This book has seemed to me a precious one.

Although I haven't been able to read it as quickly as I would have liked, I think that the fact of having savored it little by little, in moments when it has been my companion in difficult situations, gives it a very special value.

And without a doubt, I will always remember it with affection for a whole bunch of reasons, not only literary ones.

The author's ability to narrate such a hard and complex story as that of Winnie, without taking refuge in the sorrows, but highlighting the strength of the tremendous characters, especially the female ones, that appear in the story, strikes me as impressive.

And without a doubt, I want to repeat, so it's time to look for other titles of hers.

Very, very recommendable.

Such a promising book indeed!

However, as my friend who read it along with me astutely pointed out, it unfortunately transformed into a long monologue.

The Kitchen God’s Wife commences quite well, with Winnie and her daughter deftly juggling the familiar Asian cultural and familial obligations within the US.

But then, it rapidly devolved into just Winnie narrating the story of her life. And what an incredibly long story it is!

One has to wonder if the daughter didn't actually doze off during this extensive recount.

It's not that Winnie doesn't possess a captivating life story.

Rather, instead of the engaging mother-daughter exchange that I was eagerly anticipating, it simply became a one-sided Winnie story.

This is precisely why it ultimately fell flat for me.

It's a pity that a book with such potential didn't quite live up to expectations in this regard.

Really good!

I am so glad that I discovered Amy Tan and her beautiful storytelling. Her works have the power to transport readers into different worlds and make them feel a wide range of emotions.

Amy Tan's writing is not only engaging but also thought-provoking. She explores themes such as family, identity, and culture in a way that is both relatable and profound.

Her characters are vividly drawn and their stories are told with such authenticity that it is easy to become invested in their lives.

Whether it's her novels or short stories, Amy Tan's writing always leaves a lasting impression. I highly recommend her works to anyone who loves good literature.

Discovering her writing has been a truly wonderful experience and I look forward to reading more of her books in the future.

This book delves into an overwhelming amount of pain, suffering, and tragedy.

It is a characteristic feature of all of Tan's writings, and thus, somewhat anticipated. However, it can still be arduous to endure certain segments of this plot.

Nonetheless, similar to all her novels, the storytelling is captivating and showcases the expertise of an authentic Chinese voice. I perused her story with a blend of pain and pleasure.

The pain stems from the vivid description of so much hardship, yet the pleasure arises from the encounter with such high-quality writing and the contentment of having read a novel that concludes "well" - with catharsis and the realization that although life can be difficult and insufferable at times, goodness can still triumph and overshadow the pain of a bitter past.

Or, as Tan articulates in her story, that despite the agony, "they [the female protagonists] believed their lives lay ahead of them and all good things were still possible....all the things you thought you had forgotten, but were never forgotten, all the hopes that can still be found" (pg. 410).

I lost momentum about halfway through this book.

The beginning was truly interesting, presenting the engaging dynamic between the mother and daughter. However, I hate to admit it, but I actually grew tired of continuously reading about how crappy her life was.

I know it might sound callous, but I simply have no respect for a woman like Weila who stays with her husband after he maims and then kills her child.

Had that been me, I would have fled anywhere, even endured living off the streets to escape from that man. The issue was that Weila was overly proud and didn't want to lose face or make her family look bad.

As a result, I can't feel sympathy for anything that occurred to her after that point, because she made poor choices and remained with Wen Fu.

Anyway, it was an okay story, and I finally managed to push through it. I would really like an update on how the characters are faring now, considering this story was written in 1991.

Are Pearl and Winnie and the rest still alive? What are Pearl's children doing currently? I'd love to have an update, as the story concludes before truly resolving the present-day problems.

Not sure I'd read this one again, as it's extremely frustrating.

This book was truly unexpected, and I'm extremely glad that I took it with me on my holiday.

I was given this book by a friend, Anthony, who never misses with his book recommendations. And this book was no exception.

It isn't the kind of book that I would typically pick up, which makes you realize how many hidden gems you might be missing out on just because the story isn't your usual read.

I loved this book a great deal. It made me smile, laugh multiple times, and in the end, I finished it with tears streaming down my cheeks and an ache in my heart.

Reading about China in the 1920s and during the Second World War was completely new to me, and I relished every moment of it.

It's a beautiful, powerful, and uplifting story that left me weeping twice.

