Mangoes and Quince: A Novel

by Carol Field

An intoxicating novel about a woman who seduces an entire city with the exotic fare she creates in her home-run restaurant.

Best-selling cookbook author Carol Field turns her talent to fiction in Mangoes and Quince . A feast of the imagination, Mangoes and Quince tells the story of Miranda, abandoned in Amsterdam by her husband Anton, who disappeared into the South Seas. Marooned, but restlessly inspired, Miranda expresses her passion by cooking. But as the restaurant she builds in Anton's ancestral home grows increasingly popular-and along with it, Miranda-her daughter Diana recedes into a world of longing for her lost father.

Under the spell of a manipulative anthropologist, Diana sneaks into her father's two locked private rooms and unearths a trove of strange, local fetishes. Tucked within one sculpture, Diana finds a note from her father. . .

Part mystery, part love story, part family drama-and with original recipes scattered throughout-Mangoes and Quince is a lush and sensuous tale, sure to please.

Genres: Fiction, Cooking, Food

288 pages, Paperback

First published March 7, 2001

About the author

Carol Field was an American cookbook author. She wrote about Italy and Italian food since 1972. Her television appearances included being featured with Mario Batali on his series and and baking bread with Julia Child on her series.

Reviews

[Jennifer Gess · Rating 1 out of 5]

I couldn’t even finish it. Rambling convoluted plot. The reader who reviewed it with the word “groan” hit the nail on the head.

[Jacqueline · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was not surprised that the author of this book usually wrote cookbooks. The kitchen dialogue made one want to be sitting at the table ready to enjoy the aromas and tastes. The story line was most disturbing at times and interesting topic for a cookbook author..Not sure I really enjoyed this book..

[Dora Okeyo · Rating 2 out of 5]

I truly wish that this book would start from the halfway point, because at least then you already have an idea of where the story is leading and characters that you could somehow relate to.

[Molly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a little strange - it had all this dreamy sorcery/magic/dark sexual innuendo about it laced into a more straightforward family story. I liked the character and story of the mother and the imagery of Amsterdam at what seemed like it could have been any time (at first I thought maybe it was based in the 1600s but then realized later on it was much more modern). Not an excellent book, but an interesting one.

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had high hopes for this book based on the author's history with cookbooks. The plot just didn't grab me, mystery or not. I just didn't particularly care what happened to the various characters.

But the recipes at the back of the book? Ah, lovely. Will copy some down to add to my kitchen collection.

[Priscilla · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book that Tamsin gave to me. I found it hard to put down and was sad when it ended... A beautiful story of adventure, color and flavor. I can still smell the scents and picture the scenes *_*

[Katrina · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a tricky review to write. There were aspects of this book I quite liked and there were some that I struggled to get through and pinpoint exactly why that was.

Chapters eight and nine stood out as being very different from the rest of the book, as the narration viewpoint switched and became a one-sided letter communication. I did not enjoy this part of the story, I felt it dragged on and was so far removed from the majority of the book. I understand there was an aspect of a double life with one of the characters, but I was so distracted by the way it was communicated to us that when it switched back to the regular storyline/narration, I had lost all momentum of engagement and seriously considered shelving this as DNF. I can’t help but think that there had to be a different way to write that part into the story to keep it feeling more consistent.

I stuck with it, because I skimmed ahead and saw there weren’t any more lengthy letter sections so I stuck it out. The rest of the story was far more palatable and if it weren’t for these two chapters, I would have given it a much higher rating.

Overall rating - 1.8

[Shane Fritz · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was somewhat of a strange book, with the monkey in the story possibly outliving them all. Is that possible? A family of 3 should have been living the good life somewhere in the South Pacific. Unbeknownst to the little girl, her father harbored secrets and had a bent toward masochistic sex. Their return to "normal" life in the Netherlands met the hostility and disapproval of the grandmother. Unsatisfied, the father left to become the head of a cult. The girl forges a relationship with her grandmother only to lose her to old age. Diana is slightly clairvoyant and reclusive. Her monkey is her only friend and confidante. She hungers for her mother's approval and signs of her love. The departure of the father she idolized left a hole in her. Life brings changes...
I detested parts of this book, but enjoyed other parts. The descriptions of the exotic foods that the mother prepares made me hungry for a good curry. I'm going to make some, and some more chutney.

[Dana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Food, family, love , drama ! Wordsmith “Diana looked to the sky , oh, you cracked my heArt. My hearts a fish flapping crazily in the darkness, seeking solace , looking for the past , the promise paradise ..

