Kitchen Chinese: A Novel About Food, Family, and Finding Yourself

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Kitchen Chinese: A Novel About Food, Family, and Finding Yourself

by Ann Mah (Goodreads Author)

3.35 of 5 stars 3.35 · rating details · 678 ratings · 162 reviews

"Ann Mah's Kitchen Chinese is a delicious debut novel, seasoned with just the right balance of humor and heart, and sprinkled with fascinating cultural tidbits." --Claire Cook, bestselling author of Must Love Dogs Kitchen Chinese, Ann Mah's funny and poignant first novel about a young Chinese-American woman who travels to Beijing to discover food, family, and herself is a...more

Paperback, 368 pages

Published February 9th 2010 by William Morrow Paperbacks (first published January 1st 2010)

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Jan 15, 2013 Yolanda rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

In author Ann Mah's first novel, KITCHEN CHINESE, the main character gets fired
from her job and dumped by her boyfriend of eighteen months--all in the same week.

A hip and savvy New Yorker, Isabelle Lee is an independent, fashionable, modern
young woman who works for Belle magazine. After being fired, Isabelle follows
her mother's advice and moves to Beijing, where she shares an apartment with
her sister, Claire.

In Beijing, Claire arranges for an interview so that Isabelle becomes "the dining
edi...more

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Jul 19, 2012 Twilight rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: cultural, culinary, chinese, china

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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May 06, 2012 Sara rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: abcs-asiams, fiction

After being fired from her job as a fact checker at Belle magazine, twenty-something Isabelle Lee decides to go abroad to Beijing to visit her sister. Born and raised in the United States, Isabelle worries about being launched into an “Amy Tan novel” and having “some enormous ethnic epiphany.” As she stumbles through the language barrier and Beijing society, Isabelle finds herself working at BEIJING Now, an English magazine, and writing food reviews in a country where she can’t even order food p...more

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Sep 27, 2011 Katie rated it 3 of 5 stars

I’m going to say that I really enjoyed this book. Sure, there are typos, and the foreshadowing isn’t exactly what I’d call subtle, but it’s just such a fun, frivolous book to read. And when it comes to literature, I’d rank frivolity as one of my favorite traits.

Last summer I went through a phase where I became obsessed with reading books about food and foreign countries. Kitchen Chinese was put on my wish list then, but I never got around to purchasing until this semester, after Christmas book s...more

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Oct 12, 2009 eb rated it 1 of 5 stars

To call this a brazen imitation of Bridget Jones's Diary is to insult Helen Fielding's witty, observant romp.

I can't remember the last time I've read a novel so groaningly obvious. If I told you there were two love interests, one a self-absorbed pop star and the other a kind, shy, blue-eyed ambassador, what would you guess happens? You're right! Except there's less sex than you thought.

Each and every plot turn hinges on coincidence or misunderstanding. And some of them are just--okay, there's t...more

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Jan 28, 2012 Jessica Larson-Wang rated it 3 of 5 stars

First thing I have to get off my chest -- I live in Beijing and I found the constant insider references a bit irritating. Yes, there really is a Jenny Lou's and a Babyface and all those streets like Guanghua Lu and Dongdaqiao really do exist, but it seemed very in-your-face to me, especially considering she went out of her way to change the names of some places and things (Beijing NOW is obviously supposed to be That's Beijing or The Beijinger), but not others. Maybe the aggressive name-dropping...more

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Jul 17, 2011 Allie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: american-experience, china, girly, humor, romance, travel

Last summer I had the wonderful chance to hear Deanna Fei read from her debut novel A Thread of Sky, about Chinese American women traveling to China.

This summer, I came across Ann Mah's Kitchen Chinese.

