After a break of many years,'Kip' Singh returns to war-torn Kashmir where, as a young man he spent time working in the kitchen of the General. The young Kip's experiences in Kashmir, the people he met, the truths he uncovered, provide the narrative substance of this book. It is a tale about friendship and love, about war, about India, about the human condition. 'Chef' is fascinating, exotic, thoughtful. It will appeal, I think, to the reader who enjoys escaping from the European or American perspective, who prefers a book to open boxes, not tick them. All that said, this is a good book, not a great one - which is why I have given it 4 on the clapometer - but I enjoyed it very much and look forward to the future writings of Jaspreet Singh.

'Chef' is Jaspreet Singh's second book, but first full length novel. It has already won one award and has been nominated for four others. Narrated by Kirpal Singh, or Kip as he is known, this is a slow-moving but beautifully crafted story. At the start of the story Kip is setting out on a journey, he is going to prepare a wedding banquet for the Army General that he was chef for, fourteen years. During the journey Kip reflects on his past, things that happened when he joined the General's staff. He remembers how he learnt about food, about woman and about life. Kip's teacher and mentor was Kishen - a chef who was dismissed not long after Kip arrived. Later on in the story Kip remembers how he discovered Kishen's journals and how he became transfixed by Kishen's life on the Glacier. Irem, a woman who is a suspected terrorist becomes a big part of Kip's life and there are some really beautiful scenes between them, the dialogue is haunting. A novel that needs a lot of concentration but is so emotional. It is both sorrowful and joyful and really brings home the beauty and the terror of Kashmir.

A pretty warm and heartfelt tale from the sub-continent. I have enjoyed this one as much as thet recent titles to have come out in the last few years. It is a gentler story than White tiger and it gives you a simple, yet nice perspective on Kashmir. It is a very nice story told in an uncomlicated manner. There is a sad note to it because of the conflict in the territories and because of unfulfilled love. There is one thing (that I cannot mention as it might be a spoiler) that seems to simply be forgotten along the way, despite mentions of it. It is a nice holiday read, innocent and warm. If you enjoyed Q&A or Six Suspects you will enjoy this.

The writing is in an unusual style, and I initially had difficulty in following who was "speaking". However, once I got the hang of it the book unfolded into a rivetting tale which brings to life a part of the World relatively unknown and inaccessible to the majority of readers. The story, colourfully told via the local cuisine and through the eyes of Kip and his associates, nevertheless opens out into the wider aspects of life in a harsh, dangerous environment.

This is a fairly slow paced book, set on a train going from Delhi to Kashmir. Sikh, Kirpal Singh is travelling back to Kashmir, having served there as an army chef some years before. He uses the many hours that the train journey provides him to recount his time in Kashmir and why he left. References to different dishes coked throughout India will delight foodies - there is even a recipe for Rogan Josh towards the end of the book. I did find however that despite the fact that this author is based in Canada, some references to food and other cultural elements may be more intended to the Indian reader, and may be lost on Western readers. I say this as someone who has been exposed to Indian culture both through numerous books (Anita Desai, Rohinton Mistry, Salman Rushdie, Vikram Seth, Arundhati Roy, Jhumpa Lahiri etc.) and through travelling in India (although admittedly, not to Kashmir...) The book did have a certain romance about it, but in my eyes, it unfortunately didn't sparkle.