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Kałasznikow kebab. Reportaże wojenne
Książka wpisująca się w najlepszą tradycję reportażu, w tonie i swobodzie snucia narracji przypominająca utwory Jacka Hugo-Badera i teksty Mariusza Szczygła.
Anna Badkhen, młoda rosyjska dziennikarka, jako korespondent wojenny wyjeżdża do Iraku i Afganistanu, Palestyny, Czeczenii, pogrążających się w anarchii państw postsowieckich, a także ogarniętej suszą wschodniej Afryki.
Udając do w miejsca najgroźniejszych konfliktów, stara się trafić przede wszystkim do cywilów. Siadając z nimi do stołu, dzieląc się jedzeniem, wysłuchuje intymnych wspomnień, poznaje kulisy wojny. Opowieści o talibach zarabiających fortuny na uprawie maku (ok. 70 proc. opium na świecie pochodzi z Afganistanu), współpracy bin Ladena z Amerykanami, gwałtach na Pasztunkach, więzieniach i upalonych haszyszem młodych, pozbawionych perspektyw żołnierzach dają obraz daleki od headlinowych newsów. Wśród relacji przewijają się prywatne wspomnienia dziennikarki, opisującej nie tylko niebezpieczeństwa, których doświadczyła, ale także chwytające za serce momenty dobroci tuziemców. Picie wódki z grożącymi śmiercią rosyjskimi pułkownikami, ucieczka opancerzonych ochroniarzy sąsiadują z opisami rozpaczy bliskich, których rosyjski Specnaz zagazował w teatrze na Dubrowce, w nauki chodzenia w czadorze, którą Badkhen otrzymała od kobiet w Kabulu, i przepisami na najlepsze potrawy.
Co daje nowe spojrzenie na opisane konflikty, autorka rozpatruje wydarzenia z perspektywy człowieka Wschodu, krytycznie patrzącego na propagandę wojenną i działania USA. W reportażach z byłych republik radzieckich autorka demaskuje również krwawe działania Putina i jego totalitarne zapędy.
Anna Badkhen, młoda rosyjska dziennikarka, jako korespondent wojenny wyjeżdża do Iraku i Afganistanu, Palestyny, Czeczenii, pogrążających się w anarchii państw postsowieckich, a także ogarniętej suszą wschodniej Afryki.
Udając do w miejsca najgroźniejszych konfliktów, stara się trafić przede wszystkim do cywilów. Siadając z nimi do stołu, dzieląc się jedzeniem, wysłuchuje intymnych wspomnień, poznaje kulisy wojny. Opowieści o talibach zarabiających fortuny na uprawie maku (ok. 70 proc. opium na świecie pochodzi z Afganistanu), współpracy bin Ladena z Amerykanami, gwałtach na Pasztunkach, więzieniach i upalonych haszyszem młodych, pozbawionych perspektyw żołnierzach dają obraz daleki od headlinowych newsów. Wśród relacji przewijają się prywatne wspomnienia dziennikarki, opisującej nie tylko niebezpieczeństwa, których doświadczyła, ale także chwytające za serce momenty dobroci tuziemców. Picie wódki z grożącymi śmiercią rosyjskimi pułkownikami, ucieczka opancerzonych ochroniarzy sąsiadują z opisami rozpaczy bliskich, których rosyjski Specnaz zagazował w teatrze na Dubrowce, w nauki chodzenia w czadorze, którą Badkhen otrzymała od kobiet w Kabulu, i przepisami na najlepsze potrawy.
Co daje nowe spojrzenie na opisane konflikty, autorka rozpatruje wydarzenia z perspektywy człowieka Wschodu, krytycznie patrzącego na propagandę wojenną i działania USA. W reportażach z byłych republik radzieckich autorka demaskuje również krwawe działania Putina i jego totalitarne zapędy.
320 pages, Paperback
First published October 12, 2010
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February 19, 2012
Badken has lyrical way of describing friendship in impossible war torn places. I love how she closes the book stating that being in a state of war intensifies ones emotions to one of absolutes.