Something interesting: Both Fei and Mah published their respective novels in 2010 and wrote as they were living in Beijing. Yet Fei's is a contemporary fiction offering, while Mah's is straight-up chic lit. After several pages of cliches and cheesy writing that made it feel like CHEETAH GIRLS 2/E...more

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Feb 25, 2010 Renee rated it 3 of 5 stars

I really should have known better. I thought it would be a novel about food -- it's called Kitchen Chinese and was written by a food writer. But it's actually chick lit. Reading the back cover, I realize I should have seen the signs: "Isabelle Lee things she knows everything about Chinese cuisine. . . . Now, in the wake of a career-ending catastrophe, she's ready for a change -- so she takes off for Beijing to stay with her older sister, Claire. . . . . In the midst of her extreme culture shock,...more I really should have known better. I thought it would be a novel about food -- it's called Kitchen Chinese and was written by a food writer. But it's actually chick lit. Reading the back cover, I realize I should have seen the signs: "Isabelle Lee things she knows everything about Chinese cuisine. . . . Now, in the wake of a career-ending catastrophe, she's ready for a change -- so she takes off for Beijing to stay with her older sister, Claire. . . . . In the midst of her extreme culture shock, and the more she comes to learn about her sister's own secrets, Isabelle can't help but wonder whether coming to China was a mistake -- or an extraordinary chance to find out who she really is." Sister's secrets? Discovering yourself? This could be an interesting, insightful book, but it could also be incredibly cheesy chick lit.

It's the latter.

It's pretty decent as chick lit goes, but chick lit nonetheless. It's predictable, a quick read, and best when it sticks to food and personal revelations rather than dating, broad assertions about the nature of cross-cultural experiences, and sibling rivalries. (I correctly guessed that the writer is an only child simply from the way she wrote about the main character and her sister. It just didn't make any sense.)

Ann Wah admirably figures out how to write bilingual dialogue, explaining important phrases but not bogging down comprehension with a dual system. I got a little annoyed that the pinyin had no tones, but that's not Wah's fault, and for most English readers I dare say it's less distracting to get romanizations of Chinese without little lines above each syllable.

Wah also shines when she talks about Chinese food, which actually made me hungry for Chinese street food more than once. And this may be the first book I've ever read that truthfully explains the awkwardness and avoidance that leads to really unacceptable ways of breaking up with someone. As in, I had total empathy for the text messager in the story, even though I still know it's a despicable thing to do.

However, the book felt too autobiographical -- too many details that didn't make sense to put it unless it was just an observation the author personally made and wanted to include. Yet at the same time, the book was too fake. Sometimes the dialogue was awkward because it tried to explain things without making a proper aside (like when the main character's best friend in China explains to her that she rides a bike to work -- gah!! main character would know that already, so it shouldn't be dialogue, but part of the narration). Or the narration sounded weird because it became too colloquial/talky, as when the main character explains that in middle school, "Shannon and I soon became BFFs." Really? "BFFs"?

But the stylistic awkwardness would be forgiven if it weren't for the totally lame love interest plot. I give Wah points for not even trying to pretend that she's come up with something suspenseful -- she makes it painfully obvious who the main character is going to end up with moment she meets him. It's just too too "meet cute" not to end with some ridiculous mushy dialogue at the back of the book. But it did annoy me that the reader is introduced to the romantic interest on page 68, I figured out who he was by page 69, and the main character doesn't figure it out until page 204. I mean, being a little dense is one thing, but if you know a guy named Charlie is going to be at an event that is honoring a guy named Charles who you know works in the SAME OFFICE, don't you think you might, just might, put 2 and 2 together? What works in crappy romantic comedy movies doesn't work quite as well in first person narratives because narrator has to both give all the necessary information and be stupid enough not to know what's going on.

But all in all, Kitchen Chinese was enjoyable enough, especially for its descriptions of China and Chinese food. It's not particularly thought provoking, but it's worth reading over a weekend or on the beach. As long as there's a Chinese restaurant nearby to fulfill your cravings.(less)

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Jan 18, 2011 Emily rated it 3 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I think I have to give this book more credit than I originally was going to. About halfway through it, I wrote this:

"I *like* this book so far but I don't love it... the writing itself is very good but I feel like the timeline of the story is somewhat disjointed. The main character is likeable but I wish she were a little stronger. The sense of secrecy throughout the novel keeps building so much that there had better be some sort of payout at the end or I'll be very let down. Also, the descripti...more I think I have to give this book more credit than I originally was going to. About halfway through it, I wrote this:

"I *like* this book so far but I don't love it... the writing itself is very good but I feel like the timeline of the story is somewhat disjointed. The main character is likeable but I wish she were a little stronger. The sense of secrecy throughout the novel keeps building so much that there had better be some sort of payout at the end or I'll be very let down. Also, the descriptions of food keep making me hungry."