[Charis Wilson · Rating 1 out of 5]

I would give zero stars if I could.

I tried to like this but immediately had hard time with the writing style. But a child getting sexually abused within the first 25 pages was the final straw for me. So, into the DNF pile it goes. I have better things to do with my reading time.

[Irma Servatius · Rating 3 out of 5]

oddly compelling little novel... I was mesmerized by her descriptions, but remained unconvinced by the characters, especially their interactions with each other.

[Kristy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting story. Some parts bizarre. I’d love to try Miranda’s curry, though.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm surprised not many people have read this novel. I think I found it at a library sale and liked the title. The novel is about Diana, a little girl used to island-hopping with her family. When her father leaves Diana and her mother Miranda to sail out, she is forced to get used to living in a house. Miranda deals by cooking up a storm, opening a restaurant, and renting rooms to lodgers. Diane misses her father. The novel reminded me very much of Isabel Allende's writing for some reason, though I can't pin down why, exactly. (It reminded me of her in a good way, because I love Allende).

[Kim Bayne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't know why I liked this book so much but I did! It flowed along at a lovely pace, in an almost sneaky way, I felt like I was still reading the begining of the book but I discovered I was a third of the way through! I empathised with Diana and found Miranda to be unlikable in many ways. On one had she did what she had to do to ensure she provided for her daughter, but she was also so jealous of her as well...that would be my one criticism that it is unclear why Miranda treats her own daughter the way she does. Overall a fairly solemn book but a lovely enriching read...I cannot do it justice myself here!

[Barbara · Rating 2 out of 5]

Since this is a first novel by a cookbook author, I was not surprised about the food emphasis and the included recipes, though none sounded appealing enough to me to save or try. Miranda was abandoned by her husband Anton so brought their daughter back to Amsterdam to live in the old home of her mother-in-law. Miranda gradually turns this home into a restaurant and the daughter, Diana, seeks her cult-leader father.

[Dottie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lots to recommend it and lots of quibbles --- overall -- I judt may not have been in the proper frame of mind -- but don't let that stop you. If it sounds of interest --- give it a whirl. There's a bit of Chocolat, a bit of Like Water for Chocolate (Dutch and the islands as opposed to Mexico but just as wild -- maybe more so) -- anyway there are also recipes if that is a perk.

[Bookish Girl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mangoes and Quince will capture your attention as you wonder where the author is taking you. Later you will realize that you're on a wild goose chase following an handful of tangents that are never quite tied together or concluded.

Nonetheless, the book is captivating in it's depiction of distant and uninhabitant islands, and the alluring life of an up and coming chef.

[LeeAnn · Rating 2 out of 5]

The cover summary makes it sound like this is going to be a book about a woman opening a restaurant in Amsterdam. That is only one small part. Lots of crazy convoluted side stories. I finished it to see the resolution to the train wreck.

[Nupur · Rating 3 out of 5]

Started out slow, and although there are portions where the pace is quick, they are few and far in-between. Some downright weird 'rituals' described, but the description of islands and island life was nice.

[Robin Ferguson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wasn't sure if I would enjoy this book at first but I kept on reading. It was almost like three different books. The flavor deepened the further I got. Like the food she described took on a totally different flavor. And recipes in the back too!

[Catherine · Rating 1 out of 5]

If you want to read scrumptious descriptions of food, some mixed with erotica, this is your book. The plot was unbelievable, and one gets the feeling the author has a fantasy of opening a small exclusive restaurant. The cover says "National Bestseller," but I have my doubts about that claim.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story.

[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun read. The characters aren't too developed, but the descriptions of food and cooking will dazzle.

[Micha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not sure how I feel about this book, I finished it, which says something, it was somewhat interesting and includes 11 recipes.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

really yummy recipes!

[Jana · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nice food/cooking descriptions. Everything else seemed shallow or surface although the topics were not (sexuality, death, parent/child relationships).

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the aura of the exotic in this novel; however, the storyline slowed down and I jumped to the end, then backtracked a little. The recipes at the end redeem it.

[Tracy · Rating 1 out of 5]

groan.

[Dalon · Rating 4 out of 5]

the book was well written - I enjoyed the author's descriptive choice in words - it's not what I expected at all but would recommend it - a fairly quick read - an interesting perspective for sure

[Jeanine · Rating 2 out of 5]

Strange book. As I am a fan of stories featuring monkeys and intoxicating cooking descriptions, I somewhat enjoyed this novel.