Thread by @KosherSoul

One of my big influences for #Koshersoul is a book called Miriam's Kitchen.
And I'm going to bring this book up often because it shows a discrepancy between the way some ppl might view my book vs. Others (1)

Food memoir is very personal, vulnerable and raw. Cookbooks are manuals with hopefully some personal, cultural or regional context. If you don't want food memoir, don't read it. But really don't use cookbook expectations on food menoir.

*memoir (finger slip)

This is especially true for authors like myself. Miriam's Kitchen is rich and personal and weaves food into a larger discussion about three stories of Jewish American womanhood. There is a lot of background material and interwoven context.

When I write the same way people don't always "get it" because they aren't used seeing men, but especially Black men write in the same way they privilege white middle/upper class women.

So I'm held to a literal standard of "tell me about the food," where as other books can talk about romantic relationships, sexual experiences, biographical sketches, local histories and textual references

So there WILL be people who will be quick to be intolerant of discussions of identity, history, community politics and personal life journey ephemera because they want to "use" me as an author of color rather than see me and sort out my intellectual import and perspective

I've resolved to call people out but not worry about it in the long run. I'm bumpy, I'm learning, highly irregular and imperfect, but here's the deal: I don't owe certain folks the goods. I'm here to tell a story my way on my terms and that means a weaving...

So if someone else can eat, pray and love, I can do the same.

Its not "self absorbed" or "self righteous" to walk a reader through your head and invite them in to sip mental tea. It's an act of generosity to let people into a space that was generally off limits for the sake of Black safety and security. As such, a guest is a guest.

You can certainly want for better storytelling, or a cleaner presentation....I guarantee we've missed some punctuation points....or you might just not be interested, but if you're going to purchase and read a book, be sure you respect the journey you've been invited on.