I did end up enjoying this book for many reasons, and one of them is actually *because* Isabelle wasn't as strong as I would have liked her to be. There were many things that annoyed me about Isabelle: she didn't stick up for herself, she didn't correct misunderstandings when she could and should have, she acted like a coward when breaking up with Jeff, and she constantly degraded herself and compared herself to Claire in negative ways. However, as the novel wore on, I grew to appreciate that these things do not make her a flawed *character*, but rather, a flawed *human*, which is, of course, a basic truth about humanity: we are all, in some ways, flawed.

Part of Isabelle's journey in this novel is to gain strength and a greater sense of her own identity. She begins the novel as a low-level assistant in New York that is fired as a scapegoat and finishes it a published journalist, thriving in her career as a writer in Beijing. And while I would have liked to see her embrace herself as a writer, rather than just let others keep telling her that she is one, the hesitation to accept this new career role is understandable. All too often, writers put their characters on a personal journey and finish that journey promptly at the novel's end. At the end of the story, they've discovered something profound about themselves and then they have a "sail into the sunset moment", whereupon readers are expected to believe that the character now understands themselves completely and everything is going to be hunky-dory from now on. But life doesn't usually work out like that. Identity is a constant journey with no beginning and no end. Isabelle did reinvent herself and gain a new understanding of herself in China, but by no means, is she a completely whole person that sails off into the sunset. I think I liked the ending to this novel immensely because of this fact: it establishes that Isabelle has accomplished a sense of progression, but that life goes on and anything can happen in the future.

I especially loved how Charlie described how much can happen in a year: "Take the noodle shop across the street - opened and closed within a year. Or, Claire - she went from Sexpat in the City to mother-to-be in less than a year. And you... well, if you can build a new life in a new country in only ten months, surely that's enough time to... fall in love?" (338). It's so true: each year in our lives we grow and change and realize new things about ourselves. Isabelle's first ten months in China taught her so much in terms of her own identity, both racially (the unsettled feelings she has about others seeing her a primarily Chinese rather than American) and professionally (being pushed into a new career as a restaurant reviewer and the challenges she faces when others challenge her credentials as one, as well as her journey to become a published journalist). That journey is worth telling and it is worth leaving the door open at the end of it for it to continue. I grew to really enjoy Isabelle as a character and would love it if Ann Mah would continue her story. I'd be first in line to hear about another year in Isabelle's life (especially if it includes more Charlie in it!)

Another comment I made in here, halfway through the book, was my concern for the immense amount of foreshadowing going on throughout the story. Claire certainly had a secret, and I did not guess that she was pregnant. I suppose I could have seen it coming, but I like that I didn't. Ultimately, the Claire that readers got to see post-secret-reveal was the Claire I would have liked to get to know more of throughout the story. However, it says much about Ann Mah's writing ability if we as readers took that same journey to get to know Claire that Isabelle did. It wasn't until Claire was truly honest with Isabelle that we got to know Claire better, and, in turn, Claire became a more fully realized, three-dimensional character and person.

I suppose I should have commented on the foodie aspect of this novel, but for me, the journey of its characters was more interesting. Also, talking about the food will just make me hungry. Overall, this was a wonderful story and I very much enjoyed reading it. I look forward to future novels by Ann Mah and hope that she may consider writing a sequel to this one! Maybe a story about Isabelle and Charlie in Paris? Kitchen French, perhaps?(less)

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Oct 17, 2011 Juliet Doubledee rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: asia, foodie

I found this book to be a light and fun read. The author (Ann Mah) takes the reader on a journey from the U.S. to China to witness the trials and tribulations of a young writer in her search to find her own voice in print.

The main character, Isabelle Lee, in the beginning of the book is a "fact finder" for a large New York fashion magazine; where she is responsible for confirming information submitted by well known freelancers. Unfulfilled both professionally and personally, Isabelle finds herse...more I found this book to be a light and fun read. The author (Ann Mah) takes the reader on a journey from the U.S. to China to witness the trials and tribulations of a young writer in her search to find her own voice in print.

