lindasa (USA: SC) (2006/08/09): Not Amy Tan's usual tale of mother/daughter relationships. Jessica (USA: NY) (2008/06/20): I really enjoyed this book, and the departure from her usual terrain. The novel really takes you on a journey. The cast of characters can be a bit absurd, sort of like a cast from an episode of Fantasy Island from the 1980s. I did not infer that we are meant to be invested in them deeply, but rather bear witness to the mischief their various cultural and personal histories lead them towards.
Go with an open mind and you might really enjoy the trip and the subtle and not so subtle messages, as I did.
