I'm truly overjoyed that I tuned in to this one. It brought an immense sense of happiness to my heart.

I have an inherent weakness for mother-daughter (and sisters) stories. There's something about the dynamics and relationships within these family bonds that deeply触动 my emotions.

In particular, I was absolutely enamored with the parts that delved into LuLing's childhood in China. The vivid descriptions painted a captivating picture of her early years, the cultural backdrop, and the experiences that shaped her.

It was as if I was transported to that time and place, sharing in her joys and sorrows. These segments added a rich layer of depth and authenticity to the overall narrative, making it even more engaging and unforgettable.

I can't wait to explore more of this story and see where it takes me.

Like The Joy Luck Club, this book delves into the complex relationships between mothers and daughters, highlighting the significance of understanding each other's life stories.

In the initial part of the book, we are introduced to Ruth, a first-generation Chinese-American who works as a ghostwriter for New Age self-help books in California. She struggles to assert herself in her ten-year relationship with her boyfriend. Meanwhile, her mother, LuLing, has recently been diagnosed with dementia and can no longer live alone. LuLing is depressed, critical, often makes her daughter feel guilty, and even threatens to commit suicide when things don't go her way. She firmly believes in superstitions and curses and feels the need to communicate with the dead when making important decisions.

The second part of the book transports us back to China and tells the story of LuLing and the bonesetter's daughter. This memoir written by LuLing is truly captivating. LuLing was part of a rural family that produced high-quality ink for calligraphy. Both she and her mother endured numerous hardships and were never fully accepted by her father's family. During the Japanese occupation of China, LuLing was taken in by missionaries and later immigrated to the United States. LuLing's journal provides Ruth with valuable insights, enabling her to better understand her mother and make sense of her own childhood.

The third part of the book is set in the present, and although easy solutions are found for both LuLing's and Ruth's problems, a thread ties the three generations of women together in strong yet challenging mother-daughter relationships.

I had somewhat mixed feelings about this book. The first part, which focused on Ruth's problems and LuLing's negative parenting, felt a bit拖沓for me. However, the second part, set in China, was exciting with its wonderful cast of characters - the bonesetter grandfather, the wicked relatives, LuLing's first love, and the suicidal nursemaid. The short third part neatly brought everything together, but it seemed to promise an almost overly rosy future.

Tan does what she does best: examine the relationship between mothers and daughters.

Ruth, born and raised in America, is now facing an aging mother, LuLing, who is starting to suffer from dementia. LuLing was born in China and immigrated to the US after WWII. Ruth chronicles her childhood with a single mother who didn't share much about herself but plenty about her fears. Now, as her mother's memory fades, Ruth realizes she needs to know who her mother was throughout her life.

Messy relationships, generational trauma, and cultural dissonance are Tan's forte, and she showcases them here effortlessly. Ruth and LuLing may be related and have spent decades together, but that doesn't mean they truly know or understand each other. Additionally, Ruth is having issues in her love life and must learn to stand up for her needs instead of always compromising.

Learning more about LuLing's past was my favorite aspect of this. Witnessing what she had to endure growing up in China and how she made the best of her situation and struggles adds depth to her characterization as seen through Ruth's eyes. I was a bit surprised at how quickly the WWII part passed, considering its harsh impact on the Chinese, but in the end, it wasn't essential to tell her story.

The narrator was decent, although not my favorite. She was a bit monotone when doing Ruth's POV but really shone when portraying LuLing's character.

Hmm - I re-read this and clicked on Save because it has been taken out of circulation?? Why?

I really enjoyed this book, and I was quite surprised as it's not my typical choice. I usually don't go for "Bestsellers". Tan divides the story into three sections, told by the mother and daughter in the first person, which works very well. Ruth, a second-generation Chinese/American, starts the story in 2009, sharing her difficult relationship with her aging mother, Luling. The second part, set in Immortal Heart village in rural north China, is Luling's account of her upbringing and the traumatic story of her mother, Precious Auntie. The name of Ruth's grandmother, Gu Xian Lin, is finally revealed in the last part of the story, symbolizing the possibility of recovery and the ability to rewrite a positive present from past injustices. The final part brings us back to San Francisco in the present day.