The main character, Isabelle Lee, in the beginning of the book is a "fact finder" for a large New York fashion magazine; where she is responsible for confirming information submitted by well known freelancers. Unfulfilled both professionally and personally, Isabelle finds herself out of a job when she gives in to pressure from her boss to cut corners in order to meet a deadline. By not checking with one of the sources in the freelancers article, false information has been printed and the magazine sued for libel. Management decides to use her firing to meet the terms of the settlement.

After being sacked by the magazine her on-and-off boyfriend, who she happened to work with, then decided it was time to dump her. With nothing to lose Isabell follows her older sister to Beijing.

This is where the adventure begins for our main character, as she begins to question her own identity as a first-generation Chinese-American returning to her mother's homeland.

Isabell feels the stress of culture shock not speaking Madarin very well, but her sister helps to get her a position on an expatriot magazine as the "food critic". This is the perfect position for her, as she is very literate in speaking kitchen chinese. Adventure, romance and hilarious situations follow as she makes her way first through the restarants of Beijing, then across China tasting the various region cuisines.

The more comfortable she becomes in her new life, the more confidence she gains in herself as a person, and in her writing ability.

In many ways this book reminds me of an Asian-Bridgett Jones, as Isabell light-heartly experiences one situation after another and never lets anything get her down.

I hope Ann Mah writes a continuation of Isabell's life and journeys in China, as I was sad to finish this book and would love to read more.(less)

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Feb 09, 2011 Lucia rated it 2 of 5 stars

I was first interested in this book because it is about food (which I do enjoy, particularly Chinese). I didn't mark it as an especially light read or chick lit, although it turned out to be a little of both, plus some ridiculous cliches and several bizarre and unique aspects and perspectives. On the whole, I found this book to be refreshingly funny (yet this may be because I've recently read some significantly dense and draining books), if only with marginally engaging characters.

I'll commence...more I was first interested in this book because it is about food (which I do enjoy, particularly Chinese). I didn't mark it as an especially light read or chick lit, although it turned out to be a little of both, plus some ridiculous cliches and several bizarre and unique aspects and perspectives. On the whole, I found this book to be refreshingly funny (yet this may be because I've recently read some significantly dense and draining books), if only with marginally engaging characters.

I'll commence with what I didn't like. This book has many cliches which absolutely mortified me. After a few, I couldn't believe an author would have the sheer courage to actually include them in a book to be published. What irritated me, was that Mah included some ideas which I haven't read much about or took a new angle on them. I believe there could have been many ways to describe the elements she did with original descriptions instead of well-worn stereotypes, and thereby created a more unique story. For example, when a teenage Claire wants a favor of her sister, she bakes chocolate chip cookies and brings them to Isabelle's bedroom door. This also extended to characters, an example of which is Isabelle's boss, a loud and layed back Australian man.

As mentioned above, I enjoyed some of the themes presented through the novel. I have read a lot about sibling rivalry, yet Mah focuses on the difficulties of being the eldest child as opposed to the younger or middle. I found this quite interesting, as much of what I've read centers on the problems of a shadowed younger sibling, breaking away from parental expectation etc. There are also traces of these aspects, however the primary issue dealt with is the pressure placed on the first child, which I deeply empathize with. On the other hand, Mah also raises several topics without developing them further, and as a result the novel is (what my aunt would call) 'light and fluffy,' not delving deeper into elements which could have made the text more wholesome. For example, the issue of censorship in China is brought up and finished with in maybe a page or two. I would have liked to have read more about such a relevant, yet difficult topic.

In contrast to Mah's frequent use of stereotypes and cliches, she also litters the novel with humorous and unusual statements and anecdotes. These I found to be genuinely original and entertaining, and where what redeemed parts of this book for me. Several illustrations of this include a newspaper article on the topic of whether or not Asians can grow dreadlocks, and if so, how. Many appear in Mah's concise and sharp observations and descriptions of Chinese cuisine. Alternatively, while the author's take on the idea of alienation and trying to find a sense of belonging was thorough, I personally believe it's been done to death. I felt the author re did the typical issues as opposed to developing more different, individual ones, which she brought up but didn't elaborate on.

