Brutal though ultimately hopeful ... The book is not only an impactful memoir of an extraordinary woman but a human-centered take on an era that has largely been defined by a lack of humanity.
Lyrical, harrowing, and fiercely feminist ... Unforgettably wise, Slow Noodles is a testament to the transformative strength an individual possesses during life’s darkest moments.
Heart-wrenching, inspiring, harrowing, and mouthwatering ... Nguon's titular noodles contribute enormous metaphorical meaning ... A rare gem of a story, gorgeously written, humble and stirring, and packed with tempting recipes.
Heartbreaking, exquisitely told ... Despite the decades of horror the Khmer Rouge inflicted on millions of Cambodians, Nguon infuses her memoir with a spirit of persistence and defiance.
Demonstrating an exceptional sensitivity to the cultural, social, and political significance of food, Nguon extends cooking metaphors across documentations of war, poverty, sexual exploitation, and authoritative terror ... With hunger for gender equality and attention to class differences, this memoir is also a redemptive homecoming to parts of Cambodian history still fresh in many minds and a meditation on the beginnings of a new Cambodia.
Engrossing and evocative ... Nguon interweaves the hardships she endured with her favorite recipes and the memories attached to them, offering readers evocative glimpses of the bursts of light that sustained her through long stretches of harrowing darkness.
