Critical Analysis of The Language of Baklava by Diana Abu-Jaber - Book Report/Review Example

Book Review: The Language of Baklava (Diana Abu-Jaber). The book The Language of Baklava is a book that gives a reflection of a bicultural set up. Diana Abu-Jaber gives a clear picture of how her identity lies between two cultures. The opposing forces demand that she conforms one. The book also centers in the delicacy of the Greek. This book centers on the Arabic-American cultures. The father of Abu-Jaber migrated to America at his tender age and confronted an identity crisis. He does not know the culture to be loyal to and whose doctrines to follow or to subscribe. Meanwhile, as Abu-Jaber grows up, she succeeds in balancing the two cultures. She takes the best in the two cultures without being loyal to either. She skillfully balances her lessons of life, learning from the American culture without bias. She also learns from Jordan society without undue inclination, in spite of the fact that it was her native culture. Baklava commences when the author is barely six years old. Abu-Jaber Diana skillfully writes the story creating landmarks between age ambulation,weaving the story with a rejuvenating flow. At the tender age as she struggles with the crisis of identity. A young lad emerges who remind her of her bi-racial identity. This crisis intensifies in her as the boy out rightly insinuates that she is not worth the taste of belonging. It seems so clear that she subscribes to an indefinite culture. Her father, Bud, is a typical representation of his Arabic culture in spite of having stayed in America for a very long time. Jaber’s father emerges to be too much attached to his Arabic culture that at some point he decides to move to Jordan to avoid being too American. He found America too conducive to immigrate fully and stick to his new area of residence. He finally finds his way back to America. The stay in both of these countries for an extended period gave Abu Jaber a unique and deep knowledge of both countries. She became more acquainted with the culture of the two conflicting countries. In this, she adopted the most informed mode of conduct and perspective of life. The adoption of such a balanced life from cultures that demanded her total attention was not that an easy task. This instated a whole horde of confusion because of the extreme interferences by her father’s belief. The challenges she had in life, not withstanding, she managed to overcome the challenges, as well as, frustrations. Nevertheless, amidst all that, the fascinating feeling of the encounters remained grooved in her memory. She remembered the food with keen imagination, a shish kabob of a frosty day. She remembered the pancakes of the American origin made with ingredients from Jordan vendors. She often made trips to taste various kinds of food. She remarkably appreciates the day she ate Chinese food for the first time. The epitome of this experience is the importance of food and the meanings they derive from culture. Foods and menus in this book are a method of getting comfort. It depicts a peace offering media. It is also a great way of connecting to the Arab culture. The book argues that there are numerous messages conveyed via the food we eat just like the words we speak. Abu-Jabir‘s ability to understand the feel of varieties of foodstuff gives her a reason to live peacefully as she battles with the challenges of identity. Baklava is so delicious and appealing to the reader. The imagery of the cooking procedure intensified the desire of the reader to have a taste of the same. The recipes offered for the preparation of baklava are ethnic based. They are natural in their origin. Most of the ingredients are not easy to find. They only exist in special market but the steps of preparing the food are easy to master. The contrast between the inability to acquire the ingredients and the ease of food preparation is a literary indicator of the cultural dilemma that Jaber encounters. Friends and family in the book emerge as a link between the past and the future. They create indecision among each individual when in a new place. However, the father remains a central figure through the book, as he is the chief protagonist. He makes life quit unbearable for Jaber because of unrealistic expectations. This aspect of the father’s dominance in her life gives us very little opportunity to know Jaber’s extra relationships and the impact they have in her life. Her sister and mother also flow through the book. Their presence emerges as significant, but that direct relationship appears vague. The author uses the first person narrative technique to tell her story. Nearly the first half of the book tells the events and occurrences of her teen’s years and early life. Due to this, it is a little difficult to attach and comprehend the intended message since most ideas portrayed at this point do not relate to a child’s perspective. However, the message she conveys and her reflections help us to understand and comprehend the second part of the book. After full mental growth and development, Abu-Jaber makes a firm decision to go back to Jordan to live there. At this point, she has grown in maturity and developed in wisdom to make rational and informed decision on how she would handle her bi-racial and cultural heritage. The reader seizes the opportunity to vet and verify the practicality of all that she had gathered in Jordan. The Language of Baklava is a charming and a self-motivating book, written by an extremely gifted author. The ideas flow with depicting professional expertise. The book succeeds in telling the readers how the struggle of identity is an issue from a first person’s point of view. The book concludes by giving a very captivating moral lesson that cuts across all sections of life that bring dilemma in peoples lives. She manages to prove that in every uncertain point of life, there is often a way out. The description of the struggle within the two cultures, as the author moves to Jordan and then back to the US exploring the theme of food gives the book a unique blend of the two cultures. Multicultural conflict is a theme that cuts across all societies worldwide. This touches on the people’s apparel, and the foods that people eat. Essentially, cultures define the general interaction the way of life. People who travel to a new environment often experience culture shocks. Marriage in today’s society is mostly culture defined. It then follows that the issues of cultures need wisdom to overcome. The author succeeds in telling the readers that it is possible to respect all the cultures, but with keen application of wisdom. We ought to pick what is culturally fit for our personal development, but wisely discard irrelevant beliefs that may not work for our good. Reference Abu-Jaber, Diana. The Language Of Baklava. New York: Anchor Books, 2004. Print. Read More