The Valley of Amazement
Amy Tan
My review on Goodreads:
** spoiler alert ** I enjoyed this novel but it was very depressing and hopeless in all directions. The historical parts of it was what I enjoyed the most: the clothing, the descriptions of the homes, brothels, roads, people, etc. They were all very descriptive and created a clear visual of China. I also found it fascinating that Chinese families have this really strong tie to their lineage and heritage and can't/won't break it. There was a part where Lucia told Lu Shing that he wasn't brave because he wouldn't stand up to his parents and tell them he loved her and wanted to be with her. At the same time, Lu Shing was (or felt that he was) dishonoring his family by going to the States and not marrying his contract. I can understand both sides but I felt that Lucia wasn't very understanding. She was 16 at the time, just a teenager, so she probably didn't understand but I don't think that's a good excuse. She seemed so much smarter than to assume that she could go into a strong culture and break it up. I don't know if I was supposed to feel sorry for her or sypmathize with her but I felt neither. She deserved what she got: the loss of her son and daughter, Violet. What mother would trust to leave her children to strangers?
The main story was around Violet and her upbringing. It's about mothers and daughters and men and that most men only want sex and women will give it to them willingly or with money and gifts. It paints a really depressing image of women and a disgusting image of men. Women are only objects to these men...except Edward. He actually cared for Violet. I found it unbelievable that Violet only crossed one good man. Okay, two including Danner. They were both Americans. I got the feeling that the author wanted us to believe American men cared more than Chinese men.
There was so much sex in the book that it overwhelmed me. And then, the depressing things that happened to Violet, her mother, and Violets daughter was too heartbreaking. It was a very sad novel that left me gloomy.
It was a pretty well written novel but when the author wrote from Lucia's first person, I still felt like I was reading it from Violet's.