I love this book because it focuses on war through rose-colored glasses of unity between allies via having meals together. It is amazing what war correspondents go through for a story. The only way I can explain why these people are attracted to war torn countries is that they love the rush of war. Having said this, I trust the mainstream media more than conservative media because whereas the mainstream media are driven more by data and facts, conservative media have an agenda to tell and actively look for facts that drive their agenda, meaning their coverage is automatically biased. One only needs to W justification of the war in Iraq to show this is true. W. decided to go to war in Iraq and looked for raw unvetted intelligence to justify the war. I realize that if one tells a story this means that it is some what biased.
Besides having the wrong intelligence for causing the Iraq war, the Iraq war was poorly planned and executed. The special ops troops sent into Iraq was made to quickly find the enemy and neutralize them not for nation building and for playing political police of transition to democracy. Clearly, part of the problem is the lack of a clear mission objective after ousting Saddam Hussein. The interesting about the neoconservative thinking about global affairs is that they think the military preemptive strikes solves political problems that is the reasons why they do not plan for democratic transition that Iraq needed. The lack of planning for Iraqi's aftermath is the height of incompetence. We aloud militants to fill the power vacuum left from Saddam Hussein by the lack of security and basic services provided after we ousted him.
Although Iraq intelligence was forged without a strategic plan to do good, the impulse of getting Saddam Hussein combined with bringing democracy to the most literate country in the middle east was a good one. One thing is for sure, no one is going to miss Saddam Hussein and his effective propaganda machine.
If anything, Iraq shows us that if one conquers a country and does not mean to annex the country, one has to have a nation building strategy from initial military attack to security to bringing basic services to people and finally democratization process. Iraq shows us that one cannot go to war half-assessed. Colin Powell should have been in charge of the Iraq war b/c he is more thorough in his approach to winning rather than planning the military end of it.
Compounding the issue of our army not knowing who is friend from foe, we had to go house to house and flush out possible "militants." From an Iraqi's perspective, I would be pissed off if the military searched my house in the middle of night while my family and I are sleeping especially if I was falsely accused of doing something that I did not do. I am soooo glad we are out of Iraq since the Iraqi's thought that we were occupiers and our projects to help them were no longer appreciated. What is the point of helping someone who does not want to be helped especially if we are spending tax payer money to try to help them? Aside from the fact that the military personnel might get killed at any moment due to the fact we did not know who the enemy is, the soldier's personal life suffers as marriages end in divorced due to constant redeployment.
Things I have learned reading this book:
1) Political alliances mean nothing in Afghanistan only tribal and family alliances are important. I do not know how one can defeat an enemy that constantly changes sides as the losing Afghani's seem to do. The initial attraction of Afghani's toward that Taliban is that they brought order out of chaos. In a place where rape was very common place in which the winning side would justify its action by saying rape just comes with the territory, one can see why the fundamental ordered way of the Taliban was a very good alternative to the chaotic mess that governed the country. In a war torn country like Afghanistan, I don't know how one can begin to think about rehabilitating a country that only skill of its population is war. Humanitarian aid in war torn countries almost never goes to the people who need it most. Instead, people who usually receive the aid are the people with guns and then the population that supports the warriors while the rest ends up in the market of public consumption.
2) The war torn population of Afghanistan can only survive by making poppy seeds to feed its family which incidentally saw an increase in production with the Afghanistan war. The only good news with the increase in poppy production is that the price for production has declined so much that other crops can now compete with poppy production for space in its production.
3) While the male population has profited from the ousting of the Taliban with the proliferation of music and movies such as the Titanic, women are still very much second citizens. In an area in which women are still very much second class citizens, incremental change such as providing universal education and lending women micro-finance loans are the way to allow them to thrive.
4) Russian alcoholism combined with communism is the reason why Russia will never be able to compete globally with the US, EU, East Asian countries with their better work ethic. I think it also speaks to the dangers of massive addiction in crippling a countries potential. Russian centralized mentality in leading also speaks to low-likelihood of it being a true democracy. If the Kremlin can sacrifice its citizens in pursuit of terrorist without thinking twice. I mean for the 2 people killed by Chechnian terrorist is thoroughly offset by the 150 people the Russian counter-terrorism team killed to rescue its population. Badkhen also proves that capitalism is the best and most efficient way to bring products to the market.