I have to say I absolutely LOVED the tense relationships between mothers and daughters in both of the main sections. In fact, I wanted to rush to Amy Tan and tell her that someone was finally telling the truth about the complex relationship most women have with their mothers and perhaps vice versa. I can't comment on this myself as I only have a son. Anyway, what I wanted to tell Tan was that YES - the truth at last - we love and hate them equally, which is confusing and disturbing.

Regarding the narrative style, Tan focuses on the story. There is no fancy writing; it's simple and straightforward - 'this is what is happening/this is what happened'. However, be careful, reader, as there is plenty of irony and nuance in this 'plain' style.

Let me reproduce a neat little scene. Luling and the other orphan children are asked to paint over the Buddhist and Tao statues at the request of the Christian sisters from America who run the school/orphanage.

One day, before Christmas, when it was too cold to go anywhere, Miss Grutoff decided that we should convert the Chinese gods into Christians. We would baptize them with paint... some of the students who had come later did not want to deface the gods and tempt their wrath. They were so scared that when they were dragged to the statues they screamed and foamed at the mouth, then fell to the ground as if possessed. I was not afraid. I believed that if I was respectful to both the Chinese gods and the Christian one, neither would harm me... The Chinese gods understood that we were living in a Western household run by Americans. If the gods could speak, they too, would insist that the Christian deities have the better position.... As my brush ran over their gold-and-red faces, I said, "Pardon me, Jade Ruler, forgive me, Chief of the Eight Mortals, I am only making a disguise for you, in case the Communists or the Japanese come and recruit statues for a bonfire."

I particularly liked Tan's clear and accurate explanations of how Chinese words are constructed from several characters, each with a different meaning, and together they form a new word with a specific meaning and overtones of other possible meanings. Our main character, Luling, is an expert calligrapher, so we get to hear many interesting details about this ancient art, which I found delightful. In fact, one of the greatest pleasures of this book was seeing so many aspects of Chinese art and culture integrated so beautifully into the narrative.

My only reservation, and hence the four stars, is that the pacing does get a bit hectic at times. There were several points where I wanted the story to slow down so that I could learn more about, for example, the other orphans, the physical details of the village, or Hong Kong as WWII ended. The last section, as one other reviewer also commented, was a little too neatly tied up, with perhaps one too many happy endings. I suspect there is a kind of symbolism in that all the characters have grown throughout the story, so I can understand this search for "happiness". Overall, Tan achieved an incredible balance with all the different elements she wanted to convey, such as the horrors of war, the difficult process of integrating into a foreign culture, the effect of being disconnected from one's family and traditions, and the trauma of disinheritance. It's an incredibly powerful read.

This novel truly broke me into pieces.

Amy Tan is a master at writing "silent" yet compelling stories about ordinary people and their lives. Just like in "Joy Luck Club", in this novel, she explores themes of Chinese-ness and American-ness through the eyes of Chinese immigrants and first-generation Chinese Americans. The differences between the more ancient traditional Chinese views and the more modern American lifestyle, and how representatives of the two can clash, are vividly presented.

Moreover, it has a theme that is extremely close to my heart due to personal experience. Having relatives with severe mental conditions who can no longer take care of themselves and how that affects one's life, relationships, and how to deal with it - wanting to do the best for everyone, including the relative with the disease, and the difficulty of juggling multiple responsibilities simultaneously. It can impact romantic relationships, relationships with (step)children, the quality of one's job at the workplace, and one's reputation. When my grandfather had a stroke, we went through a lot of these turbulent emotions and decisions. The whole process of the family choosing an assisted living facility hit me hard. The guilt of seeing oneself as a bad relative or daughter for not spending one's entire life caring for someone 24/7... and letting go of these strict notions of what a good relative should be like and leaving it to those who are probably more experienced and educated in caring for those in need.

