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Slow Noodles
A haunting and beautiful memoir from a Cambodian refugee who lost her country and her family during Pol Pot's genocide in the 1970s but who finds hope by reclaiming the recipes she tasted in her mother's kitchen. With over 20 Khmer recipes included, Slow Noodles will resonate with readers who loved the food and emotional truth of Michelle Zauner's Crying in H Mart, and it has the staying power of Loung Ung's First They Killed My Father.
Take a well-fed nine-year-old with a big family and a fancy education. Fold in 2 revolutions, 2 civil wars, and one wholesale extermination. Subtract a reliable source of food, life savings, and family members, until all are gone. Shave down childhood dreams for approximately two decades, until only subsistence remains.
In Slow Noodles, Chantha Nguon recounts her life as a Cambodia refugee who lost everything and everyone—her house, her country, her parents, her siblings, her friends—everything but the memories of her mother’s kitchen, the tastes and aromas of the foods her mother made before the dictator Pol Pot tore her country apart in the 1970s, killing millions of her compatriots. Nguon’s irrepressible spirit and determination come through in this emotional and poignant but also lyrical and magical memoir that includes over 20 recipes for Khmer dishes like chicken lime soup, banh sung noodles, pâté de foie, curries, spring rolls, and stir-fries. For Nguon, recreating these dishes becomes an act of resistance, of reclaiming her place in the world, of upholding the values the Khmer Rouge sought to destroy, and of honoring the memory of her beloved mother.
From her idyllic early years in Battambang to hiding as a young girl in Phnom Penh as the country purges ethnic Vietnamese like Nguon and her family, from her escape to Saigon to the deaths of mother and sister there, from the poverty and devastation she experiences in a war-ravaged Vietnam to her decision to flee the country. We follow Chantha on a harrowing river crossing into Thailand—part of the exodus that gave rise to the name “boat people”—and her decades in a refugee camp there, until finally, denied passage to the West, she returns to a forever changed Cambodia. Nguon survives by cooking in a brothel, serving drinks in a nightclub, making and selling street food, becoming a suture-nurse treating refugees abused by Thai authorities, and weaving silk. Through it all, Nguon relies on her mother’s “slow noodles” approach to healing and to cooking, one that prioritizes time and care over expediency. Haunting and evocative, Slow Noodles is a testament to the power of culinary heritage to spark the rebirth of a young woman’s hopes for a beautiful life.
Take a well-fed nine-year-old with a big family and a fancy education. Fold in 2 revolutions, 2 civil wars, and one wholesale extermination. Subtract a reliable source of food, life savings, and family members, until all are gone. Shave down childhood dreams for approximately two decades, until only subsistence remains.
In Slow Noodles, Chantha Nguon recounts her life as a Cambodia refugee who lost everything and everyone—her house, her country, her parents, her siblings, her friends—everything but the memories of her mother’s kitchen, the tastes and aromas of the foods her mother made before the dictator Pol Pot tore her country apart in the 1970s, killing millions of her compatriots. Nguon’s irrepressible spirit and determination come through in this emotional and poignant but also lyrical and magical memoir that includes over 20 recipes for Khmer dishes like chicken lime soup, banh sung noodles, pâté de foie, curries, spring rolls, and stir-fries. For Nguon, recreating these dishes becomes an act of resistance, of reclaiming her place in the world, of upholding the values the Khmer Rouge sought to destroy, and of honoring the memory of her beloved mother.
From her idyllic early years in Battambang to hiding as a young girl in Phnom Penh as the country purges ethnic Vietnamese like Nguon and her family, from her escape to Saigon to the deaths of mother and sister there, from the poverty and devastation she experiences in a war-ravaged Vietnam to her decision to flee the country. We follow Chantha on a harrowing river crossing into Thailand—part of the exodus that gave rise to the name “boat people”—and her decades in a refugee camp there, until finally, denied passage to the West, she returns to a forever changed Cambodia. Nguon survives by cooking in a brothel, serving drinks in a nightclub, making and selling street food, becoming a suture-nurse treating refugees abused by Thai authorities, and weaving silk. Through it all, Nguon relies on her mother’s “slow noodles” approach to healing and to cooking, one that prioritizes time and care over expediency. Haunting and evocative, Slow Noodles is a testament to the power of culinary heritage to spark the rebirth of a young woman’s hopes for a beautiful life.
11 pages, Audible Audio
First published February 20, 2024
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September 7, 2025
Most Americans, rightfully so, know about the Vietnam War. They know far less about Pol Pot’s devastating Cambodian genocide. As the world goes through its current genocides, I have to think, how long will we let this cycle keep happening?
I knew going into this that Chantha was Cambodian. I didn’t realize she was also of Vietnamese heritage through her mother. To the outside looking in, and perhaps in particular to westerners, if you see an outwardly Asian face, you don’t think to inquire further. I grew up with many Chinese Vietnamese. The Chinese have a vast overseas community. But to be quite honest, it hadn’t even occurred to me that a Vietnamese would be living outside Vietnam before the war, unless they were rich and lived in France.
I am of Vietnamese heritage. I finished this book on the nearly day long flights I took to get to Vietnam. It’s my first time here. This book made me feel a lot of things. Read this if you don’t feel particularly tied to one culture. Read this if you’re Southeast Asian. Read this if you’re an immigrant. Read this if you loved CRYING IN H MART. Read this because you want to.
Chantha’s story starts and ends in Cambodia, the country of her heart. As Pol Pot’s regime rises, those seen as other are forced to flee, or die. If this story sounds familiar, it is because it is still happening today in different parts of the world. While she didn’t grow up rich, she grew up slightly more middle class than both. Her paternal grandmother is a behavioral nightmare toward her mother. This isn’t a new story.
The family flees Cambodia to start anew in Vietnam, settling in Saigon. But by then, all of France’s former Southeast Asian colonies are having political uprisings. As most of you are familiar with the Vietnam War, called the American War in Vietnam, I won’t go into details.
During this time period, many people die, a lot of them in Chantha’s own family. As the situation in Vietnam grows worse, she wants to flee overseas. She has a sister in Belgium, but wants to go to the US. She and her partner make it as far as a Thai refugee camp, denied each time they interview. As the situation in the Thai refugee camps worsens, she eventually repatriates back to Cambodia to come full circle on her journey.
Most of the recipes in this book sound delicious, like the noodles of Chantha’s youth, but some of them are born of war and scarcity, and involve just rice, salt, and ingenuity. This book made me cry. The first leg of this trip made me cry. I’m just very emotional right now. Maybe you won’t connect to this story like I did, but I hope you’ll give it a try.