Key Quotes: I've backpacked in the Adirondacks, driven across the U.S., flown across the Pacific, but I've never traveled like this before, with a chicken squashed at my feet...Beside me sits the chicken's owner...We've exchanged a few poilte words about the chicken-its fate is sealed upon arrival...

If you are in the mood for a quick, funny book, unique only in fits and starts, I'd recommend Kitchen Chinese. One must, however, have a strong stomach for bland stereotypes and silly cliches.(less)

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Nov 23, 2011 Juan rated it 2 of 5 stars

Thought this was going to be much more oriented towards actual Chinese cooking, similar to Like Water For Chocolate. Instead it was a Sex and the City wannabe. The protagonist fails to gain our sympathy, choosing time and again to feel sorry for herself rather than do anything about her situation, and yet is continuously rewarded with good fortune. If you want a book where the heroine is unjustly( or justly) fired, moves halfway around the work to start over and somehow becomes a star and mends...more

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Apr 30, 2010 Molly rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: someone who needs a light book, which doesn't require much attention

Shelves: 2010

I was hoping for a book that was an accessible description of modern China and more information about Chinese food than what I get from ordering takeout. I was disappointed that the book spent more time on the main character's romantic relationships, lucky breaks, and mistakes as a result of poor planning. I didn't feel much sympathy for her, and found myself more interested in her older sister's story. Her older sister seemed like she was more complex, and offered a more unique perspective. The...more

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Mar 15, 2011 Nikki Fisher rated it 3 of 5 stars

Kitchen Chinese is a story about a young woman who is fired ('I used the handy term "laid off",' says Isabelle in the book) and decides to move to China to find a new job and get a fresh start. With all of the usual features of mainstream fiction written by young women (lots of romance, smooching, and details on Isabelle's love life), it is a lighthearted story filled with juicy details and plenty of mouth-watering descriptions of Chinese food. It's a nice, quick read, but doesn't really have th...more

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Jun 30, 2010 Emily rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: already-read

So, I can't say that I hated this book, but, as another reviewer notes, it was really obvious, and it frequently read like a second-rate romantic comedy. There were a few enjoyable moments, but what I liked best were the descriptions of the various types of Chinese cuisine. Other than that, I didn't find much to latch onto. I had difficulty connecting with the characters, and something about the dialog just didn't ring true for me. Maybe I just don't spend enough time hobnobbing with pop stars,...more

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Oct 05, 2010 Meg rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: nostalgic Beijing ex-pats

Shelves: chick-lit, china, ex-pats, romance

This book was almost exactly what I wanted it to be, and I've been waiting to find it for quite a while.

Ever since I lived in Beijing, I've thought to myself that someone should write a piece of chick-lit set in the Beijing ex-pat scene. It's an exciting and unusual setting, filled with drama and spice - the perfect setting for a racy, quick-paced novel. Ann Mah has finally filled that niche.

Mah's story uses food as a common ground for making China relatable to a traditional Western audience and...more This book was almost exactly what I wanted it to be, and I've been waiting to find it for quite a while.

Ever since I lived in Beijing, I've thought to myself that someone should write a piece of chick-lit set in the Beijing ex-pat scene. It's an exciting and unusual setting, filled with drama and spice - the perfect setting for a racy, quick-paced novel. Ann Mah has finally filled that niche.

Mah's story uses food as a common ground for making China relatable to a traditional Western audience and does a fine job of describing the unique flavors and unusual dishes that characterize authentic Chinese food. Her descriptions made my mouth water for favorite dishes I had long-since forgotten.

Moreover, I enjoyed comparing and contrasting my own experiences adjusting to life in Beijing with Isabelle's. Many things were familiar (Mah and I lived in the city at the same time, though as far as I know we never met), but it was most interesting to read about the particular culture shock of an American-born Chinese. As a distinct foreigner, I had to learn to deal with the stares of the locals rather than the isolation of disappearing into a crowd.

