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Double Cup Love
In the follow-up to his bestselling coming-of-age memoir Fresh Off the Boat, now a hit show on ABC, celebrity chef Eddie Huang tells a powerful story about love and family and what really makes us who we are. After growing up in a wild first-generation immigrant family in the comically hostile world of suburban America, Huang begins to wonder just how authentic his Chinese identity really is. So he enlists his brothers Emery and Evan and returns to the country his ancestors abandoned. His immediate goal is to sample China’s best food and see if his cooking measures up to local tastes—but his deeper goals are to reconnect with his homeland, repair his frayed family relationships, decide whether to marry his all-American (well, all-Italian-American) girlfriend, and figure out just where to find meaning in his life.
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First published April 19, 2016
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About the author
Eddie Huang
14 books335 followersHuang was born in 1982 in Washington, D.C. to immigrant parents from Taiwan. He was raised in Orlando, Florida, where his father managed a successful group of steak and seafood restaurants. Huang identified with African-American culture, especially hip-hop, at a young age. He attended The University of Pittsburgh, Rollins College and graduated with a B.A. He earned a J.D. from Cardozo School of Law.
Not long after graduating from law school, Huang decided for a career change. After being laid off from a New York law firm, Huang worked as a stand-up comic and as a marijuana dealer.
In December 2009, he opened BaoHaus, a Taiwanese bun shop, on the Lower East Side of New York. His straightforward menu consists of pillowy steamed buns filled with a flavorful protein of choice, cilantro, crushed peanuts and Taiwanese red sugar, and sweet bao fries.
He hosted Cheap Bites on the Cooking Channel the end of 2011 and also appeared on several episodes of Unique Eats before leaving the Cooking Channel for Vice where he hosts a recurring segment, also called "Fresh Off the Boat". Also in 2012, Huang was named a 2013 TED Fellow. In 2011 he made the Chow 13 and was voted one of the 101 People You Must Meet in 2011 by Town and County Magazine.
Not long after graduating from law school, Huang decided for a career change. After being laid off from a New York law firm, Huang worked as a stand-up comic and as a marijuana dealer.
In December 2009, he opened BaoHaus, a Taiwanese bun shop, on the Lower East Side of New York. His straightforward menu consists of pillowy steamed buns filled with a flavorful protein of choice, cilantro, crushed peanuts and Taiwanese red sugar, and sweet bao fries.
He hosted Cheap Bites on the Cooking Channel the end of 2011 and also appeared on several episodes of Unique Eats before leaving the Cooking Channel for Vice where he hosts a recurring segment, also called "Fresh Off the Boat". Also in 2012, Huang was named a 2013 TED Fellow. In 2011 he made the Chow 13 and was voted one of the 101 People You Must Meet in 2011 by Town and County Magazine.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 253 reviews
July 2, 2016
As someone who reads usually several books a week, this book took me a whopping 20 days to inch through. Given, I was pretty busy so it's not entirely the books fault...but a fair bit of it actually was.
I'm a big fan of Eddie Huang and have enjoyed the stuff he has produced in the past, even Fresh Off The Boat which I'm realizing is maybe not the most accurate portrayal, but a fantastic TV show nonetheless. So with this next statement I'm going to sum up what is both fantastic about Eddie and what made this book so difficult to get through:
Eddie writes EXACTLY how he talks.
If you've seen him in an interview, you'll know that he tosses out pop culture references and slang like candy, and the footnotes in the book are entirely indicative of that. More pages than not have several lines of explanation which to me seems like it would have been better to just work into the text or leave out altogether.
But we all know how picky I am. (You didn't? It's really picky.)
That being said, the premise of this book is top notch. Eddie goes to China as an Asian-American to see if he and his cooking would be as well received. Everything about that concept was awesome and I enjoyed his portrayal of everyone's reactions to his food. What I found harder to swallow was his ramblings on love...yes, generally my favorite part. Will it work? Won't it work? Who knows? Probably not even Eddie is my guess.
What did I think?: Overall, I found the story to be very enjoyable, but the writing a good bit more difficult to follow. I would have to sit down for larger chunks of time to really get into it but when I did, I found that I thoroughly enjoyed the story that Eddie has wanted to share.
Who should read it?: If you're already a fan of Eddie's or if you're wondering about your own cross-culture heritage, or even if you're just looking for something that will make you look at race and food in a different light, I really think you would probably enjoy this one.
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I'm a big fan of Eddie Huang and have enjoyed the stuff he has produced in the past, even Fresh Off The Boat which I'm realizing is maybe not the most accurate portrayal, but a fantastic TV show nonetheless. So with this next statement I'm going to sum up what is both fantastic about Eddie and what made this book so difficult to get through:
Eddie writes EXACTLY how he talks.
