Soy Sauce for Beginners in Around the World in 80 Books

May 19, 2019 Nadine in NY Jones rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, chick-lit, salt

This book was okay. Fairly run-of-the-mill story line, slightly spiced up by the addition of artisanal soy sauce. I never really cared much about Gretchen and her issues, but I did really wish I could try some of Lin's soy sauce! I wished it was real, and I could buy some. I checked at my local Wegmans for any sort of artisanal soy sauce, but all they carry is the usual La Choy and Kikkoman. I guess I need to go to an Asian grocery, but then I can't read the labels, so how will I know which ones This book was okay. Fairly run-of-the-mill story line, slightly spiced up by the addition of artisanal soy sauce. I never really cared much about Gretchen and her issues, but I did really wish I could try some of Lin's soy sauce! I wished it was real, and I could buy some. I checked at my local Wegmans for any sort of artisanal soy sauce, but all they carry is the usual La Choy and Kikkoman. I guess I need to go to an Asian grocery, but then I can't read the labels, so how will I know which ones are the premium soy sauce?

I hoped there would be an appendix with some tips on finding artisanal soy sauce, and maybe a suggested recipe, but alas not.

There were a lot of things that bugged me about this book, and most of them are centered on my general lack of interest in the protagonist, Gretchen. She makes her own life miserable by repelling people around her, and then feels sad when everyone stops trying to talk to her. She continually blows off her parents and close friends who care about her.

Most annoying was the beginning of chapter 2:

Back in 1958, when my grandfather opened his new soy sauce factory, he mandated that all employees, factory and office staff alike, break each day at 12:30 for a family-style meal prepared by in-house cooks. ... Many of these dishes I'd missed dearly during my time in San Francisco, and yet lunch was an activity I tried my best to avoid. My first day at work, I slipped into the kitchen early to fill a plate to take upstairs, but my uncle spotted me on my way out and insisted I take the seat beside him to explain what exactly I was learning in this master's program in music education. After that, I feigned stomach trouble and stayed at my desk, where I ate Cinnamon Toast Crunch - purchased at the expat grocery store for twice the price - straight from the box.

And I assumed that we would be eventually told why exactly she was behaving in this bizarre manner, avoiding delicious food that she enjoys just because she didn't want to sit next to her uncle? But it never made sense. Combine this with the number of times Gretchen comments on how her best friend, Frankie, used to be so fat, and I'm left wondering if Chen has an untreated eating disorder that is coming through in her writing? It was weird and unpleasant and kind of boring. ...more

3 likes · Like · see review

Mar 27, 2021 Kemlo rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction

This story reminded me of the book Eight Hundred Grapes by Laura Dave (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...) but with a focus on soy sauce instead of wine. I enjoyed the details about natural fermentation, soy sauce as a seasoning, life in Singapore, and the challenges of sustaining a family business after the founding patriarch dies. Not a lot of depth to the protagonist or her love interests, unfortunately, so I felt apathetic about their relationships. If they had been more more relatable ...more

Like · see review