Livonia Chow Mein    by Abigail Savitch-Lew Order:  USA  Can Simon & Schuster, 2026 (2026) Hardcover, e-Book     Reviewed by Barbara Lingens Livonia Chow Mein - what a mixed-up phrase - and it's the perfect title for this book! We find ourselves at a former restaurant in the Brownsville section of Brooklyn, which has seen Puerto Ricans, Jews, Chinese, Blacks and Whites come in waves. Except for the Whites, who are gentrifying the place, the others were and are mostly poor people, many really on the edge of extreme poverty. Two women, Lina and Sarah, dominate the story. Lina is the older one who only wants the best for her neighbors and is willing to take a stand for them against anyone who won't listen. Sarah is the young one trying to figure out her heritage and where she really belongs. The book surges back and forth in time to reveal the stories of many people's lives, a rich feast to savor. Savitch-Lew has certainly given us a taste of what really happens to people who live in an underserved area and whose voices are definitely neither prominent nor influential. It's a brilliant work, but I have to say that at times I found it somewhat confusing. There are so many people, and while they are all very interesting, with all the time changes it's a bit hard to keep track of who is who. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Contemporary books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews