorites is “The Glass Castle” by Jeannette Walls. I reread it again recently. I lent it to my sister who has never read memoirs and she loved it. “Eat, Pray, Love” by Elizabeth Gilbert is another good one that has been a bit hit recently. The next one on my list to get is “Dishwasher: One Man’s Quest to Wash Dishes in All Fifty States” by Pete Jordan. The guy wrote a zine for a while about his adventures traveling and working as a dishwasher, and I read and really enjoyed the issues I was able to get my hands on.

    Reply
  59. The Well-Read Child says

    January 21, 2008 at 5:12 pm

    Sounds like a great book…I’d love to get my hands on a copy!

    Reply
  60. Blessed says

    January 21, 2008 at 5:00 pm

    This sounds like a really interesting book, I would love to win it!

    Reply
  61. Bree says

    January 21, 2008 at 4:46 pm

    This sounds really interesting!

    Reply
  62. Nancy says

    January 21, 2008 at 4:13 pm

    I’m new to memoir and would like to check it out.

    Reply
  63. Amy R. says

    January 21, 2008 at 3:58 pm

    This sounds like a good book!

    Reply
  64. fan says

    January 21, 2008 at 3:44 pm

    I’ve read one memoir before called The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom it was scary and sad. I’d love to read this one.

    Reply
  65. Julie M says

    January 21, 2008 at 3:36 pm

    Sounds great! Count me in!

    Reply
  66. danandmarsh says

    January 21, 2008 at 3:17 pm

    Sounds like some interesting reading, count me in!!

    Reply
  67. monica - books are our friends says

    January 21, 2008 at 2:42 pm

    Oh, I love a good memoir and can recommend several. Angela’s Ashes comes to mind, Through Painted Deserts, Girl Meets God, Eat,Pray, Love. Another food based memoir is Animal, Vegetable, Miracle.

    Reply
  68. Linda Pinto says

    January 21, 2008 at 2:36 pm

    This sounds like a wonderful book.

    Reply
  69. Patti says

    January 21, 2008 at 2:13 pm

    Looks like a great read!

    Reply
  70. Laura K says

    January 21, 2008 at 2:04 pm

    This sounds interesting. Would like to know more about how she felt about these places.

    Reply
  71. Naomi says

    January 21, 2008 at 1:38 pm

    I would love to read this. I haven’t read many contemporary memoirs.

    Reply
  72. Leigh Anne Wilkes says

    January 21, 2008 at 1:33 pm

    I love “foodie” books, food blogs, cookbooks,and food! I have read all of Ruth Reichl’s books about her love of food and life as a restaurant critic and love Julia Child’s book about her life in France and discovering food and learning to cook – “My Life in France”. I would love to read this one too!

    Reply
  73. Natalie says

    January 21, 2008 at 1:15 pm

    I’d love a copy! 🙂

    Reply
  74. Shannon H says

    January 21, 2008 at 12:26 pm

    Enter me please. I just read A Walk with Jane Austen which is part-memoir:-)

    Reply
  75. Janine says

    January 21, 2008 at 12:17 pm

    I’m a memoir newbie. Would love to check it out– never met a good book I didn’t like. 🙂

    Reply
  76. Forgetfulone says

    January 21, 2008 at 12:02 pm

    I don’t usually select memoirs, but this one sounds fascinating. Please enter me!

    Reply
  77. Meg says

    January 21, 2008 at 11:49 am

    I’ve read some memoirs, but I can’t remember the exact titles right now! Must not have made a terribly big impression, huh? I’d love to read this one, though. :0)

    Reply
  78. Bebemiqui says

    January 21, 2008 at 11:37 am

    Sounds really good!! Best Memoir I’ve read lately was Anthony Bourdain’s book on his rise in the cooking world.

    Reply
  79. megan says

    January 21, 2008 at 11:34 am

    Sounds like a great read. Please enter me.

    Reply
  80. feefifoto says

    January 21, 2008 at 11:21 am

    This book sounds great. Memoir is a terrific genre.

    Reply
  81. Laura S. says

    January 21, 2008 at 11:04 am

    This sounds fascinating! I believe food is central to life and that it does more for us then keep us alive. I think it may affect us in ways we wouldn’t think of so I’d love to read this and see what it has to say. I’m new to memoirs but would love to try one!