Book pairings: THE MANICURIST'S DAUGHTER | WHERE RIVERS PART
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Algonquin Books
I knew going into this that Chantha was Cambodian. I didn’t realize she was also of Vietnamese heritage through her mother. To the outside looking in, and perhaps in particular to westerners, if you see an outwardly Asian face, you don’t think to inquire further. I grew up with many Chinese Vietnamese. The Chinese have a vast overseas community. But to be quite honest, it hadn’t even occurred to me that a Vietnamese would be living outside Vietnam before the war, unless they were rich and lived in France.
I am of Vietnamese heritage. I finished this book on the nearly day long flights I took to get to Vietnam. It’s my first time here. This book made me feel a lot of things. Read this if you don’t feel particularly tied to one culture. Read this if you’re Southeast Asian. Read this if you’re an immigrant. Read this if you loved CRYING IN H MART. Read this because you want to.
Chantha’s story starts and ends in Cambodia, the country of her heart. As Pol Pot’s regime rises, those seen as other are forced to flee, or die. If this story sounds familiar, it is because it is still happening today in different parts of the world. While she didn’t grow up rich, she grew up slightly more middle class than both. Her paternal grandmother is a behavioral nightmare toward her mother. This isn’t a new story.
The family flees Cambodia to start anew in Vietnam, settling in Saigon. But by then, all of France’s former Southeast Asian colonies are having political uprisings. As most of you are familiar with the Vietnam War, called the American War in Vietnam, I won’t go into details.
During this time period, many people die, a lot of them in Chantha’s own family. As the situation in Vietnam grows worse, she wants to flee overseas. She has a sister in Belgium, but wants to go to the US. She and her partner make it as far as a Thai refugee camp, denied each time they interview. As the situation in the Thai refugee camps worsens, she eventually repatriates back to Cambodia to come full circle on her journey.
Most of the recipes in this book sound delicious, like the noodles of Chantha’s youth, but some of them are born of war and scarcity, and involve just rice, salt, and ingenuity. This book made me cry. The first leg of this trip made me cry. I’m just very emotional right now. Maybe you won’t connect to this story like I did, but I hope you’ll give it a try.
Book pairings: THE MANICURIST'S DAUGHTER | WHERE RIVERS PART
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Algonquin Books
June 17, 2024
i cried. i had very little knowledge about what happened in cambodia in the seventies and i am glad i can bear witness now that i know. that i will now learn and research more. this reminded me of palestine, congo, sudan, syria and all the people fighting for their lives right now. it’s the same story of humanity’s atrocities repeated over and over and over again while so few know about it and even fewer help. it made me think of our recipes infused so much with our land’s love and generosity.
this memoir was written with love and resilience and so much heart ♥️ i did the audiobook and it made me sob to know that the author’s daughter is the narrator.
this memoir was written with love and resilience and so much heart ♥️ i did the audiobook and it made me sob to know that the author’s daughter is the narrator.
December 2, 2023
Prepare to be transported through time and taste with 'Slow Noodles,' where every page is a recipe for resilience and reinvention.…
Book Information
Slow Noodles: A Cambodian Memoir of Love, Loss, and Family Recipes by Chantha Nguon is a 304-page memoir with a planned publication date of February 20, 2024. Thank you to Algonquin Books for providing me with an advance reader copy of this book for review.
Summary
In ‘Slow Noodles’, Chantha Nguon shares her life as a Cambodian refugee who lost everything due to the devastating actions of the dictator Pol Pot in the 1970s. Despite the loss of her home, family, and country, Nguon holds onto the memories of her mother's kitchen and the flavors of the dishes she once made.
My Thoughts
‘Slow Noodles’ by Chantha Nguon is an exceptionally well-written memoir that unfolds as a kaleidoscope of experiences, traversing a life most could hardly imagine. The journey takes us from a state of affluence to the harsh realms of poverty and adversity, and back again—a testament to the author's incredible tale of resilience and reinvention. 'Slow Noodles' is a literary feast—where the drama is as rich as the recipes, and every chapter is a potential viral moment for the soul.
The story serves as a vivid illustration of how life shapes individuals, offering a compelling perspective on the nurture side of the nature/nurture debate. Chantha Nguon's evolution from a carefree child to a remarkable woman reflects her strength, which she uses not only to overcome her own challenges but also to uplift the futures of those around her.
The memories shared in the book elicit a range of emotions—touching, joyous, heartbreaking, heartwarming, alarming, shocking, and gut-wrenching. These experiences provide readers with a profound connection to the author's journey, making the narrative both relatable and impactful.
What sets ‘Slow Noodles’ apart is its insightful exploration of the region's history. The author imparts firsthand and unfiltered knowledge, going beyond mere facts and dates. The narrative delves into the implications of historical events, allowing readers to see them through the eyes of someone who lived through these transformative moments. This human aspect ensures that the essence of history is not lost, adding depth and resonance to the storytelling.
A unique aspect of the book is the inclusion of recipes, which not only serve as a differentiator but also play a crucial role in advancing the narrative. Each recipe holds significance, contributing to the author's journey and telling a story of its own. Nguon doesn't just share recipes; she dishes out life lessons, one unforgettable flavor at a time. This culinary element adds a flavorful dimension to the book, enticing readers to not only savor the words but also try their hand at the delectable dishes described within the pages.
Recommendation
‘Slow Noodles’ is a captivating and multifaceted memoir that seamlessly weaves personal and historical narratives. Chantha Nguon's story, accompanied by poignant memories and enticing recipes, creates a compelling tapestry that is both enlightening and emotionally resonant. Recommended.
Rating
4 Cambodian Stars
Book Information
Slow Noodles: A Cambodian Memoir of Love, Loss, and Family Recipes by Chantha Nguon is a 304-page memoir with a planned publication date of February 20, 2024. Thank you to Algonquin Books for providing me with an advance reader copy of this book for review.
Summary
In ‘Slow Noodles’, Chantha Nguon shares her life as a Cambodian refugee who lost everything due to the devastating actions of the dictator Pol Pot in the 1970s. Despite the loss of her home, family, and country, Nguon holds onto the memories of her mother's kitchen and the flavors of the dishes she once made.
My Thoughts
‘Slow Noodles’ by Chantha Nguon is an exceptionally well-written memoir that unfolds as a kaleidoscope of experiences, traversing a life most could hardly imagine. The journey takes us from a state of affluence to the harsh realms of poverty and adversity, and back again—a testament to the author's incredible tale of resilience and reinvention. 'Slow Noodles' is a literary feast—where the drama is as rich as the recipes, and every chapter is a potential viral moment for the soul.
