Amy tan, who found fame with her 1989 novel the joy luck club, will discuss and sign her new book, the valley of amazement, 7 p. Halfchinese and halfamerican, violet grapples with her place in the world she is able to excel in the business. After reading the valley of amazement would you recommend this book to a friend to read 2. Author amy tan is especially known for her best seller the joy luck club which was also a major film. Amy tans latest novel tells the story of two womens intertwined fates and their search for identity. The valley of amazement eccoharpercollins, 20 by amy tan r. This 44page guide for the valley of amazement by amy tan includes detailed chapter summaries and analysis covering 15 chapters, as well as several more indepth sections of expertwritten literary analysis. The valley of amazement by amy tan, paperback barnes. The valley of amazement is a beautiful story of separation, hope, and love between a mother and daughter. But when the ching dynasty is overturned, violet is separated from her mother in a cruel act of chicanery and forced to become a virgin courtesan. Did you find the historical facts about the courtesan life to be believable and did you find the very graphic dialogue offensive. The valley of the valley of amazement is very deep, indeed, an arduous journey of fraud, kidnapping thats the first rule of the shanghai courtesans in amy tans exhausting new novel, the valley of amazement. Unlike a traditional narrative, however, the novel doesnt start at the beginning of its story.
A deeply evocative narrative of the profound connections between mothers and daughters, imbued with tans characteristic insight and humor, the valley of amazement conjures a story of inherited trauma, desire and deception, and the power and obstinacy of love. Which is hard to admit, given that it is such an earnest work of fiction. Snow flower and the secret fan by lisa see the good earth by pearl s. The valley of amazement is a multigenerational family saga. In turnofthecentury shanghai, violet minturn is raised by her american mother, the mistress. The valley of amazement by amy tan amy tans fans will find familiar themes in her new novel, the valley of amazement. Lulu and violet both make decisions based on their relationship with their.
Please put your comments for the valley of amazement book club discussion questions in the comments area below 1. Amy tan once told an interviewer that after the runaway success of her first novel, the joy luck club, she made an effort to get away from the. Reading guide for the valley of amazement by amy tan. And harder still to admit because it is the product of one of our best living authors, amy tan, whose the joy luck club and the hundred secret senses, among others, were such successful fusions of historical, literary and popular fiction. Triviaquiz for fans features youll discover inside. The author of the joy luck club and the hundred secret senses can deliver a. Since the joy luck club her first and most famous novel, tan has explored the generational, cultural, and emotional tensions between family members in sweeping books that drop in on the history of united states as well as that of china. Most markedly, amy tan withholds the story of lucias teenage years in san francisco until the end of the novel. To ask other readers questions about the valley of amazement, please sign up. The valley of amazement is her latest colorful description of life in shanghai at the turn of the 20th century. Amy tan has made her name, with novels such as the joy luck club 1987 and the bonesetters daughter 2000, writing about difficult. The valley of amazement by amy tan amy tan is the author of several bestselling novels, including the joy luck.
But in the universe of amy tans the valley of amazement, the reader should. The mother daughter relationship was interesting to me in the fact that the two lives were so intricately intertwined and their destinies similar. It has been almost 25 years since the joy luck club launched tans career, and this new novel explores some of the same themes of festering. We deserve more enlightenment for surviving this ordeal with. At the novels center is violet, whose mother owns shanghais most elegant courtesan house catering to both chinese and western clients and breaking taboo rather extravagantly in both worlds. Amy tans the valley of amazement explores the world of. The valley of amazement by amy tan reading guidebook club. The valley of amazement summary book club discussion. Motherdaughter relationships are amy tans bread and butter. Our volunteers careers financial statements frequently asked questions.
New york times bestselling author of the joy luck club amy tan brings us her latest novel. Tans other best selling novels include the kitchen gods wife, the hundred secret senses, the bonesetters daughter, and saving fish from drowning. New york times bestseller the valley of amazement is a sweeping, evocative epic of two womens intertwined fates and their search for identityfrom the lavish parlors of shanghai courtesans to the fogshrouded mountains of a remote chinese villagespanning more than forty years and two continents, the valley of amazement resurrects pivotal episodes in history. In her breakthrough 1989 first novel, the joy luck club, amy tan explored the generational tensions between four mahjongplaying old country mothers and their california daughters with. The valley of amazement follows the twisted and tortured turns of violent minturns extraordinary life. The valley of amazement is a sweeping, evocative epic of two womens. Although she believes she is a fullblooded american, violet miniturns life is turned upside down when she learns she is actually halfchinese. Books in conversation with her characteristic insight and humor, amy tan conjures a. Book club with amy tan join the author for a discussion of her international bestseller the joy luck club at kings place on 28 november. The valley of amazement by amy tan the boston globe.
