People use different ways to read this book. From my point of view, the whole concept of this book is to show how the past can affect the future. Pearl's mom, Winnie battled secrets from her past. Conflicts develop as the story continues. Winnie's past strongly influenced her family. Winnie even refused to get out of it. This especially affected the relationship between Pearl and her.

As I read this novel, irony is one of the specific literary devices the author often used. The author used irony to describe and inform the reader about the characters' lives. For example, on page 83, the character Winnie stated "So you can imagine my anger when Helen told me in her kitchen, right after that fish diner, that she had decided to let all my secret out". The ironic part was that Helen did not tell any secrets, but Winnie's conscious couldn't hold the secrets anymore. Later on, Winnie received a message that said her first husband Wei Fu died. Winnie decided to "release" herself. She told Pearl all her past stories. On page 99, it stated "what I have tried to forget for forty years. Wen Fu, that bad man, he was Pearl's father." That was also ironic. From this sentence, I can determine Winnie's heart was suffering torture over a long period. I never thought about Pearl is Wei Fu's daughter. Finally, she gained forgiveness from Pearl.

The author of the book, Amy Tan, presents a very thorough set of imagery and patterns of behavior. These techniques fascinate readers a lot. Some people might say Amy Tan keeps switching the perspective of the narrator. It often gets confusing. However, I think if you pay particular attention to her novels, you will find out it's very interesting. The Kitchen God's Wife hooks you early, drawing you into a life, a culture and a period in history that exerts a mesmerizing appeal. Amy Tan gives us an intimate and memorable portrait. I remembered Amy's another novel The Joy Luck Club, the similarities of those two books are all about a mysterious bond of mother and daughters, and the fierce love and misunderstanding which lies between two generations. I think these books are so powerful and dramatic. Winnie, Helen, Pearl and Wei Fu and all other characters, their lives are similar to the epitome of both Chinese traditions and modern world. It's changeable and continuity. It contains the hate with sweet memories, and the betrayal with deep love. Amy Tan let us unwittingly finish reading the book with the accomplish of our smiles and tears.

The events in this novel could affect my life because my family might have secrets as well. My parents could have stories back in Fujian, China. Also the past can unlock my future. The conflicts can work in good and bad ways. I suggest every one should read this book, if you read it carefully, it will be valuable for you. Trust me because I learned a lot from this book.