If you've seen him in an interview, you'll know that he tosses out pop culture references and slang like candy, and the footnotes in the book are entirely indicative of that. More pages than not have several lines of explanation which to me seems like it would have been better to just work into the text or leave out altogether.
But we all know how picky I am. (You didn't? It's really picky.)
That being said, the premise of this book is top notch. Eddie goes to China as an Asian-American to see if he and his cooking would be as well received. Everything about that concept was awesome and I enjoyed his portrayal of everyone's reactions to his food. What I found harder to swallow was his ramblings on love...yes, generally my favorite part. Will it work? Won't it work? Who knows? Probably not even Eddie is my guess.
What did I think?: Overall, I found the story to be very enjoyable, but the writing a good bit more difficult to follow. I would have to sit down for larger chunks of time to really get into it but when I did, I found that I thoroughly enjoyed the story that Eddie has wanted to share.
Who should read it?: If you're already a fan of Eddie's or if you're wondering about your own cross-culture heritage, or even if you're just looking for something that will make you look at race and food in a different light, I really think you would probably enjoy this one.
WEBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM
June 14, 2016
With Eddie Huang's books, I recommend listening to the audiobook version. I love the way he laughs. There are a lot of cultural references and he talks fast sometimes but then he gets reflective and emotional. Don't let his poop humor and "bad boy" image fool you. He has a lot of interesting things to say about race, culture, and identity. Especially if you're a child of immigrant parents. But even if you aren't, you get a unique perspective and I always think it's important to read/listen/talk to people from as many different backgrounds as possible.
November 19, 2017
I don't know how or why this book made me happy, but it did and maybe on a second reading I'll come up with a more nuanced review. I'm just basking in the book's afterglow. Or maybe the third time, who knows?! This book will always be on my shelf.
August 2, 2016
His first memoir, "Fresh Off the Boat," is definitely better. This memoir lacks focus. I will say that I always enjoy Huang's voice -- he's one of a kind.
March 23, 2017
Full disclosure: I won a copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway. I would gladly have paid full price for it though. It's that good.
I can't recall where--the Daily Show, maybe?--I saw an interview with Huang when he was promoting this book. I'd never heard of him before, but he seemed like a fun guy, and years spent watching Iron Chef has left me with an appreciation for people who cook for a living. So I made a mental note of his name, vowing to read one or both of his books someday. Browsing the giveaways (how else do you think I win so many? Anything that looks interesting, I sign up. I only win about one in forty or so, but if I only enter for books I think I'll like, I'm rarely disappointed), I saw this book, and the rest is history.
Eddie Huang is a successful restauranteur, chef, author, and hip hop aficionado. This book tells of his meeting the love of his life, and a trip to China to find his roots. He writes some enjoyable prose. Liberally sprinkled with hip hop references and mouthwatering descriptions of food, his words have a rhythm and pull that made me smile with delight. He's a keen practitioner of the autobiographical art of seeming ultra cool, while still being the butt of the joke if it makes for a good story. If you're not fortunate enough to know Eddie personally--I'm certainly not--reading this book is probably the next best thing. His personality really seems to come through on its pages. I will definitely be keeping an eye out for his previous book, Fresh Off the Boat, as well as any future writing projects. Recommended!
I can't recall where--the Daily Show, maybe?--I saw an interview with Huang when he was promoting this book. I'd never heard of him before, but he seemed like a fun guy, and years spent watching Iron Chef has left me with an appreciation for people who cook for a living. So I made a mental note of his name, vowing to read one or both of his books someday. Browsing the giveaways (how else do you think I win so many? Anything that looks interesting, I sign up. I only win about one in forty or so, but if I only enter for books I think I'll like, I'm rarely disappointed), I saw this book, and the rest is history.
Eddie Huang is a successful restauranteur, chef, author, and hip hop aficionado. This book tells of his meeting the love of his life, and a trip to China to find his roots. He writes some enjoyable prose. Liberally sprinkled with hip hop references and mouthwatering descriptions of food, his words have a rhythm and pull that made me smile with delight. He's a keen practitioner of the autobiographical art of seeming ultra cool, while still being the butt of the joke if it makes for a good story. If you're not fortunate enough to know Eddie personally--I'm certainly not--reading this book is probably the next best thing. His personality really seems to come through on its pages. I will definitely be keeping an eye out for his previous book, Fresh Off the Boat, as well as any future writing projects. Recommended!
June 14, 2016
4.5 Stars.
I didn't know what to expect from this book but it was so good. It was hip hop, witty, laugh out loud funny. I teared up a bit from some lines because it does talk about heartbreak but in all the ways life can break your heart: a lover, small talk, a sibling. Pop culture book but in the way hip hop has become pop culture. As a minority, I appreciated the way he wrote about otherness and acceptance. Just a funny book and the food references - anyone can appreciate.
