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There are currently 46 member reviews
for The Kitchen Daughter
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Elizabeth D. (Maple Grove, MN)
A great sightseeing substitute
Last month I traveled to Europe for the very first time; while there, I came down with a nasty cold and spent two and a half days in the hotel room. I still enjoyed those days, however, because I got the chance to read a couple of good books, including this one. I don't know much about Asperger's, so I'm not sure how accurate the portrayal of the main character was, but I liked seeing things from the perspective of this character - how she handled stressful events: what kinds of daily activities were obstacles - and what were not. I have a particular interest in stories told from the perspective of an "outsider", since I find that viewpoint to be revealing of truths often overlooked or ignored.
While I didn't find any particularly new truths, I did think the tension between the two sisters was realistic and balanced. The food descriptions and the aura of alchemy about cooking made me want to become passionate about cooking, instead of treating it as a chore. I love a good ghost story, and would have liked a little more from this piece of the book - the apparitions seemed almost too ordinary, although there was one at the end of the book that I found disquieting. I felt fortunate I brought along such an engaging book - it kept my attention even while sick and made being confined to my hotel room actually enjoyable!
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Stephanie C. Librarian (Reedley, CA)
Unique view of Normal
In the Kitchen Daughter by Jael McHenry we are introduced to the voice of Ginny, a girl with "personality". This story uses Ginny's unique voice to ask questions on how it is normal to grieve and even if there is a normal. Ginny's tale will make you examine the idea of normal and view your actions and the actions of those around you from a different point of view. Recommended for anyone looking for a unique voice.
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Janice H. (Savage, Minnesota)
Discovery in the Kitchen
I loved this book. I enjoyed learning more about Ginny, from her perspective as the story unfolds. Her 'symptom' , although never diagnosed adds to her fight for a new independence and her grief after the sudden loss of both parents. It's a wonderful story of two sisters' love and disagreements as they try to figure out life as it is now. It is a great book for book clubs. It opens the way to discussions on the secrets families keep from each other, the help we get from our friends, coming to terms with our personality differences, ghosts from the past and giving up some crutches in order to grow and move on. You'll have to read the book for yourself to find out why.
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Ann-Marie, Librarian, Oregon
Great fiction pick for foodies
This was great! It was a very enjoyable mix of family, food, and magical realism fiction, with a very appealing narrator. I'd recommend it to book clubs, people who enjoy fiction featuring cooking and food, and fans of Alice Hoffman or Sarah Addison Allen. Ginny is a very shy young woman with Aspergers, though she doesn't know it. She copes with stimulation overload by cooking or imagining cooking, with all its evocative tastes and smells and textures. Recipes are included. She is an excellent chef, though not formally schooled. She and her sister Amanda have just lost their parents in an accident. Amanda, who lives with her husband and small kids, wants to sell the house, while Ginny doesn't want any changes. Ginny finds that her cooking can draw up family members' ghosts, who seem to be warning her about something. What she learns about her family history, her personal growth, and the sisters' relationship is the crux of the novel's plot. The book comes out in April 2011; I read an advance reader's copy courtesy of Bookbrowse.
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Ann W. (new york, NY)
What is normal?
Normal is a small town in Illinois. However, that is the question that perplexes Ginny. It seems to be slow in the beginning but gradually I became engaged in Ginny's struggle.
She related to the world around her with fear but also through food and food memories. In cooking recipes, she evokes significant family members. As I read, I had my own food memories and growing experiences. Normal is a spectrum and by the end, Ginny had reached an important understanding of herself and others.
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Nancy E. (Sturgeon Bay, wi)
The Kitchen Daughter
I truly enjoyed reading this book. Mc Henry narrates the entire book from Ginny's, the protagonist, point of view which creates the in depth character development central to the story. Like Alice Hoffman, McHenry uses magic to season the story. And, like Hoffman, is successful at keeping the reader on that thin line between belief and disbelief. The kitchen setting with recipes and cooking provides a setting that is both interesting and instructive. This book has many themes and would be an excellent book club selection.
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Karen S. (Minneapolis, MN)
A Yummy Read
I liked this book and found it a breezy read. Can't wait to share it with some girlfriends but not before trying at least four of the recipes included at the beginning of some chapters
Ginny is such an original character--I felt great empathy for her. She reveals the importance of always reaching for your best and never judging the actions of others as we often do not know the full story.
Savor this story!
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