The story serves as a vivid illustration of how life shapes individuals, offering a compelling perspective on the nurture side of the nature/nurture debate. Chantha Nguon's evolution from a carefree child to a remarkable woman reflects her strength, which she uses not only to overcome her own challenges but also to uplift the futures of those around her.
The memories shared in the book elicit a range of emotions—touching, joyous, heartbreaking, heartwarming, alarming, shocking, and gut-wrenching. These experiences provide readers with a profound connection to the author's journey, making the narrative both relatable and impactful.
What sets ‘Slow Noodles’ apart is its insightful exploration of the region's history. The author imparts firsthand and unfiltered knowledge, going beyond mere facts and dates. The narrative delves into the implications of historical events, allowing readers to see them through the eyes of someone who lived through these transformative moments. This human aspect ensures that the essence of history is not lost, adding depth and resonance to the storytelling.
A unique aspect of the book is the inclusion of recipes, which not only serve as a differentiator but also play a crucial role in advancing the narrative. Each recipe holds significance, contributing to the author's journey and telling a story of its own. Nguon doesn't just share recipes; she dishes out life lessons, one unforgettable flavor at a time. This culinary element adds a flavorful dimension to the book, enticing readers to not only savor the words but also try their hand at the delectable dishes described within the pages.
Recommendation
‘Slow Noodles’ is a captivating and multifaceted memoir that seamlessly weaves personal and historical narratives. Chantha Nguon's story, accompanied by poignant memories and enticing recipes, creates a compelling tapestry that is both enlightening and emotionally resonant. Recommended.
Rating
4 Cambodian Stars
February 3, 2024
Nguon has lived many lives: a brothel cook, a suture nurse in a refugee camp, a street vendor, a tofu maker, a silk weaver, a poverty-stricken refugee, and more.
From the age of nine to her mid-thirties, Nguon was a Cambodian refugee escaping the terror of Prime Minister Lon Nol’s dictatorship, then Pol Pot’s reign and the Khmer Rouge, and the genocide of her people. This is her story.
Slow Noodles—the title and the story itself—is a nod to Nguon’s mother’s slow noodles philosophy in the kitchen that became a philosophy for life: the best dishes require extra time and patience to prepare. Life can be long and hard, there are no quick fixes, but with a little faith and resiliency, something beautiful can be created.
Nguon weaves her stories of a life lived in war-torn Cambodia and Vietnam with stories of a life surrounded by food, including recipes from her homeland—from her mother, her heart. Nguon is a remarkable woman with a remarkable story that will cause readers to experience an extremely wide range of emotions: joy, nostalgia, grief, hunger, longing, empathy, sadness, and more.
This is an incredibly captivating book seeping with important history lessons as well as mouth-watering concoctions that have their own story. I believe that this is the first story—the first non-fiction story, at least—that I have read about Cambodia. For that, I am grateful that Nguon chose to share her voice and her story to others. I would consider this one of the most profound memoirs of the year. It made me really acknowledge the privileges in my life in a way that no other book has before.
Thank you NetGalley for the digital copy. Everyone should absolutely grab a copy of this when it comes out on 02/20/2024. You won’t regret it.
From the age of nine to her mid-thirties, Nguon was a Cambodian refugee escaping the terror of Prime Minister Lon Nol’s dictatorship, then Pol Pot’s reign and the Khmer Rouge, and the genocide of her people. This is her story.
Slow Noodles—the title and the story itself—is a nod to Nguon’s mother’s slow noodles philosophy in the kitchen that became a philosophy for life: the best dishes require extra time and patience to prepare. Life can be long and hard, there are no quick fixes, but with a little faith and resiliency, something beautiful can be created.
Nguon weaves her stories of a life lived in war-torn Cambodia and Vietnam with stories of a life surrounded by food, including recipes from her homeland—from her mother, her heart. Nguon is a remarkable woman with a remarkable story that will cause readers to experience an extremely wide range of emotions: joy, nostalgia, grief, hunger, longing, empathy, sadness, and more.
This is an incredibly captivating book seeping with important history lessons as well as mouth-watering concoctions that have their own story. I believe that this is the first story—the first non-fiction story, at least—that I have read about Cambodia. For that, I am grateful that Nguon chose to share her voice and her story to others. I would consider this one of the most profound memoirs of the year. It made me really acknowledge the privileges in my life in a way that no other book has before.
Thank you NetGalley for the digital copy. Everyone should absolutely grab a copy of this when it comes out on 02/20/2024. You won’t regret it.
June 5, 2024
A debut with writing so devastating it broke my heart in pieces. Nguon’s insight into the impact of war and immigration on her country and people is chilling. SLOW NOODLES takes place over author Chantha Nguon’s lifetime. It tells the gripping reality that every single Cambodian lived in the 1970’s during the time of Pol Pot’s genocide, along with the brutal struggle to repair a decimated country after. Pol Pot left no trace of old country Cambodia during his rein.. destroying schools, church’s, hospitals.. and also decimated the people associated with those jobs. Nguon came home to a country with nothing left but sickness, starvation, homelessness and the people robbed of their own thinking.
To flee or die.. in 1970 nine-year-old Nguon (the youngest) fled Cambodia along with her sister and two brothers, leaving behind her mother and oldest brother to sell their property before joining them. Nguon’s eventual loss of her family, especially her mother (while living in Saigon) is very traumatizing. She has spent several decades away from her home country doing many different jobs to survive, went through extremes of hunger and sickness, and then also becoming what you call “boat people”; -she spent years in a forced immigrant camp in Thailand waiting asylum to Britain or the U.S. to which she was never approved. After the harsh news, Nguon and her (soon-to-be husband) Chan, made the decision to return to Cambodia. Her mother’s authentic recipes, her sewing, suture-nurse skills and her ability to be an English speaking translator were her saving grace through years of being a Cambodian refugee. Her perseverance to help other women brought forth a passion to mentor and provide jobs to women as weavers (winning UNESCO awards for their scarves), along with providing kindergarten classes, childcare (and housing pre-Covid). She taught these women self-reliance and a new way to think (“a re-launch of their lives,” as her daughter Clara Kim wrote in the epilogue). Written throughout the book are favorite recipes taught to Nguon by her mother including those noodles that carry special memories for her.
