It wasn't Ms. Tan's best book, but was good. Very much in line with Tan's other books, women in a Chinese family learning each other's secrets.

I'm going to start a bookray for this book. If you are interested, please PM me.

Description from Publisher's Weekly.
Tan's empathetic insight into the complex relationship of Chinese mothers and their American-born daughters is again displayed in her latest extraordinary, multi-layered tale. Now suffering from Alzheimer's, Lu Ling's references to the past are confusing and contradictory particularly her desperate attempts to communicate with her deceased Precious Auntie, who was her nursemaid and Ruth worries about her mother's health. But when Ruth translates Lu Ling's lengthy journal, she learns that her mother was once a strong-willed, courageous girl who overcame a background of family secrets and lies, persevered despite romantic heartbreak and survived tremendous hardships and suffering in war-torn China. Tan deftly handles narrative duties as Ruth, the exasperated but loving daughter, while Chen is perfect as the quick-speaking, accented Lu Ling. Lu Ling's first-person diary is particularly suited to audio: we hear the young girl directly reveal her secret hopes and dreams, and watch her grow from a naive innocent to a sharp-eyed survivor.

Here's the bookray list in order, BOLD shows progress:

Hawkette (Melbourne, Australia)
aliclynnk (Malaysia)
mysteryfan03 (Missouri, USA)
Amesrmns53 (Knoxville, TN)
Wildflower67 (New Jersey)
kymberlie (Houston, TX)
rhythmbiscuit (Colorado)
appaloosatb (Minnesota)

Looks like my little book is going around the world. *sniff* So proud!

Being a ray, it's still open!

Has arrived in Australia, on it's first leg of it's journey!

I love reading about other cultures and the family relationships, and China is one of the countries that fascinates me at the moment (high on my "I want to visit" list). LuLing's story is very engaging, and I could actually relate to Ruth's parenting-her-parent feelings, and the questioning of her mother's decline, cos that is an area I am dealing with at work at the moment. This is the first Tan I have read, and found that her character development and the tie in with past and present was done well.

Phew! Got it out exactly a month after it arrived...just! Thanks sarajenni for sharing this book. It is now off to Malaysia.

Thanks :o) the book arrived today.

My first Amy Tan book and i loved it.. the chinese culture although slightly different from mine is also rather similiar in certain cases. The book gave me a deeper understanding of chinese cultures and believes that i've been growing up with as a Malaysian Chinese. I also found it fascinating to read that Ruth had a love-hate relationship with LuLing.. the way i sometimes do with my mom. All in all a rather good book ;o)

Now the book is off on it's next leg of journey to Missouri, USA.

I recieved this book today! Thanks Sarajenni for letting me read this. And to aliclynnk for the postcard and stamps (on the envelope) from Malaysia! I have a few books in front of this, so I will journal when I get to it. Thanks

I finally got to this book this week and finished it. I loved it. It is one of the best books that I have read this year. I loved all the stories about Ruths ancestors and the evolving of the mother/daughter interaction with each generation. Thanks sarajenni for giving me the chance to read this!!

Received the book over the weekend! Excited to get started on it...

Released on Tuesday, March 30, 2004 at To another BookCrossing Member in Knoxville, Tennessee USA.

Mailed this one off today. I really enjoyed this book. It was my first by Amy Tan. I read it mostly when I was on the plane for spring break and it was a great read. Enjoy!

Arrived in today's mail. Thanks, I'll start reading it soon. :)

Mailed out today. It was a pretty good story, I liked the part describing the mother's past the best.

Received some time in the last month or so - sorry for not journaling it sooner! Going to read it and pass it on as quickly as possible.