5) Israeli-Palestinian conflict shows why Gaza is the breeding ground for terrorist due to its youthful population with 80% unemployment and stagnant political life. Its social safety net is Hamas which doubles as a terrorist group and charity for its society, it is not hard why people see it as a benevolent force. Only a few people like Anna's friend can escape the force to be suicide bomber.
6) Even with the relatively high unemployment, America is still the land of plenty. Even poor people have access to basic necessities to live unlike impoverished 3rd world areas such as East Africa where access to clean water is nonexistent. Parents in these places have to choose which of their children will live and which will die. Lower m.c. people, eat as much as royalty in these East African nation. For international aid agencies, humanitarian assistance only creates dependency on people who need the assistance. Although these agencies know that development is the only way that these people can live a self-sustaining life, the lack of development funds causes it to never be funded.
I love this book because it focuses on war through rose-colored glasses of unity between allies via having meals together. It is amazing what war correspondents go through for a story. The only way I can explain why these people are attracted to war torn countries is that they love the rush of war. Having said this, I trust the mainstream media more than conservative media because whereas the mainstream media are driven more by data and facts, conservative media have an agenda to tell and actively look for facts that drive their agenda, meaning their coverage is automatically biased. One only needs to W justification of the war in Iraq to show this is true. W. decided to go to war in Iraq and looked for raw unvetted intelligence to justify the war. I realize that if one tells a story this means that it is some what biased.
Besides having the wrong intelligence for causing the Iraq war, the Iraq war was poorly planned and executed. The special ops troops sent into Iraq was made to quickly find the enemy and neutralize them not for nation building and for playing political police of transition to democracy. Clearly, part of the problem is the lack of a clear mission objective after ousting Saddam Hussein. The interesting about the neoconservative thinking about global affairs is that they think the military preemptive strikes solves political problems that is the reasons why they do not plan for democratic transition that Iraq needed. The lack of planning for Iraqi's aftermath is the height of incompetence. We aloud militants to fill the power vacuum left from Saddam Hussein by the lack of security and basic services provided after we ousted him.
Although Iraq intelligence was forged without a strategic plan to do good, the impulse of getting Saddam Hussein combined with bringing democracy to the most literate country in the middle east was a good one. One thing is for sure, no one is going to miss Saddam Hussein and his effective propaganda machine.
If anything, Iraq shows us that if one conquers a country and does not mean to annex the country, one has to have a nation building strategy from initial military attack to security to bringing basic services to people and finally democratization process. Iraq shows us that one cannot go to war half-assessed. Colin Powell should have been in charge of the Iraq war b/c he is more thorough in his approach to winning rather than planning the military end of it.
Compounding the issue of our army not knowing who is friend from foe, we had to go house to house and flush out possible "militants." From an Iraqi's perspective, I would be pissed off if the military searched my house in the middle of night while my family and I are sleeping especially if I was falsely accused of doing something that I did not do. I am soooo glad we are out of Iraq since the Iraqi's thought that we were occupiers and our projects to help them were no longer appreciated. What is the point of helping someone who does not want to be helped especially if we are spending tax payer money to try to help them? Aside from the fact that the military personnel might get killed at any moment due to the fact we did not know who the enemy is, the soldier's personal life suffers as marriages end in divorced due to constant redeployment.
Things I have learned reading this book:
1) Political alliances mean nothing in Afghanistan only tribal and family alliances are important. I do not know how one can defeat an enemy that constantly changes sides as the losing Afghani's seem to do. The initial attraction of Afghani's toward that Taliban is that they brought order out of chaos. In a place where rape was very common place in which the winning side would justify its action by saying rape just comes with the territory, one can see why the fundamental ordered way of the Taliban was a very good alternative to the chaotic mess that governed the country. In a war torn country like Afghanistan, I don't know how one can begin to think about rehabilitating a country that only skill of its population is war. Humanitarian aid in war torn countries almost never goes to the people who need it most. Instead, people who usually receive the aid are the people with guns and then the population that supports the warriors while the rest ends up in the market of public consumption.
