What do readers think of Soy Sauce for Beginners by Kirstin Chen? Write your own review.

For a relatively short book, the author touched on many subjects; marriage, friendship, business, family and culture. To me, this became the problem in the book. None of the topics felt fully developed and therefore the book felt choppy. The main character was not particularly likeable for much of the book, so it was difficult to be invested in her story. The most interesting parts of the book dealt with the soy sauce industry itself.

What woman hasn't run to "get away from it all" only to find herself in the middle of an even more complex situation? Such is the case with Gretchen Lin in Soy Sauce for Beginners. Ambition, pride, and loyalty all join to create a fascinating book.

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.

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.

When I began this debut novel, I was thinking it was going to be typical, unimaginative chick-lit. What a wonderful surprise it turned out to be. A story about love, it's end, friendship, family business and finding your identity, it is smart,well written, and unpredictable. It seems, at the novels end, that we're being primed for a sequel...and that makes me very happy!

At first "Soy Sauce for Beginners" appears to be yet another book where a young woman finds her place in the world but through the world of Soy Sauce, her family's business we find that cultural differences and values change the game. A nicely written book and a new appreciation for soy sauce - what more could you ask?

The title of the book in no way reflects the complexity of the issues covered by the author. From personal issues and choices of the main character, to family crisis situations, and cultural differences , the story line moves slowly on the beginning of the book, but picks up speed as you are drawn into the characters, and the complex issues presented. How we handle relationships, family , friends and co-workers, and define ourselves by the passion for work are all good discussion points. I understand after reading the book why the title was chosen, but am not sure that I would have purchased it based on the title.
It will make a good book club discussion, but I think the title needs some work!

"Soy Sauce for Beginners" by Kirstin Chen is, at its root, a story about authenticity. Gretchen Lin, the main character, is on a journey to discover who she really is. Is she the San Francisco resident studying for an advanced degree in music who is fleeing a marriage gone wrong? Or is she the Singapore native, born into a wealthy family of soy sauce merchants? The other main character of the novel is the soy sauce itself, produced for many years in the same painstaking way, culminating in deep resonant flavor. Should Gretchen remain in Singapore to work for the family business? Or should she return to San Francisco to try and rebuild her marriage? Should manufacturing of the soy sauce be altered to speed up the process, bringing increased profits to the family? And, with faster production, would the soy sauce still be authentic? Gretchen and her family struggle with these questions in an easy to read story. "Soy Sauce for Beginners" is recommended for all who like a good family story as well as for foodies who are interested in reading about traditional, authentic food.