Nguon and her husband are the founders of the Stung Treng Women’s Development Center in rural northeastern Cambodia. I applaud Chantha Nguon for her bold mind and beautiful heart, and sharing her gifts of generosity and humanity that has come full circle to enrich other women’s lives. ❥ 5 stars — Pub. 2/20/24
To flee or die.. in 1970 nine-year-old Nguon (the youngest) fled Cambodia along with her sister and two brothers, leaving behind her mother and oldest brother to sell their property before joining them. Nguon’s eventual loss of her family, especially her mother (while living in Saigon) is very traumatizing. She has spent several decades away from her home country doing many different jobs to survive, went through extremes of hunger and sickness, and then also becoming what you call “boat people”; -she spent years in a forced immigrant camp in Thailand waiting asylum to Britain or the U.S. to which she was never approved. After the harsh news, Nguon and her (soon-to-be husband) Chan, made the decision to return to Cambodia. Her mother’s authentic recipes, her sewing, suture-nurse skills and her ability to be an English speaking translator were her saving grace through years of being a Cambodian refugee. Her perseverance to help other women brought forth a passion to mentor and provide jobs to women as weavers (winning UNESCO awards for their scarves), along with providing kindergarten classes, childcare (and housing pre-Covid). She taught these women self-reliance and a new way to think (“a re-launch of their lives,” as her daughter Clara Kim wrote in the epilogue). Written throughout the book are favorite recipes taught to Nguon by her mother including those noodles that carry special memories for her.
Nguon and her husband are the founders of the Stung Treng Women’s Development Center in rural northeastern Cambodia. I applaud Chantha Nguon for her bold mind and beautiful heart, and sharing her gifts of generosity and humanity that has come full circle to enrich other women’s lives. ❥ 5 stars — Pub. 2/20/24
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 12, 2025
story of immense strength and resilience - I learned so much about the devastation from the Khmer Rouge. required reading!!
January 13, 2024
Honestly, if Slow Noodles sounds even vaguely interesting to you, you should pick it up. It's an amazing and richly descriptive memoir that is going to stay with me for a long time. Nguon gives so much information about regional history and the geopolitical climate during the 70s and 80s in Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam. She's also lived such an interesting and varied life, but it was all in the name of survival. She's been through so much. Many of us couldn't even fathom going through half of the things she has gone through and she gets through them with such perseverance and humor. She's resilient, resourceful, and fierce. This is the best memoir I think I've ever read, which admittedly I haven't read a ton, but this sets the bar high for any future ones I pick up.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an eARC of this memoir, however, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
P.S. I am super excited to try out some of the recipes in this book. They seem pretty straight forward. I just need to pick up a few items from my local global market.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an eARC of this memoir, however, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
P.S. I am super excited to try out some of the recipes in this book. They seem pretty straight forward. I just need to pick up a few items from my local global market.
February 22, 2024
A moving #ownvoices memoir about a Cambodian refugee growing up in Vietnam during the 70s that is infused with memories of food (including many delicious recipes), experiences of poverty, family and the strength of survival during trying times. Great on audio (even though it wasn't read by the author herself). Highly recommended if you enjoy learning about other cultures and inspiring immigrant stories. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest review!
February 20, 2024
A touching tribute to Nguon’s heritage and mother whose recipes she not only lovingly recreate and recounts but also has passed on and shared with many.
I have read other memoirs by Cambodian survivors of Pol Pot and I feared the worst for the author and her family. Although they suffered from the regime it was different from other stories I’d read.
Still, as the author watched her family dissipate food became the constant theme and focus. I loved her mother’s nickname for her as a child as she lurked and lingered in the kitchen.
There is such a tone of love and reverence by the author for food and all the memories attached to it.
It’s also a great look at the history and politics of Cambodia, Vietnam, and Thailand for fifty years.
It’s a memorable read.
Thanks to NetGalley and Alonguin Books for both digital and physical copies.
I have read other memoirs by Cambodian survivors of Pol Pot and I feared the worst for the author and her family. Although they suffered from the regime it was different from other stories I’d read.
Still, as the author watched her family dissipate food became the constant theme and focus. I loved her mother’s nickname for her as a child as she lurked and lingered in the kitchen.
There is such a tone of love and reverence by the author for food and all the memories attached to it.
It’s also a great look at the history and politics of Cambodia, Vietnam, and Thailand for fifty years.
It’s a memorable read.
Thanks to NetGalley and Alonguin Books for both digital and physical copies.
November 30, 2024
I will begin by saying that this is a ten star book.
Rarely has a book affected me so. I can think of one other book, maybe two, that have touched me so deeply.
I was in grade school during the Vietnam War. We rarely discussed it in school, aside from the girls wearing POW bracelets. It was a fad….we really didn’t understand what the bracelets were supposed to mean to us. We were too young, simply following the crowd.
In high school, the war now over, we teenage girls went about living our teenage lives. The war was no longer mentioned in school. We knew nothing of the plight of the refugees, nor of the hardships and poverty they endured. And we could have never imagined the strength it took for these unbelievably strong, resilient people to rebuild their lives and their country.
The author shares her personal history on every page of this book. We learn of her somewhat privileged early life, her family members, and her immense struggles as she survives against all odds, her life changed forever, her future almost nonexistent. I cannot imagine such hardship.
I will end by saying a heartfelt thank you to Chantha Nguon for sharing her story.
Rarely has a book affected me so. I can think of one other book, maybe two, that have touched me so deeply.
I was in grade school during the Vietnam War. We rarely discussed it in school, aside from the girls wearing POW bracelets. It was a fad….we really didn’t understand what the bracelets were supposed to mean to us. We were too young, simply following the crowd.
In high school, the war now over, we teenage girls went about living our teenage lives. The war was no longer mentioned in school. We knew nothing of the plight of the refugees, nor of the hardships and poverty they endured. And we could have never imagined the strength it took for these unbelievably strong, resilient people to rebuild their lives and their country.
The author shares her personal history on every page of this book. We learn of her somewhat privileged early life, her family members, and her immense struggles as she survives against all odds, her life changed forever, her future almost nonexistent. I cannot imagine such hardship.
I will end by saying a heartfelt thank you to Chantha Nguon for sharing her story.
Read
May 18, 2025#73 cambodia
#HeritageReads
it feels like I'd rate a life, so yeah, I won't do that
#HeritageReads
it feels like I'd rate a life, so yeah, I won't do that
February 9, 2024
4.5/5
Wow! This was one of the best memoirs I have read in a long time. The author, Chantha Nguon, tells her story as a survivor of the Cambodian genocide and her life as a refugee in the decades that followed. Each part of the story is accompanied by stories of the recipes that Nguon's mother taught her, and dozens of her mother's actual recipes are included in the book.
