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yellowswagger's review against another edition
5.0
Eddie Huang does an incredible job of painting the world through his eyes. His method of storytelling not only paints a clear and vivid picture of the Huang family, but it also actively puts the reader in the author's shoes. Huang does an excellent job of making something so familiar to the white American feel as foreign as it would to someone approaching it for the first time. I relate to a lot of Eddie's childhood pain, and having lived in Orlando, I appreciate the accurate and nostalgic references to what was once the author's (and my own) home. CW- there are instances of abuse in this memoir that almost dismiss the behavior. The subject is approached without analysis, however, I also acknowledge that that's not what the story's about and that at the time this was written, the author may not have fully comprehended the harm they experienced. I hope that in writing this book, the author found peace and closure with some of their more painful experiences.
tregina's review against another edition
3.0
It's like four o'clock in the morning but I just couldn't stop reading. Fascinating, blunt, and maddening. And form mirroring content, I love that the voice of the narration matches the voice of the author through the different stages of his life - no easy feat. Not thrilled about the pervasive misogyny, though.
daumari's review against another edition
3.0
On my parents' trip to see my grandfather last month, my mother wanted something to read for the car ride and saw this in my library book pile. She said she couldn't finish/didn't like it because of the swear words and sex (though tbh I can think of maybe 1 chapter where the second is a thing). Even though they're both 2nd gen, Eddie Huang is a Gen Xer and a rotten banana to boot, so I can kinda get the cultural disconnect.
I wasn't familiar with Huang but I did recognize the name Baohaus and the cover/title were intriguing, which is why I checked it out. It reminds me very much of [b:Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly|33313|Kitchen Confidential Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly|Anthony Bourdain|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1348988611s/33313.jpg|4219] in terms of I-Don't-Give-A-Fuck tone and writing style. Also because they're both autobiographies with the occasional food bits thrown in. I'm inclined to agree with Huang's assessment that celebrity chefs getting famous marketing 'ethnic' cuisine is nothing short of culinary imperialism, and now I'm really hungry for some bao (even if I am one of those ABCs checking off every Model Minority stereotype I've stumbled into).
I wasn't familiar with Huang but I did recognize the name Baohaus and the cover/title were intriguing, which is why I checked it out. It reminds me very much of [b:Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly|33313|Kitchen Confidential Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly|Anthony Bourdain|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1348988611s/33313.jpg|4219] in terms of I-Don't-Give-A-Fuck tone and writing style. Also because they're both autobiographies with the occasional food bits thrown in. I'm inclined to agree with Huang's assessment that celebrity chefs getting famous marketing 'ethnic' cuisine is nothing short of culinary imperialism, and now I'm really hungry for some bao (even if I am one of those ABCs checking off every Model Minority stereotype I've stumbled into).
shelbymarie516's review
4.0
3.75 Honestly surprised this got made into a show on ABC with some of the crazy things that happened to him during his childhood. Inspiring and real. I actually feel like I learned something. I liked how he talked about how the further south you go in Florida the less "southern" it gets. Sad I never got to eat at his restaurant in NYC.
katiescontentcorner's review against another edition
3.0
My expectations about this book were very wrong. I picked it up in a library sale and saw the tie-in to the TV show but it was VERY different. I did some reading and Huang agreed that his story and the show are worlds apart. Loved him talking about food and hip hop and basketball and race and his teachers, but there were definitely some issues when it came to gender and how he spoke about women.
nickscoby's review against another edition
4.0
Not a literary masterpiece, but it doesn't claim to be. Fresh Off The Boat is a quintessential anti-post-racial narrative. Should be mandatory reading in any contemporary ethnic studies course.
prodigalstudent's review against another edition
3.0
So, this book gets a lot of credit for sustaining my attention, because before this, I have never been able to really finish an autobiography.
I liked how real the author was. It's weird but I felt like after reading this book I was able to properly appreciate how gentrification can (negatively) affect the community. Also being a foodie, I loved all the parts about food. It's so true that the best food is many times just the simple dishes we have at home.
However, I need to cut off points for some of the middle chapters. Those were really boring and did not offer me anything insightful to think about. Plus, while I respect and admire the author for taking his own path in life, I don't think it is right to judge people who follow the more traditional path, as long as that's what they want. So, it's a 3 stars for me.
I liked how real the author was. It's weird but I felt like after reading this book I was able to properly appreciate how gentrification can (negatively) affect the community. Also being a foodie, I loved all the parts about food. It's so true that the best food is many times just the simple dishes we have at home.
However, I need to cut off points for some of the middle chapters. Those were really boring and did not offer me anything insightful to think about. Plus, while I respect and admire the author for taking his own path in life, I don't think it is right to judge people who follow the more traditional path, as long as that's what they want. So, it's a 3 stars for me.
inook_u's review against another edition
4.0
I have the biggest love hate relationship with Eddie because he is someone I wouldn’t get along with he’s to cocky, smokes drug and can be a straight up dick. I admire him as well because he’s so hardworking, is very intellectual and successful but my favourite quality of Eddie is his love for his family! Especially with his brothers Emery and Evan. When he talks about his brothers in the book you can really feel how much he cares and want to protect his younger brothers. I love his dedication “To Emery who loved it and Evan who built it” made me cry!!!! Such a great story and I recommend listening to the audiobook