This is a warm, personal memoir from one of Britain's most high-profile and vocal immigrants - a mouth-watering exploration of the author's East African Indian roots through the shared experience of cooking.Through the personal story of Yasmin's family and the food and recipes they've shared together, "The Settler's Cookbook" will tell the history of the Indian migration to the UK, via East Africa. Her family was part of the mass exodus from India to East Africa during the height of British expansion, fleeing famine and lured by the prospect of prosperity under the imperial regime. In 1972, they were one of the many families expelled from Uganda by Idi Amin who moved to the UK, where Yasmin has made her home with an Englishman. The food she cooks now, in one of the world's most ethnically-diverse cities, combines the traditions and tastes of her family's hybrid history. Here you'll discover how Shepherd's Pie is much enhanced by sprinkling in some chilli, Victoria sponge can be wonderfully enlivened by saffron and lime juice, and the addition of ketchup to a curry can be life-changing...
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Review
'A brave book' -Guardian -- Review
'A wonderful book ... This is a path-breaking record, but also a compelling, moving narrative' -Independent -- Review
'Alibhai-Brown's story of acculturation ... is as lively as her journalism' -The Times -- Review
'An unexpected joy of a book ... fascinating and touching' -Sunday Times -- Review
`Beautifully written and utterly fascinating. There are some wonderful dishes here too' -Tribune
-- Review
'A wonderful book ... This is a path-breaking record, but also a compelling, moving narrative' -Independent -- Review
'Alibhai-Brown's story of acculturation ... is as lively as her journalism' -The Times -- Review
'An unexpected joy of a book ... fascinating and touching' -Sunday Times -- Review
`Beautifully written and utterly fascinating. There are some wonderful dishes here too' -Tribune
-- Review
Review
'A wonderful book ... This is a path-breaking record, but also a compelling, moving narrative' -Independent
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
16 of 18 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This excellent book deserves the highest praise.
1. It is a fascinating history of the Asian Community in Africa. It tells of how the community was established, their harrowing fate, in Uganda, under the brutal regime of Idi Amin, and their shameful treatment when they arrived in Britain.
2. It is an intensely personal autobiography. The author is at times shockingly open about her feelings about her parents, her family, her husbands and her children. She is also brutally honest about herself and her own falibilities.
3. It is of course a cook book with a mouthwatering succession of recipes which reflect the development of the author's life story.
So what makes the book so good. Firstly anyone who is familiar with Alibhai Brown's work in the Independent and elsewhere will not be surprised to know that it is beautifully written. Secondly it is facsinating to read about well known events from a different cultural perspective. Thirdly, it is just such a human account. It is writen by this stunningly intelligent , enormously successful woman, but we learn all about her inner demons and weaknessesd. Massively affecting.
Buy it, read it, it's magnificent.
1. It is a fascinating history of the Asian Community in Africa. It tells of how the community was established, their harrowing fate, in Uganda, under the brutal regime of Idi Amin, and their shameful treatment when they arrived in Britain.
2. It is an intensely personal autobiography. The author is at times shockingly open about her feelings about her parents, her family, her husbands and her children. She is also brutally honest about herself and her own falibilities.
3. It is of course a cook book with a mouthwatering succession of recipes which reflect the development of the author's life story.
So what makes the book so good. Firstly anyone who is familiar with Alibhai Brown's work in the Independent and elsewhere will not be surprised to know that it is beautifully written. Secondly it is facsinating to read about well known events from a different cultural perspective. Thirdly, it is just such a human account. It is writen by this stunningly intelligent , enormously successful woman, but we learn all about her inner demons and weaknessesd. Massively affecting.
