At first, the title of the book caught my attention. I thought I will read a book where I can find different baklava recipes from the Middle East. Ironically, there was only one recipe that the author called Poetic Baklava. So where are the baklava recipes, I wondered? If there is only one recipe for baklava, what is this book about? However, after reading the book, the answer was revealed to me and I began to put it all together. Surprisingly, the title of the book and its content make sense. The Language of Baklava is a pleasant book to read. You can read it over and over for the stories, the memories, the recipes and of course the baklava. In fact, it is a story of the writer's life filled with recipes that Bud and other family members have shared with her over the years, written in a unique and flavorful way. The book is also full of Middle Eastern cooking methods and recipes. Although most of the recipes in the book are Middle Eastern, it contains some instructions on how to prepare other types of food. For example, on page 86 we can find an Italian recipe that you call Mrs. Manarelli's civilized Panna Cotta. Dishes from her American culture are given soothing names like Comforting Grilled Velveeta Sandwiches and The Tenderest Angel Food Cake, while dishes from her Jordanian culture bear nostalgic names like Nostalgic Chicken Livers and "Forget Me Not" Sambusik. Cookies. This reflects the writer's multicultural background and her search for her own identity. The Language of Baklava is not a cookbook for those looking for a traditional cookbook, or for those looking for a cookbook where they can find many recipes from traditional cuisine. ......middle of paper ......major impact on Diana's life. However, for Diana the relationship with food is different from that of her father. For Bud, food is a way to relate to the way he used to live, “…cooking and humming liver and fried onion songs in Arabic about missing the one you love.” For his family, food has always been a reason to feel better and relieve the pressures of life. For Diana it is a way to find herself. Furthermore, for Diana, and despite all the challenges she has encountered, food and cooking are used as a tool through which to express herself. A tool to share his good and bad moments. She used food as comfort, a peace offering, and a way to find herself. Therefore, her simple and pleasant to read stories have become a wonderful mix of her life story and food recipes. Especially for those who consider food something more than something to eat.