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Pat M. (san antonio, TX)
(03/24/11)
The Kitchen Daughter
The protagonist faces unique problems and situations, but food is a constant. I was surrounded by smells and tastes while reading this book. While slicing and dicing, the author cooks up a recipe for success and insight into a rare state of being. If my book club read this book we would have to serve food at our meeting. The book was yummy.
Deborah C. (Orlando, Fla)
(03/24/11)
The Kitchen Daughter
With a different take on knowing your family, this book is smart, inventive and filled with a 'recipe' for viewing the world from a different perspective: Asperger's syndrome sufferer. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, the writing and the ending. Book clubs would find a feast of discussion material. The main character evolves just enough and the plot is interesting; keeping me curious about what comes next. A wonderful read.
Pamela D. (Wheaton, IL)
(03/23/11)
The Kitchen Daughter
The Kitchen Daughter is a wonderful, magical story that I was unable to put down until I had finished the book. The author has written a wonderful main character in Ginny, a young woman with Asperger's. The story enables the reader to live inside the mind of someone with Asperger's and also see how it affects family members, especially when dealing with loss and grief. This book really touched me as I have a three year old grandson who is autistic and I believe we need to understand so much more about autism than we do now. I cannot wait to recommend this book to my book group.
Susan G. (Charlotte, NC)
(03/22/11)
Food is love
Food is comfort. Food is love. Food is memory. All of these themes are explored in a story about family, about recipes and secrets passed down through generations, about accepting who you are. What might have been an overly-sweet story is rescued by the author who does not give in to easy resolutions. Although somewhat distracted by the references to the Normal Book, which I thought unnecessary, I found myself engrossed and caring very much about what was happening to the characters. A very good selection for a book club, especially if the hostess for the discussion has to supply the refreshments. The Midnight Cry Brownies would be a divinely perfect tie-in.
Rebecca C. (Opelika, AL)
(03/22/11)
Great insight.
I read this creative and insightful book in one sitting, I just didn't want to put it down. The point of view on what is normal was so unusual and especially poignant for me. Ginny finds her strength in her ability to accept her normal, which we all need to do more of. I recommend everyone who has ever felt different or left out read this one right away!
Darlene C. (Simpsonville, SC)
(03/22/11)
The Kitchen Daughter
Awesome! It arrived on Saturday, finished it on Tuesday...sneaking a read every chance I had. Loved the use of food as part of social relationships; hated (but true) the need to define what is "normal" and apply "labels" to people. For all ages, and found it to be a "unique" read.(Recipes included as well as discussion questions.)
Denise S. (Oakland, CA)
(03/20/11)
A Sweet Tale
The Kitchen Daughter is a sweet, if uneven, tale of family, love, loss and self-discovery. While the story was strong narratively, I thought the inclusion of the supernatural aspects (ghosts) and the recipes were a distraction. They gave the book a frivolity that was unnecessary. This was a moving tale of a woman with Asperger’s maneuvering her way through life after the death of her parents. Why lessen that with recipes? The story of the two sisters finding common ground was lovely. All in all a good read…just not a great one.
Nancy (Burlingame, CA)
(03/20/11)
The Kitchen Daughter
I particularly enjoyed The Kitchen Daughter because of the typical interaction between sisters in an atypical situation, the agony suffered by siblings from the death of a parent, and the struggle to do what's right with what's left. Being a foodie, the recipes and references to food tickled my palate. I received further education of Asberger's Syndrome, appreciating the knowledgeable and compassionate writing.
I would recommend this book to book groups because it is sure to elicit a mix of opinions.