    Reply
  82. Michele says

    January 21, 2008 at 10:59 am

    Please enter me!

    Reply
  83. Michelle says

    January 21, 2008 at 10:41 am

    Oh the book sounds lovely. Does “Eat, Pray, Love” by Elizabeth Gilbert qualify as a memoir? If it does, I highly recommend it 🙂

    Reply
  84. Debbie says

    January 21, 2008 at 10:40 am

    I’m intrigued and would love a new read!

    Reply
  85. Heidi says

    January 21, 2008 at 10:30 am

    I’ve read a few memoirs. Currently, I’m reading “The Hidden Place”~ a memoir. This one looks good. I have 2 Korean-born brothers.

    Reply
  86. Heather says

    January 21, 2008 at 10:23 am

    I love a new book!

    Reply
  87. Teresa Hoyt says

    January 21, 2008 at 9:55 am

    Toss me in the mix please!

    Reply
  88. amydeanne says

    January 21, 2008 at 9:50 am

    new to memoir! but sounds interesting! i’d love to win one!

    Reply
  89. Melissa Markham says

    January 21, 2008 at 9:47 am

    This sounds like a wonderful book and different from anything I have read before.

    Reply
  90. Amy says

    January 21, 2008 at 9:38 am

    I would love to read and review.
    Thanks!

    Reply
  91. jennifer says

    January 21, 2008 at 9:32 am

    I am always looking for a good book. Thanks. Count me in too.

    Reply
  92. Racheal says

    January 21, 2008 at 9:25 am

    wanna win too

    Reply
  93. Shannon says

    January 21, 2008 at 9:20 am

    count me in!

    Reply
  94. ayla says

    January 21, 2008 at 9:07 am

    I’ve been doing lots of reading since my son was born, since it’s hard for me to nurse at the keyboard. I’ve decided to try branching out into new genres of books besides my usual fantasy/sci fi or romance staples. I’d love a copy of this book.

    Reply
  95. Susan says

    January 21, 2008 at 8:57 am

    This sounds wonderful! I am new to memoirs, although I have loved many biographies. One of my favorites is Camille Claudel… I also spent some time after college living in Paris, and so the idea of experiencing different cultures and finding one’s way through food has always intrigued me.

    Reply
  96. Beth/Mom2TwoVikings says

    January 21, 2008 at 8:27 am

    I love memoirs! Sounds like fun!

    Reply
  97. Maria says

    January 21, 2008 at 8:14 am

    I’d love to win this one!! I am new to memoir – but absolutely love food related reading… I read cookbooks

    Reply
  98. Mamacheryl says

    January 21, 2008 at 8:11 am

    I’m definitely in the mood for a book like this. Since my husband and I changed our lifestyles to ones that are health-driven, I’ve become obsessed with food… exploring food and learning about food and experiencing food in a way I never did back in the drive-through days.

    Reply
  99. NerdMom says

    January 21, 2008 at 1:32 am

    This sounds so perfect for me. I love reading and cooking;). Seriously, it sounds heart touching and I would love it.

    Reply
  100. Jocelyn G. says

    January 21, 2008 at 1:13 am

    Sounds interesting. Sign me up.

    Reply
  101. Cindi Hoppes says

    January 21, 2008 at 1:09 am

    Hi, Sounds like a wonderful book to me. It reminds me of my husband’s family. His sister is Thai/American, a child of the Vietnam War. My husband’s dad adopted her from her mother who was selling her on the street. She was very ill with infantigo and almost died. His sister has always had trouble fitting in no matter where the Air Force sent them! Please sign me up for this memoir. I would love to give it to my sister-in-law. Thanks very much…..Cindi

    Reply
  102. Celeste says

    January 21, 2008 at 12:55 am

    Sounds intriguing!

    Reply
  103. Lori says

    January 21, 2008 at 12:44 am

    I’m a newbie as well and would love to win:)

    Reply
  104. Tara Robertson says

    January 21, 2008 at 12:24 am

    I’d love to win this! I’m new to memoir.

    Reply

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