Kitchen Chinese audiobook

I bought this book in 2018 after reading and loving Mah’s most recent novel “The Lost Vintage” and I’m so glad I did. While “Kitchen Chinese” seems very 2010 (naturally given that’s when it was published!) now in 2021, and falls prey to several debut novel missteps, I was enthralled with the descriptions of the Chinese cities and food - so much food!One thing I’m curious about is whether this story, which is very autobiographical, would have read better as a memoir??

I found this book to be a light and fun read. The author (Ann Mah) takes the reader on a journey from the U.S. to China to witness the trials and tribulations of a young writer in her search to find her own voice in print.The main character, Isabelle Lee, in the beginning of the book is a "fact finder" for a large New York fashion magazine; where she is responsible for confirming information submitted by well known freelancers. Unfulfilled both professionally and personally, Isabelle finds herself out of a job when she gives in to pressure from her boss to cut corners in order to meet a deadline. By not checking with one of the sources in the freelancers article, false information has been printed and the magazine sued for libel. Management decides to use her firing to meet the terms of the settlement.After being sacked by the magazine her on-and-off boyfriend, who she happened to work with, then decided it was time to dump her. With nothing to lose Isabell follows her older sister to Beijing.This is where the adventure begins for our main character, as she begins to question her own identity as a first-generation Chinese-American returning to her mother's homeland. Isabell feels the stress of culture shock not speaking Madarin very well, but her sister helps to get her a position on an expatriot magazine as the "food critic". This is the perfect position for her, as she is very literate in speaking kitchen chinese. Adventure, romance and hilarious situations follow as she makes her way first through the restarants of Beijing, then across China tasting the various region cuisines. The more comfortable she becomes in her new life, the more confidence she gains in herself as a person, and in her writing ability. In many ways this book reminds me of an Asian-Bridgett Jones, as Isabell light-heartly experiences one situation after another and never lets anything get her down.I hope Ann Mah writes a continuation of Isabell's life and journeys in China, as I was sad to finish this book and would love to read more.

Loved it

Emily and her booksSe vuoi tenerti aggiornato sulle mie letture e recensioni...♥ Instagram♥ Youtube♥ Altri link utili« Sono in Cina soltanto da un giorno, ma credo di avere già scoperto che quello che gli stranieri che vivono qui dicono di questo paese è vero, almeno per la cucina: più la conosci, meno la capisci. »Licenziata dalla rivista di moda per cui lavora e lasciata dal fidanzato, Isabelle Lee è arrivata ad un vicolo cieco con la sua vita a New York. Spinta dall'amica Julia, vola a Pechino dalla sorella Claire, rinomata avvocatessa.Entrando a far parte della redazione di Beijing Now, rivista per espatriati a Pechino, Isabelle avrà la possibilità di dare sfoggio delle sue qualità come giornalista oltre a scoprire la bontà del cibo cinese. Si scontrerà con un luogo che la fa sentire straniera, nonostante le sue origini siano proprio in quella terra: la sua conoscenza elementare della lingua cinese non la aiuta e le continue domande Ni shi na guo ren? (Da dove vieni?) la fanno esasperare.Ma tra triangoli amorosi, feste dell'alta società, viaggi e ristoranti prelibati, Isabelle riuscirà a trovare il suo posto nel mondo che non per forza deve coincidere con un luogo fisico.Ann Mah è stata una piacevole sorpresa: figlia di #Adeline Yen Mah, scrittrice di Foglie cadute edito Longanesi editore, ci offre una storia fresca e un pizzico autobiografica. La scrittura è estremamente scorrevole e le descrizioni del cibo sono così dettagliate che vi faranno venire il languorino. Nonostante riprenda temi comuni ad altri romanzi del genere chick-lit (il paragone con Bridget Jones's Diary è trito e ritrito), ho trovato il libro molto sbarazzino e ironico.Mi è piaciuto l'inserimento di numerose frasi in cinese pinyin con relativa traduzione, ma per un pubblico che non conosce la lingua potrebbe alcune volte causare confusione. Non fatevi bloccare però da questo piccolo dettaglio: ho trovato il romanzo molto divertente e adatto per staccare la spina dopo una giornata impegnativa. Non aspettatevi un saggio sulla cucina cinese, ma un piacevole romanzo con cui passare una serata in tranquillità.