The way the relationship between Ruth and Art was depicted felt incredibly real. Flawed in a genuine way, it shows that a good relationship is not always a bed of roses. You may not always agree with your spouse, there may be some family tensions, a bit of jealousy here and there, and sometimes you don't communicate everything in the most perfect way... but you can still have a solid foundation and a strong bond with gentle love that enables you to overcome conflicts.

It also contains some really captivating stories of Luling's upbringing - and just like in "Joy Luck Club", it was quite fascinating to see the significant difference between two generations and how they were raised, especially if the second generation is brought up in a completely different environment.

Just one more thing I'd like to emphasize: the part about how Ruth started learning about sexuality. I truly hope that sexual education will be much more precise and not treated as a taboo in Western societies in the future. It felt so realistic... even though I was a teenager roughly 40 years after Ruth, according to the story. I really hope that the next generations grow up knowing a lot more about sex because I myself, as a teen, due to a lack of sexual education (we had one class about it but it was basically just repeating that the best option is abstinence, and if not, use a condom, when there is so much more to the topic to raise well-informed youngsters), probably had some rather stupid notions about sex... and I can just imagine how humiliating that could be for a girl like Ruth's character.

I am gradually delving deeper into the works of Amy Tan. Last year, I read my very first book by her, and after the intense and emotionally wrenching experience of 'The Eighth Life,' I picked up 'The Bonesetter’s Daughter.' This book was approximately 500 pages shorter, yet it was no less intense.

Many of Amy Tan's novels explore the mother-daughter relationship, and this one is no exception. It is a captivating tale that reveals to Ruth who her mother truly was, especially when her mother begins to suffer from dementia.

I was deeply moved by their complex relationship. It wasn't ideal; it wasn't all filled with love. There were elements of toxicity and fear. However, Amy Tan has an undeniable talent for storytelling. And I was more than happy to lose myself in her narrative.

Her ability to bring the characters and their emotions to life is truly remarkable. It makes me eager to explore more of her works and continue this journey of discovery.

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Touching… real… these characters are real.

They come to life on the pages of a story, making us feel as if we know them personally.

We laugh with them, cry with them, and experience their joys and sorrows.

These characters have flaws and strengths, just like real people.

They face challenges and overcome obstacles, inspiring us to do the same.

Whether it's a fictional novel or a true account, the power of real characters lies in their ability to connect with us on an emotional level.

They make us believe in the possibility of love, hope, and redemption.

They remind us that we are not alone in this world and that there are others who share our experiences and feelings.

In a world full of chaos and uncertainty, these real characters offer us a sense of comfort and stability.

They are a source of inspiration and a reminder that no matter how difficult life may seem, there is always a way forward.

3.5 stars - I initially struggled to get into this piece. The beginning seemed a bit slow and unengaging, and I found myself having to push through to keep reading. However, things took a turn for the better when the story delved more into the past. As it explored the events and experiences of the characters in previous times, I became increasingly interested and invested. The details and descriptions of the past added depth and richness to the overall narrative, making it more captivating. I started to look forward to each new revelation and how it would connect to the present. By the end, I was really enjoying it and glad that I had persevered through the initial difficult part.

Tan weaves an intricate and vast tale that unfolds like a beautiful tapestry. In this story, family secrets are gradually revealed, and it becomes evident that people often hide the best parts of themselves. All this secrecy casts a shadow over their relationships, making them impoverished and lacking in true depth. However, as the truth slowly comes to light, it exposes their true greatness and the hidden beauty within them.

All the suffering, the intense struggling, and even the soul-murdering resentment that they have harbored towards each other finally come together in a coherent pattern of beauty. It is a pattern that is almost too good to be true, as if a magical spell has been cast to transform their lives. Maybe the ending is a bit too happy, but Tan is not one to deny the ultimate human dream of finding love, forgiveness, and redemption.

Her story reminds us that even in the darkest of times, there is always hope for a better tomorrow. It shows us that by facing our secrets and confronting our demons, we can emerge stronger and more beautiful than ever before. Tan's writing is a powerful reminder of the importance of truth, love, and family in our lives.

