tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post3326997118982689904..comments2024-03-28T14:33:26.011-04:00Comments on Jungle Red Writers: The Language of Baklava: Diana Abu-JaberJungle Red Writershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16646429819267618412noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-51549182382200485982011-02-03T13:44:25.918-05:002011-02-03T13:44:25.918-05:00I'm envisioning "Team Camus" and &qu...I'm envisioning "Team Camus" and "Team Oprah" tee-shirts!Sondra Kelly-Greenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11050129578411949554noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-1018963597515009142011-02-02T21:59:39.262-05:002011-02-02T21:59:39.262-05:00Hank and Roberta
(or Camus and Oprah, as I shall h...Hank and Roberta<br />(or Camus and Oprah, as I shall henceforth think of you)thank you and the other Jungle Reds for hosting me. What fun you guys have!Dianahttp://www.Dianaabujaber.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-19695786336145958132011-02-02T21:57:30.613-05:002011-02-02T21:57:30.613-05:00Deborah,
Oh, I just loved Laurie Colwin's wri...Deborah,<br /><br />Oh, I just loved Laurie Colwin's writings--she had a recipe for scrambled eggs that I still use to this day. Her books, along with Tender At the Bone, and some of MFK Fisher are all in my pantheon of faves! It's lovely to meet you as well.Dianahttp://www.dianaabujaber.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-9759403796521461402011-02-02T21:12:05.836-05:002011-02-02T21:12:05.836-05:00"Camus--or Oprah?"--the new JRW motto.
..."Camus--or Oprah?"--the new JRW motto.<br /><br />Thanks for your time Diana! And come back tomorrow y'all for her shish kabob recipe and more...Lucy Burdette aka Roberta Isleibhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04660402177299546055noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-26640057814087981992011-02-02T21:00:13.768-05:002011-02-02T21:00:13.768-05:00"Camus, or Oprah? "
Please, let's ma..."Camus, or Oprah? "<br />Please, let's make bumper sitckers of that! It's hilarious and perfect.Hank Phillippi Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17420701704169428286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-39528417177740059072011-02-02T19:53:34.882-05:002011-02-02T19:53:34.882-05:00"Food" and "memoir" are the ma..."Food" and "memoir" are the magic combination for me, too. Can't wait to read your books, Diana, and the new mystery coming out sounds wonderful.<br /><br />Were you by any chance a fan of Laurie Colwin? I have read and re-read Home Cooking and More Home Cooking for years, and it's always like visiting an old friend. And I LOVE the recipes.<br /><br />Thanks so much for visiting Jungle Red--lovely to virtually meet you!Deborah Crombiehttp://www.deborahcrombie.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-47925089576887204812011-02-02T18:41:06.678-05:002011-02-02T18:41:06.678-05:00Thanks, Rhys--
Yes, that food/memoir combination i...Thanks, Rhys--<br />Yes, that food/memoir combination is just delicious isn't it? Glad to accompany you into snowy Chicago!Dianahttp://www.dianaabujaber.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-48627689549132263172011-02-02T18:39:43.191-05:002011-02-02T18:39:43.191-05:00Many thanks, Susan!
Personally, memoirs are one of...Many thanks, Susan!<br />Personally, memoirs are one of my favorite forms to read....Dianahttp://www.dianaabujaber.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-38240751144591580182011-02-02T18:38:41.663-05:002011-02-02T18:38:41.663-05:00Thank you, Jan.
I think I got that "through&q...Thank you, Jan.<br />I think I got that "through" idea from someone-- maybe Camus or Oprah? Is it a bad sign that I can't tell the difference?Dianahttp://www.abujaber.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-68486482782713508232011-02-02T18:36:52.505-05:002011-02-02T18:36:52.505-05:00Sondra,
Thanks for sharing these thoughts about jo...Sondra,<br />Thanks for sharing these thoughts about journaling-- it's so interesting to think about why we even keep journals in the first place and what we hope to get from them. My reasons seem to change from time to time-- sometimes I want the personal record, sometimes to analyze events or feelings, frequently they help me to look at a tough spot in something I'm working on or figuring out something like character motivation. Thanks for raising these points, Sondra. I think it's so helpful to consider the tools we use and often take for granted.Dianahttp://www.abujaber.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-32715581284205217242011-02-02T16:31:35.764-05:002011-02-02T16:31:35.764-05:00One of my favorite books is the memoir involving f...One of my favorite books is the memoir involving food!<br />Just about to go on Amazon and have something to read on my Kindle during what may be a long trip to Chicago tomorrow.Rhys Bowenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06663634889908752121noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-73465727731408239732011-02-02T15:50:56.084-05:002011-02-02T15:50:56.084-05:00Thanks to Jungle Reds for bringing another fabulou...Thanks to Jungle Reds for bringing another fabulous writer to our attention. I'm really looking forward to reading Diana's books. Obviously the memoir still lives!Susan Ceruleanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14895347568193665247noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-29166008383921642702011-02-02T15:50:18.985-05:002011-02-02T15:50:18.985-05:00Great interview, Diana. It brought to mind a quest...Great interview, Diana. It brought to mind a question for everyone, tho. I quit keeping a journal after 25+ yrs. of it. I wonder what this really says about a person and his/her life? I was puzzled at the time and am still puzzled. Am I 'done'? Have I proved uninteresting? Have I internalized all I need to in order to go forward? It's not that my life got busier or more boring or my literary work has changed dramatically. It just is and I wonder if anyone has had the same experience and if there's a certain guilt or sadness associated with it, like saying good-bye to an old friend.Sondra Kelly-Greenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11050129578411949554noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-87033707462844332572011-02-02T15:49:40.488-05:002011-02-02T15:49:40.488-05:00Hi Diana,