I didn't know what to expect from this book but it was so good. It was hip hop, witty, laugh out loud funny. I teared up a bit from some lines because it does talk about heartbreak but in all the ways life can break your heart: a lover, small talk, a sibling. Pop culture book but in the way hip hop has become pop culture. As a minority, I appreciated the way he wrote about otherness and acceptance. Just a funny book and the food references - anyone can appreciate.
July 20, 2017
Wow!
I loved this book more than the first. Eddie's pilgrimage to the motherland resonated on so many level esp. as a child of immigrants myself. Will highly recommend this to my friends.
I loved this book more than the first. Eddie's pilgrimage to the motherland resonated on so many level esp. as a child of immigrants myself. Will highly recommend this to my friends.
November 1, 2018
I've always loved Eddie Huang. He's just hilarious and I love his hip hop references.
This book was dope - I related to his conflicting feels and messages about family — the importance of sticking together but of also not taking advantage of each other.
I found learning about Chinese and Taiwanese cuisines so fascinating. Does brother Huang have a cookbook? Cause I'd buy that shit right away!
He gotta leave em white girls alone. Half-kidding. Honestly, the shitty part of this book and any life is to see when people of colour find themselves in spaces where they hold other cultures/races in a higher regard than their own self-respect and self-dignity. Common trope with men of colour buying into the trophy/white-is-right myth. Call me a hating ass black girl, I don't care. Honestly, I think love is love and it realistically it doesn't matter racially who you date/marry as long as that person and their family are down with the cause of not being ignorant, microaggressive, racist assholes.
**SPOILERS* I think he gets deep into this convo and goes through his thought process in great detail and although it was good to see, it was kinda painful to read. The battle for respect (your own self-respect, the respect of your partner's white family) is hard-won. I could almost pinpoint the fact that she wasn't going to marry him in the end, just by the undertones of what I had read. It had this baseline of uncertainty all up and through the book, not just on his girl's part, also on his part. It was hard to watch him sell himself short taking all these indignities about his culture, raging quietly and smiling politely just to hitch up with the "standard of beauty" when that standard's family stayed pulling levels of racist micro and macro aggressions against him. That's bullshit. **
I hate reading about people second-guessing whether or not they're good enough to play a leading man in a relationship because you're trying to marry into white families. He knew they were fucked up and was blinded by love.
Anyway, overall, I fucked with this book and it provided a great intermittent break read throughout my day today.
This book was dope - I related to his conflicting feels and messages about family — the importance of sticking together but of also not taking advantage of each other.
I found learning about Chinese and Taiwanese cuisines so fascinating. Does brother Huang have a cookbook? Cause I'd buy that shit right away!
He gotta leave em white girls alone. Half-kidding. Honestly, the shitty part of this book and any life is to see when people of colour find themselves in spaces where they hold other cultures/races in a higher regard than their own self-respect and self-dignity. Common trope with men of colour buying into the trophy/white-is-right myth. Call me a hating ass black girl, I don't care. Honestly, I think love is love and it realistically it doesn't matter racially who you date/marry as long as that person and their family are down with the cause of not being ignorant, microaggressive, racist assholes.
**SPOILERS* I think he gets deep into this convo and goes through his thought process in great detail and although it was good to see, it was kinda painful to read. The battle for respect (your own self-respect, the respect of your partner's white family) is hard-won. I could almost pinpoint the fact that she wasn't going to marry him in the end, just by the undertones of what I had read. It had this baseline of uncertainty all up and through the book, not just on his girl's part, also on his part. It was hard to watch him sell himself short taking all these indignities about his culture, raging quietly and smiling politely just to hitch up with the "standard of beauty" when that standard's family stayed pulling levels of racist micro and macro aggressions against him. That's bullshit. **
I hate reading about people second-guessing whether or not they're good enough to play a leading man in a relationship because you're trying to marry into white families. He knew they were fucked up and was blinded by love.
Anyway, overall, I fucked with this book and it provided a great intermittent break read throughout my day today.
April 10, 2017
Disclaimer: I received this book as part of the Goodreads Giveaway program.
Sigh. I would love to write that, having read Huang’s first book, I was able to get past the constant hip-hop references in his second. However, this boomer reader has absolutely no context in which to place the slang and phrases that pass for conversation among Huang and his brothers and friends. Even the extensive footnote translations were difficult to follow.
“Double Cup Love” reverses the narrative thread of “Fresh Off the Boat,” which focused on being a child of immigrant parents and trying desperately to become part of American culture. In his second book, Huang returns to China, to discover not only his roots, but in an attempt to see if his Chinese cooking will pass muster. He gives us a very brief peek into his dating life a la OKCupid, and his decision to propose to his Italian-American girlfriend. This mix of cultures provides more angst for Huang than for the rest of his family. In several poignant passages, he writes that he is bringing his girlfriend to China and proposing to her there because he needs to be sure she accepts him for not only the person she knows in America, but for the cultural background he carries. An acceptance that the reader is left wondering if Huang has discovered yet. Huang closes himself off to readers as soon as he shows vulnerability, which is a shame, because this book could have been a much deeper exploration of the impact of culture on relationships.