I thought that connecting everything in the story back to food/recipes was a beautiful way to take back the narrative as well as honor the author's mother and the culture her recipes came from (and one that some tried very hard to quash). I found this choice very moving on a personal level because I am a descendant of genocide survivors, and my great-grandmother was also very passionate about using food to keep her culture and memories of home alive. It was very moving for me to read about someone else having a similar experience, then going so far as to share her family recipes with readers. I look forward to trying out some of Nguon's recipes myself — especially the green papaya pickles that sounded amazing!
I also enjoyed reading about how Nguon openly defied societal expectations for women and how throughout her entire horrific experience, she did her best to help other women who were suffering, then eventually made it her life's work to help women once she herself escaped poverty and war. Her journey with this was also very inspiring!
Overall, cannot recommend this enough!
(Thanks to Netgalley and Hachette Book Group for the ARC!)
Wow! This was one of the best memoirs I have read in a long time. The author, Chantha Nguon, tells her story as a survivor of the Cambodian genocide and her life as a refugee in the decades that followed. Each part of the story is accompanied by stories of the recipes that Nguon's mother taught her, and dozens of her mother's actual recipes are included in the book.
I thought that connecting everything in the story back to food/recipes was a beautiful way to take back the narrative as well as honor the author's mother and the culture her recipes came from (and one that some tried very hard to quash). I found this choice very moving on a personal level because I am a descendant of genocide survivors, and my great-grandmother was also very passionate about using food to keep her culture and memories of home alive. It was very moving for me to read about someone else having a similar experience, then going so far as to share her family recipes with readers. I look forward to trying out some of Nguon's recipes myself — especially the green papaya pickles that sounded amazing!
I also enjoyed reading about how Nguon openly defied societal expectations for women and how throughout her entire horrific experience, she did her best to help other women who were suffering, then eventually made it her life's work to help women once she herself escaped poverty and war. Her journey with this was also very inspiring!
Overall, cannot recommend this enough!
(Thanks to Netgalley and Hachette Book Group for the ARC!)
September 29, 2025
Chantha Nguon recounts her life as a Cambodian refugee who lost everything but the memories of her mother's kitchen. She interweaves the hardships she endured with her favourite recipes and the memories attached to them.
A heartbreaking memoir describing her incredible struggle and perseverance.
A testament to the strength of women in times of war.
Excellent narration.
A heartbreaking memoir describing her incredible struggle and perseverance.
A testament to the strength of women in times of war.
Excellent narration.
Read
June 13, 2024This is one of the most extraordinary and moving memoirs I have read. Food, food history, food culture is revelatory of a country and society. Food recipes reveal a country's history and the cultures that have influenced it, in Cambodia's case the impact is seen of India and its curries, China and its rice noodles, French colonization and its pate, coffee and baguette becoming part of Khmer cuisine. Food ingredients reveal a country's geography, here in Cambodia's case they have a strong relationship with rice from paddies, spices and lemongrass, and fermented fish paste from rich fish of the rivers, the harvest of which were celebrated in fun and joyful annual water festivals.
Food also reveals childhood dynamics and economic situation. In the author Chantha's childhood, her mom performed all the cooking of grand dishes, as a way of pleasing and impressing both the dad and honored guests. When she was young, Chantha came from a background of relative wealth, so her dishes had meat and pork while her neighbors had to simmer broth from fish heads or leftover bones or eat simple rice and fruit dishes. When her family fortunes changed and they had to flee as refugees to Vietnam, her food consumption changed as well. It became more rations of rice, potato and cassava that were never enough to stave off hunger. Her sister had to make a living by waking up early in the morning and straining soy curds from milked beans to make tofu.
Her story shows the harsh impact of history and governmental rule on the Cambodian population. Initially carefully neutral under Prince Sihanouk, the kingdom was sucked into the disarray by the spillover of the adjacent Vietnam War. The prince was overthrown by his prime minister Lon Nol who was pumped up with aid from the US for anti-Communist remarks.
Unfortunately Lon Nol turned out to be anti-non ethnic Khmers as well, launching genocidal campaigns against Cambodians with Vietnamese or Chinese heritage. Thousands of partly Vietnamese Cambodians were corralled and killed by his government, their bodies sent floating down the river, and their businesses and residences were attacked. This drove Chantha and her family to escape to Vietnam despite the Vietnam War.
This move turned out to be Chantha's saving grace as an even bigger genocide was on the horizon. Pol Pot and his Khmer Rouge army, consisting of young unlettered farm boys of rural Cambodians who viewed the educated classes with distrust and despise, rounded up urban dwellers to work the fields and killed 1/4 of the population for 'reeducation'.
After years of refuge in Vietnam, Chantha's family had suffered a string of deaths due to various stomach conditions. Chantha had graduated high school there when her mother died. She was now fallen from wealthy society to an orphan with nowhere to go. She decided to trek home to a Cambodia that had regressed and transformed. While Viet soldiers had nominal rule to restore order, Cambodia was now unrecognizable. There was no working electricity, water system, sewage system. The libraries, churches, pagodas, monasteries had been pillaged and burned. No sound of motor or working Vespas could be spotted. It was as if the clock of industrialization had been turned back. Harrowed Cambodians had to eke out a living by squatting on previous houses and pawning the contents, selling simple street food on stalls, or attempting to cross for refuge in Thailand.
Unfortunately, Thailand had hundreds of thousands of refugees from their more beleaguered neighboring countries in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia already and this put immense social pressures on their country, after years of patience and generosity. Thai border guards patrolled the coasts and were deporting refugees by the tens of thousands..in one case coercively pushed back would -be migrants with tons of casualties through the minefields of Preah Vihear. Chantha attempted to cross the border to Thailand but the armed guards there always politely, but insistently, towed her group back to Cambodia. Thais who had reached the end of their rope with generosity tried a strategy called "humane deterrence" to discourage asylum.
Thus, Chantha and scores of civilians and refugees like her had to suffer a scoured land, a historical tragedy where Cambodians killed fellow Cambodians, Vietnamese (and Americans) killed fellow Vietnamese, and the Thais could not take on the caseload.
Thus, ultimately, the memory of a country's food cuisine, such as Chantha's recording of Khmer food recipes, is also a triumph. It signifies that this culture that produced unique food over a thousand years old is still alive and lasting. The reproduction of its food continually revives the identity of its people.
This book is an incredible read. It reminds me of the fragility of our own stable, liberal democracies and the life-changing and potentially life-ending powers of the brutalities of governments. Normal lives change at a snap of their fingers, as armies roll in to peaceful villages and hound and collect civilians to their deaths, or take all their savings and belongings and send them to a new state of penury.
