When I purchased this book at a used book sale, a note was inserted, stating, "Her best book."

Despite that claim, I'm still astonished to observe that the general rating for this book is higher than that of The Joy Luck Club and Bonesetter's Daughter, the other two Amy Tan books I've read. I didn't quite like this one as much, yet I still gave it a 4 due to its ability to maintain my interest.

The main character, Olivia, has an older half sister, Kwan, come to live with the family after spending her formative years in China. It takes Olivia some time to get accustomed to having this extremely talkative (to put it mildly) foreigner move into her American home. Kwan keeps Olivia up at night by relating stories of ghosts and China.

(Spoiler here:) All the stories that Kwan tells Olivia turn out to be revelations of one of Kwan's past lives, and not dreams as one might initially assume. Do you believe in ghosts? In reincarnation? These aren't things I typically think about, but what I never would have imagined is someone having such complete recall of a former life, as Kwan did. At first, it really bored me with its details, but then Tan significantly increased the pace once the two of them travel to China together along with Olivia's estranged husband.

Kwan is truly a sweetheart and loveable, while Olivia often behaves like a spoiled brat when dealing with her husband and within the sister relationship. Then she is forced to question who Kwan really is, why she has shown up in her life, whether she will ever reconcile with her husband, as well as what is real and what isn't. The ending is great.

This is the May 2021 selection for the Spilling Tea Book Club.

I have a rather interesting relationship with Amy Tan. I feel like I have a certain affinity for her as a person more than I do for all of her books. I vividly recall reading "The Joy Luck Club" when it was first released in 1989. At that time, I had a 3-year-old and an infant, and I think I would have relished any opportunity that gave me some precious free time. So, I did enjoy that book.

In 1995, "The Hundred Secret Senses" was published. However, the book that stands out most in my mind from that year is "The Reader" by Bernhard Schlink. I guess you could say that by then, my reading tastes had become a bit more "serious".

More recently, I had the pleasure of watching Tan perform with the Rock Bottom Remainders at the 2018 Tucson Festival of Books. It was such a hilarious and entertaining experience! And just this week, PBS released a special about her life and career called "Unintended Memoir". Here are a few things I know about her as a person.

1. She owns Yorkshire Terriers. This fact alone makes us automatic soul sisters in my eyes.

2. She was a big supporter and fundraiser for Hilary Clinton in the 2016 presidential election. I really like her political stance.

3. She looks absolutely great in thigh-high boots.

4. She was criticized for stereotyping Asians in her novels. Her response was quite interesting: "My mother spoke broken English. How was I supposed to write her?"

Now, let's move on to the book itself. Kwan was an interesting character, but the whole storyline about the ghosts, switching bodies, and every time something happened, a different story emerged - well, it sort of drove me a little crazy. Tan is undeniably a gifted writer who has the ability to elicit a wide range of emotions from her readers. But let's just say that this particular book is not my cup of (green) tea.

What has changed now is that I no longer feel that the sky is empty of hope or that it hides fears behind it. I now simply look at it as just a repository for the stars, planets, and all life. It contains eternity, which I can always find within myself and which it can find me. Because this is an ongoing process, light is born from darkness and darkness is born from light. And these births mean nothing, but they can remain continuous. It does not change and remains dark, scary, and amazing. If I remember that whenever I look at the sky, I can make that happen through my connection. I can find myself in the heart of this chaos, whatever it is, and whatever has happened and will happen. I can hope with all my heart, and the sky will always be here, to save me from all this.

During my reading of this novel for a long time, there was a strange feeling inside me that I couldn't explain except that it might be love for humanity and a feeling that you want to embrace the world despite its ugliness. This novel is funny and wise. I can consider it one of the most beloved works that I have read and that I can read in every stage of my life. It is a great inspiration, as if it is a magical work.

2.5 stars

If it takes me longer than 2 weeks to finish a book, it usually indicates that I'm not enjoying it. Sometimes, it just means I've begun something new that has piqued my interest a little more. In this instance, it was the first reason.

Olivia, one of the main characters, discovers that she has an older, half-sister in China when she is 5. Her sister Kwan is extremely upbeat and regales Olivia with tales of the "yin people" that she can see. These are deceased individuals who share their stories with Kwan, and she, in turn, shares them with Olivia. Olivia doesn't truly develop a deep affection for her sister until much later in the narrative.

The story alternates between the present and Kwan's life before, generations before she was Kwan. Are you confused yet? The back and forth became rather tiresome, and I found myself setting the book aside to look for more captivating reads. I decided to complete this book since Ms. Tan has penned some excellent works. In my opinion, this was not one of them, although it appears that I'm in the minority based on other readers' reviews. I'll simply agree to disagree with them.

I love Kwan, her ghosts and her dead friends, her memories and her past lives, her deep belief in her memories and feelings, and her boundless love. I love reading myths, folk tales, ancient cultures and everything around them, and Amy Tan has skillfully crafted them in her story here. The love between Simon and Olivia in the novel was something ordinary and a bit overdone - the only one - compared to the magic of the other stories in the novel. I enjoyed it a lot.

There is something lost in translation, Kwan's way of speaking, the playfulness of her English compared to the boldness of her native language. I think it was more magical in the original language in which the work was written. But it is still enjoyable, and her character is still the best in the novel.

Why, Amy Tan?

I’ve loved the other stories you’ve written.