2) The war torn population of Afghanistan can only survive by making poppy seeds to feed its family which incidentally saw an increase in production with the Afghanistan war. The only good news with the increase in poppy production is that the price for production has declined so much that other crops can now compete with poppy production for space in its production.
3) While the male population has profited from the ousting of the Taliban with the proliferation of music and movies such as the Titanic, women are still very much second citizens. In an area in which women are still very much second class citizens, incremental change such as providing universal education and lending women micro-finance loans are the way to allow them to thrive.
4) Russian alcoholism combined with communism is the reason why Russia will never be able to compete globally with the US, EU, East Asian countries with their better work ethic. I think it also speaks to the dangers of massive addiction in crippling a countries potential. Russian centralized mentality in leading also speaks to low-likelihood of it being a true democracy. If the Kremlin can sacrifice its citizens in pursuit of terrorist without thinking twice. I mean for the 2 people killed by Chechnian terrorist is thoroughly offset by the 150 people the Russian counter-terrorism team killed to rescue its population. Badkhen also proves that capitalism is the best and most efficient way to bring products to the market.
5) Israeli-Palestinian conflict shows why Gaza is the breeding ground for terrorist due to its youthful population with 80% unemployment and stagnant political life. Its social safety net is Hamas which doubles as a terrorist group and charity for its society, it is not hard why people see it as a benevolent force. Only a few people like Anna's friend can escape the force to be suicide bomber.
6) Even with the relatively high unemployment, America is still the land of plenty. Even poor people have access to basic necessities to live unlike impoverished 3rd world areas such as East Africa where access to clean water is nonexistent. Parents in these places have to choose which of their children will live and which will die. Lower m.c. people, eat as much as royalty in these East African nation. For international aid agencies, humanitarian assistance only creates dependency on people who need the assistance. Although these agencies know that development is the only way that these people can live a self-sustaining life, the lack of development funds causes it to never be funded.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 23, 2010
If you're going to read a book that matters this year, this is it. It's a thoughtful collection of stories from a foreign correspondent/war reporter about the basic thing that unites all, whether we live in a war zone or not - the need to eat. I may be biased since Anna is a good friend, but you will really be drawn into the stories and personal experience she puts in the writing. She is against Bush, but also against Saddam - so don't expect any politics here. Just an eye witness account of war does to everyday life...and mealtime.
October 12, 2014
An intriguing premise, but disappointing in style and content; neither the insights nor the recipes offered seemed to be more than war reporting with a sensationalist-domestic slant. I read this story by story, with long gaps between, and found the insights sad, occasionally tragic, but predictable. The writing is choppy, which should not be surprising, as the author is a journalist and presumably works short articles to a deadline.
June 24, 2018
Being able to put a face, family, or nation, to a conflict I believe is one step in the right direction of preventing wars in the future. It's sad that citizens who have the similar goals of just wanting to live their lives in peace and be able to feed their families at the end of the day, have to get involved in something that neither side should ever have to see due to an extreme person/group's greed, power, or personal beliefs.
November 15, 2025
A wartime reporter, Badkhen has been in some rough places at rough times, but she has found shared companionship with others over food. This collection of short stories chronicles some of these experiences she has had -- with her translators and guides, other journalists, members of the U.S. military, and local people. Badkhen is a strong writer, but I wasn't invested in the stories and I found the connection to food to be a bit tenuous at times.
May 16, 2023
An entertaining read
Anna Badkhen's writing has taken my heart. Full of compassion and love. An unprepossessing memoir if her time in Afghanistan, Palestine and Iraq. Her love for the land and people shows in every sentence.
Anna Badkhen's writing has taken my heart. Full of compassion and love. An unprepossessing memoir if her time in Afghanistan, Palestine and Iraq. Her love for the land and people shows in every sentence.