Buy it, read it, it's magnificent.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By Sarah Hope
Format:Paperback
This book covers the moving story of Yasmin's origins and life, starting with the little known history of East African Indians. It's a beautifully written book which conveys her close relationship with her mother and her difficult relationship with her often absent and woefully inadequate father. Horrific details emerge of life in Uganda under Idi Amin before Yasmin migrates to the UK. She portrays the racism she has encountered both in Africa and the UK with resilience and, at times, humour. Her two love stories are poignantly told as she bares her soul to the reader. We know Yasmin in the press as an outspoken journalist and a reformist Muslim, and her portrayal of some of the varied political and cultural issues in the UK over the last 3-4 decades since she arrived are fascinating. Memorable sections include her opinions on Muslim women covering up, handing back her MBE and the difficulties facing a parent of a teenage daughter in 2009. This colourful autobiography is brought to life all the more by numerous recipes which help tell her life story. It's a wonderful read.
8 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Reading this book was like being taken on an immensely powerful and liberating journey.I admire the total frankness and emotional honesty of the author who really has 100% put their heart and soul into their writing.The extent of the candour is refreshing but its much much more than that, its not only the extent of the openess but the style of it that makes this book such a rewarding read.Its hard to describe but Yasmin manages to share her life and a very big piece of her soul with the reader without being exhibitionist or tacky.Its what an autobiography should be at its best--truthful,revealing,challenging and geniune.Many autobiographies today have a synthetic ,monochrome ,manufactured almost quality to them.
For anybody who yearns for something of more substance and quality this is the autobiography for you.Family, religion,tragedy,tribalism,courage and admirable determination and gumption are all covered vividly and in great depth.
The depths and nature of the emotionally complex journey and events of Yasmins life are laid bare--she definitely has a gift for conveying emotional depth and breadth.You will not feel cheated or shortchanged if you read this book ,you will not feel that anything has been held back.It will leave you feeling like a respectful observer of events rather than an exploited or exploitiative reader.Certainly one of the best autobiographies I have read.
As one of britains finest and most perceptive columnists who seeks neither fear or favour when penning her articles, Yasmins lifestory was always going to be colourful and interesting but the fact its so well written makes it fascinating and worthwhile.An excellent and highly enjoyable read.Admirable.
Oh and did I mention it has some very appetising recipes in it too...
For anybody who yearns for something of more substance and quality this is the autobiography for you.Family, religion,tragedy,tribalism,courage and admirable determination and gumption are all covered vividly and in great depth.
The depths and nature of the emotionally complex journey and events of Yasmins life are laid bare--she definitely has a gift for conveying emotional depth and breadth.You will not feel cheated or shortchanged if you read this book ,you will not feel that anything has been held back.It will leave you feeling like a respectful observer of events rather than an exploited or exploitiative reader.Certainly one of the best autobiographies I have read.
As one of britains finest and most perceptive columnists who seeks neither fear or favour when penning her articles, Yasmins lifestory was always going to be colourful and interesting but the fact its so well written makes it fascinating and worthwhile.An excellent and highly enjoyable read.Admirable.
Oh and did I mention it has some very appetising recipes in it too...
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Interesting presentation of lots of good recipes
Interesting presentation of lots of good recipes sprinkled amongst tales of Ugandan Asian life. The recipes might be more usefully presented in a physical book but this on line... Read more
Published 4 months ago by J. A. Bailey
5.0 out of 5 stars
Honest and refreshing
This is rather different from other the food-and-memoirs books that I have read, in that it concentrates far more on the latter than the former. Read more
Published 18 months ago by Kentish Woman
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fabulous
Yasmin Alibhai-Browns 'The settler's cookbook: A Memoir of Love, Migration and Food' is very much in the same style as the equally wonderful 'Hallelujah! Read more
Published on 30 Jun 2010 by Spratly
5.0 out of 5 stars
Lovely book
Although I haven't finished this book, it's a wonderful insight into the Ugandan Asians, their life, their food. Yasmin is such a great writer. Can't wait to read the rest of it.
Published on 17 May 2009 by J. Lyon
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Settler's Cookbook
The book surpassed the Radio 4 serialisation. The author's love of her homeland and her food heritage shines through. Read more
Published on 24 April 2009 by Rundells
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Settlers Cookbook - review
Excellent book. Enjoyable and insightful. My wife is of an Indian family, born in Kisumu (Kenya), and moving to the UK when she was just two. Read more
Published on 11 April 2009 by John D
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