Sigh. I would love to write that, having read Huang’s first book, I was able to get past the constant hip-hop references in his second. However, this boomer reader has absolutely no context in which to place the slang and phrases that pass for conversation among Huang and his brothers and friends. Even the extensive footnote translations were difficult to follow.
“Double Cup Love” reverses the narrative thread of “Fresh Off the Boat,” which focused on being a child of immigrant parents and trying desperately to become part of American culture. In his second book, Huang returns to China, to discover not only his roots, but in an attempt to see if his Chinese cooking will pass muster. He gives us a very brief peek into his dating life a la OKCupid, and his decision to propose to his Italian-American girlfriend. This mix of cultures provides more angst for Huang than for the rest of his family. In several poignant passages, he writes that he is bringing his girlfriend to China and proposing to her there because he needs to be sure she accepts him for not only the person she knows in America, but for the cultural background he carries. An acceptance that the reader is left wondering if Huang has discovered yet. Huang closes himself off to readers as soon as he shows vulnerability, which is a shame, because this book could have been a much deeper exploration of the impact of culture on relationships.
November 11, 2016
Wonderfully written and unexpectedly profound. As a fan of his show, Huang's World on Viceland, Eddie has provided a further glimpse into his life and has detailed an intimate portrait of love, family, food and cultural identity. His personality shines through his prose with hip hop references all through out the book alongside some of his more philosophical ideas. I found myself looking into my own mind about any negative preconceptions I've had of Chinese culture and reassessing my own thoughts. If I had to pick anything out, I would say the consistent use of footnotes for further explanation really obstructed my natural reading in the first few pages but even so after awhile, I looked forward to the notes which provided Eddie another forum to let his personality shine. I recommend this book too all food lovers!
December 20, 2018
I think I had intended to borrow Mr. Huang's first book, Fresh Off the Boat: A Memoir, but borrowed this one instead. I listened to the audiobook and I have to admit that I almost gave up on it within the first 30 minutes. I barely understood what he was talking about and could not relate to him at all. I bet our girls could understand him better, even though he's much closer in age to me.
Instead of giving up, I sped up the replay to 2x the normal speed and gave him another chance. Once he arrived in China and started waxing philosophic about race, belonging, life and love as well as discussing the merits of different regional Chinese food, I became more engaged.
Overall, the book is good, but not great. At the end of the book he mentions a detail that really puts a whole damper on the second half of the book.
interesting quotes (page numbers from paperback edition with ISBN13 978-0812985436):
"Nothing encapsulates the over-reduced Chinese-American better than Yelp. We aren't quiet, we aren't devoid of opinion - we're an extremely passive-aggressive, tribal, prescriptive people who can't agree on how we feel about Indians." (p. 4)
"I thought alchemy in China was relegated to making fake eggs or lions, but, clearly, when the skills were applied in a positive manner the result was transcendent." (p. 115)
"I hung up the phone, headed to the spa's movie theater, and tried again not to judge parents until I'd been one myself." (p. 137)
Instead of giving up, I sped up the replay to 2x the normal speed and gave him another chance. Once he arrived in China and started waxing philosophic about race, belonging, life and love as well as discussing the merits of different regional Chinese food, I became more engaged.
Overall, the book is good, but not great. At the end of the book he mentions a detail that really puts a whole damper on the second half of the book.
interesting quotes (page numbers from paperback edition with ISBN13 978-0812985436):
"Nothing encapsulates the over-reduced Chinese-American better than Yelp. We aren't quiet, we aren't devoid of opinion - we're an extremely passive-aggressive, tribal, prescriptive people who can't agree on how we feel about Indians." (p. 4)
"I thought alchemy in China was relegated to making fake eggs or lions, but, clearly, when the skills were applied in a positive manner the result was transcendent." (p. 115)
"I hung up the phone, headed to the spa's movie theater, and tried again not to judge parents until I'd been one myself." (p. 137)
June 7, 2016
While I did not love every page of this book (a bit too much slang and parentheticals/footnotes explaining pop culture references) that were disruptive to a smooth read, there was a lot to appreciate as well in Huang's second memoir of his experience as a Taiwanese-American who had found fame through food and his TV series based on the first book, Fresh Off the Boat. His quest is really interesting in this book--to cook the Chinese-inspired food that he serves in the US at his restaurant and with his family for Chinese people in China to see what the people there think of his food. I learned a lot about various regions' specialties and how different combinations of ingredients (fresh vs. dried chili peppers) lead to different effects. Besides all the first-hand descriptions of cooking experiments, Huang touched me with his reflections on identity--trying to figure out who he is and why and when he feels like he belongs somewhere and under what circumstances he feels estranged. One of my favorite spots in the book is this moment of understanding: "I don't believe in country. I don't believe in race. But I do believe in the power of place." On top of all of these threads is a love story. . . Huang finding a woman from a very different background who brings him peace and understanding. Those sections are most welcome since they interrupt some of the macho posturing, a reason I am not a bigger fan of recent Junot Diaz, and some just gross stuff in the text, like several mentions of talking about wiping oneself after pooping--standing vs. sitting. Come on, edit that out! Still, it felt worthwhile to take this adventure with Huang and his brothers who make quite an impression.
