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There are currently 18 member reviews
for Soy Sauce for Beginners
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Michelle U. (Lords Valley, PA)
Soy Sauce for Beginners
This book was one of the least entertaining books I have ever read. The characters did not feel fully realized and the story itself was not gripping. I felt no connection to the characters and really didn't care what happened to any of them. I finished reading it only because I felt I had to and would not recommend it to other readers.
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Kristen K. (Atlanta, GA)
Intriguing Idea Needs Work
I liked the setting of this book. I enjoyed learning about the culture of making soy sauce and loved the family's back story. I never felt any affection for the main character. She seemed shallow and although she improved towards the end she never won me over. I felt sorry for her parents. The plot was fairly predictable. I probably would not recommend this to my book club.
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Cam G. (Murrells Inlet, SC)
Not so great...
I must be getting old because I found this book to be too "chick lit" for me. Gretchen, at least for the better half of the book, was unlikeable and self-centered. The best part of Soy Sauce for Beginners was learning how soy sauce was made!
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Ann W. (New York, NY)
coming of age
I enjoyed the book because it was well written but not very compelling. Gretchen's struggle is self-absorbed and shallow. It may be typical of a culture where it nuance in not easily expressed. She did not notice others or question her assumptions until the end of the novel. It ended with not much depth of character analysis.
It was thoughtful as an discussion of soy sauce, artisanal or otherwise. However, the conflict between cousins was expected and too stereotyped.
