The Frangipani Hotel by Violet Kupersmith
The Frangipani Hotel is a wonderful collection of stories about Vietnam and its people. Several years ago, I had an opportunity of a lifetime to see Vietnam with a group of Vietnamese friends who were going home to visit family. I tagged along and today the fond memories of the trip have stayed with me.
Reading stories of snakes, Vietnamese sandwiches and leaving shoes on the doorstep, I felt right at home. I laughed, I cried, I understood. I am an American on the outside looking in to this complex culture, and Ms. Kupersmith captured it exactly as I remember, right down to the deliciousness of a Vietnamese sandwich. I drooled for the taste of its unrecognizable meat and strange seasoning on a soft, perfect roll. I'm still thinking about it and wondering when I will ever taste something so delicious again.
Don't think the stories are all about food. They are about love and deceit during a time of war. They are about refugees trying to adapt to a new country. They are about preserving a past when it seems to be slipping away.
The author is talented and accomplished in bringing the tales of Vietnamese culture to life in a fresh and invigorating way. Two thumbs up. I loved it.
The Frangipani Hotel is a wonderful collection of stories about Vietnam and its people. Several years ago, I had an opportunity of a lifetime to see Vietnam with a group of Vietnamese friends who were going home to visit family. I tagged along and today the fond memories of the trip have stayed with me.
Reading stories of snakes, Vietnamese sandwiches and leaving shoes on the doorstep, I felt right at home. I laughed, I cried, I understood. I am an American on the outside looking in to this complex culture, and Ms. Kupersmith captured it exactly as I remember, right down to the deliciousness of a Vietnamese sandwich. I drooled for the taste of its unrecognizable meat and strange seasoning on a soft, perfect roll. I'm still thinking about it and wondering when I will ever taste something so delicious again. Don't think the stories are all about food. They are about love and deceit during a time of war. They are about refugees trying to adapt to a new country. They are about preserving a past when it seems to be slipping away.
The author is talented and accomplished in bringing the tales of Vietnamese culture to life in a fresh and invigorating way. Two thumbs up. I loved it.
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