Amy Tan's writing is truly a work of art. It is so beautifully crafted that it immediately feels familiar and relatable, even to those of us who are not Asian and whose parents were not immigrants. She has this unique ability to capture the essence of humanity in a way that many other writers simply cannot. Reading her works is like sinking into a warm embrace, as if having lunch with an old friend you haven't seen in a long time.

This particular book, "The Bonesetter's Daughter," has many parallels with her mother's true life story. As I listened to the audiobook, which the author herself narrates in part, I also watched "Unintended Memoir" on Netflix. This documentary provides an in-depth look at Ms Tan, her writing career, and her family background. She is such an interesting person, and I highly recommend the documentary to anyone who wants to learn more about her.

The Bonesetter's Daughter is filled with wonderfully woven details that draw you in and keep you engaged from start to finish. It manages to explore the characters in a way that feels incredibly real. People are complex, flawed, and we can often have multiple emotions about them at the same time. This book is especially recommended for those who enjoy complex mother-daughter stories that tug at the heartstrings.

I absolutely loved it!!

From the moment I laid eyes on it, I was captivated. The beauty and charm it possessed were simply enchanting.

Every detail was so meticulously crafted, making it a true work of art.

The colors blended perfectly, creating a harmonious and visually appealing composition.

It had a certain allure that drew me in and made me reluctant to look away.

I found myself completely immersed in it, experiencing a range of emotions.

Whether it was the excitement of discovery or the tranquility it evoked, it had a profound impact on me.

I can't wait to explore it further and uncover all the hidden treasures it holds.

This is truly something special that I will cherish for a long time to come.

Amy Tan has such a beautiful way of melding each character's account together so that they balance and complement each other.

Her writing style is truly captivating, making it a joy to read her books.

I enjoy reading her works because I feel that within her fiction, there is so much knowledge and culture that gets imparted.

It's like embarking on a journey of discovery with each turn of the page.

Not only do we get to know the characters intimately, but we also gain insights into different cultures and ways of life.

I greatly advise reading the commentary at the close of this book.

It provides valuable context and allows the reader to better understand the nuisances of Amy Tan's storytelling.

By delving into the commentary, we can uncover the hidden meanings and themes that may have otherwise gone unnoticed.

It enriches the reading experience and deepens our appreciation for Tan's literary talent.

So, if you haven't already, pick up an Amy Tan book and prepare to be transported to a world of rich characters and profound stories.

This book started out rather slow.

It wasn't the finest work I've read from this author as I had a greater affinity for "The Joy Luck Club".

The main character, Ruth, finds herself coming to terms with the responsibility of taking care of her mother, who is exhibiting signs of dementia.

Her mother attempts to share with her the tales of her life in China during the 1940s and 1950s.

I would rate this book three stars.

Thankfully, it picked up pace after a while.

I particularly liked the story of LuiLing, Ruth's mother.

The way the author描绘了LuiLing's experiences and the cultural backdrop of that era was quite engaging.

Although the beginning was a bit of a slog, the latter part of the book managed to draw me in and keep my interest.

It made me reflect on the complex relationships between parents and children, and the importance of preserving family history.

Overall, it was an okay read, but not one that I would highly recommend.

This was like a literary mash-up where Amy Tan meets Ann Tyler, with the new Niffeneger novel thrown in for good measure.

The premise of the novel is, in fact, extremely clever and original. However, the problem is that I only realized this once I read the binding.

Apparently, it's about a parallel between a timid and insecure woman who is a ghostwriter. Appropriately so, as her mother, an irascible and bad-tempered woman who is succumbing to dementia, turns out to be keeping her own strict account of her life back in China but was unable to talk about it. Meanwhile, she grew up with an Aunt/mother figure who communicated only with her through hands and not words.

So, yes, there's lots of stuff about communication. The issue, though, is that while the writing is clear and progresses smoothly, the story goes from being flat to insipid and then to ridiculous. The protagonist, Ruth, is whiny, passive, and annoying. The mom is beyond what anyone could tolerate, and the rest of the characters are like wallpaper, hardly noticeable. The anecdotes in this book are just plain weird, not to mention the mother's fixation with ghosts and her daughter's supposed ability to communicate with them. There was simply nothing to hold onto here.

I didn't finish this book, although I read most of it. At a certain point, I found myself preferring to stare at the wall instead. That's never a good sign.

Amy Tan possesses an astonishing gift for narrating stories that span across time and generations.

She has the remarkable ability to depict the life of a contemporary woman and that of her grandmother with equal authenticity.

What's more, she accomplishes this within the confines of a medium-length novel, rather than the often-lengthy tomes of most historical fiction.

Her characters are not only unique individuals but also emblematic of their respective eras.

Reading "The Bonesetter's Daughter" is to be wholeheartedly immersed, without reservation, in the world of women.

Her work is feminist in the most comprehensive and fundamental sense, as these characters are irrevocably women, unable to escape their femininity, and this fact shapes everything they do and say.

Yet, she treats them with tenderness and respect, placing the utmost value on their daily hardships.

This is not the sole reason to read the book, but it is the one that had the most profound impact on me.

I discovered it to be the ideal combination of linguistic artistry and plot, storytelling and unadulterated emotion.

It is a literary masterpiece that delves deep into the human experience, particularly that of women, and leaves a lasting impression on the reader.

A gorgeously crafted novel unfolds before us, delving deep into the themes of secrets, sacrifice, and the arduous process of finally summoning the courage to speak one's truth. Told with raw honesty, it lays bare the cycles of silence and trauma that are born out of grief and anger. We witness, in vivid detail, how these emotions can hold a person captive, preventing them from moving forward and finding true peace.

