With the same narrative skills and evocative powers that made her first novel, The Joy Luck Club, a national bestseller, Tan now tells the story of Winnie Louie, an aging Chinese woman unfolding a life’s worth of secrets to her suspicious, Americanized daughter.
After recently finishing ‘The Joy Luck Club”, I was excited to start reading “the Kitchen God’s Wife”, which received many rave reviews. This is a story about a Chinese born mother and her American born daughter. For me the beginning chapters and ending chapter were the most poignant parts of this book. The remainder, some 300+ pages, told the story of Winnie and her friend Helen before, during, and after World War II. Mostly this is Winnie’s saga and what she had to endure growing up in China, the daughter of a second ‘second’ concubine in a wealthy family until her mother leaves her. I learned a great deal about the lives of Chinese people, their ideas about life, and their superstitions. It actually made me understand my husband’s family more as most of his older family members as well as his mom were born and raised in China.
However, as good as the writing is and as fine a storyteller Tan is, the book just lagged. There was far too much detail and repetitive information. There were several unexpected twists and turns and secrets revealed, but were not enough to sustain my full interest and I found my speed reading through much of Tan’s prose.
The writing was excellent, the story had great potential, if only Tan had consolidated some of her writing, the story-line would have flowed with greater strength and reader interest. “The Kitchen God’s Wife” is a good book, particularly if you are not familiar with Chinese customs and collectivist cultures. Just dig in and be prepared for a weighty read.
Always loved Amy Tan’s books and this was no exception. Great writer of the Asian culture.
Well written!! Great story
Moved so slow. Don’t know if I will finish it or just put it back on the shelf.
It took a long time to get interesting and went slow for me until about half way through, then I didn’t want to put it down. It was a view for me of the Chinese way of thinking. Very different.
I could visualize the scenery and characters in these intriguing novel. I found it hard to put down !
Too wordy.
Always love ve her stuff! Easy read.
Like all of Amy Tan’s books- -hard to put down. I really liked the book.
Loved this book. The Author is very good. Very nuanced characters that read true.
Amy Tan is an incredible storyteller. She takes you to far away places an introduces you to strong women facing hard circumstances. Poignant, vibrant, touching.
Always interesting to learn about different cultures and the way the traditions. That they live by
An excellent Amy Tan story set in Chinese history.
Enjoyed this book, always love historical fiction.
I have every book that Amy Tan has written. Each one is different——You want to read the book fast to find out what happens—-and then I go back and read them slowly so that I may enjoy the story. I love to share her books —-opening up new worlds for my friends……..
This a classic. I can’t recommend it enough.
I couldn’t put this book down! I loved the mother-daughter relationship and getting to know the characters. Would recommend this book to anyone.
I loved this book.
The humor was very witty and gives a view into second generation Chinese Americans.
Every tale by Amy Tan is a silky smooth read. She sets her stories in places and periods that are always captivating and colorful, while at the same time relatable regardless of ethnic identity or family background. Ms Tan works strike universal chords and always plays them out to an ultimately satisfying end. She has a rare gift, her works sure to be classics long
after we are all gone.