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see_sadie_read 's review for:
The Hundred Secret Senses
by Amy Tan
It's Amy Tan, so you can expect an emotionally over-involved, unreliable, female narrator/main character, complicated family dynamics, a distant mother and a satisfying but not perfect ending. You can also expect excellent, emotive, descriptive writing. This one holds few surprises.
I did however enjoy it for the most part. I struggled a bit with Simon's character. He was just as his ex described him, too quick to go with the flow. And as a result, I felt a lot of Olivia's complaints and fears were legitimate and his unwillingness to stand up for them, or even apparently understand that he should, felt contrived to me. What's worse, I didn't feel he deserved Olivia's compromises in the end.
Similarly, I disliked how much of the turmoil was laid at the feet of Olivia's own self-doubt. This felt very much like blaming her for her own victimhood. Did she deserve some? Sure, but I felt too much was left to her by dint of Simon's obliviousness.
Kwan, of course, stood out for me. I adored her. Was she overly cheerful and too forgiving? Yes, but I also saw her reasoning in the end.
All in all, exactly what I would expect from an Amy Tan book. I'm glad to have read it, but now need to clean my palate with something silly and fluffy.
I did however enjoy it for the most part. I struggled a bit with Simon's character. He was just as his ex described him, too quick to go with the flow. And as a result, I felt a lot of Olivia's complaints and fears were legitimate and his unwillingness to stand up for them, or even apparently understand that he should, felt contrived to me. What's worse, I didn't feel he deserved Olivia's compromises in the end.
Similarly, I disliked how much of the turmoil was laid at the feet of Olivia's own self-doubt. This felt very much like blaming her for her own victimhood. Did she deserve some? Sure, but I felt too much was left to her by dint of Simon's obliviousness.
Kwan, of course, stood out for me. I adored her. Was she overly cheerful and too forgiving? Yes, but I also saw her reasoning in the end.
All in all, exactly what I would expect from an Amy Tan book. I'm glad to have read it, but now need to clean my palate with something silly and fluffy.