The grass is always greener: those employed in corporate environments are envious of those in less-structured work. For Ben Ryder Howe, a senior editor at The Paris Review, his job immersed in literature was his comfort zone. In fact, it might have been too comfortable for this Wasp descendant of Plymouth settlers. But his existence changes when his wife, the daughter of Korean immigrants, decides to repay her parents by buying a New York Deli. Adding to this already challenging setup, Ben and his wife Gab must live in her parents’ basement to save some money.
Howe is thrust into a challenging double life working at The Paris Review and working with his feisty mother-in-law, Kay, at the deli. Coming from a family of academics, he is not accustomed to the enterprising ways of his wife’s Korean family. He fails miserably at simple tasks such as manning the cash register. When Howe finally has to reveal his taxing duties at the deli to his boss, there is a surprising result: His boss is not only understanding, but expresses a desire to be a stock boy.
Howe depicts the challenges of running a deli, from avoiding selling alcohol to minors, to paying sales tax and managing staff, and parallels this with his overlooked duties at his editorial job. Howe’s burdens may have readers’ shoulders drooping, but the candid and honest depictions of his Korean mother-in-law, his American boss, and his African-American deli employee also endear you. Ultimately, the joy of reading this book is witnessing how the author found humour and profound life lessons in his accidental voyage into unfamiliar territory. It shows that it may not be easy dealing with love, culture clashes, family and money altogether; but it can be done.
Maida Pineda