July 2, 2017
A very fascinating book by using cuisine to reveal the cruelty of wars. There are many culture things that really amused me!
July 13, 2017
Great history lessons from an eyewitness. Recipes from the heartlands of wars.
March 6, 2017
My absolute favorite excerpt from the book:
"The Polish journalist Ryszard Kapuscinski wrote about his visit to Nagorno-Karabakh during the genocidal war there between Azeris and Armenians: 'The Table should always be set with whatever one has, with whatever is at hand, just so that it is not bare, for a table's nakedness alienates people, freezes conversation.' But the wars I have witnessed, a set table--or a dastarkhan, or a plate or simple a palm holding forth some morsels --was always more than a prop, more than a backdrop denoting goodwill. Dining in war zones was an act of defiance against depravity. It was a celebration of the verity that war can kill our friends and decimate our towns, but it cannot kill our inherent decency, generosity and kindness: that which makes us human."
A really great read. Badkhen's writing bordered on melodramatic for me, but somehow managed to still be really vibrant and powerfully descriptive. The recipes at the end of each chapter are a great way to wrap up the story, and a nice way to bring a little bit of that cross-cultural friendship into your own kitchen. I plan on making quite a few of the recipes listed.
A great book for anyone looking to be reminded of the goodness that can (and does) exist within human beings. I highly recommend it.
"The Polish journalist Ryszard Kapuscinski wrote about his visit to Nagorno-Karabakh during the genocidal war there between Azeris and Armenians: 'The Table should always be set with whatever one has, with whatever is at hand, just so that it is not bare, for a table's nakedness alienates people, freezes conversation.' But the wars I have witnessed, a set table--or a dastarkhan, or a plate or simple a palm holding forth some morsels --was always more than a prop, more than a backdrop denoting goodwill. Dining in war zones was an act of defiance against depravity. It was a celebration of the verity that war can kill our friends and decimate our towns, but it cannot kill our inherent decency, generosity and kindness: that which makes us human."
A really great read. Badkhen's writing bordered on melodramatic for me, but somehow managed to still be really vibrant and powerfully descriptive. The recipes at the end of each chapter are a great way to wrap up the story, and a nice way to bring a little bit of that cross-cultural friendship into your own kitchen. I plan on making quite a few of the recipes listed.
A great book for anyone looking to be reminded of the goodness that can (and does) exist within human beings. I highly recommend it.
February 19, 2017
I was expecting this book to be solely about Afghanistan and Iraq. It started and ended there, however the author included time in Africa as well as in her native Russia.
I really liked the recipes at the end of each chapter...it almost makes it more of an interactive book and, honestly, I enjoy recipes that have a story with them.
I also enjoyed recognizing some (war) situations she discussed in this book that I had read about in other books. Her perspective, of course, being different.
I found it a fairly quick read. I would certainly recommend it to anyone who enjoys reading about other countries and cultures.
I really liked the recipes at the end of each chapter...it almost makes it more of an interactive book and, honestly, I enjoy recipes that have a story with them.
I also enjoyed recognizing some (war) situations she discussed in this book that I had read about in other books. Her perspective, of course, being different.
I found it a fairly quick read. I would certainly recommend it to anyone who enjoys reading about other countries and cultures.
January 8, 2013
Peace Meals, Candy-Wrapped Kalashnikovs and Other War Stories by Anna Badkhen was easily one of the most intriguing reads of the year. And it’s one that I recommend to everyone. It’s fantastic. While reading this I laughed out loud, gasped, cried, and marveled at the strength, grace, ferocity, cruelty, kindness, madness, and love expressed by the people I encountered in its pages. Badkhen, a war correspondent for a US paper, has covered the wars in Bosnia, Iraq, Afghanistan, the genocide in Rwanda, and basically every other horrific conflict of the past two decades. Originally from Russia, Badkhen brings a fresh perspective to each of these events and instead of focusing on the politics or the horror that would be so easy to obsess over, she shares the stories of the meals she ate with people she lived with, was embedded with, and who she grew to love. Whether eating with a Palestinian in an Israeli occupied neighborhood, drinking vodka with a Russian general in Afghanistan, or simply cooking a meal for her sons at home in the States, Badkhen shows the role that food plays in drawing people together. Sharing food turns strangers into friends, enemies into allies, it unites us and calls upon the “better angels of our nature.” Maybe it’s because everyone has to eat and everyone enjoys food, it’s universal and it may just remind us that the things we share in common outweigh the things that drive us apart. I’m not sure, but this book is excellent. Get it now and read it!