This is a highly recommended memoir from Chantha Nguon.
Food also reveals childhood dynamics and economic situation. In the author Chantha's childhood, her mom performed all the cooking of grand dishes, as a way of pleasing and impressing both the dad and honored guests. When she was young, Chantha came from a background of relative wealth, so her dishes had meat and pork while her neighbors had to simmer broth from fish heads or leftover bones or eat simple rice and fruit dishes. When her family fortunes changed and they had to flee as refugees to Vietnam, her food consumption changed as well. It became more rations of rice, potato and cassava that were never enough to stave off hunger. Her sister had to make a living by waking up early in the morning and straining soy curds from milked beans to make tofu.
Her story shows the harsh impact of history and governmental rule on the Cambodian population. Initially carefully neutral under Prince Sihanouk, the kingdom was sucked into the disarray by the spillover of the adjacent Vietnam War. The prince was overthrown by his prime minister Lon Nol who was pumped up with aid from the US for anti-Communist remarks.
Unfortunately Lon Nol turned out to be anti-non ethnic Khmers as well, launching genocidal campaigns against Cambodians with Vietnamese or Chinese heritage. Thousands of partly Vietnamese Cambodians were corralled and killed by his government, their bodies sent floating down the river, and their businesses and residences were attacked. This drove Chantha and her family to escape to Vietnam despite the Vietnam War.
This move turned out to be Chantha's saving grace as an even bigger genocide was on the horizon. Pol Pot and his Khmer Rouge army, consisting of young unlettered farm boys of rural Cambodians who viewed the educated classes with distrust and despise, rounded up urban dwellers to work the fields and killed 1/4 of the population for 'reeducation'.
After years of refuge in Vietnam, Chantha's family had suffered a string of deaths due to various stomach conditions. Chantha had graduated high school there when her mother died. She was now fallen from wealthy society to an orphan with nowhere to go. She decided to trek home to a Cambodia that had regressed and transformed. While Viet soldiers had nominal rule to restore order, Cambodia was now unrecognizable. There was no working electricity, water system, sewage system. The libraries, churches, pagodas, monasteries had been pillaged and burned. No sound of motor or working Vespas could be spotted. It was as if the clock of industrialization had been turned back. Harrowed Cambodians had to eke out a living by squatting on previous houses and pawning the contents, selling simple street food on stalls, or attempting to cross for refuge in Thailand.
Unfortunately, Thailand had hundreds of thousands of refugees from their more beleaguered neighboring countries in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia already and this put immense social pressures on their country, after years of patience and generosity. Thai border guards patrolled the coasts and were deporting refugees by the tens of thousands..in one case coercively pushed back would -be migrants with tons of casualties through the minefields of Preah Vihear. Chantha attempted to cross the border to Thailand but the armed guards there always politely, but insistently, towed her group back to Cambodia. Thais who had reached the end of their rope with generosity tried a strategy called "humane deterrence" to discourage asylum.
Thus, Chantha and scores of civilians and refugees like her had to suffer a scoured land, a historical tragedy where Cambodians killed fellow Cambodians, Vietnamese (and Americans) killed fellow Vietnamese, and the Thais could not take on the caseload.
Thus, ultimately, the memory of a country's food cuisine, such as Chantha's recording of Khmer food recipes, is also a triumph. It signifies that this culture that produced unique food over a thousand years old is still alive and lasting. The reproduction of its food continually revives the identity of its people.
This book is an incredible read. It reminds me of the fragility of our own stable, liberal democracies and the life-changing and potentially life-ending powers of the brutalities of governments. Normal lives change at a snap of their fingers, as armies roll in to peaceful villages and hound and collect civilians to their deaths, or take all their savings and belongings and send them to a new state of penury.
This is a highly recommended memoir from Chantha Nguon.
October 18, 2025
“The memory of hunger is a curse that never leaves you.”
to all oppressed peoples around the world actively experiencing a genocide my heart is with you
to all oppressed peoples around the world actively experiencing a genocide my heart is with you
February 23, 2024
[4.5/5 stars]
"A wound can become a source of power. Pain into strength."
This is a memoir of Chantha Nguon - escaping from Cambodian genocide in 1970s and living as a refugee who left her family, home and country behind.
This book starts with Nguon's happy memories during her 9-year childhood, when she was steeped in kitchen's aroma which flavors will help her survive years of exile. From Cambodia to Vietnam to Thailand, the blows of poverty and loss made me wonder if I was in fact reading a memoir, the amount of trauma and horror able to devastate even the stone heart. Amidst the stories of escape and desolation, cooking meant an act of maintaining Nguon's internal resistance so she could find solace in the small pleasures. While they fight for daily rice, kindness coexists with brutality and one can feel the beacon of hope that overcomes the dominant powerlessness.
One remarkable aspect is the Khmer proverbs (at the beginning of each chapter) and Vietnamese folktale infused in the pages that give a more personal touch to this memoir. Nguon shares family recipes throughout the book, inviting readers to witness her love of cooking as a connection to Nguon's past, which sustains the process of healing and endurance.
Recreating the food and its descriptions, alongside the evocative prose, flood one's mind with images and make the emotions palpable. It was delightful to immerse into the Cambodian culture (defined by rice) while meditating on star fate x religion.
SLOW NOODLES is a heartfelt homage to food and memories, also a powerful read about Cambodian voices whose past cannot be erased yet yearn for better days. Read this if you enjoy food memoir or an inspiring read about war and family.
cw: war, genocide, violence, sexual assault, death, racism
[ I received a complimentary copy from the publisher - Algonquin books . All opinions are my own ]
"A wound can become a source of power. Pain into strength."
This is a memoir of Chantha Nguon - escaping from Cambodian genocide in 1970s and living as a refugee who left her family, home and country behind.
This book starts with Nguon's happy memories during her 9-year childhood, when she was steeped in kitchen's aroma which flavors will help her survive years of exile. From Cambodia to Vietnam to Thailand, the blows of poverty and loss made me wonder if I was in fact reading a memoir, the amount of trauma and horror able to devastate even the stone heart. Amidst the stories of escape and desolation, cooking meant an act of maintaining Nguon's internal resistance so she could find solace in the small pleasures. While they fight for daily rice, kindness coexists with brutality and one can feel the beacon of hope that overcomes the dominant powerlessness.
One remarkable aspect is the Khmer proverbs (at the beginning of each chapter) and Vietnamese folktale infused in the pages that give a more personal touch to this memoir. Nguon shares family recipes throughout the book, inviting readers to witness her love of cooking as a connection to Nguon's past, which sustains the process of healing and endurance.
