Courtesy of Teens Read Too
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For Lily Kwok the world did not seem to offer much hope. In addition to being a female in a male-dominated society, she was also born into a severely poverty stricken village in rural China. In 1918, there didn't seem to be much of a chance for a different life. SWEET MANDARIN is the story of how three generations of women, beginning with Lily, made their way out of the oppressive confines of culture and poverty to become successful businesswomen in their own right.
Lily was born in a small farming village near Guangzhou. She had one thing that many other young girls of the time didn't-- a father who cherished his daughters. He also had the desire to provide a better life for his family and set about to improve their lives by making and selling soy sauce. While Leung was very successful, he also drew the envy of others in his village. Before he had the opportunity to secure a completely comfortable life for his family, Leung was murdered, leaving his wife and daughters to the mercy of family.
Lily worked hard to help provide for her mother, sisters, and eventually her own husband and children. Through a twist of fate, Lily had the chance to make a difficult choice for her family. She would follow her employer to England, and be away from her children, in order to secure them a better future in the West.
When Mabel and her brother, Arthur, finally joined their mother, Lily, in England, they were strangers to both the country and their own mother. Lily opened a take-out restaurant in Manchester. Not only were they the only Chinese family in the neighborhood, they also offered a service that nobody else did-- a fast, affordable, and tasty meal that could be taken home to the family. The work was hard and the hours long and Mabel learned the skills and recipes that she would one day pass on to her own daughters.
Helen and her sisters grew up under the wings of both Lily and their mother, Mabel. The two generations of women that preceded them gave them opportunities that a young Lily may have only dreamed of. Helen grew up to go to an ivy-league school and become a lawyer, and her sisters shared similar successes. But they found that their heritage called to them and they opened Sweet Mandarin, a restaurant that serves the recipes that guided the lives of all three generations of successful, Chinese women.
SWEET MANDARIN is an inspirational account that proves that even in the face of seemingly insurmountable obstacles like poverty, murder, addiction, and oppression, if you have the determination, you can achieve your dreams.
Reviewed by: JodiG.
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bitter-sweet
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i read this in three sittings - such a wonderful book.
i was really touched that the author and her family were so open and so prepared to share their family lives "warts and all" and their amazing stories.
it was a very moving book and incredibly interesting too - the various eras, places and people were definitely brought to life
i'm recommending it to friends with an interest in china, manchester, BBCs (British-Born Chinese), food, family memoirs, etc
probably my book of the year!
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Manchester Book Club Review
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I am just off to review this great book with my manchester book clubbers tonight - i thought it was an excellent , easy read and the references to manchester later on in the book were very relevant to us here in the north!
Some of the beginning was a little thin in detail but I enjoyed how the writer made the story so personal and by the end of the text I really felt I knew Helen and the struggles her parents and grandparents had in the past.
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Loved the book 5 stars
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I loved this book - it was written very well and the stories in the book which were about Helen and her family in the present and past were interwoven beautifully. I was emotionally involved with the story - so sad yet the hope these women hold on to is inspiring. Best book I have read this year.
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I love the book Sweet Mandarin
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An amazing story of a family who has experienced and risen above the challenges. Can't wait to go visit Sweet Mandarin restaurant.
Helen your family is just amazing i hope to meet them one day in Manchester.
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