Yet, within this story, there is also hope. We see the protagonist embark on a winding journey, a journey that leads them back to their family and, more importantly, back to their inner self. It is a journey filled with heartache and healing, with revelations that shatter long-held illusions and forgiveness that mends broken relationships.

This novel is a perfect blend of all these elements, a literary masterpiece that will touch the hearts of readers and leave them思考 about their own lives and the power of truth and forgiveness.

Tan presents us with a masterfully crafted mixture of inscrutable family secrets, a profound generation gap, excessive melancholy, suppressed emotions, disconcerting superstition, and a revealing process that culminates in affirmation and absolution.

The past is a complex tapestry of memories, and Tan delves deep into this realm, exploring how our perception of it is shaped by what we choose to remember. The undeciphered familial secrets add an air of mystery and intrigue, making us wonder what lies hidden beneath the surface.

The abysmal generation gap creates a divide between different generations, leading to misunderstandings and conflicts. Tan skillfully portrays the struggles and challenges faced by individuals as they try to bridge this gap and understand each other.

The immoderate melancholia that pervades the story gives it a sense of sadness and longing. We can feel the weight of the characters' emotions as they grapple with their past and try to find meaning in their lives.

The smothered sentiments add another layer of complexity to the narrative. The characters often hide their true feelings, afraid of being judged or rejected. Tan shows how this repression can lead to pent-up emotions and ultimately, to a need for release.

The disturbing superstition in the story adds an element of the supernatural and the unknown. It makes us question our own beliefs and superstitions and how they can influence our lives.

Finally, the unraveling that leads to affirmation and absolution is a powerful and moving conclusion. Tan shows us that by facing our past and coming to terms with our secrets and emotions, we can find peace and acceptance.

What is the past but what we choose to remember?

Wonderfully moving story of mothers and daughters! It explores how the way we learn to relate with our mothers can have a profound impact on every other relationship we form in life. The characters in this story grow, learn, and change in a most satisfying way. Although the author does come perilously close to an unrealistically Happily Ever After ending, I have to admit that I didn't really mind it. I was so engrossed in the journey that I zoomed through this book in less than two days. I stayed up way too late last night just to finish it!

The hardcover version of this book has been sitting on my bookshelf for so long that I don't even remember when or where I got it. It's really a 4.5-star read, but I rounded it up to 5 because I don't do half-stars. I read this for The 16 Tasks of the Festive Season, specifically for Square 11 on December 21st - 22nd. The book themes for the Dōngzhì Festival were to read a book set in China or written by a Chinese author / an author of Chinese origin, or to read a book that has a pink or white cover. This book meets both criteria as it is set partly in China and the author is the daughter of Chinese immigrants to the US.

This was the very first Amy Tan book that I delved into.

Surprisingly, this book wasn't directly recommended to me, but rather it was the author herself who piqued my interest.

As I began to turn the pages, I was filled with anticipation, hoping for something truly magical to unfold. However, to my disappointment, I found myself struggling to get past the first four or five chapters.

The book suffered from overly long sections of actionless description. The balance between backstory, scene setup and description, and the actual plot that was supposed to move things along was severely lacking, causing the story to stagnate.

Moreover, the main character, Ruth, was incredibly weak and whiny. It was almost impossible for me to empathize, sympathize, or even remotely identify with her. Her character made it extremely difficult for me to become fully immersed in the novel.

Perhaps it may seem unfair to give "The Bonesetter's Daughter" a poor review without reading the entire thing. But I couldn't help but wonder how anyone could stay engaged with this character for any significant length of time.

On a positive note, I did have a certain liking for the character of LuLing. Even though the stilted and stereotypical dialog that came from her seemed, at best, unnecessary and, at worst, amateurish. LuLing, who was Ruth's aging and Alzheimer-stricken mother, was a strong character. In fact, she was the only thing that managed to keep me invested in the novel for as long as I was.

Bottom line: the protagonist was forgettable and the pace of the book was far too slow. Even memoirs that are as thick and slow-moving as January molasses manage to get somewhere. But unfortunately, this book just ended up back at the library well ahead of its due date.

I found the first section of the book, which introduces the reader to the protagonist, Ruth, rather hard to engage with. She didn't immediately appeal to me, and I didn't think these chapters were very well-developed. Ruth's quirks, like writing her to-do lists on her hands, didn't seem to contribute to her character growth or even seem very believable. Maybe there's some symbolism I'm not getting?

The middle section of the book, however, I really enjoyed. The historical context was very interesting, and I found the mother-daughter relationship in this part much more engaging. I think it's in this section that the drama really starts to unfold.

I thought The Bonesetter's Daughter ended in a satisfying way, but I also felt that the book could have been longer. There were many non-mother-daughter relationships that could have been explored more deeply to add more impact to the story. Overall, it was an interesting read, but there were definitely areas where it could have been improved.

This is the very first Amy Tan book that I have had the pleasure of reading, and I can firmly state that it will most definitely not be the last.

From the moment I opened the cover and began to immerse myself in the pages, I was completely captivated.

The story she weaves is a tapestry of emotions, cultural exploration, and profound human experiences.

Amy Tan's writing style is both engaging and lyrical, drawing the reader in and making them feel as if they are a part of the narrative.

The characters are vividly brought to life, with their own unique voices and personalities.

I found myself completely invested in their stories, rooting for them through the various challenges and triumphs they faced.

Each chapter held a new discovery, a new layer of the story that added depth and complexity.

I can't wait to explore more of Amy Tan's works and continue to be amazed by her talent as a writer.