Takeaway: Stories from a Childhood Behind the Counter
- Downloads：1323
- Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
- Create Date：2022-08-28 06:51:51
- Update Date：2025-09-06
- Status：finish
- Author：Angela Hui
- ISBN：1398705543
- Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
- Download
Summary
An eye-opening memoir revealing the stories behind living in and running a Chinese takeaway。
Growing up in a Chinese takeaway in rural Wales， Angela Hui was made aware at a very young age of just how different she and her family were seen by her local community。 From attacks on the shopfront （in other words， their home）， to verbal abuse from customers， and confrontations that ended with her dad wielding the meat cleaver; life growing up in a takeaway was far from peaceful。
But alongside the strife， there was also beauty and joy in the rhythm of life in the takeaway and in being surrounded by the food of her home culture。 Family dinners before service， research trips to Hong Kong， preparing for the weekend rush with her brothers – the takeaway is a hive of activity before a customer even places their order of ‘egg-friend rice and chop suey’。
Bringing readers along on the journey from Angela’s earliest memories in the takeaway to her family closing the shop after 30 years in business， this is a brilliantly warm and immersive memoir from someone on the other side of the counter。
Growing up in a Chinese takeaway in rural Wales， Angela Hui was made aware at a very young age of just how different she and her family were seen by her local community。 From attacks on the shopfront （in other words， their home）， to verbal abuse from customers， and confrontations that ended with her dad wielding the meat cleaver; life growing up in a takeaway was far from peaceful。
But alongside the strife， there was also beauty and joy in the rhythm of life in the takeaway and in being surrounded by the food of her home culture。 Family dinners before service， research trips to Hong Kong， preparing for the weekend rush with her brothers – the takeaway is a hive of activity before a customer even places their order of ‘egg-friend rice and chop suey’。
Bringing readers along on the journey from Angela’s earliest memories in the takeaway to her family closing the shop after 30 years in business， this is a brilliantly warm and immersive memoir from someone on the other side of the counter。
Reviews
Debby Binns
，
A really insightful look into a world we all know about but don't fully understand。 I listened to this on Radio 5 book of the week。 I think it might have benefitted from reading the full book - I'm not convinced it benefitted from being abridged。 I really like that it was read by the author Angela Hui。 A really insightful look into a world we all know about but don't fully understand。 I listened to this on Radio 5 book of the week。 I think it might have benefitted from reading the full book - I'm not convinced it benefitted from being abridged。 I really like that it was read by the author Angela Hui。 。。。more
Emma
，
Listened to the BBC Radio 4 podcast。 Fascinating insight into immigrant life - the ongoing racism and the disinclination of the Chinese community to complain to the police stood out to me。
Daniel Hicklin
，
A beautifully insightful look into a world we all know about but may not fully understand。 Beautiful writing with funny/ heartbreaking and hunger-inducing stories which make me purr。 Loved it。
Olivia McIntosh
，
11 reviews what the heck！！！ This was so interesting and emotional and just such a nice peek into a world I don't know much about。 Angry dad chef vibes and showing love through food was v relatable for me。 Overall heartwarming such a good fast read for me really loved it thank u 11 reviews what the heck！！！ This was so interesting and emotional and just such a nice peek into a world I don't know much about。 Angry dad chef vibes and showing love through food was v relatable for me。 Overall heartwarming such a good fast read for me really loved it thank u 。。。more
Lindsay Levkoff
，
I’m sad to give this a low review。 I wanted to love it but it was repetitive and not brilliantly written。 The insights on hidden （and not so hidden） xenophobia are important and I’m glad to have read this， however it’s just not a great book。
Chloe Wong
，
A book that has the power to connect millions & spark meaningful conversationsThis is a book that you wouldn't think to pick up and read but you need to！ It is personal， honest， and raw， I really didn't expect myself to get teary but I did in the final chapter。 The way the book is structured and told， connecting each chapter with a different story with shared authentic recipes of Chinese dishes at the end is perfect， it's written beautifully。 Takeaway by Angela Hui hits hard home but yet it's un A book that has the power to connect millions & spark meaningful conversationsThis is a book that you wouldn't think to pick up and read but you need to！ It is personal， honest， and raw， I really didn't expect myself to get teary but I did in the final chapter。 The way the book is structured and told， connecting each chapter with a different story with shared authentic recipes of Chinese dishes at the end is perfect， it's written beautifully。 Takeaway by Angela Hui hits hard home but yet it's unique and unfamiliar， it gets you appreciating the families and art/craft that goes into owning a Takeaway business and I am grateful to have read this book。 A real trip down memory lane full of nostalgia and emotions。 。。。more
