The Kitchen God's Wife [SEP] narrative location
Francisco, the primary location used in the early chapters of the novel, has a significant Chinese-American population, with a significant proportion having moved during and following World War II, as Pearl's mother did, when restrictions on numbers were relaxed. The second part of the novel takes place in lead up to and during World War II, focusing on the lives of Chinese women under the Japanese occupation of China and the brutality inflicted on them by the occupying forces.
Plot summary.
The novel opens with the
The Kitchen God's Wife
The Kitchen God's Wife is the second novel by Chinese-American author, Amy Tan. First published in 1991, it deals extensively with Sino-American female identity and draws on the story of her mother's life.
The book was largely considered a commercial success, making best sellers lists in several countries worldwide.
Context.
Amy Tan was born in Oakland, California, to Chinese immigrant parents. She has described her childhood as difficult and found it hard to fit in