Reviewed by Renée Bosman, Reference Librarian for Government and Public Affairs
In The Bonesetter's Daughter, Amy Tan revisits similar themes from her previous work, particularly the best-selling The Joy Luck Club. This later novel presents the multi-layered story of Ruth Young and her Chinese-born mother LuLing as an exploration of the complex relationship between mothers and daughters for whom cultural differences create an almost unbridgeable chasm. When Ruth discovers that LuLing is suffering from Alzheimer's, she begins to devote more time to caring for her mother, despite their somewhat bristling relationship. Spending time at her mother's home leads Ruth to reminisce about her childhood with LuLing, a pessimistic, argumentative woman who ferociously clings to old world notions of ghosts and curses. She then discovers the pages of LuLing's life story, bound in ribbon, and bearing the introduction "These are the things I should not forget." The reader is then transported to Immortal Heart, a small village in pre-WWII China, where the childhood story of LuLing unfolds, marked by family secrets and tragedy. Armed with the fascinating story of her mother's past, and an insight into LuLing's strength of character, Ruth is then able to begin mending their relationship. Tan's skill at presenting the novel from the perspective of both Ruth and the young LuLing allows for the development of two very realistic and unforgettable characters.