March 13, 2018
Eddie Huang has done a lot of living in his 36 years (to date). You will probably know him from one of his many accomplishments: a host on the t.v. show "Cheap Bites", author of "Fresh Off the Boat" in 2013, the book I'm reviewing, "Double Cup Love" in 2016, many appearances on "Unique Eats", owner of BaoHaus in Manhattan in 2009, and the failed restaurant Xiao Ye. If that's not enough, he was also a clothing designer - and oh yes, a lawyer. He also had an extremely popular - and humorous - blog.
This book is about his identity crisis so to speak. Born in Washington, D.C. to Taiwanese parents, the rest of his parental families (on both sides) remained in their birthplace of China. Huang's father was the inspiration for Eddie's intersest in cooking and owning restaurants. After relocating the family to Florida, Eddie's father managed a slew of very successful steak and seafood restaurants, so Eddie was quite familiar with cooking and running a restaurant.
Eddie's life story is quite comical at times, which is to be expected as he is also a humorist. However, he did struggle with whether or not he was truly to be considered Chinese, having been born and raised in the US. He has had some controversy in his life, mostly for things he said on his blog with regard to other cultures.
This book is about his identity crisis so to speak. Born in Washington, D.C. to Taiwanese parents, the rest of his parental families (on both sides) remained in their birthplace of China. Huang's father was the inspiration for Eddie's intersest in cooking and owning restaurants. After relocating the family to Florida, Eddie's father managed a slew of very successful steak and seafood restaurants, so Eddie was quite familiar with cooking and running a restaurant.
Eddie's life story is quite comical at times, which is to be expected as he is also a humorist. However, he did struggle with whether or not he was truly to be considered Chinese, having been born and raised in the US. He has had some controversy in his life, mostly for things he said on his blog with regard to other cultures.
April 18, 2016
I love me some Eddie Huang. I've been a fan of his since Baohaus was on Rivington St. on the Lower East SIde. If all you know about Eddie is the tv show, "Fresh Off the Boat", this book is not for you. Don't get me wrong, I love that show but that's not the real Huang family on tv. That's watered down and cutesy family. "Double Cup Love" is the real Eddie Huang. This is a continuation of the real deal - the guy that hustled in NY, the hip hop loving, weed smoking, foul mouthed genius chef. In this book, Eddie and his brothers travel to China to see if real Chinese will like his food. Eddie clashes with his brothers, meets new Chinese friends in Chengdu (not just pandas!) and discovers what's important to him. Oh and there's a bit of a love story too. But don't read this if you expect it to be like the ABC tv show. This is more like his Vice show. If you want authentic Eddie Huang, this is your book.
June 4, 2016
In case it hasn't been made clear already, Eddie Huang isn't for everyone. He's really not. After reading Double Cup Love, though, I'm appreciating that fact more than ever. This book isn't nearly as long or as thematically booming as FOB; in fact, hardly anything happens within the confines of his actual trip to China, and the only aspect I didn't care for was the contrived "storyline" inserted amongst hilarious memories and sharp social critiques. DCL isn't about the action, and now that Huang has his background as laid out as humanly possible, he's able to more sharply focus his attention on other matters, not the least of which is his food. Ultimately, it's his in-depth discussions of food itself that set the book apart from FOB. Like, I teared up over Dong'an chicken tenders.
Also, Huang makes references to both Romance of the Three Kingdoms and Kanye. That's worth 5 stars in itself.
Also, Huang makes references to both Romance of the Three Kingdoms and Kanye. That's worth 5 stars in itself.
June 18, 2016
This book is best on the audiobook format. I liked this book so much better than Fresh Off the Boat and maybe I just like the audiobook format that much better. So I'm going to download Fresh Off the Boat on audible and see if I like it better.
June 13, 2016
I like Huang's humor, but sometimes the whole culturally appropriated hip-hop voice feels inauthentic, which then becomes grating.
June 18, 2017
First book was better, but it was a cool look at the experience of going back to the motherland. Always nice to see race and immigration outside of the black/latino lens. Very easy read.
