Book Review: The Kitchen God’s Wife
photo by John Foley
The Kitchen God's Wife
by Amy Tan
544 Pages
Fiction
Stellar Five Chicken Award Book
For over fifty years two women, Winnie and Helen have guarded some of the worst possible secrets. When Helen confronts Winnie telling her she just can't keep the secrets anymore, Winnie must come clean. Interestingly the person Winnie most wanted to shield from the truth was her daughter Pearl, but Pearl has secrets of her own to disclose as well. After years of holding in the truth Winne is forced to endure the painfulness of remembering so that for the first time mother and daughter can understand each other as a whole, not just the pretty parts. The true question is, are their bonds strong enough to endure the truth, after having been taught generation after generation to hide the truth and put up a fake front?
I had never read Amy Tan before, I have seen people love her and I can't believe I was so slow to jump on the wagon. I grabbed up this read because it was just sitting there staring at me in the library, and it was an audio book. I love listening to international fiction audio books because I enjoy the accents and voices. Plus, yes, I have always liked being read to just as much as reading a book myself. After reading (listening to) The Kitchen God's Wife, I have a new author to stalk, yes a new favourite. I have a couple of her other books sitting on my shelf calling me right now. She is one of my new favourite authors.
In The Kitchen God's Wife Amy brings up women's issues in old China, she dispels some myths, she tells an amazing story and that she told flawlessly. The book is pretty dark at places, and the characters suffer much at the hands of those who claim to love them. It is hard to read at times, but even though it is intense I could not stop reading it. This read rocked my boat and could not have been better-the only thing was that I had wished it would have gone on for a little longer after the secrets were out, but the book was already 544 pages...so that probably wasn't an option. Maybe The Kitchen God's Wife part 2? ha!
Here I go again, giving out my most precious award. However Amy Tan takes it by a landslide. The Stellar Five Chicken Book Award is well deserved, very well deserved.
Have you read other books by Amy Tan? Which gets your highest recommendation? Why do you enjoy Amy Tan?
August 13th, 2009 - 00:24
Amy Tan is one of my favourite authors. I have read all her books and love all of them apart from Saving Fish from Drowning – which was a departure from her mother-daughter relationship books and so didn’t appeal as much.
I think the Joy Luck Club might be the best, but they are all very good.
August 13th, 2009 - 07:42
I love Amy Tan’s work and think I’ve read them all. The first one I read was The Joy Luck Club and it really made me think of my family.
August 13th, 2009 - 07:59
I adore Amy Tan’s writing. This is one of my favorite books in her repertoire. I’m so glad that you enjoyed it.
If you haven’t read others, I’d love to recommend that you read The Hundred Secret Senses!
I had the fortune to meet her in St. Louis at a Sigma Delta Tau convention in the late 90s. She was so reserved in person, but boy did she get up to that podium and capture the audiences rapt attention.
August 13th, 2009 - 08:00
oops Sigma Tau Delta convention…I must be backwards today!
August 13th, 2009 - 08:15
I enjoyed this one but I think I enjoyed The Joy Luck Club a bit more. Plus, the Joy Luck Club was also a pretty good movie (in my opinion).
August 13th, 2009 - 09:56
Oh I’m glad you loved it! I loved it, too. I’ve read all of her books, including her memoir. This is my second favourite of the lot, the first one being The Joy Luck Club, which you should definitely read.
August 13th, 2009 - 10:57
Yes, I love Amy Tan!
My favorite of her books is the Bonesetter’s Daughter, but I have liked all of the books I’ve read!
August 13th, 2009 - 11:10
Hey.. Long time!:) I haven’t read too many books by Amy Tan.. I read the Joy Luck Club and totally loved it.. I don’t know why I haven’t ready any more.. This looks like a really interesting book. I think I want to read this one soon!
August 13th, 2009 - 15:13
I have only read The Joy Luck Club. I enjoyed it very much, so I’m not sure why I never picked up more of her books. I think I will check this one out in audio – thanks for that suggestion!
August 14th, 2009 - 07:48
I am joining the chorus of loving Joy Luck Club. However, I read her memoir– The Opposite of Faith which made me love her even more. Through the memoir, her humor and sassiness are revealed. One of the things I enjoy about her is her strong female characters, the description of family dynamics, and of course the bi-cultural aspects of so many of her works. Finally, I feel like I learn a lot about Chinese culture.
August 14th, 2009 - 20:09
I own several Amy Tab novels and haven’t read ANY of them. I must stop slacking!
August 15th, 2009 - 14:35
I read and loved this book a couple of years ago. My favourite thing about it was the way Tan captured exactly how each of her characters spoke. I could hear them in my head as I read.
I’ve been meaning to read more of her work ever since. I should really get on that.
August 15th, 2009 - 14:51
I have also not read Amy Tan yet but have always wanted to. I’m not even sure why I haven’t! But thanks for the reminder with this great review!
August 18th, 2009 - 18:38
I can’t believe I have never read her books. This is going to go to my wish-list most definitely!
September 4th, 2009 - 18:11
I loved the Kitchen Gods Wife and when I was reading it I lost it a few times and had to buy another copy. It was kind of funny. It is one of my favorite books I have ever read. I lost myself in it. Maybe that’s why I lost it. Ha Ha.
September 17th, 2009 - 01:13
The Bonesetter’s Daughter is her best work. By all means, stay away from Saving Fish From Drowning. It got bad reviews…definitely not her best work.
Thx.