C. (Comment, don't blank click reviews).'s Reviews > The Hundred Secret Senses

We all hear of Amy Tan with great respect but I was unsure “The Joy Luck Club” was for me. A fan of mystique, “The Hundred Secret Senses” was a title that drew me. I expected Amy’s work to be very good ~ she plays keyboard in a band with other big league authors like Stephen King, for Pete’s sake. The journey I discovered is so epic and multifaceted, I doubt a blockbuster film could do it justice but I would love to see it. The numerous storylines are dynamic and unforgettable.

Olivia’s Dad has a Daughter. They sponsor the 18 year-old into the United States. Gregarious, not shy, she is thrilled to have a sister in particular, upon whom she lavishes love. Olivia finds this awkward from a stranger, whose shaky English embarrasses her around friends. There are two young brothers, mentioned less than their Mom. Olivia’s treatment of Kwan is poor. I understand being bombarded with a nearly-grown sibling in the family but many people have relatives who are outright jerks. Kwan was affectionate and loyal to all, even in the face of rudeness; thus that rejection bothered me.

One story centers on Olivia’s ex-husband, Simon; bizarre circumstances about a past university girlfriend. The fierce memory affected his & Olivia’s marriage. Kwan convinces them to accompany her to China, her first return in three decades. Events there reach a whole other magnitude. The novel had not been metaphysical until that point. There, I was thrilled to explore ghosts, body-switching, and convincing instances of reincarnation. Growing up, Olivia shared her room with Kwan. Kwan chatted nightly about sharply remembered past lives and Olivia inadvertently found herself learning Mandarin. On the trip back to Kwan’s hometown, those story snippets come together with a surreal impact that is impossible to doubt!