My Korean Deli: Risking It All for a Convenience Store | A

As college students, we take classes and surround ourselves with activities that anticipate what we expect to be doing in our professional lives after college — pre-med students take science classes and shadow doctors, budding musicians take music classes and join choirs, etc. However, sometimes things don't work out the way we expect. Ben Ryder, an editor-turned-deli store owner, reminds us how unexpected and demanding life can be in his new book My Korean Deli: Risking It All for a Convenience Store.

At the start of My Korean Deli we meet Howe and his wife Gab, in the process of what can be considered a very selfless task: the newlywed couple has taken out thousands of dollars in loans, moved in with Gab's parents, and put their own careers on hold in order to help Gab's family open their own deli in New York City. Howe describes the journey he went through juggling a new marriage and his wife's immigrant family, all while keeping his job at the Paris Review and becoming an entrepreneur.

Throughout the piece, Howe's writing alternates between serious and more comical moments that seem like something the writers of Saturday Night Live might come up with. There are many parts that readers will find easy to relate to, such as when Howe laments over the fact that he and his wife are still buried under student loans and when he stresses about the struggle to find a job that will be both enjoyable and profitable. On the other hand, there are also moments that will make readers feel as though they're watching a sitcom when Howe describes the revolt of the Brooklyn community after he switches the brand of coffee the store has always served.

Howe's memoir also offers a unique peek behind the scenes of one of the staples of metropolitan living: the corner deli. Though many people inhabit the busy cities of our country, not many have ever thought about what goes into running a deli. Howe's accounts of taking inventory of Twinkies and cat food at four in the morning are not only surprisingly enjoyable to read, but leave us with a newfound respect for those entrepreneurial families in the metropolitan communities across the United States.

What's charming about this piece is that it's told in a "cocktail party" manner, making it very easy to believe that Howe wrote this as a humorous warning to stay away from doing any favors for family members. Despite the sarcasm and wit, what lies at the heart of this novel is a touching story about the cooperation of different generations and the importance of family.My Korean Deli is wildly entertaining and has a warm-hearted message, making it worthwhile for all those that choose to read it.