I have only two points of criticism with the book. The first is that the romantic plot is very stereotypical chick-lit. Early into the book, that paired with the voice of the writing, actually made me think it was written by a ghost writer. However, I wasn't reading this book for the plot as much as for the setting and its related personal nostalgia. My other issue was that while Mah's background with The Beijinger gave her the skill to explain China's food to the reader, her descriptions of other details of Beijing seemed to come up a bit short. I felt that the book didn't really bring the city to life or offer the casual reader the window into this world that I had hoped it would.

Overall, I think Mah's novel was an enjoyable read. Although it's light enough to appeal to a chick-lit audience, it does have a bit of substance and a sense of place. I'd like to hope that readers will come away with (at least in some small measure) a better understanding of China.

...And if nothing else, they will come away with a healthy appetite!(less)

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Jun 24, 2010 Claire rated it 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to others who like to read about travel, FOOD, and the trials and tribulations of being a young woman searching for identity, love and career satisfaction. It's mainly light-hearted and fun, but it also delves into more serious issues that traditional chick-lit does not. The protagonist, Isabelle, is a likable character - humorous in a self-deprecating kind of way- and I often found myself laughing as I read the book. I also enjoyed the sister's...more

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Mar 17, 2010 Susan rated it 5 of 5 stars

Imagine The Devil Wears Prada meets Bridget Jones--and heads to Bejing to start over. Kitchen Chinese is a delightful story of a young New Yorker, Isabelle Lee, who packs up to move to Beijing after a job-ending mishap at one of New York's top fashion magazines. When she joins her over-achieving big sister, Claire, Isabelle is immersed into Beijing life, where she finds she--and all the other expats who migrate there--can reinvent themselves in ways not possible back in their home countries. The...more

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Sep 19, 2011 RuthAnn rated it 1 of 5 stars

Would recommend: No

I picked up this book at a Borders close-out sale because I thought it was A Tiger in the Kitchen: A Memoir of Food and Family. I totally missed the “a novel about …” description on the cover. It took me at least 20 pages before I figured out what I’d done, and I pushed ahead to see if the book was worth my time. It wasn’t. The plot was predictable, the heroine unlikable. The descriptions of the food were good, at least. But this one went straight to the donation box.

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Jun 16, 2010 Chuan rated it 3 of 5 stars

This book was better than I expected. It is more chicklit than serious novel, however, it is enjoyable nevertheless. Of course, like all chicklit, the storyline conveniently places our protagonist in the path of a dashing, understanding, patient, constant, you name it he has got it, diplomat. After some missed opportunities and some flirtation with a "bad boy", our heroine finds love. The theme sisterhood doesn't seem as developed to me. It is understandable that there was sibling rivalry but fo...more

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Feb 03, 2010 Jasmine rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: foodie

The novel was plenty entertaining: about 50% bridget jones, 10% contemplative of 2nd generation identity struggles, 10% contemplative of 2nd generation gone back to "the homeland" identity struggles, and 10% food porn. The last 20% may or may not be mediocre to bad writing. I was entertained though, and the 20% identity piece felt at least true to my experience, even if it wasn't particularly new or revelatory. And, of course, there were times when descriptions of the narrator's family made me l...more

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Jan 13, 2011 Anne rated it 3 of 5 stars

An entertaining enough break from Les Miserables, which is the slog of the century.

I've been interested in Asian-American experience type books for ages, since I read The Joy Luck Club (many apologies to my Asian American Lit professor--I swear I like Maxine Hong Kingston and Linh Dinh and such as them too!). Kitchen Chinese was not especially well-written, but the food talk is fascinating, and the journey of the Chinese-American woman who uproots her life in New York to move to Beijing is grea...more

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Mar 09, 2010 Annmarie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: cultural, chick-lit, cooking, romantic-elements

This is decently written humorous chick lit with some delicious descriptions of Chinese food. The Chinese American protagonist loses her boyfriend, and then her publishing job amidst scandal. She decides to make a fresh start in Beijing, despite only knowing "kitchen Chinese" learned around food and the kitchen rather than possessing true fluency. The major appeals of the book are the humorous romantic encounters, descriptions of life in Beijing, mouth watering menus, and insight into the displa...more

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Mar 01, 2010 Gretchen Rings rated it 3 of 5 stars

