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Kirstin Chen brings Singapore to the world by writing this novel. The book was published in New York for international readers. Set in Singapore, the novel describes Singapore and the Chinese family values cleverly through the story of a family-owned business of Soy Sauce production. It has the drama of Lin family coming to terms with struggles of lives and the conflict between family members of the second and third generations over the business. Kirstin Chen’s style of writing was clear and simple. To be able to write simply is also a skill set. I was able to feel the emotions of different characters and could appreciate what they were going through. The story line was crisp and believable. It was as if the author was writing about herself. I wonder if this is a case of complete fiction or there are elements of Kirstin Chen’s life being brought into the story.
I very much enjoyed this book. Gretchen is a 30 year old Asian woman living in San Francisco and she has separated with her American husband. She returns to Singapore where she visits her parents and works in the family owned soy sauce company, that had been in the family for generations. Her mother is drinking to much, her uncle and her father are arguing over whether or not her cousin should remain working in the family company, and Gretchen is torn between her live in America and her family. She returns to America for a trade show, representing her families company, and discovers her adulthood, making the decision the is right for her.
Fun, not a hard read, but with a deeper story than I expected.
Boring.
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