This book was almost exactly what I wanted it to be, and I've been waiting to find it for quite a while.Ever since I lived in Beijing, I've thought to myself that someone should write a piece of chick-lit set in the Beijing ex-pat scene. It's an exciting and unusual setting, filled with drama and spice - the perfect setting for a racy, quick-paced novel. Ann Mah has finally filled that niche.Mah's story uses food as a common ground for making China relatable to a traditional Western audience and does a fine job of describing the unique flavors and unusual dishes that characterize authentic Chinese food. Her descriptions made my mouth water for favorite dishes I had long-since forgotten.Moreover, I enjoyed comparing and contrasting my own experiences adjusting to life in Beijing with Isabelle's. Many things were familiar (Mah and I lived in the city at the same time, though as far as I know we never met), but it was most interesting to read about the particular culture shock of an American-born Chinese. As a distinct foreigner, I had to learn to deal with the stares of the locals rather than the isolation of disappearing into a crowd.I have only two points of criticism with the book. The first is that the romantic plot is very stereotypical chick-lit. Early into the book, that paired with the voice of the writing, actually made me think it was written by a ghost writer. However, I wasn't reading this book for the plot as much as for the setting and its related personal nostalgia. My other issue was that while Mah's background with The Beijinger gave her the skill to explain China's food to the reader, her descriptions of other details of Beijing seemed to come up a bit short. I felt that the book didn't really bring the city to life or offer the casual reader the window into this world that I had hoped it would.Overall, I think Mah's novel was an enjoyable read. Although it's light enough to appeal to a chick-lit audience, it does have a bit of substance and a sense of place. I'd like to hope that readers will come away with (at least in some small measure) a better understanding of China. ...And if nothing else, they will come away with a healthy appetite!

Kitchen Chinese offers the reader a light and easy to read story. I gave it 4 stars, because I was especially drawn to the adjectives and saliva-producing descriptions used for the meals Li Jia (heroine/lead character) prepared as well as those she enjoyed during her travels throughout China. Will be discussing the book with a group of fellow readers, and am pleased to see my copy of the book has several pages of questions to help stimulate conversation and discussion between us. Also, I am looking forward to preparing some of the recipes listed in the back of the book. Yummy!Would recommend this book as a hiatus from the everyday locale-

In author Ann Mah's first novel, KITCHEN CHINESE, the main character gets fired from her job and dumped by her boyfriend of eighteen months--all in the same week.A hip and savvy New Yorker, Isabelle Lee is an independent, fashionable, modern young woman who works for Belle magazine. After being fired, Isabelle follows her mother's advice and moves to Beijing, where she shares an apartment with her sister, Claire.In Beijing, Claire arranges for an interview so that Isabelle becomes "the diningeditor at Beijing NOW. . . an English-language magazine for expats." The "kitchen Chinese" of the novel's title is Isabelle's rudimentary Chinese--which she defines as "Just basic conversation. . . . Simple words I picked up in the kitchen, spending time with my mom." Throughout the book, she struggles to fully understand what people are saying to her. In one scene, she overhears two women in the community bathroom talking about her.She flees the room.Though she looks like everyone else, in Beijing Isabelle regards herself as American.She is constantly having to confront this issue: as she chats in the cab, with herdate Charlie, the cab driver realizes she is a "laowai" or a foreigner. When Isabelle is introduced to Kristin at a restaurant, and Kristin compliments her on her English, Isabelle's companion explains, "Isabelle is American. She grew up in New York."Isabelle wonders, "Though I've only been in China for a few months, has my Americanness been erased?" This leads to an identity crisis--for Isabelle, all of China is a social experiment that elicits themes worthy of existential philosophers and posits the question:Are we who we perceive ourselves to be? Or are we whomever others perceive us to be?“As Isabelle, I am articulate, confident, even sometimes, witty; as Li Jia [her Chinese name] I feel . . . slow, able only to understand the edges of a [Chinese] conversation."Ann Mah, the author, is adroit and expert in her use of English. I loved savoring the language, the information on Chinese food, the sense of living in contemporary Beijing. KITCHEN CHINESE feels authentic (especially if you've always wanted to visit China).Each chapter opens with a quote that references Chinese food or history, and is sprinkled with Chinese phrases and an eclectic vocabulary. Of the handful of recipes at the end of the book not one is for Chinese food. And despite the Chinese phrases, Isabelle seems SO American.Moreover, I liked that the novel rendered the inner dynamic of a Chinese family--mother to daughter, sister to sister. (As a reader, I’d like to see what happens to Isabelle and Claire in a novel sequel.)KITCHEN CHINESE is a wonderful first novel, suffused with the ambience of Beijing,and I eagerly await ANY second book author Ann Mah publishes.---Yolanda A. Reid

“My first meal in Beijing is roasted duck, or kaoya as it’s called in Chinese. Glossy and brown, with crisp skin and meltingly moist flesh, the bird is cut into over one hundred pieces, in the traditional way.”Ann Mah’s novel is definitely a winner. The first words left me salivating and, as I delved into Isabel Lee’s new life in Beijing, I found myself laughing and captivated. The story begins with a twenty-something wannabe journalist, who gets herself fired from a New York fashion magazine. With a sister already in Beijing, and enough of the Chinese language to get by, this American born Chinese girl gets talked into taking the great leap of faith and moving overseas. Mah gives us a wonderful look into the life of a girl who struggles to navigate a very different culture than the one she was raised in, while at the same time establishing herself as a journalist and flirting with a romance or two.This was such an enjoyable read. I savored every minute of it!

