Overall, what did you think of Ms. Mebel Goes Back to the Chopping Block? (No spoilers in this topic, please.)
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I loved this book. I finished it in two days. Ms. Mebel was the kind of character you cared about and I had to find out how she got to where she needed to be.
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I liked it, but Mebel was annoying at times, so obsessed with designer brands and appearences, and had pretty much led a sheltered life just serving her husband, which was the norm in her culture. So she was brave to go out on her own and see what she could accomplish, I loved that part. I didn’t find her as likeable as the author’s prior series with Vera Wong. She was also very naive on how the world works, which was to be expected.
I did like the plot and I was happy with the ending. I had trouble relating in the beginning with all the money and home assistants. I didn’t begin to relate until Mebel was in the thick of hard work as an older student. That being said, the writing style itself was simplistic and something I had to work around.
I LOVED this book, and I LOVED Mebel. You will feel sorry for her but also be laughing out loud too.
A very enjoyable read, and Mael makes it so.
Thanks for the book.
Yes….Mebel was GREAT!!
I just finished reading The Best Minds by Jonathan Rosen for book club 2 days ago. It was an important read, but grueling in many ways. I started Ms. Mebel last night and I haven’t stopped grinning. Such a fun read. She’s so stereotypical and superficial at first, but although I’m only 2/3 the way through, I am cheering her on.
I gotta admit at first I had a terrible time with Mebel. I hated her cluelessness, her reliance on wealth and beauty. I totally loved her by the book’s end, though. I was particularly fond of the point where she refused to return home. It was a very well-done transformation.
I started this book last night and will finish it today but I couldn’t wait to jump in and say how much I am enjoying the book. An easy joyful read filled with many snort-laugh worthy moments was exactly what I needed.
While Mebel comes across as shallow, I can relate to her in that she reminds me of quite a few wealthy Pacific-Asians, particularly those of Chinese descent, whom I have worked with over the years. By no means am I saying that this stereotype applies to all! However, I have worked with quite a few whom were the poster-children for conspicuous consumption. I recall one lunch in particular when one of my Hong Kong colleagues was lamenting on having to select only two Birkin bags because her father had her on a “budget.
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Ms. Mebel is one of those books which seduce you with humor, fun, righteous anger, good writing, but. Makes you think! First, where is Jakarta, anyway? Oh, right, in Java. Exactly where’s Java? (Yeah. I had to look it up in a nearby world atlas.)
So this is how it goes if you’re a wealthy Chinese/Indian princess Trophy Wife? Someone else makes the rules about how you dress, how you behave, how you choose your friends, and to whom you get enslaved (oops, I mean, to whom you get married.) If you’re a woman, and if you read this book, you probably are, you may experience some perhaps uncomfortable recognition of the rules in your own life. I thought of Shakespeare’s Taming of the Shrew. But Ms. Mebel proposes a different resolution. Who gets tamed here? That’s why the book is so delicious.
As a side comment…it was interesting to me that Sutanto chose Indonesia as a the backdrop for this book. The percentage of Indo-Chinese is relatively small relative to other ethnicities in Indonesia. Granted this group tends to be more heavily represented in Jakarta but still make-up only a minority of the population. Just thinking outloud.
That reflects her background, @Gabi_J. The author herself is Chinese-Indonesian, and live in Indonesia.
Interesting, then that makes sense. For some reason I had it in my head Sutanto was from Singapore. Thanks for the insight!
It was a fun quick read. Her journey sent a message that it it is never too late to change.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was a good plot with interesting characters.
I lived in Indonesia for five years, many years ago. Mebel’s life as a rich Chinese Indonesian is a side the culture which I did not experience. I found this an interesting insight. Although Mebel’s transition from Jakarta to England came a bit quickly for me, I found the way she met the challenges entertaining.
It was a fun read! I was able to picture that scene with Julia Child and the mound of onions. I also had a few visions of scenes from the Muppets with the Swedish Chef and Beaker causing mayhem in the kitchen. Lots of mumbling in “Scandinavian” to parody the language barrier. I laughed at times and I cursed at times. Definitely not the next great novel, but it wasn’t meant to be. This would be a great travel companion or beach read.
Sutanto’s Vera Wong mysteries are some of my favorites so I had high hopes for Ms. Mebel. I struggled with the first third of the book (Ms Mebel was just not that interesting) but I’m glad to report that things shifted once she began the cooking school. I ended up rooting for her and how she adapted. This is an enjoyable, fun read and perfect escape. Question for readers: when authors write books with different protagonists (think Agatha Christie!) do you end up with a favorite or read them all? I try to begin a “new” one with an open mind but you can tell I struggled a bit here.
I loved this book. I loved her and her classmates. I needed this change of pace in my reading journey. Thank you for the opportunity.
I LOVED this book. I read it in a day. She made me laugh out loud in a quiet cafe. I did get some weird looks.