It's a book that I would highly recommend to anyone looking for a unique and engaging read.

To me, "ying-gai" truly meant that my mother had lived a life filled with regrets that unfortunately never seemed to fade away as time passed by.

We often hear that chance is the very first step one takes, and then luck is what follows afterwards. However, in my case, I don't quite understand why something that brought me such great happiness back then now evokes such a profound sense of sadness.

Perhaps this is just the way it is with the best memories. They linger in our hearts and minds, sometimes causing a strange mix of emotions.

"Ai-ya!" This simple exclamation sums up my feelings at times, a sort of感叹ment about the mysteries and ironies of life.

As I look back on these experiences, I can't help but wonder how different things might have been if only certain choices had been made differently. But then again, that's the nature of life, full of uncertainties and unexpected turns.

Maybe we should all strive to make the most of the present moment, cherish the good memories, and learn from the regrets to create a better future.

After all, life is a journey, and we are all just travelers trying to find our way.

This is a tough book to rate.

On one hand, it presents a very powerful story about survival and perseverance during wartime and abuse. It follows the journey of two women, a mother and a daughter, as they learn to find their own voices. It delves into the complex relationship of motherhood and daughterhood, exploring the secrets we keep from each other out of fear or shame. The narrative is exceptionally well-written, with great discussion points and a powerful ending. It is so skillfully crafted that you truly feel a personal connection to both the mother and daughter.

On the other hand, this is an incredibly emotionally draining novel. As you follow the poor woman through stage after stage of abuse, violence, and nightmare situations in old time war-torn China, where women were little more than property, you will be on the edge of your seat. You will want to scream for her as she has no means to defend herself or her children against the abuse of her husband. You will be frustrated with all the people around her who ignore the abuse. And you will want to urge her to take control of her life, even though you know she is almost powerless. At times, it feels very much like reading a torture novel. It is hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel or find meaning in any of it.

The impactful nature of this theme is clearly intended to evoke an emotional reaction. There are underlying themes of strength in simply surviving and the value of having your own voice, even at the cost of everything else. However, it is a very heavy dose to take in. The audiobook I listened to was around 14 hours, and more than 12 hours were filled with this traumatic reading.

While it was difficult to see the light at the end of the dark tunnel, it was there at the end, and the book left off on an optimistic note. There are also plenty of points throughout the novel that are great for discussion. Winnie's perspective on what China went through during WWII was captured very well.

It is my personal feeling rather than a critical reader's mindset that prevents me from loving this book. I do have a certain appreciation for it, but at the same time, I never want to read it again and would rather not think about it anytime soon. It may be that I just don't handle novels about suffering well, especially ones of this length. But my goodness, I can't get over how hard it was to listen to this audiobook.

I truly love this remarkable book.

Winnie, the protagonist, is an incredibly brave woman. She endured being married to an evil and horrible husband, which was no easy feat.

Moreover, she lived through the turmoil and hardships of World War II.

Her daughter was initially unaware of all the trials and tribulations her mother had faced. However, Winnie decides to share her story with her daughter, revealing all the secrets she had kept hidden for so long.

This book is not only about uncovering secrets but also about the daughter learning to admire her mother's strength. Through her mother's story, she discovers the same strength within herself.

It makes one wonder, though, why so many people have to marry such horrible and awful individuals.

Perhaps it is due to various reasons such as misjudgment, social pressures, or simply being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Nonetheless, this book serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of being true to oneself and finding the courage to face life's challenges.

A generation-spanning story unfolds, revealing the remarkable journey of what women have endured to become who they are in the present day.

Tan's writing is a powerful blend of heart-breaking and hopeful elements, with a touch of humor that lightens the weight of the subject matter.

We witness the struggles, sacrifices, and triumphs of women across different generations, as they face discrimination, limited opportunities, and social expectations.

Despite the hardships, there is a glimmer of hope that shines through, as women find the strength within themselves to break free from the constraints and forge their own paths.

Tan's ability to balance the emotional depth with moments of levity makes this story not only a poignant exploration of women's experiences but also an engaging and enjoyable read.

It serves as a reminder of the progress that has been made and the work that still lies ahead in the ongoing fight for gender equality.

I already want to read this again.