Niamh
，
Intense at times， delicious at others， heart-breaking at some。
Helen
，
An inside view and eye opener of what life is like living in the UK in a takeaway。 Angela describes a bittersweet portrait of her family life brilliantly。 She gives detail into the inner workings of takeaway life， the very hard work taken on by the whole family， the relationships between herself and her parents，siblings，friends and community。 I loved her honesty and frankness about the way of life especially her descriptions of going to Honk Kong and the stark difference between life in a valley An inside view and eye opener of what life is like living in the UK in a takeaway。 Angela describes a bittersweet portrait of her family life brilliantly。 She gives detail into the inner workings of takeaway life， the very hard work taken on by the whole family， the relationships between herself and her parents，siblings，friends and community。 I loved her honesty and frankness about the way of life especially her descriptions of going to Honk Kong and the stark difference between life in a valley in Wales and the family visits every year。 The book also contains lots of delicious recipes which I am dying to try and recreate！ I hope she continues to write more books。 。。。more
Myah Rose
，
I am so glad I kept hounding Hachette for a copy of this
Drew Lane
，
I loved this story about the author's childhood， growing up between 2 different cultures。 I was moved by the description of her relationship with her parents and the way she comes to view her childhood looking back as an adult。 The food descriptions were mouth watering and I could relate to the relationship between love and the sharing of good food as a family。 A truly lovely read。 I loved this story about the author's childhood， growing up between 2 different cultures。 I was moved by the description of her relationship with her parents and the way she comes to view her childhood looking back as an adult。 The food descriptions were mouth watering and I could relate to the relationship between love and the sharing of good food as a family。 A truly lovely read。 。。。more
Jason
，
Interesting read
Sam Rhys
，
Read this in record time！ Really enjoyed the story & how it was written。 If you like the same books as me， you'll like this one！ Read this in record time！ Really enjoyed the story & how it was written。 If you like the same books as me， you'll like this one！ 。。。more
Josh Ong
，
There are few books that explore the West Asian experience in Britain。 There are even fewer that do so with such incredible nuance， humour， and character。 By navigating the complexities of racism， identity， and more through the familiar lens of the nations favourite takeaway， it makes for a gripping， informative， and relatable read regardless of background。 This book is a must read memoir for anyone interested in food in Britain。
Megan Staunton
，
“To me， the Takeaway was just home。 The place I grew up。” A delicious and delectable memoir from debut author @angelahuii revealing the stories behind living， growing up in and running a Chinese takeaway。 The hub of a high street and just a call away， we all have a list of trusty takeaways that we phone on a Friday night。 Food enjoyed to reward a long week at work， to celebrate a special occasion， or a relied upon resource that makes us feel instantly comforted。 But do we ever consider the peopl “To me， the Takeaway was just home。 The place I grew up。” A delicious and delectable memoir from debut author @angelahuii revealing the stories behind living， growing up in and running a Chinese takeaway。 The hub of a high street and just a call away， we all have a list of trusty takeaways that we phone on a Friday night。 Food enjoyed to reward a long week at work， to celebrate a special occasion， or a relied upon resource that makes us feel instantly comforted。 But do we ever consider the people behind the takeaway？ The cooks， the delivery drivers， the staff behind the counter。 As Angela reveals her story of living above a restaurant that watched her grow up， equipped her with vital life skills and shaped her into adulthood， we become immersed in her story of spending a quarter of a century above Wales’ Lucky Star Takeaway。 Aware at a young age that her family were seen very differently by her local community， life at the takeaway was far from peaceful。 From attacks on the shopfront to verbal racial abuse from customers， to peeling spring roll wrappers with her friends and sneaking prawn crackers to confrontations that ended with Angela’s dad wielding a meat cleaver， there’s a myriad of stories you’ll be able to relate to， whatever your upbringing entailed。 Cooking was the silent act of love that narrated Angela’s childhood， from her dads off menu ribs， to cure-all sweet potato congee and classic egg fried rice， cooking nurtured the souls and bodies of those you fed。 “Our family love differently - not better， not worse， but definitely different。”Adorned with delectable illustrations by Georgie Leung to accompany mouthwatering recipes throughout。 。。。more
Maria
，