Shark’s Fin and Sichuan Pepper: Listener Book Reviews!

Book Review by Vivian, a Thinking in English Listener!

Shark’s Fin and Sichuan Pepper: A Sweet-Sour Memoir of Eating in China by Fuchsia Dunlop

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Although Fuchsia Dunlop originally wrote Shark’s Fin and Sichuan Pepper in English, I read it in Chinese. Several times I found myself laughing in tears. As an excellent observer as well as a serious researcher, Dunlop was more than capable of explaining things in great detail by revealing fun historical facts that many Chinese people don’t even know. It certainly offered the readers a deeper look into the culture behind the cuisine.

Fuchsia Dunlop - Check Her Books Out on Amazon — Fuchsia Dunlop – Check Her Books Out on Amazon

A bonus part of the book is that, at the end of every chapter, there is a fantastic recipe. Reading this book is like having a fun adventure. I’m sure you will enjoy it as much as I did.

I was impressed by her command of the Sichuanese dialect, which is as perfect as a local. In order to take Chinese cooking classes, she learnt how to write Chinese. In fact, I think she knows more Chinese characters than I do!

Some of the words involved in cooking are so complicated that you can’t possibly learn to write at the first attempt. For example, to write “biang” (look at the picture below), people have to think of a tongue twister to help memorize it.

The Chinese Character "Biang" — The Chinese Character “Biang”

She also appeared in episode 3 of Once Upon a Bite, a documentary about culinary arts, introducing Sichuan cuisine. The director of the documentary commented that Fuxia (her Chinese name) is perhaps the only westerner he knows of who understands Chinese cooking. Besides that, she is a very charismatic person who has published other four books too!

If you’d like to read Shark’s Fin and Sichuan Pepper by Fuchsia Dunlop, the Amazon links are on this page! And if you’d like to practice writing and review a book for Thinking in English, send me an email through the contact page (I will correct grammar for free)!

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Are you going to read the book? What books do you recommend for English learners? Let us know in the comments!

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218. Could Putin Really be Arrested? (English Vocabulary Lesson) - Thinking in English

Sign Up for the ENGLISH POETRY COURSE⁠ Use code "thinking" for 10% off the course! Last week, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Russian president Vladimir Putin. But could Putin ever actually be arrested? Let’s discuss this and more on today’s episode of Thinking in English! My Links Buy Me a Coffee - https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dashboard JOIN THE CONVERSATION CLUB -- https://www.patreon.com/thinkinginenglish ENGLISH CLASSES - https://thinkinginenglish.link/ TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2023/03/22/218-could-putin-really-be-arrested/ NEW YOUTUBE Channel!!! - https://www.youtube.com/@thinkinginenglishpodcast INSTAGRAM - thinkinginenglishpodcast (https://www.instagram.com/thinkinginenglishpodcast/) Blog - thinkinginenglish.blog Vocabulary Warrant (n) - an official document, signed by a judge or other person in authority, that gives the police permission to search someone's home, arrest a person, or take some other action To allege (v) - to say that someone has done something illegal or wrong without giving proof Deportation (n) - forcing someone to leave a country, especially someone who has no legal right to be there or who has broken the law. To ratify (v) - (especially of governments or organizations) to make an agreement official. To prosecute (v) - to try to prove that a person accused of committing a crime is guilty of that crime. To indoctrinate (v) - to often repeat an idea or belief to someone until they accept it without criticism or question. Allegation (n) - a statement, made without giving proof, that someone has done something wrong or illegal. Accusation (n) - a statement saying that someone has done something morally wrong, illegal, or unkind --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thinking-english/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thinking-english/support