Present Books In Pursuance Of The Valley of Amazement
Original Title: | The Valley of Amazement |
ISBN: | 0062107313 (ISBN13: 9780062107312) |
Edition Language: | English |
Literary Awards: | Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Historical Fiction (2013) |
Amy Tan
Hardcover | Pages: 589 pages Rating: 3.64 | 38034 Users | 4737 Reviews
Ilustration Toward Books The Valley of Amazement
A sweeping, evocative epic of two women's intertwined fates and their search for identity, that moves from the lavish parlors of Shanghai courtesans to the fog-shrouded mountains of a remote Chinese village. Spanning more than forty years and two continents, The Valley of Amazement resurrects pivotal episodes in history: from the collapse of China's last imperial dynasty, to the rise of the Republic, the explosive growth of lucrative foreign trade and anti-foreign sentiment, to the inner workings of courtesan houses and the lives of the foreign "Shanghailanders" living in the International Settlement, both erased by World War II. A deeply evocative narrative about the profound connections between mothers and daughters, The Valley of Amazement returns readers to the compelling territory of Amy Tan's The Joy Luck Club. With her characteristic insight and humor, she conjures a story of inherited trauma, desire and deception, and the power and stubbornness of love.Declare Appertaining To Books The Valley of Amazement
Title | : | The Valley of Amazement |
Author | : | Amy Tan |
Book Format | : | Hardcover |
Book Edition | : | Special Edition |
Pages | : | Pages: 589 pages |
Published | : | November 5th 2013 by Ecco |
Categories | : | Historical. Historical Fiction. Fiction. Cultural. China |
Rating Appertaining To Books The Valley of Amazement
Ratings: 3.64 From 38034 Users | 4737 ReviewsAssessment Appertaining To Books The Valley of Amazement
Okay, no thank you Ms. Tan. I really don't want to know the intimate clinical details of what it was to be a prostitute in turn-of-the-century Shanghai. I don't want characters whose nearest and dearest are CONSTANTLY dying or disappearing. Tragedy upon tragedy equals yawn, in the end. You could see what was going to happen at the village the second someone said 'oh let's go to my village.' I was looking for a multi-generational/cultural saga; I got fifty different words for private parts. OffI am always astounded by reviewers who compare, always unfavorably, the book they have to some book that they feel should have been written. Many of the reader reviews I read here fall into that category. Taken on its own, The Valley of Amazement is a marvelous, nutritious and fulfilling novel, a ripping good yarn. It has, of course, the elegantly simple and lucid prose that Ms. Tan is noted for, as well as the touches of magic and the unique characters she always seems to find. But it also has
I have read every Amy Tan book and loved them all. I was so excited when this book came out. For one thing, it was too long (almost 600 pages) and felt like the story dragged on and could have been much shorter and maybe more enjoyable. It was difficult to read at times because it was one of those books where I wasn't in love with the characters and they made all the wrong decisions. Also, it seemed like after each heartbreak the characters endured, they simply moved on with their lives. The
Having enjoyed Amy Tan's The Hundred Secret Senses, I was excited to receive an ARC of her upcoming book. Looked forward all week to a great read. The premise was interesting, and I enjoyed the history woven in. I also felt that overall the topic of courtesans was treated respectfully. There is a lot to think about and I think book clubs will enjoy talking about various issues raised int he book.For me, the amount of detail was over the top. Wasn't dense, felt repetitive to me. I started to lose
3.7 stars --- I enjoyed the storytelling --but it felt like a story I've read many times. When its clear the story is going to be predictable (yet enjoyable also: as I DID enjoy reading Amy Tan again), it just doesn't take 600 pages to tell the story. 350 pages would have been about enough. Yet... Amy Tan is an eloquent writer. It was easy to imagine the courtesans, their fashions, and their behaviors in public with their suitors. [The dramatic -the rich -the refined 'little darlings' creating
It took the better part of 200 pages before this storyline started to gain a stake in my interest, and even then it was more of a gentle tug than a grabber. Still and yet, the writing is lovely; we are used to this with Amy Tan. Grief is defined as when your eyes still see but have stopped looking. Harbingers of bad luck masquerade as a sudden breath of wind, a tear in a garment of clothing, or a laughing bird. The impossibility of hanging a painting in a room of round walls is pondered. There
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