Amy Tan is one of my favorite authors. I have read all three of her previously released books, The Joy Luck Club, The Hundred Secret Senses, and The Kitchen God's Wife. I enjoyed every one of them, but perhaps my favorite is The Hundred Secret Senses.

In her newest book, The Bonesetter's Daughter, Amy Tan again finds a creative way to interweave two different stories into one beautiful and mysterious tale. Her now well-known way of captivating her reader's imaginations and hearts with the differences between old Chinese culture and new American lifestyles is not absent in this latest work, nor is her talent for addressing the relationships and quirks between mothers and daughters. The element of suspense is always present in Miss Tan's work, but this novel holds a fairly stronger notion of mystery than her others. Although some of the answers are somewhat predictable, Amy Tan keeps her reader questioning throughout most of it: Who was Precious Auntie? Is there something wrong with LuLing? Is Ruth's relationship with Art coming to an end? Will LuLing ever remember the name she has forgotten?

This is an inspiring and easy to read book, with a comfortable pace and an intelligent voice. I would recommend The Bonesetter's Daughter by Amy Tan to any Amy Tan devotee, and almost anybody else. I predict that more women will enjoy this book than men, but there are probably plenty of men who can find this book just as wonderful. Amy Tan is a wonderful storyteller with ingenious plot organization. While this work is slightly inferior in originality than her others, it is equally easy to relate to and it still weaves an incredible story.


Recommended: Yes