Recreating the food and its descriptions, alongside the evocative prose, flood one's mind with images and make the emotions palpable. It was delightful to immerse into the Cambodian culture (defined by rice) while meditating on star fate x religion.
SLOW NOODLES is a heartfelt homage to food and memories, also a powerful read about Cambodian voices whose past cannot be erased yet yearn for better days. Read this if you enjoy food memoir or an inspiring read about war and family.
cw: war, genocide, violence, sexual assault, death, racism
[ I received a complimentary copy from the publisher - Algonquin books . All opinions are my own ]
January 20, 2025
It’s a melting pot that is part cookbook, history, and memoir! Very eye opening
March 6, 2024
Slow Noodles by Chantha Nguon is the story of survival. The facts of the book are moving. They are all the more so for the calm manner in which the narrative is related. What makes this memoir even more gripping is its anchor in food memories. The relatable food memories bring the story closer to me as the reader. Although I may never comprehend the enormity of it, in some small way, I can understand a small piece.
Read my complete review at http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2024...
#SlowNoodles by #ChanthaNguon reviewed for #NetGalley and an @algonquinbooks blog tour.
Read my complete review at http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2024...
#SlowNoodles by #ChanthaNguon reviewed for #NetGalley and an @algonquinbooks blog tour.
April 8, 2024
In the 70's Pol Pot's name mentioned in the news could stun a room into silence. . .his reign of terror was known to be brutal but details were few with hardly a word slipping to the world at large, said those reporters who did. It has taken all these years for someone's story to cross my too-narrow awareness, to pull my ears to their words, my eyes to the terrible screen of their experience, and thankfully to their survival built one meal at a time, no matter the time and horror between.
Chantha Nguon is a relentless warrior woman as her circle of women taught her to be. . .and she became just about the last woman standing out of her family. Yet she remembered - she kept all those memories of their wise words, the tastes and smells they created, the songs they sang, and their brave and rash actions - keeping all these in her heart.
She was battered down on every level - she remained focused on the one goal: to survive. She did. She got back up, she remained, she persisted, and when the goal was achieved, she looked back and began to make spaces into which others could move forward and hold a place. She writes mixing heartbreak and sensual joy. She paints a bleak picture, with flashes of intense winks of smell, taste, textures and sounds shining from the bleak frames. . .bright bits of her own hopes, foundation for her remarkable patience and resilience in the face of utter terror.
Her use of the "recipe" format delighted me. Through that she touched through my heart to the hearts of anyone who has ever personally prepared my next meal - most likely a loved one - this is a format that can be understood in most any language. And with a stroke of genius she turns it into a metaphor for her basics - ingredients and actions: what is needed to take down a society, what is needed to build it up, what is needed to survive, what is needed to thrive.
We didn't know we missed her voice until we heard her story, songs. . .and to remind us of our human connection she generously invites us to her table with one of her family's most sacred truths: their recipes for surviving.
*A sincere thank you to Chantha Nguon, Algonquin Books, and NetGalley for an ARC to read and independently review. #SlowNoodles #NetGalley
Chantha Nguon is a relentless warrior woman as her circle of women taught her to be. . .and she became just about the last woman standing out of her family. Yet she remembered - she kept all those memories of their wise words, the tastes and smells they created, the songs they sang, and their brave and rash actions - keeping all these in her heart.
She was battered down on every level - she remained focused on the one goal: to survive. She did. She got back up, she remained, she persisted, and when the goal was achieved, she looked back and began to make spaces into which others could move forward and hold a place. She writes mixing heartbreak and sensual joy. She paints a bleak picture, with flashes of intense winks of smell, taste, textures and sounds shining from the bleak frames. . .bright bits of her own hopes, foundation for her remarkable patience and resilience in the face of utter terror.
Her use of the "recipe" format delighted me. Through that she touched through my heart to the hearts of anyone who has ever personally prepared my next meal - most likely a loved one - this is a format that can be understood in most any language. And with a stroke of genius she turns it into a metaphor for her basics - ingredients and actions: what is needed to take down a society, what is needed to build it up, what is needed to survive, what is needed to thrive.
We didn't know we missed her voice until we heard her story, songs. . .and to remind us of our human connection she generously invites us to her table with one of her family's most sacred truths: their recipes for surviving.
*A sincere thank you to Chantha Nguon, Algonquin Books, and NetGalley for an ARC to read and independently review. #SlowNoodles #NetGalley
March 7, 2025
I sobbed for an embarrassing amount of time after finishing this beautiful memoir... hence a review is very much needed.
This book intertwines personal history with the rich tapestry of Cambodian cuisine. Nguon, a survivor of the Khmer Rouge era gives readers an intimate glimpse into her life's journey, from the harrowing experiences of war to the comforting embrace of traditional family recipes.
Reading Slow Noodles while fasting made me appreciate food in a different way. Ramadan is a time of fasting, reflection, and gratitude of intentionally experiencing hunger to better understand those who don’t have the choice. As I read about Nguon’s struggle to survive with almost nothing, her words felt especially raw. She writes (and I paraphrase) that “rice can be a survival dish or a luxury,” and that line stuck with me. Something as simple as rice, something many of us take for granted, can mean the difference between life and death. It made me think about how much we overlook the privilege of a full plate, a stocked kitchen, and the certainty of our next meal.
But this book isn’t just about hardship. It’s about love, family, and the way food connects us to who we are. Even in the worst circumstances, Nguon finds meaning in the act of cooking, in preserving traditions, in sharing what little she has. It reminded me that food is more than nourishment it’s history, culture, and sometimes even resistance.
This book intertwines personal history with the rich tapestry of Cambodian cuisine. Nguon, a survivor of the Khmer Rouge era gives readers an intimate glimpse into her life's journey, from the harrowing experiences of war to the comforting embrace of traditional family recipes.
Reading Slow Noodles while fasting made me appreciate food in a different way. Ramadan is a time of fasting, reflection, and gratitude of intentionally experiencing hunger to better understand those who don’t have the choice. As I read about Nguon’s struggle to survive with almost nothing, her words felt especially raw. She writes (and I paraphrase) that “rice can be a survival dish or a luxury,” and that line stuck with me. Something as simple as rice, something many of us take for granted, can mean the difference between life and death. It made me think about how much we overlook the privilege of a full plate, a stocked kitchen, and the certainty of our next meal.
But this book isn’t just about hardship. It’s about love, family, and the way food connects us to who we are. Even in the worst circumstances, Nguon finds meaning in the act of cooking, in preserving traditions, in sharing what little she has. It reminded me that food is more than nourishment it’s history, culture, and sometimes even resistance.