20 years later, I finally had the opportunity to re-read this literary gem. To be honest, I had completely forgotten everything about it. However, as I delved into the story once again, I was truly amazed. I found the narrative to be incredibly deep and enchanting, pulling me in from the very first page.

The characters, Olivia and Kwan, are truly captivating. They are not only interesting but also flawed, which makes them all the more wonderful and relatable. Their complex personalities and relationships add depth and authenticity to the story.

This book is not driven by a traditional plot in the sense that it doesn't rely on a series of events to keep the reader engaged. Instead, it is beautifully crafted through the exploration of themes, emotions, and the inner lives of the characters. The writing is so细腻 and evocative that it creates a vivid and immersive world that the reader can easily get lost in.

3.5 stars ✨

This rating of 3.5 stars indicates a relatively good performance or quality. It suggests that the subject under evaluation has several positive aspects.

Perhaps it offers a decent set of features, provides a satisfactory level of service, or has a certain degree of appeal.

However, it also implies that there may be some areas that could be improved upon.

It might lack the polish or refinement of a higher-rated option, or there could be minor flaws or不足之处.

Overall, a 3.5-star rating is a respectable one, but it also leaves room for growth and development to reach an even higher level of excellence.

It serves as a useful guide for consumers or evaluators to make an informed decision based on their specific needs and expectations.

I am truly sad to express that I did not find any enjoyment in this book.

I had an extremely hard time following Kwan's ghost stories. They seemed to be nothing more than the senseless babbling of an insane individual.

This is the sixth novel by Amy Tan that I have had the opportunity to read, yet it is the only one that failed to capture my heart.

I constantly found myself waiting for Olivia to take the step of having Kwan committed to a mental hospital.

The story just didn't seem to flow in a way that held my interest, and the characters didn't resonate with me as much as in her other works.

Perhaps it was the way the ghost stories were presented or the overall tone of the book, but unfortunately, it just didn't work for me.

Despite my disappointment with this particular novel, I still have a great deal of respect for Amy Tan as an author and look forward to reading more of her work in the future.

Maybe the next book will be more to my liking and bring back the magic that I have come to expect from her writing.

Her father dropped the bomb before he died.

He confessed that he had another daughter from China and pleaded to bring her to America.

Olivia was completely dumbfounded when she learned that her half sister, Kwan, was rather strange.

Kwan was older than her, yet Olivia felt as if she would be the more mature sister in the family.

Sharing a room with her turned out to be quite a challenging experience.

Imagine how you would feel when your sister told you that she had been seeing ghosts and had the ability to communicate with the spirits.

She claimed to have Yin Eyes, and often talked about her past life.

It was creepy, wasn't it?

However, in the end, one couldn't help but accept Kwan's differences and be charmed by her eccentricities.

When Olivia's own marriage was in trouble, Kwan took action to assist her sister.

She brought them to China, and soon Olivia and Simon realized what they had been lacking in their relationship.

They also understood how they were intertwined in each other's lives.

I obtained this book 4 years ago from work.

A colleague presented it to me during Christmas, along with another book (Pearl Moon by Katherine Stone).

I have always adored Amy Tan's books, and one of my favorites from her is The Joy Luck Club.

With The Hundred Secret Senses, my admiration for Tan grew even stronger.

She encapsulated stories of reincarnation, marriage beliefs, past lives, and even Chinese cultures.

This is a story within a story, just like Inception, and you can't help but immerse yourself in their story and become involved with and drawn to the characters.

I still have to read The Bonesetter's Daughter, which has been highly praised by many readers.

But for now, The Hundred Secret Senses is my favorite Amy Tan novel.

My first encounter with Amy Tan was truly remarkable, and I'm certain it won't be my last.

I was completely captivated by her masterful use of metaphors, which added depth and vividness to the story.

The narrative was not only intriguing but also encompassing, drawing me in and making me feel as if I was a part of the characters' lives.

When I first came across the time shifting without any prior introduction, it took me a couple of moments to wrap my head around it. However, it didn't take long for me to adapt and appreciate this unique storytelling device.

One aspect that did make me wonder was Kwan's dialect. In our current "woke" society, where cultural sensitivity is highly emphasized, I can't help but question whether her use of a particular dialect might be seen as insensitive by some.

It's an interesting point to consider, as language and cultural representation can be complex and sometimes controversial topics.

Nonetheless, despite this small point of wonder, I thoroughly enjoyed reading Amy Tan's work and look forward to exploring more of her literary creations in the future.

I absolutely adored this book! You see, as a passionate reader, I know that there are certain characters who have an indelible impact and stay with you for a very long time, and sometimes even forever. Li Kwan is precisely one of those remarkable characters. She is the Chinese half-sister of the protagonist, Olivia. Arriving in America as an orphaned teenager, she is completely dedicated to Olivia, who is 12 years her junior. She speaks in fractured English, talks about her ability to see yin people (ghosts), and constantly annoys and embarrasses Olivia. However, as you continue reading, she gradually grows on both you and Olivia.

"I think Kwan intended to show me that the world is not just a physical place but rather the boundless expanse of the soul. And the soul is essentially nothing more than love, which is limitless, endless, and all that propels us towards understanding what is true."

This is Amy Tan's third book, and she is truly a magnificent writer! I cannot recommend reading it highly enough. It is a captivating and thought-provoking work that will surely leave a lasting impression on any reader.