The Hundred Secret Senses by Amy Tan Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of The Hundred Secret Senses
Book Review: Outstanding book that I can't stop recommending
Summary: 5 Stars
I put off other things on my weekend to finish this book because I was so involved in it, and I've been recommending it to other readers since finishing it. This book was more beautiful to me than The Joy Luck Club, but it took me a little longer to get into the book and realize how amazing it was.
The plot is summarized well on Amazon. While reading, I had a little trouble getting into Kwan's Miss Banner previous-lifetime stories. I, like Olivia, thought Kwan was a kooky dreamer. Of course, her stories have a deeper meaning, and I urge you to stick with them so see Tan's beautiful resolution of the relationship between Olivia and Kwan.
In the beginning of the book, I thought Olivia knew herself the best, and that Kwan was just an overly-emotional meddler. As the book progressed, Tan convined me of the depth of Kawn's character, and my feelings about everyone in the novel changed. Tan is a masterful storyteller for taking me in this journey of discovery.
This history of China is well-treated in this novel, and I wanted to learn more about the Taiping Rebellion when I finished. Don't be put off if you don't like historical fiction, though, because I'm not usually a fan, but I found myself entirely wrapped up in this.
Book Review: Very Good... But Haven't We Been Here Before?
Summary: 4 Stars
Of Tan's first three novels, this is definitely her most substantial. (I've only just begun reading The Bonesetter's Daughter, but it already has the potential to be even better than this.) Tan's characters in The Hundred Secret Senses seem so much more solid to me than those in The Kitchen God's Wife or The Joy Luck Club, especially Kwan, who is just delightful in a slightly zany way. The story is also more interesting, I felt, than those of her two earlier novels, introducing an element of the supernatural only hinted at in her other books.
That being said, I do have one "complaint." I think Tan's a wonderful writer, but I wish she'd branch out a little. Yes, the adage is to "write what you know." Clearly, Tan knows her stuff when it comes to San Francisco's Chinese-American population, and so she chooses to focus on this. But it's starting to seem like she's a one-trick pony. Every book seems to have the same type of characters. Not just Chinese-Americans, but women who are in troubled relationships, women whose epiphanies have to deal with the nature of their female relatives, etc. Certainly, these characters are easy to relate to, but I'd like to see Tan use her considerable palette of talents to paint a broader picture on the canvas of literature.
Book Review: Ya, I liked it
Summary: 5 Stars
Hey, forget about a literary masterpiece. Forget about being believable for every minute. Forget about deep characters and motivations. Just sit back, open this book, read, and enjoy a funny, poignent, compelling story.
I don't need to summarize the plot again - it's all here on Amazon. Basically, it's a family saga spanning generations, with several twists that are different and refreshing. There's even some contemporary relationship angst thrown in for good measure. Very entertaining - and isn't that what a book is supposed to do?
I rarely give a book 5 stars. I'm a tough critic. This book is flawed, but at least when I finished it, I didn't feel like I had wasted my time. I also continued to think about the characters and parts of the book for days afterward. I definitely think it's worth the read.
Book Review: An excellent book
Summary: 5 Stars
This book was written amazingly well- almost like poetry... AND it had an excellent story. I just finished it and I can't find a book I like as much.Book Review: Magical and Funny
Summary: 4 Stars
Olivia is a girl, that many who loved and felt less appeciated or unworthy, will understand. Her sister's love is touching and her behavior and innocence give this book plenty of high voiced laughter.