July 31, 2017
I enjoyed this book although I wish there was more cooking . I felt a bit lost reading his NYC hip-hop hipster references, but at least he provided footnotes :)
January 11, 2018
A meaningful book. As a biracial kid, always getting this message of too much "culture" and not enough, belonging nowhere/everywhere. This question of "Where is home?" and "Will they ever accept me?" and "If acceptance came, would I know it? And would it be a relief?" with all the nuances that a word like "acceptance" carries. Fear. Vulnerability. Nobody holds onto "home" harder than those who fear it can be taken away or broken with a word. I appreciated the honesty and willingness of this book. Willingness. Beautiful writing-- unique voice and eyes. I love the idea of home being the diaspora, or the feeling of it. I love the sense that "acceptance" is transient, and in itself only a beginning, not and end -- not a relief. A start. Happy endings are only possible if the story ends at a certain point. The book goes beyond that. I appreciated that. Nothing about life is neat. Excellent. Going to hold my breath and siphon $13 off my broke ass for "Fresh Off the Boat" now, and continue to do so for anything else the panda writes.
August 2, 2017
I liked the language Eddie uses in this book. I didn't read his first book, but I imagine it's similar in the way his voice comes out at you. He writes like he speaks and in the vernacular and slang of the day. This is unique and I haven't read a book like this in a long time.
I enjoyed his philosophies on life and being Chinese American living in NYC and mixing with the culture and people in that city. It's great that his voice is being heard. He brings important cultural issues to the forefront and hopefully people who are not Chinese American can gain some insight into the struggles that arise from mixing two, three cultures together.
"It occurred to me early on that as an Asian American what I think about myself doesn't really matter, nor do intentions, because the ultimate arbiter of our lives is public opinion. We go through our lives making calculations based on expectations and declaring judgements using our advanced research skills despite never really touching, seeing, or feeling the things we're judging. While the West anchors identity in the autonomous mind--'I think, therefore I am'--Asian identity is the sum of our judgements of other people: 'I side-eye, therefore I am.'" pg. 5
"I never asked for any of this. She wanted a relationship, she decided to move herself in, she made me breakfast I never asked for, all because she wanted someone to go to the hospital with her one day when she really needed it. When you're with someone, you're searching the subtexts, looking into their day-to-day actions, their instincts and facial expressions, trying to decode it all to answer the only question that matters: whether they're gonna hold you down. And in her defense, that's what everyone wants." pg. 14
"I left. It was clearly an egregious intrusion of private and psychological space, but I felt like it was necessary. I needed to know I wasn't in love with the mirage, and I needed her to know she could let go of her masks with me. That I wasn't superficial and caught up in her projection of self, but the actual vulnerable unedited self. We'd been holding back, but we both knew what we were feeling. That day, in the middle of Hurricane Sandy, our feet on the cold tile of my bathroom, it broke open. I was in love." pg. 38
"I thought at the time the poop test was: Could I show her that I love her even with her pants down, at her most vulnerable? Could I show myself? Now I realize the poop test's addendum: would she still love me when I got too close, when I forced vulnerability on her that she wasn't ready for or ever obliged to provide?" pg. 38
"Think about it. A country welcomes you with open arms. An entire civilization of people look at themselves shamefully, motivate themselves to do better, to make themselves presentable, train their people to be at your beck and call, do their best to gain your respect, but instead of being filled with humbling gratitude that all of this is for you, you toy with them. You yell 'FU REN!' like it's some sort of game, just to see how fast people will run toward you in an effort to serve. Why? For your ego? For a quick laugh? To remind everyone who the f*ck you are? We'll never understand white people, but still we try." pg. 109
"'Your girlfriend makes you very happy, doesn't she?'
'She makes me happy because she makes herself happy.'
'Huh?'
'Yeah. I like her because she likes herself. She expects things for herself. She wants to do thing for herself. She knows herself.'" pg. 146
"'This isn't just mine. This is our whole family's story!'
'Yes, this is our family's story, but you are telling it! I love the book. I love Baohaus, but would I tell it the same way? No. That doesn't mean you're wrong, but you can't tell it for me. This is your version of our family story.'
I was embarrassed. When I wrote the book and started the restaurant, I always tried to represent my family in a way they'd be proud of. I thought of what Emery would say, I asked Evan what he thought, I tried to surprise my parents with how well I knew them. . . . I knew I had good intentions throughout, but I was crushed in that moment. I'd forgotten my own maxim: no one or no thing can speak for you, you have to speak for yourself." pg. 165
"'I'm not taking her!'
