Slow Noodles is the gripping memoir of a child navigating the devastating impact of Pol Pot’s genocide in the 1970s. Nguon recounts the heartbreaking separation from family, escape to another country, and the enduring grip of memories centered around recipes from her mother’s kitchen. This book is a powerful blend of sorrow and hope, terror and optimism, all interwoven with the significance of food and the potency of memories, making it an ideal choice for book clubs looking to delve into history alongside discussions on family dynamics, the role of food, and the complexities of immigration.
Slow Noodles by Chantha Nguon, (List Price: $29, Algonquin Books, 9781643753492, February 2024)
Reviewed by Beth Seufer Buss, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, North Carolina