An enjoyable chick lit book set in Beijing. Isabelle decides to leave New York after simultaneously getting fired from her job at a glossy magazine and dumped by her co-worker boyfriend. Claire, Isabelle's older sister, lives in Beijing and works for an international law firm. Deciding that she needs a serious change in scene, Isabelle goes to live with her sister. There she lands a job at an ex-pat magazine, as well as gets into some new romantic entanglements. Some of the book's plot was a lit...more

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Jun 07, 2010 Carrie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Read this while waiting for the boys to stop stealing The Necromancer from each other and for both of them to finish! Good story for a Sunday afternoon/evening read although nothing about it will really stay with me.
Interesting novel about Beijing and China in it's current day and age which I haven't read before. Surprisingly enough made me want to visit although it has not been on my To Do list in the past (So many countries, So little time!). Must've been the 12 dumplings for a dollar describ...more

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Feb 23, 2012 Suzanne rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction, travel

“My first meal in Beijing is roasted duck, or kaoya as it’s called in Chinese. Glossy and brown, with crisp skin and meltingly moist flesh, the bird is cut into over one hundred pieces, in the traditional way.”

Ann Mah’s novel is definitely a winner. The first words left me salivating and, as I delved into Isabel Lee’s new life in Beijing, I found myself laughing and captivated. The story begins with a twenty-something wannabe journalist, who gets herself fired from a New York fashion magazine....more

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Feb 13, 2012 Barb Middleton rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: memoir, adult

Kitchen Chinese: A Novel About Food, Family, and Finding Yourself, by Ann Mah, did NOT pass the grilled cheese test.

If I’m completely riveted by an awesome book, I burn the grilled cheese.

Either the smoke sneaking out the kitchen door or the smell of burning bread snaps my head out of my dreamy alternate world into reality.

I didn’t burn the bread.

While Kitchen Chinese was a pleasant read, the plot was predictable and parts unbelievable. Isabelle, an American born Chinese is from New York and get...more

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Feb 22, 2010 Casey rated it 5 of 5 stars

I loved this book. It provided a perceptive view of contemporary China, leavened with humor and fascinating insights into identity and cross-cultural (mis)communication. Mah is a terrific writer -- she has a flair for the mot juste and has paced the book beautifully. Beijing comes alive. The city's energy and contrasts really jump off the page. The food descriptions were borderline torture -- I had to order take-out Chinese food several times during my reading! I can't wait for Mah's next book!

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Apr 29, 2011 Anne McCarten-Gibbs rated it 3 of 5 stars

This was a fun book to be reading during a stressful week. I enjoyed it, but couldn't give it 4 stars because of the annoying "Bridget Jone's Diary" chic lit devices that got in the way. Must the main character be ditzy and dense in every exchange with a man, even though she is a thoughtful and expressive voice otherwise? And must there be a surprise "twist" about the main love interest that is obvious from the very first second?
Outside of the forced love story, though, I really enjoyed the grea...more

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Apr 26, 2010 Jessie Kelly rated it 2 of 5 stars

I guess I was looking for light reading and got it. This could have been a really good book, but it just had to follow the trend of mentioning current social issues, the ending was predictable from the first few chapters. The heroine was pretty shallow and never improved. Her sister was stereotypical and her life's changes weren't a surprise. The only saving grace was a small part about returning to her mother's place of birth in Shanghai, good descriptions of an old neighborhood.

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Food And Drink > Food

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Womens Fiction > Chick Lit

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Cultural > China

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Romance

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Cultural > Asia

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Literature > Asian Literature

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About Ann Mah

Ann Mah is a food and travel writer, and author of a novel, Kitchen Chinese (HarperCollins), and a food memoir, Mastering the Art of French Eating (Viking Penguin). Her articles about food, travel, fashion, style and the arts have appeared in the New York Times, Condé Nast Traveler, the International Herald Tribune, Washingtonian magazine and other publications.

After graduating from UCLA, Ann bega...more

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Mastering the Art of French Eating: Lessons in Food and Love from a Year in Paris

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BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6972425-kitchen-chinese?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1258309191l/6972425.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6972425-kitchen-chinese?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Kitchen Chinese: A Novel About Food, Family, and Finding Yourself by Ann Mah[/url]

Kitchen Chinese: A Novel About Food, Family, and Finding Yourself

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