A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
The new novel from the internationally bestselling author of ‘The Joy Luck Club’.
In fin de siècle Shanghai, Violet Minturn grows up at Hidden Jade Path, the city’s most exclusive courtesan house. But when revolution comes, she is separated from her mother and forced to become a “virgin courtesan.” Both Chinese and American, Violet moves between these cultural … these cultural worlds, becoming a shrewd businesswoman who deals in seduction and illusion. But her successes belie her private turmoil. Violet’s need for answers propels her on a quest of discovery: a journey to make sense of her life, to right the wrongs of the past – to find love requited.
Spanning fifty years and two continents, ‘The Valley of Amazement’ dramatises the collapse of China’s imperial dynasty and the secret life of the courtesan house. Unfolding old family secrets, this novel returns readers to the compelling territory of ‘The Joy Luck Club’. With her characteristic wisdom, grace and humour, she conjures a story of the inheritance of love, its mysteries and betrayals, and its illusions and truths.
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Enjoyed this book…kept me interested…
was not what I expected. felt pity most of the way through the book
Honestly, I only made it maybe halfway through this book. I just got tired of the main character making the stupidest possible choices at every point in her life. Disappointing as I have loved everything else by this author.
A little too long.
Not Tan’s best work, but having travelled and worked in China I found the storyline (what to a Western mind might seem unbelievable) to uphold the uniquely Chinese melding of fantasy and reality.
Too long with too many characters
As usual Amy Tan makes it delightful to learn about other culture’s in other eras and how relationships are complicated.
amy tan, as always brings to life her characters as though she’s experiencing or have experienced what they are going through. characters are very relatable!
Amy Tan is one of my favorite authors. As usual, this book does not disappoint. I plan to savor it.
A good Amy Tan book, describing the life/lives of the 1800 Courtesan era. Characters are well developed and described throughout the 1800’s to 1900’s. A few twists and turns, in a environment of China. Although the book started out a bit slowly, the tempo picked up as the characters moved on through the years. I would recommend this book – and …
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. I found the two main characters very determined women with strong convictions, but also wanting love that they felt that had been denied them by their respective parents. They were mother and daughter. The book was in my opinion realistic of China at the time. Pre World War II and after. This was a book that …
Enjoy all her books.
Love Amy Tan. Valley of Amazement does not disappoint.
I have always loved books by Amy Tan, but this one was disappointing. Very dark and depressing. I didn’t even finish it!
Once I start to read a book I usually try to finish it. I finally plowed through to the end of this novel, but it wasn’t easy. The heroine did not have a happy life, but essentially was not a very likable person who did not elicit sympathy from this reader.
The Valley of Amazement is an extremely detailed well written account of the life of Violet Minturn, starting in 1905 and ending in 1939. The reader meets her when she is 7. Her story is a very emotional one full of ups and downs. Unfortunately there are more downs. I feel that the author did an excellent job describing every aspect of the story …
I liked this book. I felt like the characters in the book were someone I had known, not just characters in a book. It is an excellent story, keeps you involved with the characters and keeps you involved to the very end.
Predictable
generally unbelievable
Couldn’t get into this book.