KITCHEN CHINESE
by Ann Mah

After a career-ending catastrophe, Isabelle Lee leaves the magazine world of New York for the magazine world of Beijing—one that’s considerably more limited, given her rudimentary knowledge of Chinese. Despite being Chinese-American, Isabelle only knows the kind of Chinese that is spoken in the kitchen.

Fortunately, this includes the language of food, and soon Isabelle immerses herself in Peking duck and Mongolian hot pot, when she’s not engulfed in pea-soup pollution and culture shock. There’s also the challenge of reacquainting herself with her older sister, Claire, now a high-powered lawyer living the expat lifestyle. But, as she learns more about Claire, Isabelle begins to suspect she’s not the only one who’s run away to China. After many moments of cultural confusion, Isabelle can’t help but wonder if moving to Beijing was a mistake... or an extraordinary chance to find out who she really is.

“[A] super sharp debut....A refreshing and fun narrative, helped along by a fantastic heroine whose insights into modern China and the expatriate experience will intrigue readers. It’s a great start for a writer with much promise.”
   -Publishers Weekly

“Ann Mah’s sizzling portrait of life in Beijing serves up more than just scrumptious banquets, identity crises, and fraught, intercultural romances. It’s a story of how we find and nourish ourselves in unexpected ways and places, so delicious that I took breaks from reading only to dash to the phone and order Chinese.”
   -Rachel DeWoskin, author of Foreign Babes in Beijing 

“Ann Mah’s Kitchen Chinese is a delicious debut novel, seasoned with just the right balance of humor and heart, and sprinkled with fascinating cultural tidbits. Read thoroughly. Share with friends.”
   -Claire Cook, author of Must Love Dogs

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Complete the entry form below by March 15, 2010 and you have a chance to win one free copy of Kitchen Chinese by Ann Mah. Fifty winners will be chosen. Submit one entry per person. You must be a resident of the United States to enter.