A great read! The mother-daughter relationships spanning over three generations were depicted so authentically that it is difficult to believe that Amy Tan was not present in each generation, experiencing those lives in all the different scenes and eras of the book.

"Things I must not forget" - this is the first line of some Chinese writings that her mother gave to her and which she managed to translate.

Her mother, Luling, was in the early stages of Alzheimer's, which compelled Ruth (or Lootie as her mother pronounced her name) to finally have someone translate the rest of the papers. Ruth had a strong desire to understand her mother's behavior and thoughts better.

The book often contained too many "page-filler" details. You know, those paragraphs upon paragraphs of words that the reader has to skip here and there to continue the story. However, it was written so beautifully, with such detail and so much suspense, that I simply couldn't put it down.

After uncovering her mother and grandmother's remarkable life stories hidden in the old Laz-y-Boy chair, Ruth could finally understand herself better, although this was unintended. But she first had to relive two other lives through her mother's meticulous writings to reach a point where she could connect all the dots in her own personal relationship issues with the people around her.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was an excellent read. Amy Tan is not one of those authors who can be easily put aside. And to truly savor her writing style to the fullest, one must take the time to sit back, start one of her stories, and stay with it all the way to the end. It is most definitely worth it.

As an adolescent reader, Amy Tan was once one of my favorite authors. However, at that time, I failed to fully appreciate the breadth and depth of her writing. One of my reading goals for 2017 is to revisit the authors I read during that period, hoping to fully savor their works. "The Bonesetter's Daughter" is a sweeping novel that transports the reader from California to prerevolutionary China and back again. It is the second of Tan's books that I have read this year. This story, which features a strong mother-daughter connection characteristic of Tan's writing, offers readers a captivating novel in three parts.

Ruth Luyi Young is middle-aged and still burdened by the baggage of her youth. Despite being in a stable relationship for the past ten years and having a successful job, at age forty-six, Ruth still struggles with her upbringing as an only child of a widowed mother. Throughout her life, Ruth has become known as a people pleaser, not taking the time to assert herself about her own wants and desires. As a result, Ruth is in a long-term relationship but not married and is ghostwriting books instead of authoring her own stories.

Ruth's life undergoes a dramatic transformation when her mother, LuLing, is diagnosed with the early stages of Alzheimer's. Ruth's own life takes a backseat as she moves in with her mother and becomes her caregiver. While living in her childhood home, Ruth discovers a memoir that LuLing wrote seven years earlier when she first feared losing her memory. Ruth takes the manuscript to be translated, and Tan takes the reader on a journey to pre-revolutionary, rural China.

Liu LuLing grew up in the village of Immortal Heart as the daughter of Precious Auntie, her Bao Bomu. Precious Auntie endured many hardships, including the murder of her father, a respected bone doctor, and her fiancé on the day of her wedding. Precious Auntie was already pregnant with LuLing at the time and was taken in by her husband's family. After LuLing's birth, Precious Auntie remained as her nursemaid and never let LuLing know that she was her mother until it was too late to form a real maternal bond. As a result, LuLing has also been grappling with ghosts and curses throughout her life.

Tan provides the reader with a glimpse of life in Peking and Hong Kong before China became a modern country. This is evident in the orphanage run by missionaries where LuLing lives and the crowded streets of Peking and Hong Kong where she waits for her journey to America. Tan contrasts life in China, still influenced by Buddhist gods and practices, with modern San Francisco, where LuLing ultimately ends up, escaping the hardships of her youth.

Written in three parts, Tan creates a powerful mother-daughter relationship between LuLing and Ruth, presenting similar themes in their childhoods. Tan's mother-daughter motif, as well as the differences between immigrants and their children born in the United States, is also evident in her other books. She offers the reader a modern feel-good story along with high-quality historical fiction all in one book. "The Bonesetter's Daughter" was a pleasure to revisit, and I look forward to spending more time reading Tan's novels. 4 stars.