Bitter & Sweet

Amal Awad

Summary

Sometimes you have to lose everything to find yourself…
The lake in the middle of her father's kitchen is only the first in a series of disasters in Zeina's life. Nassar's recent health crisis has seen his well-established community restaurant, Casablanca, losing ground and customers to trendier competition.
Casablanca's deterioration is not the only chaos in Zeina's world but, unlike her husband who won't speak to her, her best friend who is sliding towards self-destruction, and her cousin who is stealing Zeina's life story for content, the restaurant is something she can fix. And Zeina, lonely and adrift, needs something she can fix.
Taking leave from her prestigious chef position, Zeina throws herself into caring for her ailing father, immersing herself in the familiar foods and flavours of her childhood, trying to save both him and his restaurant. But working in the kitchen – and her childhood home – brings memories, secrets, and unexpected ambitions simmering to the surface. When it comes time to make hard decisions, Zeina will have to accept that growing up is an ongoing process – one that never gets any easier.

Available since: 08/01/2023.

Print length: 328 pages.

Contemporary Fiction

1 Comments

Book of the Week 08/11/2023

An absolutely delicious novel about the bittersweet moments of life—when everything seems to be falling apart, new opportunities arise.

Zeina is juggling a failing marriage, her father’s critical health, and worries about the neglected family restaurant, CASABLANCA. When she realizes that her father needs her more than the prestigious restaurant where she works as a chef, she takes leave. Drawing energy from her troubles, Zeina channels her determination into restoring the restaurant’s former glory, along with her childhood memories.

Set against the backdrop of the restaurant, the author skillfully delves into characters' personalities and migrational backgrounds. Exploring themes of cultural assimilation, self-acceptance, and the enduring power of family, Amal Awad's novel reflects the universal desire to connect with roots while paving a unique path in the world.

Discover more book recommendations on https://www.24symbols.com/24stories/en/the-best-books-of-the-moment/

About the author

Amal Awad

Amal Awad is a writer, director and performer. She has contributed to such publications as The Guardian, The Sydney Morning Herald, ELLE, Meanjin and Frankie, and has produced and presented for ABC...

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