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Nancy (Burlingame, CA)
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.
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.
Carole C. (Upper Marlboro, MD)
Next to Normal
As does the popular musical whose title I borrowed, "The Kitchen Daughter" challenges its audience to question the definition of "normal." Told through the voice of a young woman with Asperger's Syndrome, this book gives the reader insights into the thoughts, feelings, and reactions of Ginny Selvaggio as she struggles with the sudden death of her parents and the persistent demands of her sister Amanda and society at large. Jael McHenry writes with clarity about Ginny's grief, fears, and uncertainties; she writes with passion about the soothing effects of cooking in the family kitchen, following beloved recipes of family members.
While this book is engaging and readable, there are aspects not as convincing or rewarding. The episodes of ghost-conjuring did not inspire a "willing suspension of disbelief" for this reader. Also, the last chapter, really an epilogue, tied up all loose ends without explaining how essential issues were resolved.
Cecilia Z. (Montclair, New Jersey)
Interesting story, but too many unnecessary distractions.
This is an unusual novel with a unique narrator, a young woman with Asperger's syndrome, who is coming to terms with her parents' sudden deaths and her now uncertain future. She turns to cooking, which has been her way of connecting and, in her words, finding "normal." How she copes with the changes in her life would have been enough to make this a compelling, well-written novel. Unfortunately, the story takes on other directions - ghosts conjured by her cooking, family secrets and other tragedies - all of which diminish the story with unnecessary distractions. Too bad - it is well-written and would have been much better without these distractions.
Deborah C. (Seattle, WA)
The Kitchen Daughter
The premise for this book is really interesting--it's told from the perspective of a young woman with autism spectrum disorder who can bring people back to life (temporarily) by cooking their recipes. Because the main character has Asperger's Syndrome, I kept comparing it to the Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time, which I felt to be a much better book. Here, the main character, Ginny, was well-developed, but that wasn't the case with the rest of the characters. The book was an enjoyable read, though, and I think it would be a good book for book clubs because it raises a lot of interesting issues, including whether Asperger's is a "disability" and the different ways people deal with loss. I guess I was just a little frustrated because the ideas raised in the book were really interesting but the execution was somewhat lacking.
Christine E. (Royal Oak, MI)
A good book for Foodies
I do not consider myself a "Foodie", one who is consumed with thoughts of food, so at first I was not enjoying the book. But the more I read the more I enjoyed it. The main character, Ginny, is a Foodie, It is a manifestation of her Asperger's Syndrome. The book is full of recipes and cooking. Has I got further into the book the storyline became more about family friendships, and the notion about what is normal. So by the time the book was finished I wished that it was longer.
Sheryl R. (DeQuincy, LA)
Interesting, but . . . .
This book, about an adult woman with Asperger's syndrome tries to answer the question, "Just what IS "normal" ? From reading the summary on the website, I expected the story to compel me. While I enjoyed the story and the themes, it was never a "can't put it down" kind of book for me. Well-written and insightful though it was, in the end, it seemed predictable, unfinished, and, well, . . "normal"!
Denise S. (Oakland, CA)
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.
