Ms. Mebel Goes Back to the Chopping Block Reading Guide

Book Club Discussion Questions

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Please be aware that this discussion guide will contain spoilers!

These are original discussion questions written by BookBrowse.

1. Ms. Mebel Goes Back to the Chopping Blockbegins, "All her life, Mabel Tanadi has always had a fear of – not so much death as much as situations that eventually lead to death." (p. 1). What did you think of this opening? What was your opinion of her list of anxieties? Do you ever have similar worries?
2. Had you heard the term CHIP ("Chinese-Indonesian princess") before? What did you think of Mebel giving herself this label? Why do you think she's proud of being a CHIP at the book's start? Do you think she still considers herself a CHIP by the end of the book?
3. Mebel ponders her relationship with Henk, feeling that she may have been overconfident in her assessment of her position. She recalls mistakenly thinking that "maybe they'd come to a state in their marriage where they no longer needed to affirm each other." (p. 67-68). Do you feel she took their relationship for granted? Should she have sensed Henk's interest in their cook? Do you imagine there was anything she could have done to prevent Henk from leaving?
4. Why do you think Mebel is so intent on winning Henk back? What did you feel about her choice of how to go about it?
5. Once Mebel decides to take cooking classes, her first step is to decide on a cuisine to learn. What did you think of her choice? What's your cooking experience, and which cuisine would you like to learn how to cook?
6. Mebel tries to integrate with other students at lunch. (p 66, 68-70). What did you think of her technique? Were you surprised at the other students' reactions?
7. At the end of her first week of classes, Chef Clarke advises Mebel to drop out because she doesn't "have what it takes to be a chef." (pp. 88-90). What did you think of this scene? Do you feel he was trying to be kind? What about Mebel's response?
8. Gemma calls Mebel "Mebs" and at first Mebel is offended because she comes from a place where "elders are treated with reverence," but then realizes that in truth, she and Gemma are peers. (p. 99). Do you think Mebel is treated with the appropriate deference in class? How do you think her age helps or hurts her at the cooking school?
9. When Mebel and Alain begin their affair, both are still married but living separately from their spouses. What was your opinion of Alain, and of their relationship? Did you suspect his true character before Gemma spilled the beans?
10. Mebel discovers that cooking provides a "sense of peace" and that it calms "the usual cacophony of noises" in her mind. (p. 107). Does this ring true for you? Are there activities you engage in that clear your head in a similar manner?
11. Mebel tells Alain that the misspelling of her name is a big deal to her, because it marks her out as a non-English speaker, and because she doesn't speak English well people treat her as stupid and uneducated. (pp 153-154). What do you think of her perspective here? Do you feel she's correct in her assessment about how the English-speaking world views those who don't speak the language?
12. Henk, Mebel's son Sammy, and Sammy's wife Hannah surprise Mebel by turning up in England to ask her to come back home. She refuses. (Chapter 17). How did you react to this scene? Of the adults present – Henk, Sammy, Hannah, and Mebel herself – whose reaction surprised you the most?
13. What was your first guess as to why Gemma suddenly left school? Were you surprised she didn't return?
14. Mebel thinks that "The more power and money [powerful men] amass, the more fragile their egos become." (p. 262). What do you feel about this statement? Is it accurate?
15. Were you surprised Agatha didn't come forward sooner regarding what she knew of Alain's behavior? Why do you suppose she kept his character secret?
16. What strengths do you feel Mebel possesses at the start of her story? How do you think her career choice enhances these strengths? Does it help her develop new ones? Did your opinion of her change from the start of the book to its conclusion?
17. Which scene in the book was your favorite? Were there any passages or quotes you highlighted, and if so, which ones?
18. Jesse Q. Sutanto is the author of 16 other novels including the Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers series and the Dial A for Aunties series. Have you read any of her other titles? If so, how did it compare to Ms. Mebel Goes Back to the Chopping Block?
19. To what audience would you recommend Ms. Mebel Goes Back to the Chopping Block? Is there another book or author you feel has a similar theme or style?
20. Overall, what did you think of Ms. Mebel Goes Back to the Chopping Block? (No spoilers in this topic, please.)

Characters

Mebel Tenadi, the book's 63-year-old protagonist. Upon being abandoned by her husband, she moves overseas to take a cooking class to win him back.

Henk, Mebel's husband.

Sammy, Mebel's son.

Wendy, the Tenadis' personal chef.

Alain, a handsome French chef.

Gemma, a young woman who befriends Mebel.

Unless otherwise stated, this discussion guide is reprinted with the permission of Berkley Books. Any page references refer to a USA edition of the book, usually the trade paperback version, and may vary in other editions.