'Of course you are. This is natural, though. It is OK. Every parent knows this and expects this, for the most part they want this. Especially father of the bride, this is a huge accomplishment for him! He raised a daughter that somebody wants to marry and be partners with. In many ways, this is his greatest achievement as her father. You cannot take this away from him,' said Rabbi emphatically." pg. 180
"People talk about escape, but I don't believe in traveling for the purpose of forgetting. I travel to find myself again. When I'm in an unfamiliar place, I gain negative space: the silence in confusion is all-knowing. Even hearing people speak a language or dialect you don't understand allows you to hear yourself. You can watch them mouth the words, speak with their hands but everything's kind of in slow motion. A conjuring. You can see intention in the motions. When you're transported and exposed to something different, you have to think. You gotta work. You gotta learn the Earth's vibrations all over again. You pay attention and you feel alive. You remember everything you forgot, and if you really really open your f*cking eyes you may learn something new. Or find something old. Even in a world of enslaved monkeys and insidious chains, we can live with grace, respect . . .and tradition." pg. 189
Book: borrowed from Adolfo L.
I enjoyed his philosophies on life and being Chinese American living in NYC and mixing with the culture and people in that city. It's great that his voice is being heard. He brings important cultural issues to the forefront and hopefully people who are not Chinese American can gain some insight into the struggles that arise from mixing two, three cultures together.
"It occurred to me early on that as an Asian American what I think about myself doesn't really matter, nor do intentions, because the ultimate arbiter of our lives is public opinion. We go through our lives making calculations based on expectations and declaring judgements using our advanced research skills despite never really touching, seeing, or feeling the things we're judging. While the West anchors identity in the autonomous mind--'I think, therefore I am'--Asian identity is the sum of our judgements of other people: 'I side-eye, therefore I am.'" pg. 5
"I never asked for any of this. She wanted a relationship, she decided to move herself in, she made me breakfast I never asked for, all because she wanted someone to go to the hospital with her one day when she really needed it. When you're with someone, you're searching the subtexts, looking into their day-to-day actions, their instincts and facial expressions, trying to decode it all to answer the only question that matters: whether they're gonna hold you down. And in her defense, that's what everyone wants." pg. 14
"I left. It was clearly an egregious intrusion of private and psychological space, but I felt like it was necessary. I needed to know I wasn't in love with the mirage, and I needed her to know she could let go of her masks with me. That I wasn't superficial and caught up in her projection of self, but the actual vulnerable unedited self. We'd been holding back, but we both knew what we were feeling. That day, in the middle of Hurricane Sandy, our feet on the cold tile of my bathroom, it broke open. I was in love." pg. 38
"I thought at the time the poop test was: Could I show her that I love her even with her pants down, at her most vulnerable? Could I show myself? Now I realize the poop test's addendum: would she still love me when I got too close, when I forced vulnerability on her that she wasn't ready for or ever obliged to provide?" pg. 38
"Think about it. A country welcomes you with open arms. An entire civilization of people look at themselves shamefully, motivate themselves to do better, to make themselves presentable, train their people to be at your beck and call, do their best to gain your respect, but instead of being filled with humbling gratitude that all of this is for you, you toy with them. You yell 'FU REN!' like it's some sort of game, just to see how fast people will run toward you in an effort to serve. Why? For your ego? For a quick laugh? To remind everyone who the f*ck you are? We'll never understand white people, but still we try." pg. 109
"'Your girlfriend makes you very happy, doesn't she?'
'She makes me happy because she makes herself happy.'
'Huh?'
'Yeah. I like her because she likes herself. She expects things for herself. She wants to do thing for herself. She knows herself.'" pg. 146
"'This isn't just mine. This is our whole family's story!'
'Yes, this is our family's story, but you are telling it! I love the book. I love Baohaus, but would I tell it the same way? No. That doesn't mean you're wrong, but you can't tell it for me. This is your version of our family story.'
I was embarrassed. When I wrote the book and started the restaurant, I always tried to represent my family in a way they'd be proud of. I thought of what Emery would say, I asked Evan what he thought, I tried to surprise my parents with how well I knew them. . . . I knew I had good intentions throughout, but I was crushed in that moment. I'd forgotten my own maxim: no one or no thing can speak for you, you have to speak for yourself." pg. 165
"'I'm not taking her!'
'Of course you are. This is natural, though. It is OK. Every parent knows this and expects this, for the most part they want this. Especially father of the bride, this is a huge accomplishment for him! He raised a daughter that somebody wants to marry and be partners with. In many ways, this is his greatest achievement as her father. You cannot take this away from him,' said Rabbi emphatically." pg. 180
"People talk about escape, but I don't believe in traveling for the purpose of forgetting. I travel to find myself again. When I'm in an unfamiliar place, I gain negative space: the silence in confusion is all-knowing. Even hearing people speak a language or dialect you don't understand allows you to hear yourself. You can watch them mouth the words, speak with their hands but everything's kind of in slow motion. A conjuring. You can see intention in the motions. When you're transported and exposed to something different, you have to think. You gotta work. You gotta learn the Earth's vibrations all over again. You pay attention and you feel alive. You remember everything you forgot, and if you really really open your f*cking eyes you may learn something new. Or find something old. Even in a world of enslaved monkeys and insidious chains, we can live with grace, respect . . .and tradition." pg. 189
Book: borrowed from Adolfo L.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 8, 2019
Eddie has a way of writing that really speaks to me. His love for the Knicks, 90s hip hop, beef noodle soup, and family values all hit incredibly hard for me, as an Asian American always seeking acceptance when growing up stateside. This book focused heavily on his cultural exploration and self-reflective journey throughout Chengdu and often leaned into his struggle for acceptance of identity, ethnicity, and love. Powerful stuff Eddie!!