Most of the story was set in China around WW2. It vividly followed the life of Winnie, a woman who was desperately attempting to break free from an awful marriage. The themes explored in this story were truly captivating. The concept of duality, being strong and weak simultaneously, was beautifully presented. It was one of those unique stories where the main character often did not actively drive the plot but rather let events unfold upon her. While many might criticize this style of writing, it actually offers an accurate portrayal of the way women were treated in pre-communist China. Winnie had extremely limited control over her own life, and her sense of helplessness was palpable, as if it could seep into the reader's soul.

Here's an excerpt that particularly spoke to me:

"Isn't that how it is when you must decide with your heart? You are not just choosing one thing over another. You are also choosing what somebody else does not want, and all the consequences that follow. You can tell yourself, that is not my problem, but the words do not wash the trouble away."

This excerpt is so complex and thought-provoking. It makes the reader reflect on the difficult decisions we often have to make in life and the far-reaching consequences that come with them. It shows how our choices are not always simple and straightforward but are often intertwined with the desires and expectations of others.

For a book published in the 90s, The Kitchen God's Wife seems oddly outdated. Despite Tan's writing, which is far from mediocre or incompetent, I couldn't overlook the fact that her story was the opposite of female solidarity.

At first, I was drawn in by Tan's storytelling. The first 40 pages or so, set in the 'present', were enjoyable. We learn that Pearl, a woman in her thirties, has always had a difficult relationship with her mother, Winnie. Some of this is due to generational and cultural differences, but as we soon discover, both mother and daughter have kept secrets from each other. When Winnie's sister-in-law Helen/Hulan announces that she can no longer stay silent about their past, Winnie is forced to recount her many trials and hardships to her daughter. This is where the novel lost me. I find this kind of cheesy melodrama mixed with misery porn extremely frustrating.

Winnie is basically like Cinderella or the classic Mary Sue. 99% of the people around her use and abuse her. Every female character, except for Grand Auntie Du, is cruel, vain, stupid, ugly, and/or ungrateful. Winnie, on the other hand, is an angel. She endures and suffers because she has aspirations of martyrdom. Given that she is directly recounting past experiences in the first person, you'd think she could express some uncertainty about the accuracy of her memories or wonder if others remember things differently. But no! She keeps insisting that 'this is what happened' and that Helen is a liar who remembers things wrong.

Anyway, Winnie tells her tragic past: her mother abandons her, she is shunned by her wealthy father and raised by cartoonishly wicked relatives. In relating these experiences, Winnie always emphasizes her inherent goodness and beauty, often by making little digs about women's failings. Winnie ends up marrying a horrible man with only vices. Her husband reminded me of the 'bad' men from The Giver of Stars and novels by Kristin Hannah. Personally, I prefer more nuanced characters. Tan also often conflates a character's physical appearance with their personality, which feels a bit old-fashioned. Maybe it would be more suitable for a novel from the 19th century than the 90s.

The only sections that were somewhat interesting and without the constant whinging were the ones that stuck to facts. For example, when Tan writes details and statistics about the Sino-Japanese War. When she writes about Nanking, I felt much more horrified and moved than by anything related to Winnie. Sadly, Winnie's narrative is more focused on dissing Helen than anything else. She says and thinks many unkind things about Helen, like comparing her to a steamed dumpling with too much filling leaking out and saying she has no sense of fashion. And she never takes any responsibility, always blaming everything on Helen.

I swear, every few pages, Winnie would say something like "Who is the better cook? You see! I am not boasting. It's true." or "You know what I think? When Jiaguo got his promotion, Hulan gave herself a promotion too! In her mind, she was more important than I was." I can't stand this lousy portrayal of female 'friendship'. Women, except for Winnie, are catty and fake. Men, except for Winnie's Chinese-American second husband, are stupid, cowardly, or abusive sadists.

Other girls Winnie encounters also get a similar treatment to Helen's. Winnie sometimes pretends to be nice but is actually anything but. She describes a girl as having "red as a demon's" eyes and calls her first husband's new wife "bossy" and "stupid". She also makes some weird comments about Burmese and Cantonese people. And yes, Winnie suffers. Her husband is a monster and everyone else, except for Grand Auntie Du and her American-born husband, is bad news. I dislike this kind of 'girl-on-girl hate' and the whole Winnie=Cinderella thing was annoying.

Thankfully, I bought my copy of this book in a second-hand shop. While I wouldn't recommend this novel to anyone in particular, I'm aware that Tan is an extremely popular writer. So maybe it's just me.

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