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Rating: 
Summary: Unpleasant surprize; disappointed
Review: I was fully unprepared to have picked up a novel that dealt repeatedly with the sexual abuse of women. I was expecting a far more pleasant read about a cook (Miranda) who delights all with her talents for exotic dishes (but the restaraunt does not appear until more than 1/2 way through the book). While the descriptions in the kitchen are thoroughly convincing and rich, the treatment of child molestation, spousal beating, and rape (of more than one woman) are superficially disturbing. Furthermore, since a significant portion of the story dealt with the area in and around Indonesia and the rituals of various islanders, far more research should have been done. Customs were left vague, without any discussion of meaning, and were practiced by nameless "natives" of some unnamed little island here or there (was the ear-sucking greeting real or imagined by the author?). However, it is these very customs that play a crucial role in the transformation of Miranda's husband. Since there are elements of the supernatural that connect the characters, I have to wonder how much of the "factual" background is really fictional within such an unreal reality.
Rating: 
Summary: Fantastic!!
Review: I was wandering through the bookstore one afternoon and just picked this up randomly. I can honestly say this is my favourite "pick up" so far, and I pick up many different books. Carol Field is very passionate in her detail, and the characters' stories are ones that you feel personally despite the (at times) exotic locale.I felt an indifference towards Miranda at first, but I did admire her tenacity. Of the 3 generations of women in that house, I felt the most compassion for the eldest and the youngest, but I guess I understood most where Miranda was coming from...... This is a wonderful book, a captivating read, and a perfect rainy afternoon escape. It won't take you long to finish it!!
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic!!
Review: I was wandering through the bookstore one afternoon and just picked this up randomly. I can honestly say this is my favourite "pick up" so far, and I pick up many different books. Carol Field is very passionate in her detail, and the characters' stories are ones that you feel personally despite the (at times) exotic locale. I felt an indifference towards Miranda at first, but I did admire her tenacity. Of the 3 generations of women in that house, I felt the most compassion for the eldest and the youngest, but I guess I understood most where Miranda was coming from...... This is a wonderful book, a captivating read, and a perfect rainy afternoon escape. It won't take you long to finish it!!
Rating:
Summary: great eading experience
Review: Just after World War II, Anton brought his Australian "child"-bride Miranda home to Amsterdam, but his mother Ria rejects Miranda. Over the next few years, Anton went on many sea voyages, eventually leaving Miranda and their daughter Diana behind with his mother. When Diana is still a preadolescent, Anton fails to return from his latest sea voyage. With the bills piling up and no income coming in, Miranda decides to take in borders. Soon her cooking skills become famous and many of the housewives start ordering her dishes. Over the next few years as Diana becomes a teen she misses her father. When Rotterdam anthropologist Max Madoqua learns about all the exotic items in Miranda's home that Anton brought home over the years, he makes an attempt to see them using Diana's father fixation as his avenue to the collection. With Max's prompting, Diana sneaks into her father's two special locked rooms to begin a quest to find out what happened to him. MANGOES AND QUINCE is a period piece that centers on the deep characters, especially Miranda, Diana, and to a lesser degree Ria and indirectly Anton. The story line travels at a leisurely pace so that the reader can savor the feelings of the principal players. Not for action lovers, Carole Field has written an interesting family drama that will please those historical cozy fans. This is one of those rare books that belong on the keeper shelf Harriet Klausner
Rating:
Summary: A Delicious, Exotic Story
Review: This book reads so well!! It's a page turner as well as being finely written. Fascinating characters and story.
Rating:
Summary: A Delicious, Exotic Story
Review: This book reads so well!! It's a page turner as well as being finely written. Fascinating characters and story.
Rating:
Summary: A Feast for the Senses
Review: This extraordinary first novel carries the reader into fascinating, mysterious worlds: the Dutch East Indies, the exotic lives of a charismatic cult leader and his followers, and the adventures of a magical monkey named Majine. But the heart of the story is the poignant, moving coming of age of the book's main character. The reader is instantly seduced by the rich images and vivid depictions of both Amsterdam and the East Indies. But Field's descriptions of the sumptuous dishes created by Miranda in her new restaurant are so delicious that the reader is compelled to read more, and then to read again this remarkable novel.
Rating: 
Summary: Beautiful Writing, Awkward Transitions
Review: Though the book dealt with interesting material and exotic themes, I felt in some ways that the flow of the book was a bit awkward at times. There is more of the impression of having different episodes that together make up the story, with little transition between them. For example, the daughter's coming of age and relationship with her mother and grandmother could have been developed and explored much more to my satisfaction. Field's writing style however is delicious and thouroughly enjoyed it. I am interested in readng her other work.
Rating:
Summary: Beautiful Writing, Awkward Transitions
Review: Though the book dealt with interesting material and exotic themes, I felt in some ways that the flow of the book was a bit awkward at times. There is more of the impression of having different episodes that together make up the story, with little transition between them. For example, the daughter's coming of age and relationship with her mother and grandmother could have been developed and explored much more to my satisfaction. Field's writing style however is delicious and thouroughly enjoyed it. I am interested in readng her other work.
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