Now in paperback, the powerful, touching memoir of a Chinese-American woman, in which taste becomes the keeper of memory and food the keeper of culture when Nai-nai, her extraordinary grandmother, arrives from mainland China.
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.5 / 5.0
China, land of symbolism and tradition:
"Writing memoir involves observing people making you suffer...and discovering what it is they've suffered that makes them insist you suffer, too." So Leslie Li summarizes this story about growing up with a "failed" father, who is the son of a great Chinese general, and a half-Chinese mother who is fully American. Embedded throughout is the quiet strength of grandmother Nai-Nai (the Daughter of Heaven?) who married Li Zongren and rose to privileged life with him but never left her hardy peasant upbringing... more info
An interesting culinary memoir!:
In "Daughters of Heaven: A Memoir with Earthly Recipes," Leslie Li wrote about her life, growing with a Chinese father and an American mother in New York City. When her paternal grandmother, Nai Nai came to live with them in the U.S., Leslie's life was very much altered. Her Nai Nai took over the kitchen and soon, the family started having very traditional Chinese cuisine. It was difficult for Leslie as she was perceived "different," since she did not bring the typical lunch to school. It took some time for... more info
Stone soup and conversations with Old Man Hill:
I enjoyed this book very much. Daughter of Heaven is thoughtfully composed and at the same time enormously energetic and energizing. I love the way the story coils back on itself toward the end and packs a wallop! There is a breath-like quality to the last third of the book. The book includes many great recipes, but what I enjoyed most were all the stories about stones! My parents are both geologists so I am used to hearing fascinating stories about stones. I loved them all: the stone soup, Li's... more info
Illuminating Daughter:
I found Li's book excellent on several levels. Firstly, there is the quality of her prose -- it's elegance and quiet power. Secondly, there is the honesty coupled with a hard-earned candor which informs the entire book and keeps it anchored in the personal. But, unlike many other memoirs I was struck by the deep wisdom Leslie Li brought to family matters and to the art and craft of writing a memoir. There were passages were I was stunned by her insight not only about others, but also about writing about... more info