November 19, 2018
I dislike when you buy a book based on the personality of the author only to find it isn't them for one reason or another. This book feels like pure unfiltered Eddie from start to finish.
February 24, 2019
Fantastic book even though I sometimes found the slang a little tough to get through. Loved it!
March 24, 2020
I listened to the audiobook version and would highly recommend it!
January 13, 2020
The last chapter of this was my absolute favorite. I laughed out loud and almost cried all within a few pages. I loved hearing Eddie’s process when it came to food and his thoughts about being Chinese. It was such a deep cut into a part of his life and I really appreciated hearing and relating to it all.
May 25, 2020
3.5 stars. This book made me laugh out loud more times than I can count. It was a welcome diversion during the pandemic shutdown. I will say that I was disappointed that the author drops a major bomb and then abruptly ends the book. I would have preferred less poop/diarrhea stories and more time details about the bomb that drops.
May 30, 2020
I have to admit that I didn't understand half of what he wrote but the parts I did understand were often times poignant.
December 6, 2016
This book is the surprise of the year for me. I don't think the cover, book flap, or even other reviews prepare you for the experience you get when you read Double Cup Love. Huang is one of the most charismatic narrators you'll ever read. I knew nothing of his work, I don't watch Fresh off the Boat, and I have never really followed his exploits in food and media. However, after reading the first few chapters of this highly enjoyable memoir, I had a great impression of Huang. His New Yorker persona is engaging, his pop culture and sports allusions are creative and spot on, and his conversations about food, culture, and love are funny and inspired.
Double Cup Love is a memoir-style story about Eddie Huang's journey of self-discovery as his passions converge, stirring a need in him to reconnect with his culture and visit China.
The narrator makes the memoir. My previous review of Norm MacDonald's book is a perfect example of this. I loved that book because I loved Norm's voice. The difference here, is that with Norm MacDonald's book, Based on a True Story, you had to know Norm to understand the book and you pretty much had to like Norm to like the book. Here, with Double Cup Love, that's not really the case. You don't have to know Eddie Huang to understand the book (count me as Exhibit A), and your opinion of Huang enhances your feeling about the book, but no matter what you think of him, you can enjoy the book and what he has to say about the universal topics he discusses.
This is a book that flows like the best stream of consciousness types of books, like On the Road - albeit less ambitious. The enjoyment factor for Double Cup Love rests fully in your ability as a reader to accept some brashness and appreciate its layers. On one level it's a book about food. On another level, it's a book about relationships. However, on its most fascinating level, it's a book about the Chinese-American's place in modern culture. The story of race in America is complex and tumultuous, but the Chinese-American is often but a footnoot in that story. However, Huang represents a very topical and conflicted presence in America. A modern, young man with hopes for success living in a country where nearly all role models, icons, and artists do not reflect his heritage. This type of upbringing results in a unique and valuable outlook that is nicely represented in this book. In a way it's a filling book, but... don't read this book hungry.
Double Cup Love is a memoir-style story about Eddie Huang's journey of self-discovery as his passions converge, stirring a need in him to reconnect with his culture and visit China.
The narrator makes the memoir. My previous review of Norm MacDonald's book is a perfect example of this. I loved that book because I loved Norm's voice. The difference here, is that with Norm MacDonald's book, Based on a True Story, you had to know Norm to understand the book and you pretty much had to like Norm to like the book. Here, with Double Cup Love, that's not really the case. You don't have to know Eddie Huang to understand the book (count me as Exhibit A), and your opinion of Huang enhances your feeling about the book, but no matter what you think of him, you can enjoy the book and what he has to say about the universal topics he discusses.
This is a book that flows like the best stream of consciousness types of books, like On the Road - albeit less ambitious. The enjoyment factor for Double Cup Love rests fully in your ability as a reader to accept some brashness and appreciate its layers. On one level it's a book about food. On another level, it's a book about relationships. However, on its most fascinating level, it's a book about the Chinese-American's place in modern culture. The story of race in America is complex and tumultuous, but the Chinese-American is often but a footnoot in that story. However, Huang represents a very topical and conflicted presence in America. A modern, young man with hopes for success living in a country where nearly all role models, icons, and artists do not reflect his heritage. This type of upbringing results in a unique and valuable outlook that is nicely represented in this book. In a way it's a filling book, but... don't read this book hungry.
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