Book Corner! With an Asian flare

I spent a good deal of time maybe a year or more ago reading a bunch of Asian-themed books. The reason is mostly that people were giving books to me and they all happened to be Asian themed. Three such books are listed below:

The Bonesetter's Daughter by Amy Tan
Saving Fish From Drowning by Amy Tan
Snowflower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See

The Bonesetter's Daughter - Amy Tan
I believe this was my first endeavor into Amy Tan's work. I had heard, of course, of the Joy Luck Club, but didn't know much about the way that she wrote. With The Bonesetter's Daughter I was expecting great storytelling, but didn't realize the extent that I would be whisked away.

It is the story of a young woman named Ruth, who is making a living as a ghostwriter and is trying to juggle her career and the care of her mother, who is exhibiting signs of dimentia. Her mother, LuLing, came originally from China, and as she starts to lose her memory and her ability to function properly, she strives to tell Ruth the story of her life, and how she grew up. From the time that her story begins to when it ends, the reader is swallowed up in a beautiful tangle of history. Her life as a child, growing up in a family known for making ink draws you into the culture. Her life as a young woman learning to help others during World War II as China is ravaged by the Japanese soldiers pulls at the reader's heartstrings. The secret that runs through the entire story intrigues and keeps the reader wishing to know more. LuLing's secret is the entire reason that she began to tell her story at all. She wished to make sure that it was passed down before she forgot altogether.

The heart that is exhibited in this story is deep and full of beauty, and I recommend it to anyone looking for a soothing writing style to carry them into a land of wonder.

Great!!

Saving Fish From Drowning - Amy Tan
Oh Amy Tan. How you drew me in with one book, and then pushed me away with another. Let me just say, that her writing style stays true. Always lovely. Always soothing. The characters in this, however, were anything but soothing, and I felt very disconnected and unable to relate.

The story is one of modern day adventure, as a group of several very different people from America go on a planned expedition through China that takes some very unplanned turns. The group of rich, comfortable, sometimes bratty Americans is forced to find out just what they are made of in order to get back safely to the lives that they love. The story is narrated by the ghost of a woman who was originally going to lead them through the vast country, but suddenly died before they ever left. Her disconnected involvement is always a bit frustrating, but intriguing nonetheless.

My biggest problem came in seeing the characters constantly complaining mostly about really petty things, that real people would probably complain about. The reason this bothers me is that I don't really fancy reading a fictional book about something that seems too irritatingly real. They are all very uninformed, and therefore, they cannot make justified decisions. But they do it anyways. Now I see why this is a viable way of telling a story. However, it just made me want the book to end. Quickly. Sorry, Amy. You had a great idea....it just didn't resonate with me.

Less than great

Snowflower and the Secret Fan - Lisa See
This book not only gave me greater insight into the lives of Chinese families in 19th century China, but also into the lives of women in a predominantly male driven society. The tale of two young girls, bound by a pen-pal style friendship, touches the soul, in a beautiful, and tragic way.

The reader is privy to the extreme pains of foot-binding, the conditioning of young ladies, but most importantly the preservation of a secret language, written only by women, which allows them the freedom of literacy, and the decadence of a world apart from men. The two main characters are separated by their families differing lifestyles, but they are easily bound by their promise to write to each other, and learn to love each other despite their opposing prospects. Their love goes deeper than the words on the page, and the sweetness of their relationship tugs at the heart.

A glowing account of two lives, the book traverses the lives of the girls from the time they are four to their last days. At the time that I was reading it, I regarded it as more than fiction. It felt as though it should be the true story of two very real girls, which made me all the more voracious for the details, with which the pages were jam-packed. A lovely read throughout. Thinking back on it now, makes me want to possibly revisit it in the future.

Exquisite!

But you don't have to take my word for it!!