Review of 'The Bonesetter's Daughter'
The Bonesetter's Daughter by Amy Tan
A wonderful book telling the story of a woman who was forced to leave China because of the second world war – but told from the viewpoint of her daughter who discovers these memoirs and has them translated. The story follows the mother as she is brought up in a small village in a family who made ink for calligraphy. Their traditional and simple lives are shattered with the coming of the war and her leaving for Beijing for a husband. The story is elequantly told with the past blending with the present as Ruth cares for her mother who is slowly slipping into dementia. Ruth learns about her mother and her life before coming to San Francisco and, in turns, learns about herself and her unsatisfying life. A great read from a wonderful writer – poetry in fiction.
Rating: “Really good but I have some issues”
Genre: General Fiction