January 26, 2015
Anna Badhken impressed me both with her ability to turn a phrase and with her insistence on finding the human hearts beating relentlessly on in the midst of war before I picked up Peace Meals. In fact, that's why I picked it up in the first place, because let's face it: a war memoir full of recipes is clearly quirky and could easily slide into maudlin sentimentality at the snap of a (culinary) finger. But Badhken manages to pull it off, beautifully. She takes us with her into the lives of the people she's met during her travels into some of the most dangerous places in the world today. She also peppers her tales (ah! pun!) with her own memories of growing up in the Soviet Union, which was both entertaining and illuminating for a sheltered American like myself, especially when considered alongside the harsh realities of life in post-invasion Iraq. Altogether, this book is a recipe for both a delicious evening curled in your favorite reading chair - and multiple afternoons spent experimenting in your kitchen. Great introduction to the Middle East for casual readers.
March 4, 2011
Badkhen perfectly balances her experiences as a journalist traveling through a variety of war-torn countries, including Iraq and Afghanistan, and highlights the personal stories of the people she encounters, from ordinary civilians to U.S. soldiers. Many of her stories are centered on the meals she shared with the people she met. She includes many of the recipes from those shared meals as well as many from her childhood in St. Petersburg, Russia.
There are many books that focus on the war and the battles fought. Badkhen’s memoir focuses on the people who live through the wars and the loss of loved ones while struggling to find normalcy in their lives on a daily basis. I learned a lot about Badkhen as well. Her reflections on motherhood, her culture, and career are nicely weaved into the book without being overly self-involved.
Badkhen’s writing is not a disconnected account of the people she encounters, but rather a beautifully written soulful narrative of human stories.
There are many books that focus on the war and the battles fought. Badkhen’s memoir focuses on the people who live through the wars and the loss of loved ones while struggling to find normalcy in their lives on a daily basis. I learned a lot about Badkhen as well. Her reflections on motherhood, her culture, and career are nicely weaved into the book without being overly self-involved.
Badkhen’s writing is not a disconnected account of the people she encounters, but rather a beautifully written soulful narrative of human stories.
October 29, 2012
The theme for this book was promising--discussing the author's experiences (she is a war correspondent for a couple of major American newspapers) in the countries from which she reported (Iraq, Afghanistan, Chechnya) through the meals she had with the people she had met. Unfortunately, unlike the other food memoir I had recently read (Bento Box in the Heartland by Linda Furiya), this book was not very cohesive. The author would have a good story and then, realizing or remembering what her theme was for the book, would suddenly insert a memory of a meal that she had during that particular trip/story, and then provide the recipe to end the chapter. It worked for a handful of chapters; but it did not work for too many chapters. In the end, it is a quick read that does make you appreciate the normalcy of food and sharing of food provided to those in a war zone. And I picked up a recipe or two that I may want to try (the muntoo recipe looks promising).
February 11, 2017
This book should be required reading! We must remember that most people just want to be at a table eating something tasty with their friends. And that they are not different from us.
February 11, 2016
A difficult read for tender hearts. I agree with other reviews that it was at times disjointed, but, despite the fact that I had to make myself continue from time to time, the authenticity overrode both dissatisfaction with the style and distaste for the terrible things that go on in this world.
I have only tried one recipe so far, but it was good - and something I would never have made otherwise.
A quirky and valuable book... something those of us who live in relative peace and rarely miss meals should make a point of reading.
I have only tried one recipe so far, but it was good - and something I would never have made otherwise.
