The Bonesetter's Daughter

Amy Tan is a wonderful writer. The characters that she creates are so full of life. They are very lovable (or not).

This is my first Amy Tan book–and I really enjoyed it. Tan does a great job of making you feel a lot with just a little bit of plot and character development. I will try some of her other books as well, and I'm curious to read her memoirs, given she's a Oakland/Bay Area native.

An excellent, emotional family-saga that ties all of the pieces together. Part two came out of nowhere and took me backwards into a time and place that I didn't want to leave; this was both a service and a disservice. When we came back to the “modern day,” I felt like I was swimming in a fish bowl. There were parts of me that wished it was longer, that there was more to talk about, but at the same time, it ended exactly where it needed to. The long-lasting effects of the choices of your ancestors, and how you bear the weight of them, is something I heavily identified with; there were many moments where I covered my mouth and had to look away, as though I was watching something painful and intimate. A great first dive into Amy Tan as an author, and encouraging enough that I want to read more of her novels in the future.

Let me say, Amy Tan wasn't a writer I enjoyed reading. . . until I read THE BONESETTER'S DAUGHTER. Her writing style continually lured me in, as well as her plot. I found the mother's story most intriguing, accidentally learning a lot about Chinese history & culture in the process. I live close to the US setting in this book, which made it seem familiar, but that's not a necessity. If you are looking for a book to live in with authentic, imperfect characters dealing with their authentic, imperfect families, this is the book to read. I found the JOY LUCK CLUB taxing to read, but I couldn't put down THE BONESETTER'S DAUGHTER.

Maybe it was that the year anniversary of my Bachan's passing that made this book so much more emotional for me. She lived with Alzheimer's for the last decade of her life and her passing still feels so fresh. I loved the mother/daughter/sister relationships even more than The Joy Luck Club. LuLing was funny and so strong. Her story had so much heartache and the idea of all that she had gone through and seen was epic. What a gift that Ruth was able to read her mother's story in her own words. I wish I had that of my Bachan.

I would rate The Bonesetter's Daughter a 7, good. I enjoyed it and found
much of it well written.

Loved It!!