The valley of amazement by amy tan, paperback barnes. An excerpt from the novel was published independently as rules for virgins plot summary. 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. We deserve more enlightenment for surviving this ordeal with. To ask other readers questions about the valley of amazement, please sign up. Buck the joy luck club by amy tan shanghai girls by lisa see. She enthralled readers of her phenomenally successful first novel, the joy luck club 1989, with the interlocking stories of four chineseborn. 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. The mother daughter relationship was interesting to me in the fact that the two lives were so intricately intertwined and their destinies similar. 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. 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. 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. The valley of amazement follows the twisted and tortured turns of violent minturns extraordinary life. 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.
The valley of amazement summary book club discussion. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides for challenging works of literature. After reading the valley of amazement would you recommend this book to a friend to read 2. 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 heroine of the valley of amazement, violet, is the daughter of an american madam and a painter. Amy tan has made her name, with novels such as the joy luck club 1987 and the bonesetters daughter 2000, writing about difficult. Author amy tan is especially known for her best seller the joy luck club which was also a major film. Her latest, the valley of amazement, is no different, serving up a story epic in scope and. 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.
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. Violet minturn is the privileged daughter of the american madam of the citys most exclusive courtesan house. The valley of amazement is a novel by amy tang, a new york times bestselling author with magical writing skills. The valley of amazement is a beautiful story of separation, hope, and love between a mother and daughter.
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. The valley of amazement book club discussion questions. 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. The valley of amazement franklin county library book. To the discussion leader noted author sherry garland sets her new dear america novel in the sonoma valley of california in 1846. 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. The valley of amazement is a multigenerational family saga.
Her themes usually explore the relationships between mothers and daughters, historical connections to ancestors, comparisons of chinese and. 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. 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. Getting through the valley of amazement is a bit of a trudge, honestly.
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. Motherdaughter relationships are amy tans bread and butter. Spanning more than forty years and two continents, the valley of amazement resurrects pivotal episodes in history. Although she believes she is a fullblooded american, violet miniturns life is turned upside down when she learns she is actually halfchinese. Like many of her works, it deals with motherdaughter relationship and is partly set in historical china. Please put your comments for the valley of amazement book club discussion questions in the comments area below 1. Sep 21, 20 the valley of amazement summary book club discussion questions litlovers stay safe and healthy. As a child in her mothers upmarket shanghai brothel in the early years of the 20th century. Halfchinese and halfamerican, violet grapples with her place in the world she is able to excel in the business. New york times bestselling author of the joy luck club amy tan brings us her latest novel. Violet minturn is the privileged daughter of an american madam at the citys most exclusive courtesan house.
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. 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. Books in conversation with her characteristic insight and humor, amy tan conjures a. 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 spanning more than forty years and two continents, the valley of amazement resurrects pivotal episodes in history. In turnofthecentury shanghai, violet minturn is raised by her american mother, the mistress. Read pdf the valley of amazement absolutely for free at.
With the valley of amazement ecco, amy tan reaffirms her reputation as a master storyteller, creating intriguing settings, unforgettable characters, and twisty plotlines. Violet minturn is the privileged daughter of the american madam of the citys most. Most markedly, amy tan withholds the story of lucias teenage years in san francisco until the end of the novel. Reading guide for the valley of amazement by amy tan discussion guide for book clubs. Triviaquiz for fans features youll discover inside. Amy tans inspiration for the valley of amazement originated at a visit to the asian art museum in san francisco, where she stumbled upon an academic book with a bw photo of courtesans a class of women who were influential in introducing western popular culture to shanghai read between those words. But in the universe of amy tans the valley of amazement, the reader should. 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. Tans other best selling novels include the kitchen gods wife, the hundred secret senses, the bonesetters daughter, and saving fish from drowning. Snow flower and the secret fan by lisa see the good earth by pearl s. Reading guide for the valley of amazement by amy tan. In this novel, where so much is about what vanishes, there is also a deep beating heart, of what also stays. Amy tans the valley of amazement was written in a style similar to her international best seller the joy luck club.
This way of life became a way to survive during this period of chinese history. Unlike a traditional narrative, however, the novel doesnt start at the beginning of its story. 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. 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. The valley of amazement by amy tan reading guidebook club. 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. Amy tan weaves family mystery into valley of amazement november 4, 20 speculation about her grandmothers life in china in the early 1900s provided tan inspiration for. The valley of amazement by amy tan the boston globe. Which is hard to admit, given that it is such an earnest work of fiction. Lulu and violet both make decisions based on their relationship with their. 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. The valley of amazement is her latest colorful description of life in shanghai at the turn of the 20th century. The valley of amazement was a very long book filled with many historical facts into the world of the courtesan women.
Did you find the historical facts about the courtesan life to be believable and did you find the very graphic dialogue offensive. 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. Amy tans the valley of amazement explores the world of. The valley of amazement by amy tan amy tan is the author of several bestselling novels, including the joy luck. Amy tans latest novel, the valley of amazement, begins her story. Amy tans latest novel tells the story of two womens intertwined fates and their search for identity. Spanning 50 years and two continents, the reader is drawn into the world of shanghainese courtesans, their love lives and sexual secrets. 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. Pdf the valley of amazement download ebook for free. The bond between mother and daughter can be a lifeline that saves from fire or a viper that hisses and bites.