A quirky and valuable book... something those of us who live in relative peace and rarely miss meals should make a point of reading.
May 6, 2012
You know, while the senselessness of war and difficulty of bridging cultural divides is hardly unique territory to cover, the linking of it all with food is at least an interesting angle. Was it a link successfully made? Not always, but that doesn't mean this wasn't worth reading. The author's Soviet heritage also added some interesting anecdotes about corruption. Fact I didn't know: American soldiers in Iraq have (over-cooked) lobster tails and steak dinner every Friday night.
March 29, 2013
So far an excellent piece of war journalism that highlights the essential humanity of people even in desparate times. Badken is a terrific writer.
Just finished. It lived up to my initial good impression. Some of the bst war reporting I have read because it is so human.The food cionnection is a major part of they story and Badken's ear and eye for those around her is another. Makes me realize how lucky we are here, even when it's not perfect.
Just finished. It lived up to my initial good impression. Some of the bst war reporting I have read because it is so human.The food cionnection is a major part of they story and Badken's ear and eye for those around her is another. Makes me realize how lucky we are here, even when it's not perfect.
March 8, 2012
I'm trying to read more books written by women (especially Western women) about their war experiences. This one is heartbreaking and very good. I'm looking forward to trying several of the recipes, especially the dolma (stuffed grape leaves), the various zakuski (Russian appetizers) to eat while drinking vodka, and Shatha's Special Chicken aka Tbeet (roasted chicken with spiced rice stuffed under the skin.)
April 6, 2012
This book made these war stories accessible to me. The raw humanity evident in each of the people and families the author came in contact with overwhelmed me. Beautifully done. I'll read this memoir again one day soon.
From the epilogue: "It was a celebration of the verity that war can kill our friends and decimate our towns, but it cannot kill our inherent decency, generosity, and kindness: that which makes us human."
From the epilogue: "It was a celebration of the verity that war can kill our friends and decimate our towns, but it cannot kill our inherent decency, generosity, and kindness: that which makes us human."
August 1, 2011
Peace Meals is by a Russian born US immigrated War correspondant. She tells of her expierences in Iraq, Afghainistan, Kenya etc... through the lens of meals she shared with people she met there. Amananda, I thought of you with your love of cooking and homeschooling. She gives receipts of the meals she shared with her friends met around the world. Most of them seamed simple and unique.
December 30, 2013
Sometimes in the war stories/reportages you don't see the real people in...real people. Because this journalist has connections with all of the heroes of the book - you read their stories with emotion, with the kindness that author has in herself. Huge kudos also for recipes which make you want cook...or just eat all those meals.
March 20, 2016
Revealing life going on through and despite the war, despairing and hopeful at the same time. Despairing: in this fear-filled land and time, human touch is so often motivated by selfish personal fears; and with a position of power, the ability to translate that fear into violence and cruelty inflicted on others. Hopeful: we continue to... continue.
April 28, 2011
Journalist views war correspondence from her experience with sharing meals while on assignment. You might think that would make the stories more women-focused but that's not her take. The concept is better in theory than this manifestation but still a worthy read.
May 2, 2012
Exceptional stories of the unflappable spirit of those caught in the grips of civil war, or subjected to the deadly greed of corrupt governments and violence of local warlords. I definitely recommend.
June 30, 2014
This was an enjoyable read - the author stitched together meaningful experiences she encountered as a war corespondent with recipes. Getting a less-than-objective point of view from war-torn Afghanistan and Iraq was most interesting.
February 25, 2016
About a reporter who has covered many conflicts worldwide, in this book you become educated about the different conflicts and also have the added pleasure of a few great recipes that she shared with the different people through out her travels.
June 1, 2011
If you want to know what it's like being a female war correspondent, this book will give you a good idea (with recipes!)
July 11, 2011
A story of friendships forged in war over meals. The recipes and stories reflect the writer's varied background and travels. I can't wait to try some of the recipes!
June 16, 2014
This book had a lot of interesting stories but I didn't want to read them all at once. I have it back on my shelf for times I want Just one story to read.
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