Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Book Review: Day of Honey by Annia Ciezadlo

I’d like to share with you a wonderful new book I was given the opportunity to review. I knew nothing about "Day of Honey" when I was sent a review copy and normally this would not have been my first choice of things to read.  But Annia Ciezadlo is such an engaging writer that I was hooked from the start.

“Day of Honey,” by: Annia Ciezadlo is a riveting memoir about an American journalist covering the war in the Middle East and her extreme passion for food and food related traditions. The book brings day to day living during wartime to the forefront and provides insights into the role that food plays in people’s lives all over the world.


A quote from Ciezadlo sums it up best, “Food is part of war. People can find tremendous comfort in food during wartime, especially when they can eat it together. It’s calming, especially if you’re making comfort food. It’s something you can share with others. And when your life is turned upside down, a meal can capture the essence-the flavor, the fragrance-of the ordinary life that you’ve lost.”

I read this book from cover to cover in just a few short days. I was instantly hooked and immediately hungry with the way Ciezadlo vividly describes the food she encounters.  I very much appreciate that Ciezaldo also thought to include recipes at the end of the book. I highly recommend this book to anyone wanting to gain a better understanding of day to day living in the Middle East.

13 comments:

  1. With all the struggles my family is facing, I need a good book to escape with. I am going to have to try and track it down. I went to the Middle East with my sister two years ago, and I've been captivated ever since. Thank you for sharing.

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  2. Sounds sounds like a captivating read - thanks for the reco!

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  3. Thanks for sharing! I love that my family and my hub's family is so connected over food. We enjoy how it brings us together.

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  4. Wow this sounds like a really great read! Definitely the most interesting and unique take on the goings on in the Middle East. I think people tend to underestimate just how important food is to a culture, but it really impacts everyone's lives in so many ways.

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  5. Just requested from the library. Thanks for the recommended read.

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  6. It sounds like an interesting read, I usually like these kinds of books.

    I am here for the first time, lovely space, I am following you!

    Come round and visit me too, if you like, I write about food, travel and books too :-).

    ciao

    Alessandra
    http://alessandrazecchini.blogspot.com/

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  7. This sound interesting! It's going on my wish list!

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  8. This sounds like a fascinating book and one that I will definitely read. Thank you for the recommendation

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  9. This definitely sounds like an interesting read - thank you for sharing and recommending!

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  10. I hadn't heard about it and I love reading this kind of book. Thanks for the recommendation.

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  11. Wow, I haven;t heard about this book but it sounds so up my alley - i'm on Amazon right now! Thanks!

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  12. This is the second time I have heard about this book lately. I need to get a copy and then find the time to read it, but who's counting? Thank's for another fabulous recommendation. As always, love reading your thoughts and suggestions.

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  13. sounds like the kind of book I am drawn to... anything that shares how food is part of everyone's life. I'm adding it to my list!

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