Imagine The Devil Wears Prada meets Bridget Jones--and heads to Bejing to start over. Kitchen Chinese is a delightful story of a young New Yorker, Isabelle Lee, who packs up to move to Beijing after a job-ending mishap at one of New York's top fashion magazines. When she joins her over-achieving big sister, Claire, Isabelle is immersed into Beijing life, where she finds she--and all the other expats who migrate there--can reinvent themselves in ways not possible back in their home countries. The subtitle of this novel involves food, but Ann Mah delicately weaves this aspect into the story so that it doesn't take over the story like some food memoirs or novels tend to do. For more on this book, see my write-up on www.susanbkason.com

I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to others who like to read about travel, FOOD, and the trials and tribulations of being a young woman searching for identity, love and career satisfaction. It's mainly light-hearted and fun, but it also delves into more serious issues that traditional chick-lit does not. The protagonist, Isabelle, is a likable character - humorous in a self-deprecating kind of way- and I often found myself laughing as I read the book. I also enjoyed the sister's character, who was more mysterious but a good contrast to the sister. I would definitely read a sequel to see what happens to the Lee sisters...P.S. The recipes at the end are great!

I loved this book. It provided a perceptive view of contemporary China, leavened with humor and fascinating insights into identity and cross-cultural (mis)communication. Mah is a terrific writer -- she has a flair for the mot juste and has paced the book beautifully. Beijing comes alive. The city's energy and contrasts really jump off the page. The food descriptions were borderline torture -- I had to order take-out Chinese food several times during my reading! I can't wait for Mah's next book!

I was expecting a cross-cultural book about a woman who is transported to a world unknown as an expat. What I got was a great fiction cross-cultural story about a woman who is transported into an unknown world and is thrown into the world of expatriates, locals, romance, and the quest for good Chinese food. I love chick lit and I am also very into cross cultural books so this was an exciting marriage of the two genres.

As an author, I receive lots of requests to write quotes for books. This one jumped to the front of the pack. Ann writes beautifully and has a sharp eye and a fresh perspective. She also has a great blog at http://annmah.net.Here's my quote: "Ann Mah's Kitchen Chines is a delicious debut novel, seasoned with just the right balance of humor and heart, and sprinkled with fascinating cultural tidbits. Read thoroughly. Share with friends."

I enjoyed Ann Mah's writing and the way she combined setting and regional cuisine in her story of the two Chinese-American sisters. I could relate to demands or expectations of parents, and the sometimes testy relationship between a younger and older sibling - these seem to be universal. My full review...

A minha última leitura foi muito divertida e interessante: Uma Americana em Pequim, de Ann Mah, pelas Edições Asa, de Fevereiro de 2011.O livro está dividido em três partes: O Norte, O Sul e o Ocidente, sendo que a cada capítulo temos uma breve introdução contextualiza e descreve a gastronomia típica das inúmeras regiões da China, o que por si só já é curioso e muito interessante.A história é narrada na voz da personagem principal Isabelle Lee de ascendência Chinesa, já nascida na América, tendo a sua família materna, apesar de pertencer a uma classe privilegiada, se exilado da Xangai nos anos 60, por motivos políticos.Uma das lutas interiores de Isabelle é precisamente sentir-se Americana, apesar da sua aparência condicionar de algum modo as suas relações sociais na América. Na China, apesar de pela aparência parecer naturalizada, comporta-se e pensa de forma ocidental. Vive a sensação de se sentir sempre como uma estranha onde quer que se encontre e um pouco condicionada por essa realidade.Trabalhando no mundo editorial em Nova Iorque com algum sucesso, vê-se inesperadamente despedida e toma a decisão de ir ao encontro da sua irmã Claire Lee, muito independente e que trabalha como advogada.Vamos percebendo ao longo da história as motivações de Isabelle e de Claire, a forma como gerem as relações familiares com os pais ao nível das expetativas destes a nível profissional e de casamento.Vamos também percebendo a forma como gerem também o relacionamento enquanto irmãs.O dia a dia de Isabelle vai sendo descrito de forma muito fluida e divertida com uma pontada de humor face às circunstâncias com que se depara no dia a dia.Em Pequim arranja emprego num jornal para expatriados Americanos a residir na China, onde inesperadamente se vê a braços com a rúbrica de crítica gastronómica das iguarias chinesas.O chefe de Isabelle, Ed dotado de uma personalidade vibrante, torna a história também muito divertida.Por isso o livro, a par da aventura do dia a dia de Isabelle e da forma como esta se integra socialmente, vai-nos descrevendo também muitos pratos chineses.A forma como Isabelle gere as suas atrações é muito curiosa e reflete a diferença cultural entre ocidentais e orientais, dando-nos a conhecer comportamentos diferentes.Isabelle sente-se atraída por Charlie que reside no mesmo prédio, até que descobre que este é o embaixador da América na China. Encontros, desencontros vão pontuando a sua história.Por outro lado, Jeff um cantor com alguma visibilidade aproxima-se de Isabelle, sendo a sua história pontuada de cenas muito curiosas e divertidas.Uma história muito interessante, sobre o autoconhecimento, encontros, desencontros, sonhos, oportunidades, com algum romance à mistura, pontuada com bom humor e gastronomia oriental.A descrição dos lugares está muito bem feita, transportando-nos literalmente para os espaços.Gostei muito deste livro, foi sem dúvida uma agradável surpresa.Já leram?O que acharam?Um dos livros que fica para a lista das 'releituras'.