I read the whole book however, I was often annoyed. I had problems with Feng---she never grow while many of the others around her were more nuanced. Yes, Chinese tradition(s) are very different but in Shanghai, there was more awareness of a world beyond---even if one could only see it at a distant. Also, Feng's sudden realization of the world was unconvincing. Overall, however, I found the book provocative and thought about it.

Normal is a small town in Illinois. However, that is the question that perplexes Ginny. It seems to be slow in the beginning but gradually I became engaged in Ginny's struggle.
She related to the world around her with fear but also through food and food memories. In cooking recipes, she evokes significant family members. As I read, I had my own food memories and growing experiences. Normal is a spectrum and by the end, Ginny had reached an important understanding of herself and others.