Kitchen God's Wife

by Amy Tan

Book Overview

Here is the eagerly awaited new novel from the author of The Joy Luck Club, the powerful and moving bestseller hailed by the Los Angeles Times Book Review as powerful . . . full of magic. Convinced that she is dying, an elderly Chinese woman living in San Francisco decides to reveal all the confidences entrusted to her, thus beginning a series of comic misunderstandings about the secrets people keep.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0399135782
• ISBN13: 9780399135781
• Release Date: June 1991
• Publisher: Putnam Adult
• Length: 415 Pages
• Weight: 1.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.5" x 9.3" x 6.3"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

My favorite tearjerker novel

For some reason, I liked this novel the most out of all the Amy Tan novels I've read (I've only read two others: The Joy Luck Club and The Hundred Secret Senses). I actually read this novel about two years ago, but it still has lasting impressions on me. Tan brought me to tears quite a few times in Winnie's life, which did not happen for some odd reason during the reading of The Joy Luck Club. Tan kept me spellbound for the last half of this book. I loved the sweetness of Winnie's second husband. I wasn't as enthralled about Pearl's story, but their stories together made for well-balanced view of their relationship.

Fantastic novel - my favorite by Amy Tan!

I have really enjoyed all of Tan's novels, however this book I have not been able to set down. She uses a style of a master story teller often ending a section which you've had your breath heald through with a sentance like "and after that my luck changed for the worse..." Then you just have to keep reading to find out how it got even worse! I often found myself craving Dim Sum after reading her description of their meals. You get to know the people in the book so well it's like loosing touch with a friend when you finish.

My favorite Amy Tan

This is my favorite Tan novel--I have read the Joy Luck Club and the Bonesetter's Daughter. As usual, Amy Tan explores the mother daughter relationship which is further complicate dby the cultural diffenrences and generational gaps. What makes this book better than the rest is the believability of the mother and daugher characters. Compared to her other novels, the mother here is a more complete and understandable character. Since the majority of the book contains her story, we get to know her motives better--something that is usually not so well explored in the otehr novels. Similarly, while the antagonism between Peral and her mother is still there, it is not as sharp and as unreasonable. This is what makes The Kitchen God's Wife not only a good read (all of Tan's novels are) but also a more realistic story that sticks with you long after you finish the book.

A Captivating Book

I think this is the best book Amy Tan has ever written. When I first read it, I couldn't put it down and I love this book! It's one of those books that you can read again and again even though you know the story by heart.This story is based mainly on the life of Winnie Louie, an immigrant from China and the tragedy of her past when she was in China. Her past consists of her first marriage to an abusive man who never respect her, her misfortunes and how she finally find a man who loves her. The background of this story is set according to historical records - especially during World War II, and how Winnie fled from places to places. The core of this book is her relationship with her daughter, who was totally Americanized, and how difficult it was for both to communicate and to understand. Her daughter totally have no clue of what her mother had been through, and at the same time, she could never fathom the superstitions her mother believed in.It is an extremely touching book, and as you read the book, you will feel like you realy know the characters, their beliefs, and a special bond will sort of developed. I would definitely recommend this book anytime to anyone.

This book is exciting and a must read.

It is about a mother and daughter relationship, which wasn't going so well. There are hidden secrets waiting to be revealed between the two characters, Pearl and her mom named Winnie. Pearl has a secret that she doesn't want her mom to know because she's afraid that her mom will be worry and mad. Winnie also has secrets she had kept from her daughter. She will later tell Pearl about her story of her life in China, how it was like during World War II, how she had a bad marriage, and many more about her past. I liked this book because it gets more exciting and interesting as I keep reading. I would recommend this book to future readers because once you read it, you wouldn't be able to get your eyes off it. Many more secrets will be lying ahead in this book waiting for you guys to open it up and start reading. This is a book you must read!