Not My Bowl of Rice

Rating:
Summary: Entertaining, Educational Story of Acculturation
Review: A friend told me about this book because I was interested in buying an Asian cookbook. Well, I got more than I bargained for, in a good way! 'Not My Bowl of Rice' not only is a wonderful Filipino/Asian recipe book, it is also a page-turner of a tale of Ligaya- the main character- who took me on a beautiful and hilarious odyssey from her Filipino homeland to New Jersey to New York and to the San Francisco Bay Area. Along the way, I met her wacky relatives and friends and felt the joy and pain with Ligaya of each situation she faces as her life unfolds on becoming an American citizen. A very good read indeed! And quite a tasty one!

Rating:
Summary: It's Filipino-American Community's My Big Fat Greek Wedding!
Review: Finally, a book that us Filipinos in America and all over the world can call our own. It is such a unique book in the sense that it is a combination of a compelling story about a Filipina's life in America and a cookbook as well. Each chapter is titled after a Filipino or international dish and carries its complete recipe. It is written well, easy and fast-paced reading. I couldn't put it down and when I finally finished, I have never been more familiar about my own culture, nuances, habits, etc than after reading this ultimate book about us Filipinos. It's a must-read, especially if you are an immigrant.

Rating:
Summary: couldn't put this book down!
Review: I got this book in the mail Wednesday afternoon and couldn't put it down until Thursday night! I had to stop reading only to take care of my actual reading assignments for class, but this book was truly a great read. Escober does a wonderful job clarifying Filipino words and customs for non-Filipinos, and being Filipino myself, I learned a few things about my own culture. I can't wait to try out the recipes included in the book.

Rating:
Summary: Book earns top honors as finalist in 2003 IPPY Book Award!
Review: The 2003 Independent Publisher Book Awards (IPPY) has named ER Escober's "Not My Bowl Of Rice" as a finalist in the Best Fiction Multi-Cultural category. The IPPY Boook Awards, launched in 1996, are designed to bring increased recognition to the deserving but often unsung titles published by independent publishers. Award announcements were made at the BookExpo America in Los Angeles recently.

The award is well-deserved. In this wonderful novel/cookbook, the author expertly brings to life the story of mixing cultures and ingredients. It's a really tasty book!

Rating:
Summary: Amazing combination of recipes, cultural info and novel
Review: This book was incredible. I finished it in 3 days and just couldn't put it down or get it out of my mind. The book combines Philippine cooking with cultural facts while keeping you interested with a wonderful novel. I have 2 sponsored kids in the Philippines (one for 18 years) and wanted to get a better understanding of Philippine culture. This book easily accomplished that task for me in a very enjoyable way. I highly recommend this interesting and informative book!

Rating:
Summary: Amazing combination of recipes, cultural info and novel
Review: This book was incredible. I finished it in 3 days and just couldn't put it down or get it out of my mind. The book combines Philippine cooking with cultural facts while keeping you interested with a wonderful novel. I have 2 sponsored kids in the Philippines (one for 18 years) and wanted to get a better understanding of Philippine culture. This book easily accomplished that task for me in a very enjoyable way. I highly recommend this interesting and informative book!

Rating:
Summary: Very enjoyable and informative...
Review: This book, written in a simple straightforward style almost like Young Adult fiction, is very good. I learned so much about Filipino culture from reading this book. I am American and my partner is Filipino and he was surprised at all the things I discovered about the culture, food, language and customs of Filipinos while reading a compelling story. The recipes tucked into every chapter will make you hungry. A very good read!!!

Rating:
Summary: Entertaining, Educational Story of Acculturation
Review: This is the best book I've read in the last year. It's the rare type of book that you pick up to thumb through and soon find yourself many laughs and tears later reading the last page. The main character, Ligaya, is a Filipina who travels to America to join her mother and to pursue a new life in the "land of milk and honey". The encounters she has along the way and during her journey through America's landscape of corporations, relations, and life in general are told so engagingly, so hilariously that you can't put the book down even though you should really be putting on the pot roast for dinner. And as an added bonus, there are succulent Filipino recipes at the end of every chapter! Though I was never introduced to Filipino cuisine prior to this book, I was motivated to try a couple and they were true "people-pleasers" in my circle of friends. I can't wait for this author's next book!

Rating:
Summary: Why Hasn't Kelly Ripa or Oprah Winfrey Found This Book Yet?
Review: This is the best book I've read in the last year. It's the rare type of book that you pick up to thumb through and soon find yourself many laughs and tears later reading the last page. The main character, Ligaya, is a Filipina who travels to America to join her mother and to pursue a new life in the "land of milk and honey". The encounters she has along the way and during her journey through America's landscape of corporations, relations, and life in general are told so engagingly, so hilariously that you can't put the book down even though you should really be putting on the pot roast for dinner. And as an added bonus, there are succulent Filipino recipes at the end of every chapter! Though I was never introduced to Filipino cuisine prior to this book, I was motivated to try a couple and they were true "people-pleasers" in my circle of friends. I can't wait for this author's next book!