I loved what you said about the only way...Hi Diana,<br />I loved what you said about the only way out being "through." And I think the advice about emotionally honest and respectful applies to almost every writing.Jan Broganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11323983086318138814noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-23320683228215844102011-02-02T12:47:40.197-05:002011-02-02T12:47:40.197-05:00Ha ha, Hank and Roberta,
you've both made my m...Ha ha, Hank and Roberta,<br />you've both made my month! I wonder if I can have your comments engraved on my desk somewhere? For posterity.Dianahttp://www.dianaabujaber.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-81810188561467968532011-02-02T12:44:53.439-05:002011-02-02T12:44:53.439-05:00Pat,
Thank you-- I LOVE it when people try the act...Pat,<br />Thank you-- I LOVE it when people try the actual recipes (and report success) I feel like it takes the reading experience one step farther. And how great to have a family of fiesty, reading women. My best to you all!Dianahttp://www.dianaabujaber.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-57258945143461501962011-02-02T10:54:21.679-05:002011-02-02T10:54:21.679-05:00And trust me Hank, she is not of that certain age!...And trust me Hank, she is not of that certain age!<br /><br />Victoria, thanks for visiting us! wasn't that a wonderful weekend? Your life cooking on a yacht sounds fascinating!Lucy Burdette aka Roberta Isleibhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04660402177299546055noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-88882432904660533402011-02-02T10:43:32.394-05:002011-02-02T10:43:32.394-05:00OH, what lovely writing!
And remember when we us...OH, what lovely writing! <br /><br />And remember when we used to think memoirs could only be written after a certain age?Hank Phillippi Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17420701704169428286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-58558607776792989822011-02-02T10:28:36.603-05:002011-02-02T10:28:36.603-05:00The Language of Baklava was so wonderful that I...The Language of Baklava was so wonderful that I've sent it to five other: to my daughter-in-law struggling with a rebellious 14 year old, to our granddaughter who loves to cook with me (and discuss life while we're at it), to a dear friend who appreciates equisite story telling through food, and to my two daughters just because they'll savor every word as much as I did. Made your panna cotta recipe on Sunday, added a raspberry puree. Used egg-poachers as my molds cause that's all I have available in a rental house. Delicious and cute.Pat Kennedyhttp://pkcboston.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-21983458370975722302011-02-02T10:24:34.357-05:002011-02-02T10:24:34.357-05:00Julia,
Yaay, Syracuse! We've still got family ...Julia,<br />Yaay, Syracuse! We've still got family there too and try to get back for a visit every year. Make sure you at least have some felafel handy before you start reading ;-)Dianahttp://www.DianaAbujaber.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-18160179480400410282011-02-02T10:21:31.812-05:002011-02-02T10:21:31.812-05:00Victoria,
Wasn't that a wonderful seminar? Tha...Victoria,<br />Wasn't that a wonderful seminar? Thank you for your kind words, I hope you'll enjoy The Language of Baklava.Dianahttp://www.DianaAbujaber.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-82090499896211591602011-02-02T10:19:56.189-05:002011-02-02T10:19:56.189-05:00Thank you, Hallie! Yep, there were three of us-- I...Thank you, Hallie! Yep, there were three of us-- I write about my sisters in The Language of Baklava. Although my wild Dad ends up hogging most of the attention. As usual.Dianahttp://www.DianaAbujaber.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-59899331478500328452011-02-02T10:00:54.823-05:002011-02-02T10:00:54.823-05:00Diana, you had me at "Syracuse." (We mov...Diana, you had me at "Syracuse." (We moved to Liverpool when I was in my early teens and my folks have lived there ever since.)<br /><br />I love memoirs. It's a genre I dive into when I'm deep in the middle of my own work--a good memoir connects me to people's lives without tempting me to copy something into my own manuscript. Although it sounds like I should have some good pita bread and baba ganouj ready to snack on before starting "The Language of Baklava!"Julia Spencer-Fleminghttp://www.juliaspencerfleming.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-79773786810770325932011-02-02T09:14:37.965-05:002011-02-02T09:14:37.965-05:00I, too, was introduced to Diana by the Key West Li...I, too, was introduced to Diana by the Key West Literary Seminar and immediately went out and purchased all her books. They are mesmerizing and a wonderful retreat into different worlds (the Arabic culture). I loved Crescent and have just picked up The Language of Baklava. <br />I encourage everyone to do the same.<br />Great interview.Victoria Allmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05767135248423758832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-21533291936479109192011-02-02T08:54:26.958-05:002011-02-02T08:54:26.958-05:00Love that short excerpt - I'll be reading the ...Love that short excerpt - I'll be reading the book, Diana. Were there 3 sisters? Always interested in stories about sisters.Hallie Ephronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04759439029582054503noreply@blogger.com