Reviews

The Kitchen God's Wife by Amy Tan

shawaazu's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, and War

Moderate: Abandonment, Infidelity, and Suicide

Minor: Abortion, Child death, Alcoholism, Infidelity, Pregnancy, Death, Gun violence, and Cursing

mitskacir's review

4.0

After a slow start, I really binged this one (yay vacation!). I really like Tan's writing - she does a great job capturing a character's voice. In essence, this book is about the pettiness and loyalty in female friendships that develops in a world of patriarchy. It was very thoughtful in the way in examined, excused, and grappled with the way women treat each other in a world that doesn't see their humanity - making sacrifices, providing small acts of service, using polite convention or insults to convey understanding, strategically ignoring faults or missteps or pain, judging and nitpicking every word or gesture. It's also a book about contradictions, particularly about how a woman can be weak and strong, mean and loving, extravagant and practical. I think this book will stick with me!

adholmes3's review

adventurous informative reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

charadreemurrs's review

dark emotional hopeful informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

loveistheprotest's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

thenymphsvoice's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Such a heart wrenching story. Beautifully told

chyna's review

4.0

I give this book 4.5 stars. Personally, it was hard to read on some parts but the story in of itself is a treat and the way I was taken in by the story just amazes me. By the end of the book, I understood Helen and Winnie's bantering and found it endearing and Winnie is just a strong person that has all my love and respect.

nikitaaci93's review

dark hopeful slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

zeev's review

4.0

if i ever cry bc of a book …. it’ll be an amy tan book

mswan's review

emotional funny inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Really liked the story, how it happens over many years/coming of age