Customer Reviews

Dixieland Sushi

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

While "Dixieland Sushi" is not deep or serious, I really enjoyed it and thought it explored some issues that are not typically touched upon in chick lit.

The story follows 28-year-old Jen, the child of a Japanese woman and an blond Arkansan nicknamed Bubba who has a "room of death" filled with fish that he caught, etc. One of the fish is called "Bud" because he caught it with a can of beer.

Jen's beauty-queen cousin, Lucy (on the Caucasian side of the family) is marrying Jen's childhood crush. The story is told through a series of flashbacks that bring the reader back to the roller-skating birthday parties and Valentine's Day in the classroom of Jen's childhood, when she carefully selected a Garfield valentine for her crush, only to watch him throw it away.

Back in the present, Jen has a demanding job as a TV producer with an irascible boss and crazy news anchors whom she has to keep in line. The irrepressible Riley, a British co-worker whom she thinks of as "Colins" (because of his resemblance to both Colin Farrell and Colin Firth), is a great love interest. But when Jen sees her crush again, what will happen?

I thought this story was great because it was laugh-out-loud funny and also delved into growing up in the '80s in Arkansas as a biracial teenager. Identity issues continue to rear their head even when Jen is an adult. For example, one guy with whom she had no sparks is suddenly interested in another date when he finds out she's half-Japanese. She concludes he has the AO blood type (Asian Obsessed).

Definitely worth reading.

Having enjoyed Ms. Lockwood's other novels, I was eagerly awaiting this one but sadly it was not as good as I'd hoped. The plot is cute enough - half Asian/half white girl returns to the South for the wedding of her cousin to her former schoolgirl crush and ends up falling in love with her "date" on the way down and finally coming to terms with her heritage and family's quirky ways.

The writing flows well, as it does in her other books, but for some reason this book didn't resonate well with me. It wasn't super funny, nor was it super serious, nor super-deep but did touch lightly upon a number of issues. At times, it felt like the love story was just thrown in because a love story seemed necessary - I think it could have worked just as well, if not better, without it.

So I'd recommend this book if you're looking for some light one-time reading or if you really loved the eighties (every other chapter is an 80's flashback), but if this is your first experience with a Cara Lockwood book, I'd recommend "Pink Slip Party," the cutest and funniest one yet.

I'm now looking forward to her next book, which hopefully I'll enjoy as much as her first two.

I loved this book. Not only did it keep me in stitches, it also brought back so many memories of the 80s pop culture. You certainly do not have to be Asian to connect to the characters. We all have had crushes, feeling not belonging in school, ashamed or embarrassed by a relative... I loved how this book was written as well, it was easy to read ( 3 days) Cara writes with such great humor that many times my husband asked what I was laughing at. Get this book if you want to re-live the 80s a little!

An awesome read! Lockwood does it again with book #3 - tying a girl's big 3: family, love & career together. From childhood experiences to adulthood realities, Lockwood brings her story together with bursts of laughter and geniune humor. Reader's will cheer for "Jen" from her embarassing childhood experiences, grade-school crush, office crush and insane-but-normal family.

Who doesn't remember Mr. Miyagi's words of wisdom?

While I've read all of Lockwood's novels, this one is my favorite to date. She seamlessly inserts flashbacks into the story (which are hysterical I might add) - done in such a way that you simply can't wait until you get to the next chapter. It's a great story about the importance (and insanity) of family. Mark my words; this will be THE summer read of 2005.

Jen is surprised when her perfect cousin Lucy calls to invite her to her upcoming wedding to town heartthrob Kevin - the same Kevin who captured Jen's youthful heart decades earlier. Jen, now a producer for a Chicago TV station starts reflecting on her childhood in Arkansas, growing up as a half-Japanese steel magnolia in a town full of bubbas.

A colleague from work offers to accompany her to the nuptials, and the two embark on a road trip. Riley has a live-in girlfriend (who has roving eyes and hands), but he and Jen have a very engaging and flirtatious relationship. Will this road trip help them cross the line or does her heart still belong to Kevin? Everything that could possibly go wrong does en route to Arkansas. Jen is forced to deal with her feelings for Kevin and Riley, being home for the first time in 5 years, and having to stand up to a Bridezilla with bad taste in formal wear.

Each chapter starts with words of wisdom courtesy of Mr. Miyagi (of the "Karate Kid" movies). Jen's many reflections on her childhood growing up in the vacuous 1980's are priceless and endearing. This laugh out loud novel is a must read for Lockwood fans.

So when I have nothing else to read, I read my daughter's "chick lit." I'm a "bed-time reader" and just like something light to read before falling asleep. Other books belonging to my daughter that I've read have sex for the sake of sex and foul language for the sake of foul language. Not being against either when used effectively, I was most impressed by this book. A nice, easy, entertaining book; Thank you, Ms Lockwood! I'm looking forward to reading more of your stuff.

This was a fun book with lots of different facets. Going back to your hometown and seeing your high school crush again, and being rather surprised by how he's changed and you yourself have changed. Her multicultural background and how she dealt with being different while growing up. Lots of funny moments, and the book was so entertaining, it was read very quickly.

I have now officially read all of Cara Lockwood's books and I have to say, they are all terrific!! This one was no different. Great characters, great storyline and so funny!!! I would recommend not only this book but all of Cara Lockwood's books.

Its a really great book as all other Cara Lockwood's are. Others have found the flashbacks to be nothing but nostalgic and superficial, but it needs to be there give those with no bi-cultural expereinces growing up a picture of how those who do have two sides grew up. Its a fundamentally hard idea for many to grasp how the Asian_American identity crisis is built on all the experences you have growing up, unless its expereinced. In this book Lockeood illustrates it in a way that makes everyone relate so that they might come to understand.