Sunday, November 08, 2009

NaBloPoMo # 8: Sunday Mini Review: Memories of a Lost Egypt by Colette Rossant

Or Apricots on the Nile: A Memoir with Recipes as it is called in North America. I bought this book when I was living in Cairo, and I adored it even though it is sad in parts. It is about little French Colette growing up in Egypt during the second World War and her very special family. Colette likes to hang out with the cook in the large mansion she lives in, and that is where the recipes come into the picture. It is a small book, but it is beautifully written and it gives an interesting picture of life among Europeans in Cairo back in the day. There was such a special atmosphere in the book that I haven't really dared re-reading it. I truly think that it is well written, but perhaps the magic feeling I felt stemmed from the fact that I was living in Cairo myself at the time of reading?

This book is perfect for the Women Unbound Reading Challenge by the way, since it is a female writer's memoir and since it takes up issues such as mother-daughter relationships.


This is the eighth post in the NaBloPoMo-challenge. See my page here.

6 comments:

Suzanne Yester said...

I love memoirs and I think it's special when it also includes intimate touches such as recipes. Something we can actually touch for ourselves. You may have felt that magic because you were in Cairo, but sounds like a wonderful read for all of us! Thanks for sharing it!

Anonymous said...

Great review. I am still looking for books for the Women Unbound challenge so thanks for mentioning a viable option!

Esme said...

I read this book a few years ago-and really enjoyed it-she has another one Oranges from the Nile-I think.

A Buckeye Girl Reads said...

I'll have to read this book as the main character has my name. :)

Heidenkind said...

This sounds like a fun book. I usually don't go for memoirs, but I love books set in Egypt. ^_^

Beth F said...

This one sounds like there would be a lot that I would like and when I pick books for the Women Unbound challenge, I'm definitely going to consider it. I was thinking of reading biographies or memoirs for my nonfiction reading.