Bonesetting: of mothers and daughters

Amy Tan is a great writer. What makes a writer great, you ask? Several things, she has talent with words, wonderful stories to relay, and she doesn't buy into publisher pressure to mass produce herself into mediocrity. Nothing makes me more anguished than to see a good writer try to crank out a novel a year, only to find that their talent is less obvious with each new book. (Anne Rice, anyone?) Amy Tan takes her time, and she tells her stories when she's good and ready. Thank you very much You have to admire that, even if it does keep the reader anxiously awaiting the next book. But isn't anticipation part of the glory of the reading experience? But hey, you're not reading this to discover robinmichele's reading philosphies-- you want to know about Bonesetter's Daughter. Far be it from me to disappoint...

I found a lot of beauty in the dedication to this book. Leave it to Tan to enchant the reader in the dedication! "On the last day that my mother spent on earth, I learned her real name, as well as that of my grandmother. This book is dedicated to them." How gripping is that? As the book progresses, we learn that the dedication connects to the story, as Ruth Young makes some striking discoveries about her lineage. Much of the story is devoted to unmasking "truths" that Ruth (and the reader) took for granted. These ephipanies unveil slowly and deliberately, like a wonderful seduction.

The basic premise of the story is relatively simple. LuLing Liu Young is the aging mother of Ruth Young. She is succumbing to Alzheimer's Disease, and requires the care and attention of her daughter. They enjoy a strained relationship to say the least. Ruth moves out of her boyfriend's house, where she enjoys another strained and intricate relationship with Art and his daughters. Ruth discovers a journal of sorts that her mother kept. Written in Chinese, Ruth struggles to translate her mother's past. The first words of the journal read "These are the things I must not forget..." Kind of eerie. Did LuLing know that her mind was slipping? Or was this some strange coincidence? A portent of what was to come?

Much of the beauty of this work is revealed through ancient mythologies. Tan explores the Asian notions of luck, and curses, and fortune, giving a wonderful richness and dimension to the work. There is a strong sense of culture in her writing-- even more so in this work.

This is a great read. Suggest it to your book club. Grab it at the library. Sit in Borders for two days straight and read it off the shelf. Buy it, read it, love it.