Rating: 
Summary: Truly Disappointed
Review: I've read all her books, and I must say this one is the worst. I started reading it last summer, and I finally gave it up 1 year later, leaving it half-done. The plot is very similar to her other books, the same ghost, spirit stuff. It always start with a mysterious relative who believes in the existence of ghost, and the main character used to have conflict with her. Then as the story carries on, history is revolved, and the main character gradually start to know her loving relative's story. I thought it would be a interesting story, yet I guess this is just another version of her previous stories.
Rating: 
Summary: Excellence
Review: This was my first discovery of Amy Tan, but I know past 30 pages now, that this is my book of the year. Excellent handling of text texture and overall move, intelligence all along. She is great contemporary writer, and tells a lot about what good writing means today. One may be somewhat disappointed, I see here - but certainly that was not me.
Rating:
Summary: fast and compelling read
Review: This is another hit from Amy Tan about mother-daughter relationships. Once again, it focuses the similarities and differences between a Chinese-American daughter and her traditional, even superstitious, mother. The tale of Lu Ling, and of her bonesetter mother, is really inspiring. I really enjoyed reading about early 20th century China, and there is even a sort of mystery in the book about LuLing's past and the identity of her mother. The story unfolds to us at the same time that it unfolds to Ruthie, the daughter who is dealing with her mother's memory loss. My close friend's mother also suffered from a stroke, and I know firsthand how difficult it can be when a parent becomes more like a child. Also, Ruth's relationship with her live-in lover is very commonplace and identifiable. I read many Amy Tan books when I was still a child and they were wonderful then. As an adult woman, they resonate so much more in that parts of my own experiences are reflected. This book is a fast and compelling read. I'm sorry I waited so long to pick it up.
Rating:
Summary: Doctor Gu's Family
Review: This one book one story. Good family, two daughters. Many words, same story. Remember "old bone gorge doctor repair character" chinese
"gu gu gu gu gu gu". Sound same, write different. (page 398-399) Also, four kinds buddha-full (p. 276-278). Competent, Magnificent, Divine... next Innocent/Effortless. Kai Jing dead. "Remain true" name poem. Divine, unchanged. Also Doctor Bones. Daughter need write chinese too? No ghosts, no voice. Same mother, same life. This one good book.
Rating: 
Summary: Thoroughly enjoyable but not as powerful as past Tan work
Review: The Bonesetter's Daughter is Amy Tan's latest exploration into the complex, difficult, but compelling bonds that exist between mothers and daughters generally. Like her other novels, the mother and daughter in this novel are Chinese Americans, and Tan explores the inherent struggle between the mother's traditional views and the daughter's modern, Americanized existence. The events of this novel have been thoroughly discussed by previous reviewers, and I will not resummarize here. I found the relationship between Ruth and her mother Luling to be realistic and troubled, but also very rich. Apart from any reference to the culture of this mother and daughter, I think many difficulties that Ruth and LuLing experienced are universal. Many mothers and daughters love each other ferociously but are unable to express it with words or actions--causing frustration and hurt. LuLing is obviously fiercely proud of Ruth's accomplishments, but cannot say so. Ruth, in turn, sees her mother as the most important person in her life--even more important than her live-in boyfriend of 10 years and life partner--but also fails to share her admiration with her mother. It was sad to read about how these characters failed to connect, but also familiar. Many of us are unable to say the most important things to the ones we love. This novel largely also focuses upon LuLing's struggles in her native China both before and after World War II, as well as her experiences with her "Precious Auntie". While both stories were interesting, I did not believe that the character of LuLing was as well developed as many of the characters in Tan's previous works. It certainly was not as well developed as that of her daughter, Ruth. Nevertheless, this middle section was compelling as it documents all that LuLing had to do to survive the Japanese occupation and the family's struggles with the evil Chang family. This novel was easy to read, and I finished it in a few days. I very much appreciated the depiction of Ruth's and LuLing's troubled but rewarding relationship. If you're new to Amy Tan, I would read this book after reading "The Joy Luck Club".
Rating:
Summary: if you insult amy tan, you better not be near...
Review: ... (> ) yes...again, Mrs. Tan has outdone herself. Who here thought that she was amazing with the Joy Luck club? and the Hundred Secret Senses? Many authors would be a dried out husk and shell. But noooooooooooooo....this asian just keeps on coming back stronger then ever. Alright! I admit it! I'm rather partial to asian authors because...i am too. I have heard countless remarks about how asians were brainwashed, they don't have any imagination. (ow..ow...and ow...) But I can point to any of her books and say: can you write that? HUH?! But...enough about the author...back to the book! The starting is inticing. what's written on the note? who is she?! the entire book has the underlying values of (random fuzziness) I wept, sighed, and wondered about my lost heritage. Her books do that to you. This one, shook me by my hair and turned me upside down. This story isn't just about mothers and daughters, it's about the search for forgiveness and trust. An excellent present. This book deserves nothing but to be devoured hungrily by the vultures of the book-world. enjoy. Raven~
Rating: 
Summary: Interesting
Review: I enjoyed the book, but mostly for the middle part about Old China. I thought the cultural and history references were very interesting. I found the part about Ruth to be somewhat flat and inspiring. Ruth failed to raise any sympathy from me. I found her somewhat immature and very self centred.
Rating:
Summary: Insightful and fascinating.
Review: Wow! I loved this book and found it hard to put down. Amy Tam's use of description touches the heart. The characters are wonderful, and Precious Auntie was indeed precious to me. The conflict between mother and daughter is explored through three generations, and we see the hard shell and the soft innards of the women. We see how culture and war dictate so much of what happens in people's lives, and one wonders how these same people might have acted in different circumstances. How would I have acted in these circumstances? I was glad, also, that happeniness that seemed so illusive could come, along with the plot twists. A worthy read.
Rating:
Summary: A lovely book every mother and daughter shold read!
Review: The Bonesetter's Daughter was the first book by Amy Tan I have read, and I thought it was a great book! It was full of description of the setting and the time-period. I thought that this book was a great portrayal of a mother-daughter relationship. It shows how they can get through almost anything with the power of endless love and thoughtfulness. I felt the characters were easy to relate to. They were very realistic and thoughtful. Tan made their lives seem very real, with everyday problems and the thought of happiness. I loved how Tan weaves the characters thoughts and feelings into the story of their past. I think that everyone should read this book!
Rating:
Summary: A lovely book every mother and daughter should read!
Review: This is the first book I've read of Amy Tan. I thought it was a great book. It was full of description of the setting and the time-period. I thought that this book was a good portrayal of a mother-daughter relationship. The creative characters were easy to relate to. Tan weaves the characters thoughts and feeling into the story of their past. I think that everyone should read this book.
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