Read pdf the valley of amazement absolutely for free at. Pdf the valley of amazement download ebook for free. Like many of her works, it deals with motherdaughter relationship and is partly set in historical china. The valley of amazement franklin county library book. Spanning 50 years and two continents, the reader is drawn into the world of shanghainese courtesans, their love lives and sexual secrets. In this novel, where so much is about what vanishes, there is also a deep beating heart, of what also stays. The valley of amazement is a novel by amy tang, a new york times bestselling author with magical writing skills. Millers valley reminds us that the place where you grew up can disappear, and the people in it too, but all will live on in your heart forever. To the discussion leader noted author sherry garland sets her new dear america novel in the sonoma valley of california in 1846. Her latest, the valley of amazement, is no different, serving up a story epic in scope and. The story is set in the early 1900s in shanghai, china and follows the lives of an american mother, lulu, and her half american half chinese daughter, violet. Spanning more than forty years and two continents, the valley of amazement resurrects pivotal episodes in history. Getting through the valley of amazement is a bit of a trudge, honestly. Amy tans the valley of amazement was written in a style similar to her international best seller the joy luck club.
Violet minturn is the privileged daughter of an american madam at the citys most exclusive courtesan house. She enthralled readers of her phenomenally successful first novel, the joy luck club 1989, with the interlocking stories of four chineseborn. The valley of amazement book club discussion questions. The heroine of the valley of amazement, violet, is the daughter of an american madam and a painter. The bond between mother and daughter can be a lifeline that saves from fire or a viper that hisses and bites. Amy tans the valley of amazement is a sweeping, evocative epic of two womens intertwined fates and their search for identity, that moves from the lavish parlors of shanghai courtesans to the fogshrouded mountains of a remote chinese village. Granted that courtesans and the places that sheltered them were and in some places still are culturally significant in east asia, tan takes what might seem an unnecessary risk by setting her latest novel in that toofamiliar demimonde miss. Tan, who made her name with the joy luck club 1989, blends two favorite settings, shanghai and san francisco, in a tale that spans generations. Violet minturn is the privileged daughter of the american madam of the citys most. The story is about violet, a halfamerican, half chinese daughter of the owner of a wellknown courtesan house in shanghai called the hidden jade path. For a hefty half of her gorgeous new novel, the valley of amazement, amy tan instructs us in the finer points of life as a courtesan in early 20th century china.
Spanning more than 40 years and two continents, the valley of amazement transports readers from the collapse of chinas last imperial dynasty to the beginning of the republic, and recaptures the lost world of old shanghai through the inner workings of courtesan houses and the lives of the. The valley of amazement is never dull theres far too much sex, suffering and intrigue for that but its wearisome. Violet minturn is the privileged daughter of the american madam of the citys most exclusive courtesan house. With the valley of amazement ecco, amy tan reaffirms her reputation as a master storyteller, creating intriguing settings, unforgettable characters, and twisty plotlines.
An excerpt from the novel was published independently as rules for virgins plot summary. Rick smolanagainst all odds productions in her first novel in eight years, the valley of amazement harpercollins 20, amy tan has woven an evocative narrative about the profound connections between mothers and daughters, a theme that returns readers to the territory of tans breakout novel the joy luck club. Reading guide for the valley of amazement by amy tan discussion guide for book clubs. Buck the joy luck club by amy tan shanghai girls by lisa see. Amy tan has made her name, with novels such as the joy luck club 1987 and the bonesetters daughter 2000, writing about difficult motherdaughter relationships, the. As a child in her mothers upmarket shanghai brothel in the early years of the 20th century. Amy tans latest novel, the valley of amazement, begins her story. The valley of amazement was a very long book filled with many historical facts into the world of the courtesan women. Sep 21, 20 the valley of amazement summary book club discussion questions litlovers stay safe and healthy. Amy tan s the valley of amazement is a sweeping, evocative epic of two womens intertwined fates and their search for identity, that moves from the lavish parlors of shanghai courtesans to the fogshrouded mountains of a remote chinese village. In the first part of the story, violet tells the story of growing up in hidden jade path, a courtesan house in shanghai that is run by her mother, an. The valley of amazement amy tan, 20 harpercollins 608 pp. This way of life became a way to survive during this period of chinese history.
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