May 29, 2024
Food is so closely tied to memories, good and bad, so I feel this was an excellent and unique way to tell Chantha's story. It's a miracle she survived so much hardship, poverty, and loneliness. I learned a lot of Cambodian history I'm ashamed to say I knew very little of (I'm blaming my Western education!).
May 28, 2024
This is a haunting and beautiful memoir about a Cambodian refugee who loses her country and family during Pol Pot’s genocide of the 1970s but finds hope by reclaiming the recipes she tasted in her mother’s kitchen. She discusses how the government tried to erase a generation of people and create a new generation of non-educated individuals to plant a new ideology. This is a story about the survivors who want to tell the world about how Cambodia is a beautiful country with a unique history, culture, and cuisine.
This memoir not only touched me and taught me about Cambodia, but it also offered many recipes. Each chapter has a different one, like Namya fish soup with chimer noodles and Mae's fish amok. There is also a sour chicken lime soup that is village style and the author's grandmother's spicy green papaya pickles. The whole story is inspiring, and the author's memories are vivid.
To listen to my interview with the author, go to my podcast at:
https://zibbymedia.com/blogs/transcri...
This memoir not only touched me and taught me about Cambodia, but it also offered many recipes. Each chapter has a different one, like Namya fish soup with chimer noodles and Mae's fish amok. There is also a sour chicken lime soup that is village style and the author's grandmother's spicy green papaya pickles. The whole story is inspiring, and the author's memories are vivid.
To listen to my interview with the author, go to my podcast at:
https://zibbymedia.com/blogs/transcri...
June 30, 2025
Good return to memoir reading. Incredibly sad story, it’s hard to believe that someone can experience so much loss and be so resilient. Learned a lot about Cambodian history and culture and food.
August 18, 2025
My second 10/10 of the year. This was spectacular. You should read it.
December 12, 2025
As a long time vegetarian, I struggled with a weird sense of loss/guilt/missing out with respect to not being able to fully connect with the culinary immersion and nostalgic connection through the author’s relationship with food and use of recipes throughout. Still a very enjoyable, insightful and inspiring read, but somewhat jealous of those who could more fully enjoy.
June 27, 2025
The best book I have read this year!
October 16, 2025
I listened to this book and loved it but definitely want to read it in print at some point. Audio was helpful for the pronunciation of the non-English words/names/locations but I’m interested in delving in a bit more by reading a physical copy in the future.
October 29, 2025
5/5. I think this may be one of my favorite books of this year. The memoir is deeply tragic, pervaded with tenacity and unrelenting hope, and tied together with nostalgic childhood recipes from her mother. It’s hard to wrap my mind around how strong she has to be to not only survive but lived to help pull others out of poverty. The ending and epilogue made me cry (in a good way).
December 4, 2024
wow.
i’m honestly a little bit speechless — how do you even begin to write a review for a book that has so drastically altered your perspective on life & poverty?
let’s start with the structure: i think it was brilliant to associate certain memories & experiences with food. it just painted such a vivid image in my mind of where the author was in life & her financial struggles as a refugee. seeing the recipes trickle & diminish in size — from the elaborate dinners her middle-class mom made with money & leisure available to her, to dishes of just rice and salt for 8 weeks straight — really put to perspective how much you lose & the poverty rampant in an ongoing genocide.
it also spoke to the incredible power of food as a way to preserve cultural identity and heritage, even amidst the trauma and destruction the khmer rouge inflicted. food is such a flexible, ever-changing thing — it differs even from household to household, recipe to recipe — so it astounds me how it survived, when so much of cambodian culture had been systematically obliterated.
it is clear to me that this memoir was just written with so much love, strength & resilience ♥️ i truly cannot believe how she managed to keep some aspects of her storytelling lighthearted, even with the ugliness that shadowed her youth. never in my life have i ever heard prawn be described as contraband protein, like she genuinely made me cry & laugh in equal amounts with some of her more absurd experiences. just such an incredible read, wow.
i’m honestly a little bit speechless — how do you even begin to write a review for a book that has so drastically altered your perspective on life & poverty?
let’s start with the structure: i think it was brilliant to associate certain memories & experiences with food. it just painted such a vivid image in my mind of where the author was in life & her financial struggles as a refugee. seeing the recipes trickle & diminish in size — from the elaborate dinners her middle-class mom made with money & leisure available to her, to dishes of just rice and salt for 8 weeks straight — really put to perspective how much you lose & the poverty rampant in an ongoing genocide.
it also spoke to the incredible power of food as a way to preserve cultural identity and heritage, even amidst the trauma and destruction the khmer rouge inflicted. food is such a flexible, ever-changing thing — it differs even from household to household, recipe to recipe — so it astounds me how it survived, when so much of cambodian culture had been systematically obliterated.
it is clear to me that this memoir was just written with so much love, strength & resilience ♥️ i truly cannot believe how she managed to keep some aspects of her storytelling lighthearted, even with the ugliness that shadowed her youth. never in my life have i ever heard prawn be described as contraband protein, like she genuinely made me cry & laugh in equal amounts with some of her more absurd experiences. just such an incredible read, wow.
February 29, 2024
Slow Noodles is Chantha Nguon's memoir of her life before and after the Pol Pot regime devastated Cambodia. She describes a life of plenty which suddenly turned to nothing, and then the difficulties of being a Cambodian refugee in Thailand. One thing she held onto was the memory of her mother's recipes, and she shares those recipes along with her story.
As she begins to relay the pain of her journey, she asks us to close our eyes and imagine losing everything we have. This book is a reminder to treasure the things that really matter. The story is both heartbreaking and uplifting, and the recipes sound wonderful. Although I received a free audio copy, I also ordered a hardcover copy for myself. This book and these recipes are meant to be saved and cherished.
The audiobook narrator, Clara Kim, has a beautiful, musical voice that is perfect for this memoir. The whole audiobook production just swept me away to this difficult time and place.
I received a free copy of the audiobook from Hachette Audio. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
As she begins to relay the pain of her journey, she asks us to close our eyes and imagine losing everything we have. This book is a reminder to treasure the things that really matter. The story is both heartbreaking and uplifting, and the recipes sound wonderful. Although I received a free audio copy, I also ordered a hardcover copy for myself. This book and these recipes are meant to be saved and cherished.
The audiobook narrator, Clara Kim, has a beautiful, musical voice that is perfect for this memoir. The whole audiobook production just swept me away to this difficult time and place.
I received a free copy of the audiobook from Hachette Audio. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 507 reviews