Rated of 5
by Lisa B. (North Babylon, New York) Mixing a little magic with the Kitchen Daughter
Jael McHenry's Kitchen Daughter is good book that I went through rather quickly. I read it with delight and despair as I followed the main character, Ginny's path of finding herself an independent place in the world. It is a story of how a person deals with grief and finds her way through it with the help of food and little magic that comes in the kitchen when she cook's the departed's recipes. I enjoyed following the tale of this extraordinary heroine and would recommend this book to people who find comfort in their kitchen.
Rated of 5
by Shyamoli D. (Voorhees, NJ) The Kitchen Daughter
Kitchen Daughter is a beautifully written novel that deals with family drama, magic and delicious, mouth-watering recipes. The character of Ginny is well created. On one hand she is suffering from the loss of her parents and on the other she is trying to prove to her sister Amanda, that she is a ‘normal’ person. She finds peace through cooking but she also brings spirits in the kitchen which lightens the plot a bit. The use of recipes in the book especially in the beginning of each chapter is endearing. I also enjoyed the similes used by the author like Amanda’s voice as smooth as ‘orange juice’ and ‘his tongue like a ripe slice of mango…’ I will recommend this book to discussion groups because there are so many issues to talk about. The only part I thought that the author should have put more thought into was in the end of the book when Ginny finally talks to Amanda. I enjoyed the novel thoroughly.
Rated of 5
by Mary P. (Bellingham, WA) In one sitting--The Kitchen Daughter
I meant to start this wonderful novel before going to bed, and finish later, but was compelled to finish--encouraged by the imagery and plot. The jacket note says it's about what is normal; but I think it's about whether "normal" is even desirable, and if being close-minded is an appropriate response. I found myself asking questions of myself: Using the senses of smell and taste, how would I describe something? We are generally most dependent on sight and sound. Am I more understanding of Asperger's Syndrome? Like Ginny, I'd prefer not to paste a name on any personality, as if it were a disease, which carries with it an expectation of a cure. Kitchen's Daughter would be an excellent Book Club read.
Rated of 5
by Jinny K. (Fremont, CA) Sweet, but far-fetched
I did enjoy some aspects of this book and would certainly be on the lookout for future works by this author. However, I don't generally read sci-fi or fantasy, so the weaving of the spirit world into an otherwise down-to-earth story didn't seem congruous to me. I also think the recipe-within-novel device has gotten pretty tired. The characters were beautifully drawn and well maintained throughout the novel. Especially touching was the relationship between Ginny and her sister. The interior monologue of the protagonist was extraordinary and I really felt that I was living her life for a time. Overall, a good read and I was left wishing it were a little longer.
Rated of 5
by Gail B. (Albuquerque, NM) Opportunity to learn
Being completely ignorant of Asperger's syndrome, I stepped into Jael McHenry's book totally unaware. As the characters unfolded and my understanding developed, I was pleased to learn about this family and then discover how many famous people, from Beethoven to Bob Dylan, probably have been victims of it. Books with recipes have always been fun and especially since food is such a key element, really added to the texture of the story. Thanks for the opportunity to learn.
Rated of 5
by Ruth O. (Downingtown, PA) Interesting view of Asperger's Syndrome
‘The Kitchen Daughter’ explores the world of a young woman who most likely has Asperger’s syndrome, which is on the autism spectrum, and how she emotionally reacts after her parents suddenly pass away. It is evident from the first pages that her personality is unlike that of so-called ‘normal’ persons, and developments throughout the book support this observation. One of her coping mechanisms when distressed is cooking, hence the title of the book. There are some supernatural aspects to the story, which in general I dislike, but these events fit well into the storyline. I enjoyed the book, although it didn’t ‘grab’ me and it took me some time to finish it since I was able to put it down. It did interest me enough to find out more about Asperger’s and other autistic disorders, and I’d recommend it especially to readers who would be interested in a first-person view of Asperger’s.
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of 5
by Lisa B. (North Babylon, New York) 
of 5
by Shyamoli D. (Voorhees, NJ) 
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by Ruth O. (Downingtown, PA) 
