My Mother's Kitchen by Meera Ekkanath Klein (23)

My Mother's Kitchen is an enchanting place filled with promise, change and good food. If the weathered walls of this magical room could talk they would tell the story of Meena and her childhood life. Each chapter is a slice in her young life and depicts her spunk and youthful spirit. A visit to the local Fruit and Flower Show becomes an adventure as told by Meena. Her distress at finding out about her aunt's dark secret or her joy of making a new friend are all told in her naïve, yet pure voice. Her mother is a central character in her life and it is no wonder that the kitchen is a special place of healing and rejuvenation, not only for Meena but for other characters like Kashi and Ayah.

• Paperback: 266 pages
• Publisher: Homebound Publications; Second Edition edition (November 17, 2014)
• ISBN: 9781938846700

AMAZON US   |   AMAZON CA   |   AMAZON UK

AUTHOR BIO:

Award-winning author, Meera Ekkanath Klein, deftly weaves her love of cooking and story-telling into an irresistible tale. My Mother's Kitchen: A novel with recipes (2014, Homebound Publications) was selected as a Winner in the 2015 International Book Awards in the Multi-Cultural Fiction category. The book was also selected as Finalist in the 2015 National Indie Excellence Book Awards and in 2015 Beverly Hills International Book Awards, both in the Multi-Cultural Fiction category. She was one of 40 authors at the celebrated 2015 Authors on the Move fundraiser for the Sacramento Library Foundation dinner and auction. She was featured on Capital Public Radio on April 2, 2015 and interviewed by host Beth Ruyak. She has participated in the Local Author Festival at the Sacramento Library and will be a presenter at the Great Valley Book Fest in October. She will also make presentations at the Woodland Friends of the Library annual meeting in June and at the Greenhaven/Pocket area Library in July. A former newspaper reporter and columnist, Klein, honed her writing skills in a busy newsroom. She mastered the art of Indian cooking in her own mother's kitchen in the beautiful Blue Mountains or Nilgiris of south India. Klein currently lives in northern California and is completing a sequel to My Mother's Kitchen, as well as a YA book based on Indian legends and mythology.

Glad you liked the stew @fredalicious The photo looks great, perfect colors and texture! https://t.co/wxBN4y20ui

— Meera Ekkanath Klein (@meeraklein) March 3, 2016

Aviyal stew that I made from the book; My Mother's Kitchen by Meera Ekkanath Klein. Review coming soon. #GoodEats

A photo posted by Freda Mans (@fredasphotos) on Mar 3, 2016 at 12:49pm PST

REVIEW:

I need more.
So richly deep in culture, one that I felt myself get submersed in, but taken so abruptly at the end that I'm left wondering what happens in America...
This book is a great story about a girl in India who gains much knowledge and wisdom while growing up with strong female presences. Enough so, it may actually bite said presences in the behind later on, but those conclusions you can draw for yourself. 
I like Meena. Modern girl or not. She wasn't asking for much, and maybe it's the modern girl in me, but I think they should've gave it to her.
The recipes in the book are Southern Indian Comfort food. I love it, and the smells when it is cooking is indescribably detectable. I made one dish, and can't wait to make more. This is going to be one well worn book before long with the recipes I have saved.
I suggest this book to any who enjoy learning about other cultures, people who love Indian cuisine, or just want a good coming-of-age story.

4/5

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