The Bonesetter’s Daughter
The Bonesetter’s Daughter by Amy Tan, published by Flamingo in 2001, is a poignant exploration of the complex relationship between mothers and daughters. This edition, comprising 307 pages, delves into the lives of Ruth Young and her widowed mother, LuLing, whose tumultuous bond is further complicated by LuLing’s struggle with forgetfulness. As LuLing shares her writings, Ruth uncovers a hidden past that reveals the intricacies of their family history, set against the backdrop of a remote mountain village steeped in tradition and superstition.
Readers will find an absorbing narrative that intertwines themes of family life and cultural heritage, as LuLing’s upbringing under the care of her mute Precious Auntie unfolds alongside Ruth’s modern life in San Francisco. The story captures the essence of memory and the unspoken connections between generations, offering insights into love, forgiveness, and the enduring impact of the past. Through rich characterizations and layered storytelling, this novel invites reflection on the complexities of familial ties and the secrets that shape our identities.
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“”As compelling as Tan’s first bestseller, The Joy Luck Club. . . No one writes about mothers and daughters with more empathy than Amy Tan.”
-The Philadelphia Inquirer
” An] absorbing tale of the mother-daughter bond . . . this book sing s] with emotion and insight.”
-People
Ruth Young and her widowed mother, LuLing, have always had a tumultuous relationship. Now, before she succumbs to forgetfulness, LuLing gives Ruth some of her writings, which reveal a side of LuLing that Ruth has never known. . . .
In a remote mountain village where ghosts and tradition rule, LuLing grows up in the care of her mute Precious Auntie as the family endures a curse laid upon a relative known as the bonesetter. When headstrong LuLing rejects the marriage proposal of the coffinmaker, a shocking series of events are set in motion-all of which lead back to Ruth and LuLing in modern San Francisco. The truth that Ruth learns from her mother’s past will forever change her perception of family, love, and forgiveness.
“A strong novel, filled with idiosyncratic, sympathetic characters; haunting images; historical complexity; significant contemporary themes; and suspenseful mystery.”
-Los Angeles Times
“For Tan, the true keeper of memory is language, and so the novel is layered with stories that have been written down-by mothers for their daughters, passing along secrets that cannot be said out loud but must not be forgotten.”
-The New York Times Book Review
“Tan at her best . . . rich and hauntingly forlorn . . . The writing is so exacting and unique in its detail.”
-San Francisco Chronicle
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