Holding Her Breath, Eimear Ryan (Penguin, 2021), C+

Eimear Ryan’s forthcoming novel tells the coming of age story of Beth Crowe, as she starts her journey at university, shadowed by the ghostof  her potential as a competitive swimmer and as she attempts to create an identity for herself outside both her swimming career and her family history (she is the granddaughter of a famous poet). For fans of Sally Rooney, this is a fresh and exciting summer read.

Pre-order a copy here.

Hamnet, Maggie O’Farrell (Tinder Press, 2020), A+

Maggie O’Farrell’s first historical novel is the fictional story behind Shakespeare’s famous play – the story of the death of Shakespeare’s son and the effect on his life.

Read our full review here.

Pick up a copy here.

Conversations on Love, Natasha Lunn (Penguin, 2021), A+

Natasha Lunn’s Conversations on Love examines love in all of its many forms – it’s an astonishing, joyful celebration of love, from some of the most important voices in literature.

Pre-order a copy here.

The Last Thing He Told Me, Laura Dave (Profile Books, 2021) B+

The Last Thing He Told Me is a propulsive mystery. Hannah finds out that her husband Owen has gone missing and she seeks to uncover the truth behind his disappearance with her step-daughter Bailey.

Read our full review here.

Pick up a copy here.

Malibu Rising, Taylor Jenkins Reid  (Cornerstone, 2021) A

Taylor Jenkins Reid’s latest novel is as compelling and propulsive as Daisy Jones, it’s the story of siblings growing up in Malibu and the events that unfold around one night.

Pick up a copy here.

Eat a Peach, David Chang (Penguin, 2020), A-

David Chang’s phenomenal memoir is the story of a man succeeding against the odds – it’s an inspiring story even for those for whom Momofuku means nothing.

Read our full review here.

Pick up a copy here.

The Push, Ashley Audrain (Penguin, 2021) B+

The Push is a psychological drama, telling the story of the unravelling of a family – a woman whose initial experience with motherhood does not live up to her expectations.

Read our full review here.

Pick up a copy here.

The post Everything We Read in May 2021 appeared first on off the record.

David Chang has made a name for himself worldwide, changing the American culinary landscape, since opening Momofuku in 2004 in New York. Since then, he has added multiple other locations, two Netflix shows and a podcast to his empire, published a cookbook and won an array of awards and accolades. In his memoir, Eat a Peach, Chang tells a story far deeper and broader than just a straight line to success, delving into his struggles with bipolar disorder, his learning journey in adapting his management and leadership style and outlines the success of his empire as a story of luck and chance as much as keeping a finger on the pulse of culinary trends and the evolving culinary landscape.

I enjoyed spending time with David Chang, in a way that felt wholly unexpected. Obviously, he has provided his own picture of his rise and rise at Momofuku – but his wit, humour and self-deprecation made the memoir deeply engaging and insightful. He is not afraid to reveal his shortcomings in full and the errors that he made in creating his own success. This is the kind of memoir that will be palatable and engaging for a far broader audience than just culinary aficionados and even for those who have heard the name ‘Momofuku,’ telling a story of an underdog and his struggles both toward success and toward his own identity and place in American society.

The post REVIEW: Eat a Peach – David Chang appeared first on off the record.